I think I have a static electricity problem.
I have two computers in my house and a fiancé that wears fuzzy socks. Sometimes, when she plugs in USB devices into the front ports of her desktop computer (or my computer), the computer will instantly lock up. Often the LCD will go a solid green or purple color after this happens.
She noticed this occurs most often after walking across the carpets, so I am confident that the front USB ports on both of our computers are not properly grounded. I checked USB port connections to the motherboard and the ground wire is mapped properly on all computers.
Is there anything I can do to add extra/proper grounding to the front USB ports on a computer? I am afraid that she is going plug in her iPod one day and poof, her entire motherboard will be fried.
Best Answer
The lockup is troubling. An answer to this related question indicated the poster fixed the issue by physically replacing the problematic front USB port. If the grounding is connected poorly on the USB port end, it won't matter how correct the motherboard header connection end is.
Another thing to do is make absolutely sure that she's not inadvertently touching the metal of the USB plug when connecting. If she's gripping the plug by the rear, plastic-covered portion, any static she's generated shouldn't be conducted into the system.
Finally, you could set up a grounding strip near your computer station, and both of you get into the habit of using it. This example shows the installation of a flooring strip, but the principle would be for just about any other solution. You could mount such a strip on the underside of the computer desk, on the desk leg, on a wall nearby, etc.