Hello Richard in AZ,
You mentioned that the computers in question are 4 to 5 years old. Have you
condidered checking the power supplies of these computers to see if they
might have degraded in power. The reason I ask this question is because
about two years ago, my computer stopped booting with my Lexmark printer
attached. It worked if I booted first then plugged in the printer for about
a week. Then one day the computer auto-restarted and froze as soon as I
plugged in the printer. I rebooted without again, plugged in the printer
after logging into Windows, and once again the computer restarted and froze.
I started without and checked the device manager, . . . no problems. (??!!!)
Then after uninstalling/reinstalling printer drivers, and even reinstalling
Windows, still no problems except that the computer soon stopped working
even with the usb mouse hooked up.
Long boring story short, the power supply was going bad after about 5 years
of faithful service first on my own home built machine and then my parents'
rebuilt machine which is now the only computer in the house.
I went to Office Depot to purchase a new power supply (though I wasn't
really sure that was it). I almost purchased a power supply tester instead.
Not wanting to risk spending more than necessary, I took a chance and got
the power supply. I took it home and all was well again.
I would suggest you may wish to go to your nearest computer parts dealer or
favorite online computer store and see if they sell power supply testers
since you have two people with different brand computers and printers having
the same or similar problem.
Here is a link to newegg.com to give you an idea of what you could spend on
a tester:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...der=BESTMATCH&Description=power+supply+tester
I know others have tried to say it isn't a power issue, but I think it may
be.
The only other possibility I can think of considering all other suggestons
posted, is that the usb ports are going bad themselves either in the wiring
connected from the port on the computer box to the mainboards or worse
possible case, the connectors on the mainboards themselves are bad. Usb
ports can be replaced with an add on pci card, or you can replace the usb
ports built into the computer box that are connected to the mainboard.
I would suggest first testing the power supplies for decreased power output
since that is your most likely problem.
If it isn't, and you don't want to mess with the usb connectors on the
mainboards, invest 5 or 6 US dollars or your currency's equivelant in a usb
port card and see if plugging into that also causes problems. If not, then
problem solved for at least one of the machines in question.
Finally, don't decide not to try something because someone else says it
won't help unless you have already tried it or you actually know a sledge
hammer will only make things worse. You are dealing with two fairly old
systems, and after 4 or 5 years, computer hardware WILL start going bad. It
is a time to either consider replacing parts as they begin to decline in
performance, or purchase a new computer and scrap or recycle the old
systems. It may also be a good time to think 'back up' if that wasn't
thought of when the systems were new because the hard drives may also begin
to have problems.
So if you think you need new cables, ide or sata cables, power supply, etc.,
chances are it won't hurt to start your emergency shopping list and set your
budget for such items.
I apologize for my lengthy suggestion. I hope you can find something that
will help among the answers you recieve.
Good luck.
--
Peace,
Jeffrey W. Bowen
Remove NO SPAM entries from email address to send personal email.
Please post replies of successes or failures so we all can benefit from each
others' experiences.
"Anteaus" <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AEAB4090-D583-428E-A014-F592F56CB10F@microsoft.com...
> One site here has a Dell server which freezes on bootup if a USB tape
> drive
> is connected. Can't be power consumption as this is separately powered.
>
> This is a BIOS firmware bug, and while BIOS/CMOS Settings may have some
> influence there is no point in poking-around in the OS or drivers.
>
> It may be worth seeing if the PC/mobo manufacturer has a BIOS update for
> this problem. Bear in-mind that flashing the BIOS does carry some risk
> with
> it.
>
> "SC Tom" wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
>> news:e6XFcXPnKHA.6084@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl
>> > "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message
>> > news:uBLQsxKnKHA.5552@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl
>> >> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
>> >> news:%23U9qnPFnKHA.5700@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message
>> >>> newsXmObpEnKHA.1548@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> >>>>
>> >>>> "SC Tom" <sc@tom.net> wrote in message
>> >>>> news:eCHBuR9mKHA.4628@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message
>> >>>>> news:uMrgtC9mKHA.5552@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> >>>>>> I have now got two club members that can not start Windows if
>> >>>>>> their USB printer is connected. In both cases the computer goes
>> >>>>>> to the BIOS splash screen and freezes. In one case it is a Dell
>> >>>>>> Computer with an HP printer.
