Plugging in USB device causes PC to die. Crackling noise from USB.

H

hhobba

New Member
Hi there. I've had this pc for about a year, it has a 400w PSU which I'm running 2 HDDs, 2 DVD drives and the other usual stuff, nothing terribly fancy like mods.

When I plug in my iPod - this used to work fine a few days ago!!! - my PC immediately dies. I assume this is the PSU fusing. The temperature's fine and everything, and I've not changed the PC in any way, this problem seems to just have appeared. I notice a crackling sound coming from all of the USB ports sometimes, so I think its a power / USB problem.

I really dont wanna have to replace my PSU or mobo, but, any ideas?

Cheers!!!!
 
i would take the side of the case off and have a look inside to see if there is any burnt areas around where the usb ports are... also when you hear the crackling can you smell any burning.
does it only happen with your ipod? if so i would consider having a word with apple about it as it may have caused the damage
 
Are you using the USB ports on the front of the case ? (if you have any on the front). Does it crash when plugged into any USB ports ??
 
Thanks for the replies. I have tried using my front ports and the back ones - same result. The PC lives for a few seconds, then there's a clicking noise like someone's clicked off a switch (maybe the fuse of the PSU?) and the computer just dies.

I have tried my USB Wireless LAN device and it works fine, so I am assuming an iPod may just be using too much power, and I'll have to upgrade my PSU.

What confuses me is that this problem just seems to have appeared! A few days ago I could plug in the iPod just fine, and there were no crackling noises or anything. I can't understand why this could have happened.

My specs are here: www.soulhunter.co.uk/summary.txt

Might I add that there's no burning smell, just a small crackly noise coming from the USB ports even when only my USB modem is plugged in.Can I also note that all of my PSU adapters inside the case are used up with devices. This might be an indication that I need a better PSU. Im sorry but I dont know the exact specs of my current PSU but I think its 400w. Possibly 350 but I doubt it.

Thanks again!

PS -- IF you are going to suggest a new PSU, could you please make an educated guess at what kind I should be going for? THx.
 
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I had the problem that I plugged in a flash drive and the system rebooted every time so I changed my walking pattern yes I hade put it down to static from the carpet now that was a freaky one.

It sounds like the port isn’t making contact and its sparking?
Try just plugging the ipod cable in without the ipod..
Also try taking of any extra devices (fans, cd-drive) that aren’t needed then plug the ipod in.
if its a non hdd ipod they draw basically no power at all

My choice is an antec neo power their some of the best--->check out PSU 101
 
yea its not your Ipod drawing too much power. At school we plugged in 4 ipods into a computer with a 150Watt power supply, the 20gb ones. My guess is that that the positive pin is somehow getting contact with the negative pin. Look in side the male end of the usb to make sure everything is ok in there
 
@ Motoxrdude thats what I was thinking then he said he used wireless USB LAN with no problem. so that to me says it’s the ipod or the cable
Have you tried the ipod on another computer my theory is that it wont work.
Some times the little white plastic bit in the USB socket that houses the terminals breaks
 
Thanks for all the excellent replies. It was the PSU causing the problem and emitting the buzzing. I replaced it today. Probably just defective.

Cheers once more.
 
lol crazy. I have heard of pluggin the usb cable into a firewire port on a motherboard can cause the same thing
 
PS -- IF you are going to suggest a new PSU, could you please make an educated guess at what kind I should be going for? THx.
Click to expand...
PSU 101

Thanks for all the excellent replies. It was the PSU causing the problem and emitting the buzzing. I replaced it today. Probably just defective.
Click to expand...
lol crazy. I have heard of pluggin the usb cable into a firewire port on a motherboard can cause the same thing
Click to expand...
Hehe thats a story for people who want to cheap out on their PSUs ;)
 
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