Computer reboots when metallic object touch case

Hello !

I went to a friend's home to make some updates to it's computer
softwares.

When I plugged my USB Stick, I accidentally touched the case with the
metallic end of the key. As I did this, the computer rebooted
instantly.

Later, I removed the case cover to check if there was room for another
disk drive. Upon closing the cover, the computer rebooted as soon as
the cover touched the case.

While the humidity was a little low, I did not feel a static discharge
at all.

As additional info, the computer is plugged in a ups with the required
grounded wire.


What kind of problem could this be ? Static ? Grounding ? Other ?

Thanks !

> Later, I removed the case cover to check if there was room for another
> disk drive. Upon closing the cover, the computer rebooted as soon as
> the cover touched the case.
>
> While the humidity was a little low, I did not feel a static discharge
> at all.
>
> As additional info, the computer is plugged in a ups with the required
> grounded wire.
>
>
> What kind of problem could this be ? Static ? Grounding ? Other ?
>


Is the mobo an ECS?
If so...some of them are a bit prone to static

However...also check tobe sure the UPS is grounded properly!

Le 2007-02-25, philo a supposé :
>
> Is the mobo an ECS?
> If so...some of them are a bit prone to static
>
> However...also check tobe sure the UPS is grounded properly!

You right on the nail : it is an ECS 741GX-M

Lost cause ?

"JG" <no-spam@please.com> wrote in message
news:mn.caa57d72b2de1f34.33676@please.com...
> Le 2007-02-25, philo a supposé :
>>
>> Is the mobo an ECS?
>> If so...some of them are a bit prone to static
>>
>> However...also check tobe sure the UPS is grounded properly!
>
> You right on the nail : it is an ECS 741GX-M
>
> Lost cause ?
>
>

I once had a similar board and never got the problem properly solved.
It was definately static...as it would only happen in the winter.
What I did was to ground myself by touching an electrical outlet box just
prior
to plugging a USB device into the machine...
that pretty much did the trick...but of course is not entirely ideal.

Having a humidifier running in the house may do a little bit of good too.

"philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:m-SdnfikvL5TI3zYnZ2dnUVZ_uKknZ2d@athenet.net...
>
> "JG" <no-spam@please.com> wrote in message
> news:mn.caa57d72b2de1f34.33676@please.com...
>> Le 2007-02-25, philo a supposé :
>>>
>>> Is the mobo an ECS?
>>> If so...some of them are a bit prone to static
>>>
>>> However...also check tobe sure the UPS is grounded properly!
>>
>> You right on the nail : it is an ECS 741GX-M
>>
>> Lost cause ?
>>
>>
>
> I once had a similar board and never got the problem properly solved.
> It was definately static...as it would only happen in the winter.
> What I did was to ground myself by touching an electrical outlet box just
> prior
> to plugging a USB device into the machine...
> that pretty much did the trick...but of course is not entirely ideal.
>
> Having a humidifier running in the house may do a little bit of good too.
>
>
A ground going the wrong way is no doubt something in the machine

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 11:09:20 -0500, JG <no-spam@please.com>
wrote:

>Hello !
>
>I went to a friend's home to make some updates to it's computer
>softwares.
>
>When I plugged my USB Stick, I accidentally touched the case with the
>metallic end of the key. As I did this, the computer rebooted
>instantly.
>
>Later, I removed the case cover to check if there was room for another
>disk drive. Upon closing the cover, the computer rebooted as soon as
>the cover touched the case.
>
>While the humidity was a little low, I did not feel a static discharge
>at all.
>
>As additional info, the computer is plugged in a ups with the required
>grounded wire.
>
>
>What kind of problem could this be ? Static ? Grounding ? Other ?
>
>Thanks !
>

You tell us, is the system properly grounded? Take the UPS
out of the equation, run system straight from the wall
outlet and see if the problem persists.

What PSU are you using?

<snip>

> >
>
> You tell us, is the system properly grounded? Take the UPS
> out of the equation, run system straight from the wall
> outlet and see if the problem persists.
>
> What PSU are you using?

FWIW: In the ECS mobo machine that I had the static problem with...
the case was properly grounded. By touching the case a static discharge took
place...
which in turn caused an EMI signal which triggered the machine to reboot.

