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Thread: New build fried via USB port!?

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    Thumbs down New build fried via USB port!?

    Hey guys, your opinions please..

    I was given a clicking hard drive to copy some files off. I plugged it into a Sata to USB adatper which I have used many times over 2 years without problems with many different drives (this was the first time in my new rig though) .

    As I plugged the adapter into the usb port of the pc (which gives power to the adapter and spins up the HDD) it fried the HDD board within seconds as smoke literally came out drive. I immediately unplugged the HDD and within a few seconds my computer shutdown too and refused to start again.

    Trying to get the board to power up, I have tried

    • Unplug all devices and trying to boot
    • Resetting Cmos / taking out battery
    • Trying a different PSU


    So I believe the board is DEAD as the green light is on but the case power and the onboard power button still does nothing. Unable to test CPU or memory but Gfx card has worked ok in my old rig, phew.

    So what gives? I want to avoid this happening again by finding the culprit.

    The only thing I've found is that the molex that goes into the USB to sata adapter has the +12v and +5v switched (no colours, tested with a multimeter) can this cause it? but doesn't explain why its worked absolutely fine up until now.

    My build details are on the side, any thoughts appreciated..

    Adapter looks exactly like the one below:


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    Re: New build fried via USB port!?

    normally these adapters don't require the molex connecting unless you are powering a 2.5 " drive thru it, was this a 2.5" ide drive? if you reversed the connection (some have no key) then yes you will get voltages in places there shouldn't be.

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    Re: New build fried via USB port!?

    The Molex was required to supply power to the sata drive, I just found out that it also killed a 1TB usb 3.0 external drive I had connected to the same usb dock. Its making some strange noises and no longer recognised.

    Never got to the bottom of it, replaced my motherboard and I'm back up and running.

    Expensive lesson this was! Beware of clicking hard drives is all I can say......

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    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
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    Re: New build fried via USB port!?

    I doubt it was the clicking drive itself, it seems to be more a case of mis-connection - either a short circuit or bad wiring. It would be worth while checking the polarity of all the plugs and sockets in the installation. You did say the +12v and +5V lines were switched over (I assume you mean incorrectly placed in the molex connector shell.)
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    Editable... jimbouk's Avatar
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    Re: New build fried via USB port!?

    I made a DVD drive pop and smoke when I plugged in a reversed moles plug. Had it rigged up for running a fan slowly but forgot at the time. Fortunately only the one thing went. If the adapter crudely linked up the USB 5V with the molex power then it could have fed back through and cooked something in theory I guess.

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    Re: New build fried via USB port!?

    from what it sounds like its a 12v backfeed into a 5v rail on your MOBO, depending on what mobo manufacturer/how old your board is, some have fused/diode'd usb power rails to prevent overload/back feeding, normally you would find windows would go crazy and alert you to a voltage problem on a usb port. worse case it would kill the port/ports if they are not separately powered.

    have you tried testing each DIMM, if it has fried a stick of ram or all of your sticks it wont boot. try only installing one stick at a time in the first dimm slot. if this doesn't work try installing one stick into slot 2. (consult your motherboard manual for DIMM testing as it will state wich slot to use for testing)

    if your motherboard supports no-post/cpu/ram bios flashing do so to the latest bios as you might have a corrupt bios and this is preventing you from booting.

    if your motherboard has a 8 pin bios chip which you can remove, it might be worth seeing if you can get hold of a new one and trying that (there normally very inexpensive)

    it does sound like its more of a fault with your motherboard, if you or a friend has a motherboard you could put your cpu into to test to make sure thats not dead, same with ram then we can give them the all clear.
    if putting your cpu in there mobo doesn't boot. then i would say you have killed your chip, although i wouldn't recommend putting there chip in your motherboard.

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