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Windows crashes when Wifi USB stick inserted

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notna   09-01-2009 at 08:30:42 PM

My PC suddenly started rebooting automatically. As soon as the Windows logo came on screen, it would turn black and start all over again. I found out that it doesn't happen when I take out the WiFi stick from its USB port, but then obviously I have no internet. I used system restore which worked once, but now it's happening again and system restore isn't fixing the problem. Please help!

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festerovic   09-01-2009 at 08:32:57 PM
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Does it work if you plug the USB stick in after the machine boots to windows desktop?

Try updating the motherboard chipset drivers.

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notna   09-01-2009 at 08:35:41 PM
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Thanks for the quick reply!

When I plug the USB stick in after the machine has started it crashes and the whole thing starts again.

How do I go about updating those drivers, especially with no internet connection?

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festerovic   09-01-2009 at 09:31:22 PM
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Try booting into safe made with networking. Press F8 immediately before windows boots to get the option to do this. If safe mode disables USB support (it may) then I'm not sure how to help you. Can you use someone else's computer for a spell? If not, can you plug the computer in with a wired ethernet connection?

Make sure you know the motherboard manufacturer, and the model number. If you have no idea, you may need to get Cpuz (google it) and check out your specs.

**Just so I am completely clear - when you are sitting at the windows desktop, not doing anything, and you insert the USB stick, it reboots right then and there?

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notna   09-02-2009 at 10:23:24 AM
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Yes, the PC reboots just by inserting the USB stick!

I do have a second computer at home with internet access, so I can download the drivers on here, save them to a memory stick and put them on the broken pc.

I may also be able to plug in with a wirde ethernet connection.

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will_chellam   09-02-2009 at 11:20:24 AM
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Hmm, I had a NEC versa laptop that used to crash whenever any external usb device was plugged into it, it started one day and never went away despite reformats, driver updates and everthing else i could think of. It happened with usb sticks, wifi dongles external hdd's :(

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notna   09-02-2009 at 12:55:40 PM
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will_chellam wrote :

Hmm, I had a NEC versa laptop that used to crash whenever any external usb device was plugged into it, it started one day and never went away despite reformats, driver updates and everthing else i could think of. It happened with usb sticks, wifi dongles external hdd's :(



Well, that's not quite the case here, the PC still supports other types of USB devices, it's just the Wifi stick it won't take...

Reply to notna
thuan   09-02-2009 at 01:59:53 PM
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What is the manufacturer and model of your USB wifi? Besides the chipset driver? You should also update the Wifi driver.

BTW does it crash with all of your USB port? Try different one, preferredly the one built on the motherboard.

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howardp6   09-02-2009 at 01:59:53 PM
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Did you have the drivers installed before inserting your USB WIFI adapter. Which USB WIFI adapter do you have? I would re-install the drivers first from a USB flashand then insert the USB WIFI adapter. Does the adapter crash your second computer, when inserted, if so try to RMA it, if it is still under warantee.

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Message edited by howardp6 on 09-02-2009 at 02:00:52 PM
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amnotanoobie   09-02-2009 at 02:20:22 PM
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Is the USB Wifi even really working? Try it on another PC, maybe the thing is broken.

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notna   09-02-2009 at 04:13:51 PM
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thuan wrote :

What is the manufacturer and model of your USB wifi? Besides the chipset driver? You should also update the Wifi driver.

BTW does it crash with all of your USB port? Try different one, preferredly the one built on the motherboard.



To be honest, I have no idea what make the USB stick is. It was the one provided by the internet... errr... provider.

The PC crashes no matter which USB port I plug the stick into.

Reply to notna
notna   09-02-2009 at 04:15:54 PM
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amnotanoobie wrote :

Is the USB Wifi even really working? Try it on another PC, maybe the thing is broken.



Well, as stated in my first post, the USB wifi stick did work fine for a while after I did the system restore so I doubt that the stick itself is the problem... Also I tried a different one - albeit of the same make - and the same thing happened.

Reply to notna
notna   09-02-2009 at 04:18:30 PM
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howardp6 wrote :

Did you have the drivers installed before inserting your USB WIFI adapter. Which USB WIFI adapter do you have? I would re-install the drivers first from a USB flashand then insert the USB WIFI adapter. Does the adapter crash your second computer, when inserted, if so try to RMA it, if it is still under warantee.



I assume the drivers were installed because it was working fine until all of a sudden it crashed the PC.

I don't know what make the USB wifi adapter is, it doesn't say, sorry. But I doubt that the stick itself is the problem because it worked fine after i did the system restore the first time this happened.

Reply to notna
notna   09-02-2009 at 07:59:21 PM
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Just updated the chipset drivers and the problem still subsists.

I plugged in the USB wifi stick, I got the "found new hardware" message, then as soon as the message "your hardware is now installed and ready to use" came up, Windows rebooted again. :fou:

Reply to notna
festerovic   09-02-2009 at 08:33:06 PM
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You should be able to tell what the device is with the device manager or in the My network CP. Download the latest drivers for this through the manufacturers website, the one windows is finding might be no good.

Reply to festerovic
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