>> >>>>>> In the second case it is an HP Computer with an Epson printer.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> If you remove the printer USB cable, the computer starts and load
>> >>>>>> the desktop just fine. Then you can plug the printer cable in
>> >>>>>> and use the printer
>> >>>>>> computer and printer. But if the printer USB cable is connected,
>> >>>>>> printer power off or
>> >>>>>> on, then the computer go to the BIOS splash screen. Dell in one
>> >>>>>> case, HP in the other case and just stays there. In both cases,
>> >>>>>> I have deleted the printers and re-installed the printers with
>> >>>>>> updated drivers obtained of the printer vendor web site. I have
>> >>>>>> reviewed the BIOS setting in both computers and any USB start-up
>> >>>>>> options are not obvious. Any thoughts? Both computers are
>> >>>>>> located about 20 miles from
>> >>>>>> me, so instant checks are not easy to come by.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>> Do you Legacy USB enabled in BIOS?
>> >>>>> Is this a new development? If so, what has been
>> >>>>> installed/uninstalled/added/deleted that may have caused these
>> >>>>> changes? Are they both on the same network, or are they not
>> >>>>> networked at
>> >>>>> all? --
>> >>>>> SC Tom
>> >>>>>
>> >>>> Neither computer is networked, but they are connected to DLS
>> >>>> modems. They belong to two different computer club individuals in
>> >>>> private homes. The Dell started this problem shortly after the
>> >>>> owners original Dell printer died and he bought a new HP printer.
>> >>>> Since I could not find any BIOS setting that referenced USB boot
>> >>>> options he just waits until the PC is running and then plugs in the
>> >>>> printer. The HP computer was brought to me as a total
>> >>>> non-operating mess and I used the feature on the hidden partition
>> >>>> to restore it to the "Factory" status and did all the updates at my
>> >>>> home. Then I took it to the owners home and install her Epson
>> >>>> printer from the vendor CD's. However, she then found it would
>> >>>> not start the next day and brought it back to me. It worked just
>> >>>> fine in my shop but not when she returned home. On the phone, I
>> >>>> asked her to unplug the printer and try it. Of course it worked
>> >>>> then. Now she has to boot without the printer cord connected and
>> >>>> then connect the printer. I have not had a chance to check the
>> >>>> BIOS again on this computer and the owner is not competent enough
>> >>>> to work in the System Settings. I may not get a chance to see this
>> >>>> PC for a while. I just found it strange that two computers,
>> >>>> different brands, with different printers exhibit the same problem.
>> >>>> Both computers are 4 to 5 year old models and operating with XP
>> >>>> home edition and SP3 updates.
>> >>> On the Dell, were the old printer drivers uninstalled before the new
>> >>> printer was installed? I know with my HP all-in-one (and with all
>> >>> the HP laser and inkjet printers at work), the drivers had to be
>> >>> installed before the printer was even plugged in, especially the USB
>> >>> ones. --
>> >>> SC Tom
>> >>>
>> >> I cannot say for the Dell, but since I did the reformat and
>> >> re-installation on the HP computer I know there were not printers
>> >> before I install the Epson. And I did install the software first,
>> >> plugging the printer in only when the software requested it.
>> >
>>
>> One thing to look at in BIOS is the boot order. If 'Removeable Devices'
>> is
>> first in the list, it may be hanging there. That's really the only other
>> thing I can think of right now, unless there are other USB devices
>> plugged
>> in that may be dragging the power past the 500mA limit. I have a USB HP
>> printer, and my PC boots fine with it on, and I just went through my BIOS
>> settings to see what mine were and if changing them made any difference,
>> and
>> it still booted fine. Sorry I couldn't help.
>> --
>> SC Tom
>>
>> Sorry about the double post. I tried to save the message to finish later,
>> and OE sent it anyhow
>>
>> .
>>