Computer restarts everytime I plug a USB device!

[golden rose]

Recently my computer has started to restart everytime i plug a USB device. At first it was the mouse playing up, the computer would recognise it and then after a second it wouldnt and the sound (sound of the usb device being plugged in/out) would come on and wont stop until i unplug the mouse cable. Then i noticed that everytime i plugged my wireless the computer would reboot. So I got rid of the wirless and tried to fix the problem but now the computer restarts everytime i get to the screen where theres an option for normal/safe mode/safe mode with networking, etc. When I select any of these options, the screen just goes blank for a sec and then restarts. It doesnt even get to the winxp logo. So now I cant even do anything to fix it. I even tried putting the winxp cd in and reintalled winxp but once its installed and windows restarts it just carries on with its old tricks and just goes on restarting uptil the point of infinity. So now theres no way I can get onto winxp to even try and fix the problem.

I have been looking around at similar problems and it seems that it may be a power problem or something to do with the motherboard.
Any ideas on what i should do?

[Kalin]

Check the motherboard most of all. you could check if the usb slots are clean and there are no shorts. But not really probable to be the cause. Some capacitors might be the problem, see if any of them look funny. If possible test with different power supplies or motherboards. But probably you need a new motherboard.

[nivek_hcerg]

I had a problem like that and seemed that a short was the cause. If you try every usb port and all cause a restart then probably it's the usb device or the usb cable(if applies)

[golden rose]

Now all kinds of devices with a USB cable cause this to happen so I think its likely to be the motherboard. I will have a look at the motherboard and the USB ports and get back on this shortly. Thanks guys! =)

[golden rose]

Ok, this is a little new to me, what does it mean by a short and how do i check for shorts?

[Kalin]

it means that two wires are crossed or a pin is touching another pin or the the rectangular metal. All usb slots have the same power supply so if this is the case if one is broken like that, none will work. The problem would be if the first or last pins are not in position, as they are power and ground. The data pins should not shut down anything.

If a capacitor is broken... hmmm. They're the big cylinder type thingies on your motherboard. They are usually flat on top. It is easy to see one that might not be working properly if the metal is a bit round at the top...

[golden rose]

Thanks, I'll have a look around and report back soon!