USB Power Surge

[Guest]

I plugged in my flash drive into my computer and i got the error "power surge
on usb port" or something like that. It popped up so quickly and left so
quickly that i couldn't read it. What could cause this? i know i was looking
a while ago and found one on Microsoft support, but i can't find the page
again.

 

[Ace]

The message you saw regarding power surge on your USB port is caused by
faulty hardware, either inside your computer or your flash drive.
Check if the pins in the USB port and on the connector of your flash
drive are not wet/dirty/sticky/bent/otherwise impaired.
Have you tried a different device on the same port?
Have you tried the same device on a different port?
Be VERY careful not to short out your USB ports too long. Not all
computers are equipped to handle power shorts on USB ports for much
longer than a second or two, after that they simply burn out and become
useless.

 

[M.I.5¾]

The message you saw regarding power surge on your USB port is caused by
faulty hardware, either inside your computer or your flash drive.
Check if the pins in the USB port and on the connector of your flash
drive are not wet/dirty/sticky/bent/otherwise impaired.
Have you tried a different device on the same port?
Have you tried the same device on a different port?
Be VERY careful not to short out your USB ports too long. Not all
computers are equipped to handle power shorts on USB ports for much
longer than a second or two, after that they simply burn out and become
useless.

In which case such ports do not comply with the USB spec (and is actually
unlikely). The USB spec requires the over current protection to be self
resetting without intervention.

If the power surge error keeps popping up then it is normally caused by
failure of the actual data part of the port and not the power supply.

 

[w_tom]

I plugged in my flash drive into my computer and i got the error "powersurge
on usb port" or something like that. It popped up so quickly and left so
quickly that i couldn't read it. What could cause this? ...

Message and further details should also be stored in system (event)
logs. This is where Windows records all problems, then works around
those problems, so that you can address those problems when more
convenient.

USB ports have a max current requirement. A new device can exceed
that current for a limited time. USB port must have a filter so that
excess current does not create the alarm condition.

So either your flash drive exceeded that current requirement
(because it was designed marginally) or your USB hardware (or software
for that port) is marginal - gets tripped by a current that is not so
excessive. Often components used in that filter have a 10% error
margin.

So, what is the current requirement listed on that flash drive? 2
amps? That number is where to begin - to get more useful replies.