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USB Device Shorts Laptop

post #1 of 7
4/10/10 at 1:02pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Guys,

I bought myself a laptop this week and all was going well until I attempted to plug in an external DVD drive via a usb lead... this shorted my laptop. The laptop shorts everytime this particular device is plugged in, regardless of the port (have 3 ports). It doesnt freeze or restart, it just turns off completely.
However, it only does it for this one device, I have plugged in others (printer, mouse, keyboard) and had no problems. I have a few questions that I'd be very grateful if anyone could answer:

1. Why would this only happen for the one device?
2. Is this causing damage to my laptop?
3. Would this indicate a faulty motherboard?
4. Why doesnt it crash my PC ( I have tried this device in my PC and it worked fine, no crashes and I can use the device)
5. The laptop is still under warranty, would you recommened I ring up and get it looked at?
Many thanks in advance for you advice
Ross

FYI - Laptop spec:
Asus UL30a
CPU - ULV SU2300
HDD - 320 GB
RAM - DDR3 1066 1G + 2G
OS - WIN 7
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post #2 of 7
4/10/10 at 1:54pm
Moved to ASUS

cheers ...
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post #3 of 7
4/10/10 at 3:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcwilkinson View Post
Hi Guys,

I bought myself a laptop this week and all was going well until I attempted to plug in an external DVD drive via a usb lead... this shorted my laptop. The laptop shorts everytime this particular device is plugged in, regardless of the port (have 3 ports). It doesnt freeze or restart, it just turns off completely.
However, it only does it for this one device, I have plugged in others (printer, mouse, keyboard) and had no problems. I have a few questions that I'd be very grateful if anyone could answer:

1. Why would this only happen for the one device?
2. Is this causing damage to my laptop?
3. Would this indicate a faulty motherboard?
4. Why doesnt it crash my PC ( I have tried this device in my PC and it worked fine, no crashes and I can use the device)
5. The laptop is still under warranty, would you recommened I ring up and get it looked at?
Many thanks in advance for you advice
Ross

FYI - Laptop spec:
Asus UL30a
CPU - ULV SU2300
HDD - 320 GB
RAM - DDR3 1066 1G + 2G
OS - WIN 7
Some USB devices are just incompatible... Had this with a USB DVDRW on a Toshiba netbook.. Worked fine on anything else apart from the netbook, always showed an error in device manager.. Tried another brand, worked fine....!!

I would stop using it on this laptop, in case it does some damage... But I doubt the laptop is faulty...
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post #4 of 7
4/11/10 at 5:12am
Try to install the external optical drive into another USB housing?

cheers ...
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post #5 of 7
5/12/10 at 7:16pm
Quote:
Had this with a USB DVDRW on a Toshiba netbook.. Worked fine on anything else apart from the netbook, always showed an error in device manager.. Tried another brand, worked fine....!!
DVD drives takes a lot of power compared to say, a Keyboard, mouse, MP3 player etc. IS there perhaps a limit on how much power a device must consume?
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post #6 of 7
5/13/10 at 8:09am
Yes, they do, but this did it with an external power source too.... Operating systems limit the amperage on each USB port to something like 100mA, so any current draw over that and its an issue...
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post #7 of 7
5/13/10 at 11:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr T View Post
Yes, they do, but this did it with an external power source too.... Operating systems limit the amperage on each USB port to something like 100mA, so any current draw over that and its an issue...
500mA usb 2.0
about 2 amps with usb 3.0

For all devices powered only. That said, if your taking 500 ma from one port then plug in smth else, it'll turn itself off too.


But if it didn't have an external ac adaptor and was trying to draw from the usb port, thats possible especially if its an older laptop. sometimes their usb controllers are a little weak on the whole control and power this thing without dying and thinking theres a short when you detect a huge spike in current.
I actually don't think dvd drives take THAT much power. Do a quick calculation in your head if you know its wattage.
P=IV
so 5 times 500ma is about 2.5 watts.
On second though it might be a current issue :P

I'd 'strongly' suggest trying an external powered usb hub, they aren't limited to the amperage issues of usb. But only if it doesn't use an ac adapter. The only other things I can think of are making sure all your usb adapters are enabled and trying them out. You should also go through device manager and attempt disabling / re-enabling the control before you plug in.

Good thing your on windows :P I wouldn't know what the **** to do on mac.
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