Hey all,

I just built a computer myself using a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard. The computer has front USB ports and I also have a 3.5" card reader installed. Whenever I use any of the USB ports, monitor goes blank and the whole computer crashes. I don't even get any blue screens of death. I have done BIOS updates and it didn't fix it. I thought maybe it was a bad motherboard so I sent it back and got a replacement. The new one does the same thing. I even tried two different card readers. Got the same result with both. Has anybody run into this or heard of this before???? Any ideas?????

Well I do have the P35 DS3L. But I have yet to get my system up yet. Im having XP install issues. Most likely with memory. Quick question. What type of ram are you using PC4200?

As for the USB....Are you using the USB on the front of the case? If the front of your case does have USB ports or is all USB ports having the issue. It could be that the OS your running is causing this issue. I had that with my Windows XP on my old machine. For some reason it started to lock up and shut the machine down when I went to use the USB 2.0 function but USB 1.1 worked fine. Did a repair reinstall of the OS and it worked fine

Thanks for responding. The RAM is DDR2 800 (PC6400).

I can't use any of the USB ports on the front of the case and none of the ports on the card reader which connects to the motherboard using USB.

I am running Win XP. Computer runs stable otherwise. Just crashes using USB.

Thanks. Now I know its a Ram issue. IF you can try to do a repair install of Windows XP. Won't lose any of the files you have on the HD. Cause I highly doubt you got two bad motherboards. Infact I doubt its a mobo issue in the first place. Try reinstalling the drivers for the mobo?.

I would really think you should try that first before you decide to do the repair reinstall. I mean I have yet to even get my P35 up yet. Damn issues with XP install locking up and using PC4200 ram. But yeah I would try to reinstall the USB drivers then try a USB device. If you can...Try a device that can run in 1.1 mode and go from there. If it works in 1.1 then most likely it could be a windows issue trying to run at 2.0. That was the issue I had. NO 2.0 devices would work at 2.0. It would freeze and or shut down the system. Tried to reinstall drivers. Still same issue. Had to do a repair reinstall. Fixed the issue. But that was me and my old DELL....:). Hope all goes well for you and you get the issue resolved. I wish I had that issue instead of my "Windows XP Refuses to install and locks up"

You probably have the wiring to the MBoard connected wrong. I believe Gigabyte uses thier own pinout configuration for USB headers.

Do the USB ports on the rear that are integrated on the MBoard work OK?

You may have already fried the USB controller/s that run those headers.

Consult your manual to see the proper wiring schematic. You may need to remove individual wires from the case connector if the wiring doesn't match what is needed.

Also verify you are actually using USB headers, not firewire 1394 headers.

It sounds like you have the wiring so that the ground and power are being shorted out when you plug in a device. The card reader would be the same deal.

Look at this link showing diagrams of Intel and Gigabyte wiring syles.

http://www.directron.com/installusb...

I agree with OtheHill.
USB header pinouts vary, and so does USB connector wiring from the ports.

In addition.......
"Also verify you are actually using USB headers, not firewire 1394 headers."
Make sure you have the USB wiring hooked up to the right header!
If your mboard has firewire headers as well as USB headers, on some mboards (e.g. Asus for sure) the headers are identical for both and the pins are in exactly the same positions, and you can mistakenly install the USB port wiring onto the firewire header or visa versa e.g. a one piece USB double row connector onto a firewire header, or visa versa!! You do not have any problems until you plug in a USB device or a cable connected to a USB device, or a cable connected to a firewire device, then all hexx breaks loose!!
You can damage the firewire or USB circuits in a very short time, and/or whatever you plugged into the port!

- some mboard USB headers have a 5th pin in one row labelled "overvoltage" or similar in the manual, and sometimes on the mboard. That pin's wiring is NOT compatible with some USB port wiring. If you get a message along the lines of a device is producing a power surge, or similar, even when no USB device is plugged in, if your wiring is connected to that pin on the header, then don't connect to that pin!!
e.g. if you have a 5 in a row and a 4 in a row connector from the USB ports, if the wiring and pinouts are otherwise compatible, use the 5 in a row on the 4 pin side such that the 5th connection is not used, the 4 in a row on the 5 pin side such that the 5th pin is not used.