By discharging myself prior to touching the machine...the problem was
'solved'.

kony avait soumis l'idée :
>
> What PSU are you using?
>
FWIW : APC BE-650

Le 2007-02-25, philo a supposé :
>>
> I once had a similar board and never got the problem properly solved.
> It was definately static...as it would only happen in the winter.
> What I did was to ground myself by touching an electrical outlet box just
> prior
> to plugging a USB device into the machine...
> that pretty much did the trick...but of course is not entirely ideal.
>
> Having a humidifier running in the house may do a little bit of good too.

Thanks for sharing your exprience.

BTW, since you happen to know this mobo, is there a way to prevent the
"configuration changed - run setup" message each time you boot with an
USB stick in a different state (plugged/unplugged) as the previous boot
?

JG wrote:
> Le 2007-02-25, philo a supposé :
>>
>> Is the mobo an ECS?
>> If so...some of them are a bit prone to static
>>
>> However...also check tobe sure the UPS is grounded properly!
>
> You right on the nail : it is an ECS 741GX-M
>
> Lost cause ?
>
>

Try disconnecting the reset switch from the motherboard.

The reset cable can function like an antenna and pick up
noise. See if removing the cable from the header on the
motherboard helps at all. You won't be able to use the reset
button any more, but it also might cure the problem.

Paul

> >
> > Having a humidifier running in the house may do a little bit of good
too.
>
> Thanks for sharing your exprience.
>
> BTW, since you happen to know this mobo, is there a way to prevent the
> "configuration changed - run setup" message each time you boot with an
> USB stick in a different state (plugged/unplugged) as the previous boot
> ?
>
>


I did notice that from time to time the bios reset...
never found a cure...

I guess all I can say is to not go with another ECS mobo !

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 17:59:47 -0500, JG <no-spam@please.com>
wrote:

>Le 2007-02-25, philo a supposé :
>>>
>> I once had a similar board and never got the problem properly solved.
>> It was definately static...as it would only happen in the winter.
>> What I did was to ground myself by touching an electrical outlet box just
>> prior
>> to plugging a USB device into the machine...
>> that pretty much did the trick...but of course is not entirely ideal.
>>
>> Having a humidifier running in the house may do a little bit of good too.
>
>Thanks for sharing your exprience.
>
>BTW, since you happen to know this mobo, is there a way to prevent the
>"configuration changed - run setup" message each time you boot with an
>USB stick in a different state (plugged/unplugged) as the previous boot
>?
>

See if there's a bios update and report the problem to ECS
if not.

"JG" <no-spam@please.com> wrote in message
news:mn.ca9d7d7237e05164.33676@please.com...
SNIP
> When I plugged my USB Stick, I accidentally touched the case with the
> metallic end of the key. As I did this, the computer rebooted instantly.
>
> Later, I removed the case cover to check if there was room for another
> disk drive. Upon closing the cover, the computer rebooted as soon as the
> cover touched the case.
>
> While the humidity was a little low, I did not feel a static discharge at
> all.
>
> As additional info, the computer is plugged in a ups with the required
> grounded wire.

Years ago I traced a winter time pc rebooting problem to a cheap pc power
supply. That power supply used a grounded cord, but inside the box I found
the manufacturer failed to connect the ground wire to anything (unbelievably
bad, but true).

I strongly suspect you have found a grounding problem. Bad grounding could
result from a bad power cord, bad power supply, faulty UPS, faulty wall
outlet, and more. Ask a friend with a Multimeter (Volt/Ohm meter) to test
the electrical ground path of the computer case and the system board to the
AC outlet ground lug. Tighten loose motherboard screws too (often at least
one will be metal, screwing into a metal stud on the case).

philo a pensé très fort :
>>
> I did notice that from time to time the bios reset...
> never found a cure...
>
> I guess all I can say is to not go with another ECS mobo !

It's not a reset. It considers the USB key as a bootable device and
want us to check the boot priorities after it adds/removes one from its
list.

I just got the exact message from my friend; it is : "BBS Boot priority
will be affected. Please enter setup to check"

kony a présenté l'énoncé suivant :
>
> See if there's a bios update and report the problem to ECS
> if not.

It's the latest availiable, dated 2005/10/13. I'm quite sure they had
this problem reported well before I experienced it..

On Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:40:15 -0500, JG <no-spam@please.com>
wrote:

>kony a présenté l'énoncé suivant :
>>
>> See if there's a bios update and report the problem to ECS
>> if not.
>
>It's the latest availiable, dated 2005/10/13. I'm quite sure they had
>this problem reported well before I experienced it..
>


How are you quite sure?
Until you have a specific evidence of that, it is just as
reasonable to assume it was not reported, or at least not
reported by enough people to make it a priority to fix the
problem.