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Usb Powers Off Computer

Discussion in 'External and Flash Drives' started by Stephen47, Jun 12, 2010.

  1. Stephen47

    Stephen47 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2004
    Messages:
    101
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    Dell Inspiron E1505
    CPU:
    Intel
    Memory:
    2 GB
    This happens on my daughter-in-law's computer. When she attaches a USB device it powers off her computer. Just inserting the connector completely shuts down the computer. What could be causing this? This is a Dell Inspiron E1505 laptop running XP Home
     
  2. Match

    Match Registered Members

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2009
    Messages:
    4,175
    Location:
    Wolverhampton, UK.
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    Abit AN52
    CPU:
    AMD Athlon dual core 5000+
    Memory:
    4 Gig Corsair
    Hard Drive:
    160 Gb Hitachi 500 Gb Western Digital
    Graphics Card:
    Radion XFX 4650
    Power Supply:
    550W EZcool
    Hi Stephen 47

    Is this any USB device in to any of the USB Ports?
     
  3. Stephen47

    Stephen47 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2004
    Messages:
    101
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    Dell Inspiron E1505
    CPU:
    Intel
    Memory:
    2 GB
    It is any USB device but only in the top port on the side of the computer. The ones in back don't cause the problem and I can't get the plug into the bottom one on the side.
     
  4. Match

    Match Registered Members

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2009
    Messages:
    4,175
    Location:
    Wolverhampton, UK.
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    Abit AN52
    CPU:
    AMD Athlon dual core 5000+
    Memory:
    4 Gig Corsair
    Hard Drive:
    160 Gb Hitachi 500 Gb Western Digital
    Graphics Card:
    Radion XFX 4650
    Power Supply:
    550W EZcool
    This makes me think that there is a hardware fault probably Mother board related however, owing to the fact that the USB ports have a power supply it could be dirt of dust creating a short and the PC/Motherboard shutting down to protect it's self, have you tried giving the port a good blow out with compressed air? and does it still shut the PC down with just a USB cable is plugged in with no device connected
     
  5. Stephen47

    Stephen47 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2004
    Messages:
    101
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    Dell Inspiron E1505
    CPU:
    Intel
    Memory:
    2 GB
    I will try the blow out. It shut down when I plugged in a USB flash drive. I don't know if that is considered a device connected. I'll have her try just plugging in a cable. I suspect it is the port that is shorting out.
     
  6. Dalo Harkin

    Dalo Harkin Registered Members

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2009
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    Location:
    Stockport near Manchester
    Operating System:
    Windows 7
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    ASUS - are there any others worth buying?
    CPU:
    Q6600 at 4.0Ghz per core (Watercooled)
    Memory:
    OCZ PC8500 4x1GB sticks
    Hard Drive:
    Samsung - all the way
    Graphics Card:
    XFX 260GTX rev 1
    Power Supply:
    Seasonic 600Watt
    I would say that the ports are not connected to the MOBO properly, who built the PC?
    if the back ones are working and the front ones are not then, its not likely to be anything else

    If you have a few USB devices attached at the same time such as keyboard, mouse, printer and then plug another device such as a flash stick then this can be enough to overload the rail that the PSU uses for USBs
     
  7. Stephen47

    Stephen47 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2004
    Messages:
    101
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    Dell Inspiron E1505
    CPU:
    Intel
    Memory:
    2 GB
    Dell built this computer. The only device plugged in is the printer. I am leaning towards two separate issues.One is the USB port which I think might be faulty since she told me it might have gotten dropped. I can't get a plug into the bottom port on the side. The ports in the back seem to work. I was able to get a different printer to work so I think the issue she is having with her printer is related to the printer, not the USB port.
     
  8. allheart55 (Cindy E)

    allheart55 (Cindy E) Administrator Administrator

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2009
    Messages:
    10,620
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Operating System:
    Windows 10
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    ASUS M4A77TD AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD
    CPU:
    AMD Phenom II X6 1090T-Thuban 3.2GHz
    Memory:
    Crucial-DDR3 SDRAM 1333-8GB
    Hard Drive:
    WD Caviar Black SE HDD 640 GB - WD Caviar Black SE HDD 500 GB
    Graphics Card:
    Sapphire Radeon HD-7870 2GB
    Power Supply:
    CORSAIR CMPSU-750W
    It sounds as if you have a faulty USB port. (Possibly damaged when dropped) It's best not to use it at all. (Hopefully not a prelude to motherboard failure)


    All Dell computers ship with a utility partition on the hard drive that contains the Dell Diagnostic Utility: You can test the hardware
    using this. Use the symptom tree to test for USB connectivity. (Otherwise the test will run for all hardware)

    Restart the computer.

    As the computer boots, press <F12> when the Dell Splash Screen appears.

    When the Boot menu appears, highlight the Boot to Utility Partition option, or the Diagnostics option and then press <Enter> to start the 32-bit Dell Diagnostics.

    Press the <Tab> key to highlight Test System Press <Enter> to continue to 32-bit Diagnostics.

    Express Test will run a quick test of devices in the system. (Takes 10-20 minutes.)

    Extended Test performs a thorough check of devices in the system. (Takes an hour or more.)

    Custom Test used to test a specific device or customize the tests to be run. Exit to MS-DOS will exit the diagnostics to a command prompt.

    Symptom Tree. This option lists the most common symptoms and allows you to select tests based on those symptoms

     
  9. Stephen47

    Stephen47 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2004
    Messages:
    101
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    Dell Inspiron E1505
    CPU:
    Intel
    Memory:
    2 GB
    I will try the diagnostics the next time I am at her house. Thanks for the advice
     

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