David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 02:15 PM |
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Static on the USB sockets is causing me grief...
Recently I decided to build myself a better desktop computer to replace the decidedly cranky old Dell I used to have. I built the thing without
problems, installed Linux Mint, and it's been running for a couple of months. Here's the spec:
Micro ATX Case
Corsair CXM 500W modular PSU
Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 Motherboard
AMD FX8350 8 core processor
Corsair 8GB 1600MHz memory modules (pair)
60GB SATA SSD (Kingston) - primary drive
1TB SATA hard drive (Western Digital) - home area/data storage
This runs really quickly, all temperatures are good and if I don't touch it it's really reliable. Unfortunately, if I walk up and plug
something into a USB socket it goes haywire - if I plug into the sockets on the front panel the computer shuts down. If I plug something into the
back (e.g. I have my smartphone dock permanently plugged into the back, and park my phone when I sit at the desk) the video goes haywire and the only
way out is to reboot the machine.
My guess is that this is due to a static discharge resulting from me walking over the carpet. I haven't heard or felt any discharges, but that
doesn't mean that there wasn't one!
I've checked that everything is OK - plugs, connectors, etc. - and I can't see anything wrong. None of my other kit in the same location
is bothered when I plug into their USB ports (laptop, tablet, and so on).
I don't get a problem if I touch the case before I do anything - but I can't always remember to do that!
Can anyone suggest further tests that might help me to localise this problem?
[Edited on 13/8/13 by David Jenkins]
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mookaloid
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:04 PM |
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sounds like the PSU is marginal and when you take more power out via USB it falls over?
try a different PSU first?
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:08 PM |
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I'm only talking about plugging in a memory stick - hardly power-draining! Anyway, the PSU is 500W and the min recommended is 300W, so
I'm nowhere near capacity. I'm also using the motherboard's on-board video, so no power-hungry graphics board.
[Edited on 13/8/13 by David Jenkins]
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Ajohnston_10
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:12 PM |
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I would be suprised if it was static discharge that was the cause.
I would have thought the problem lies with the connection between the usb port and the motherboard. Have you checked all the usb ports are in the
correct connections on the motherboard?
Also have you installed the usb drivers fom the installation disk supplied with the motherboard?
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:20 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Ajohnston_10
I would be suprised if it was static discharge that was the cause.
I would have thought the problem lies with the connection between the usb port and the motherboard. Have you checked all the usb ports are in the
correct connections on the motherboard?
I believe so - but I'll recheck
Also have you installed the usb drivers fom the installation disk supplied with the motherboard?
Tricky - I'm running Linux and the disk is Windows-based! The ports do work in all respects (USB2 and USB3) apart from when I walk
up and plug something in - hence my thinking that it was static from the carpet causing the problem. If I've been sitting next to the computer
for a while, probably touching it occasionally, then everything works as it should.
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iank
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:20 PM |
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Anything left in the logs? (i.e. dmesg)
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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iank
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:22 PM |
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Is the case properly earthed?
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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Ajohnston_10
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:23 PM |
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Try earthing the case properly? Does it sit on a desk?
I've never heard of this hapopening before.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:24 PM |
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You'll have to remind me where the logs are...
(but I suspect that there won't be any - shut-down is near-enough instant.)
I had considered the earthing - so far I've checked the socket and mains lead, and all systems are go there. I'll check that
there's a connection between the mains earth and the case shortly (with the power off, of course!  ).
[Edited on 13/8/13 by David Jenkins]
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:27 PM |
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Definitely check the case is properly grounded, use a multimeter to check for continuity between the chassis and the ground pin on the 13 Amp plug.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:39 PM |
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The earth is good from the 13A plug to the case... just checked with my multimeter. I thought it would be, but it does no harm to re-check...
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Slimy38
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:48 PM |
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Not just the case though, check the motherboard itself is happy. My last motherboard came with plastic standoffs, I replaced them with older metal
fixings.
Does it change if you have the PC plugged in somewhere else? Could it actually be the power socket earth that's at fault?
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Ajohnston_10
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:49 PM |
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I have just asked a mate who is sh*t hot with computers and he said it could be something within the registy that is wrong. He said best to wipe the
OS and re-install.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Not just the case though, check the motherboard itself is happy. My last motherboard came with plastic standoffs, I replaced them with older metal
fixings.
Does it change if you have the PC plugged in somewhere else? Could it actually be the power socket earth that's at fault?
As I said above - I've checked the socket itself - no problem (I have a proper socket tester to check for bad earth, swapped connections,
etc.)
I've not tried it through to the motherboard - I'm a bit wary of poking my multimeter where it may not belong! It does have brass
stand-offs though, so that aspect should be fine.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:53 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Ajohnston_10
I have just asked a mate who is sh*t hot with computers and he said it could be something within the registy that is wrong. He said best to wipe the
OS and re-install.
Registry? On Linux? No such animal! (thankfully)
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Ajohnston_10
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:56 PM |
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I'm out of ideas then ha.
Don't have a clue what the problem is.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 03:59 PM |
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That makes 2 of us!
(Thanks for taking the time though...)
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 04:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Not just the case though, check the motherboard itself is happy. My last motherboard came with plastic standoffs, I replaced them with older metal
fixings.
I just went and checked this anyway! The inside of the computer's case is painted, and I was wondering if that might have caused a problem. As
suspected, the connection is good between the board and the case, and therefore good back to the mains earth (from previous tests).
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mookaloid
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 04:21 PM |
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I take your point about the capacity of the PSU but if it is a bit flaky then it might still be a problem.
From your posts it is clear that you know what you are doing so a test swap with another PSU will rule it in or out in a few minutes.
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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jossey
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 04:55 PM |
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get a psu tester and test the psu.
DJ
Thanks
David Johnson
Building my tiger avon slowly but surely.
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iank
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 04:59 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
You'll have to remind me where the logs are...
(but I suspect that there won't be any - shut-down is near-enough instant.)
I had considered the earthing - so far I've checked the socket and mains lead, and all systems are go there. I'll check that
there's a connection between the mains earth and the case shortly (with the power off, of course! ).
[Edited on 13/8/13 by David Jenkins]
just type dmesg you might get lucky
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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James
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 05:21 PM |
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Just in case it's a drivers/software issue you could load Ubuntu or something on a memory stick/CD and run it from there.
See if same thing happens then.
If it still happens then, you know it's h/w related.
Good luck,
James
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 06:04 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by iank
just type dmesg you might get lucky
Thanks,
I got a load of info from that - nothing to do with the shutdown, but it's saying that a couple of things aren't enabled in the bios, so
I'll play with those once I've nailed this issue.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 06:06 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by James
Just in case it's a drivers/software issue you could load Ubuntu or something on a memory stick/CD and run it from there.
See if same thing happens then.
If it still happens then, you know it's h/w related.
Good luck,
James
That's a thought - although Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, so I might try a completely different distro just to see if I can isolate the
problem.
I've also upgraded the BIOS - the latest version is supposed to 'improve reliability', which can cover a host of issues! 
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deezee
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| posted on 13/8/13 at 07:42 PM |
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Just thought I'd quickly chime in and mention that your case, nor the components require grounding! Hence the reason cases are painted and
components come with plastic feet. This isn't a car and no power or signal goes via a ground. Its all done on the cables. Your PSU has its
earth and thats it. Please don't try to ground your components.
I'd estimate you have a faulty mobo, or faulty drivers. Do you have another distro you can try or even windows?
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