Mac Mini crashes when usb storage device are plugged in

Have you tried an SMC reset yet? http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543

Or did you repair permissions?

What you experience is called a Kernel Panic. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1392

What USB flash and HDD do you have?

 

If it continues after SMC reset, I'd say head on down to your local apple store, but be sure to make an appointment first.

 

I would try an archive and install first.

 

Are you using Parallels Desktop or Fusion (virtualisation software for running Windows). I found that I could get a kernel panic in the older version of Parallels Desktop when I plugged in a USB device.

Either that or it is a sign of a dodgy logic board, as kernel panics are nearly always hardware related.

 

if you archive and install some of the app preferences will be saved - therefor your problem might still be there.


have you tried trashing prefs (i.e power managment, anything USB related, boot related)?


/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration



you could boot up while holding Command+V to enable verbose booting and see what's going on.


also it might help if you posted what's going on in your console...



if we can't help on here past tonight i think you should bring it to the Apple store, if they can't help - go ahead and format+reinstall a fresh copy of OS X