I've tried google, but haven't found anything like this...

The last few weeks or so, this is happening occassionally, but not all the time. I'll plug in a random USB device (it was the wireless mouse tonight, 2 nights ago it was the printer) and it causes a critical error and the computer has to be re-booted...

It's not usb-device specific... but just usb in general.

Possible causes/fixes? Need more info?

4/16/2008 12:17:01 AM

sounds like the USB jack is either:
a) not grounded properly -or-
b) underpowered

i only say this because it's "random" & "usb in general"

4/16/2008 1:42:55 AM

It's an Inspiron 9300 so there are 6 usb jacks... and it's happened on different ones.

4/16/2008 10:43:51 AM

has it done this from day one?

i had a problem where plugging a usb device into a front usb jack on my desktop caused it to shut down...turned out the plug inside had come loose and was causing a short...it's entirely possible you've got a short somewhere

4/16/2008 11:04:03 AM