hmm case/ground issue?

R

roz1281

Gawd
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Nov 1, 2004
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Hi folks. I just put together a machine with a new motherboard/cpu/ram and using old cd drive/video card/PSU.

I put it in a new case, the cooler master storm scout.

It took me a few hours to realize what was causing it but, if I so much as brush my finger on the front panel (that houses the usb ports/audio in/ and power + reset buttons) the PC will reboot and then show the "windows did not shutdown properly" screen. Windows 7 btw. Also, it only happens the first time i touch it, I.E. I have to have a static charge built up first. The last time I did this (when I was repeating it to be sure) upon hitting the shutdown key (because my saitek keyboard would freeze on reboot) I got a nice blue screen which said USB_DRIVER something.

Anyway, I've checked the connections in the case and everything seems OK. The power_sw lead from teh case is attatched to the motherboard correctly (I.E. colored arrow marked wire is on the + pin) and all other power cables are secure. The cables that are routed behind the motherboard panel are a tight fit, but the case came like that.

Should I be looking into returning either the case or mobo? Any suggestions?
 
what mjz said

also, anything else conductive somehow linked between the case and anything else? (bare wires, metal zipties, water, etc)

-bob
 
i checked the standoffs and screws, all seems well. All zipties are plastic. I pulled up the front input panel as much as i could and everything looked ok, but I can't get it off completely. might be a stray wire touching the outer metal plate. It always crashes with a BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER error and then my usb mouse and kb won't work, if that helps.
 
Reassemble the PC outside of the case and see if the issues still occur.
 
This is pretty common, I have this problem in my PC, and my coworker does, too. It is a problem w/ the USB wire running to your motherboard from the front of the case. Not much you can do about it, except unplug it from your board. You could try to RMA the case, but I wouldn't bother, personally.
 
Danny Bui: I'd do this but the problem IS the case I think. I need the case to replicate the issue, but thanks.

Standpoint: I never even thought of the most obvious thing: unplug the usb wire running to the front of the case, lol. I'll try that and see if it still crashes thanks.

I really like the usb ports on the top, so i hope i can get a new case if that's the problem and it's unsolvable.
 
roz1281 said:
Danny Bui: I'd do this but the problem IS the case I think. I need the case to replicate the issue, but thanks.
Click to expand...

If the case is the problem, assembling the PC outside of the case will provide another confirmation that the case is the issue.
 
well pc is running on a desk while i await the arrival of a new case.

I'm not about to rub my socks on the floor then touch my motherboard so going to assume case was at fault (seems to be running stable on desk)

I have the motherboard laying on a piece of cardboard, is there anything I should set it on, or just flat on the desk?
 
Cardboard is fine. You can still plug in the front panel USB headers of the case, despite the board not being in the case. :p I'd suggest doing so, but that would mean you'll be exposing your parts to more ESD, which is never a good thing, despite how little the charge may be. Just call Cooler Master and ask them to fix it, lol, or exchange the case at your retailer, if bought locally. If bought from newegg, just RMA the case. I have a scout, and it works perfectly fine, so its not a design problem, just a quality control issue, IMO.
 
yea i ended up rma'ing, it happened even with the parts out of the case and usb headers hooked up. I'm an idiot for not thinking of trying them while the motherboard is out of the case. thanks guys :)
 
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