Plugging in USB mouse shuts down computer

[flyingfisch]

I recently obtained a very cheap USB mouse. As soon as I plugged it in my computer shutdown. I found this rather strange so I tried it on a couple other computers, all with the same result.

The OS on the one computer was Win Vista, and the others were Ubuntu (12.04 and 14.04). I think this rules out it being an issue with the OS.

I was about to throw it away, but I was curious about what may be causing it and a quick Google search didn't bring anything relevant up, so I just thought I would ask here. I am also curious to know if using the device can eventually break a computer or at least the USB port.

 

[PhatLloyd]

There is probably a short within the usb reciever

 

[Guest]

You won't be able to break a computer or USB port with a poorly built mouse, but u can use it to trick people if ur creative enough.

 

[PhatLloyd]

I know that, but I was gaming to day when my idiot friend connected his internal hdd, my whole pc shut down, a short. But it came on again afterwards

 

[flyingfisch]

Hmm, interesting. How does a short cause the computer to shutdown? Does it shutdown to keep the computer from being shorted as well?

 

[PhatLloyd]

i don't understand?