USB Devices cause windows to restart

[alexkeel79]

I am experiencing a problem with a computer where everytime a device is plugged into the USB port it restarts. The error message that comes up when the computer reboots is something like this: "some applications/devices may cause Windows to become unstable". Could this be a virus? Any other ideas on what it may be?

 

[linney]

Windows XP supports "hot plugging" USB devices, but your USB device software may not. What device, make and details is causing this problem?

To reveal the exact error message follow this procedure.

You can also turn off "automatically restart after an error" so it will just halt at the fault and display the full Stop Error and blue screen.

Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties .
On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery .
Click to clear the Automatically restart check box under System failure , and then click OK . The error message on a blue screen should remain on the screen so you can record the error information.

Based on the details provided so far I would suspect driver or software problems rather than virus problems.

 

[bcastner]

It could also be a bad physical port.