USB Flash Drive / USB Port Problem

[jabird]

I just tried to plug my usb flash drive into the usb port on the front of my computer. The computer immediately rebooted itself and a Windows error popped up saying something about a power surge on the usb port. These ports have now ceased functioning (no device plugged into them will power-up).

I tried plugging the flash drive into the usb ports at the back of the computer and also tried using another computer in the office. Neither computer will see the flash drive at all now. I know the ports at the back of this computer and on the other computer work because I can plug a zip drive into them and it is recognized.

Here are my questions:

1. Did I just fry my flash drive?

2. Did I just fry the usb ports on the front of my computer?

3. Is it possible for a 512mb flash drive cause a power surge in a usb port? (I didn't think it could draw that much power)

4. Is there a way to fix the usb ports at the front of my machine? (I still need to be able to use them - the ones at the back are too inconvenient.)

5. Is there any way to get my flash drive to work again or is my only option to trash it?


I am not a computer tech by trade, but I have built and modified my own computers in the past. As long as it doesn't involve soldering, I can make repairs if given the instructions. I have never had this problem with usb ports before and would like to find a way to fix this so it doesn't happen again.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[minsonngo]

I would try reseating the USB connectors from the case to the motherboard and see if that helps.

Have you tried CLEARING the BIOS/CMOS using the jumpers on the motherboard?

What brand and model is the FLASH drive in question? Most likely the USB drive is dead now.

With the USB ports on the case, it may be possible to replace them, if you can find out where to purchase it seperately, or you can just steal it from another case that has them. I would check with the manufacturer of the case and see if they will send you or sell you just the USB ports for the front of the case or the whole front bezel.

[Staren]

Off the top of my head I can think of two things that would do this. Was the computer opened recently? What usually seems to cause this is someone reverseing the power and ground wires when plugging the front ports into the motherboard. That will fry the ports and the first device that is plugged into them for sure.

The other thing that might do it (though I've never heard of this happening) is if perhps if the flash drive got dropped on carpet or somehow picked up a major static charge and it discharched into the USB port.

[glc]

1. Probably
2. Good chance.
3. If there's a static discharge, yes
4. Probably not without a motherboard replacement.
5. Probably not.

This is a KNOWN issue with the Southbridge chip on Intel 865PE-based motherboards. If this is what you have, this is what has happened. Hotplugging USB devices into the front ports can blow the Southbridge chip if there is an electrostatic discharge - due to static electricity built up in the device, and you not grounding yourself prior to plugging the device in.