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USB Plug POP?
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Utah
Status:
Offline
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Hi all
My mother called me last night and said that she had accidentally tried to plug the wrong end of her USB cable for her camera into the back of her iMac. She said that she heard a POP and then the machine began acting strangely (lines on the screen; she couldn't shut it down). I told her to yank the plug and reboot. She did, and after producing a long single tone the machine booted up just fine.
Can anyone explain what might have happened here? Is it possible that she bridged something with power in the USB plug?
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status:
Offline
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What kind of USB cable ?
Where did she plug it in ?
-t
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Utah
Status:
Offline
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It was, I assume, a little mini-USB cable on one and and a normal USB on the other. I have no idea what she did. She doesn't either. I think she just reached around blindly back there, but I really don't know. Maybe she grazed the firewire port?
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status:
Offline
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Yes, FW or ethernet port, or mini-display port.
-t
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cambridge, UK
Status:
Offline
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Next step, find out if all of the ports still work.
If one of them doesn't and it's firewire/usb, chances are she's just blown a fuse. Can be replaced with a soldering iron.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by seanc 
Fuse can be replaced with a soldering iron.
I'm not sure the soldering iron would fit.
I'd try a replacement fuse first  
-t
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Utah
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by seanc
Next step, find out if all of the ports still work.
If one of them doesn't and it's firewire/usb, chances are she's just blown a fuse. Can be replaced with a soldering iron.
I'll check with her about this. Considering her mouse and keyboard work, the USB ports should be fine, no?
Doing tech support on this thing is difficult; she has very limited computer skills (obviously!) and lives 1700 miles away from me in a small town. I don't even know if there's anyone within an hour drive who can work on a Mac.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Utah
Status:
Offline
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OK. I had her check the ports and all seems to be just fine. Thanks for the help, folks!
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Banned
Join Date: Oct 2010
Status:
Offline
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You have to check the port, Is it working or not ?
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Illinois
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by midwinter
Hi all
My mother called me last night and said that she had accidentally tried to plug the wrong end of her USB cable for her camera into the back of her iMac. She said that she heard a POP and then the machine began acting strangely (lines on the screen; she couldn't shut it down). I told her to yank the plug and reboot. She did, and after producing a long single tone the machine booted up just fine.
Can anyone explain what might have happened here? Is it possible that she bridged something with power in the USB plug?
A long single tone is the machine saying it thinks you want a firmware upgrade. You can make any new machine do it by holding down the power button for several seconds at boot (Hold it until it chimes). It's a failsafe so you cannot "brick" your machine installing a bad firmware update. People accidentally cause that sound to happen all the time.
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