PLugging in USB device causes my macbook to RESET

[dizzle86]

For about the past month or so, I have had a huge problem with my macbook pro. Whenever I plug in a USB device such as an external hardrive, a flashdrive, a digital camera to upload photos, or even my ipod, the whole screen instantly goes dark the second the device is connected. Once the screen goes dark, a message comes up saying that I need to hit the reset button or hold down the power button for several seconds. The only 2 USB devices I can still use to my knowledge without receiving this error are my iphone and my USB mouse. My software is up to date. If I plug in my external hardrive via the firewire port, it works perfectly fine. But if i use the USB port, then BAM same thing happens every time. It used to work perfectly fine up until a month or so ago. I cannot figure out what is causing this to happen.

Somebody please help me and let me know if there is a way to fix this??

 

[spinnerlys]

What you are experiencing is called a Kernel Panic.

It is often software related, but can also be hardware related.

If you still have warranty I would advise you to go to your next Apple Store or authorized repair shop.


Depending on what kind of MacBook Pro you could try the following:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411

 

[iLog.Genius]

1. Try reseting PRAM and SMC
2. Does that happen in a new user?
3. Depending on what happens in a new user, you will perform either an archive and install with or without preserving user settings.
4. If 1-3 doesn't work, then it probably is hardware related.

 

[dizzle86]

1. Try reseting PRAM and SMC
2. Does that happen in a new user?
3. Depending on what happens in a new user, you will perform either an archive and install with or without preserving user settings.
4. If 1-3 doesn't work, then it probably is hardware related.

Yes it does happen in a new user I tried creating a new user and it still gave me the same problem

 

[Patriks7]

Do you by any chance have an iPhone/Touch that you jailbroke? Cause when I did, I had to install this thing from the dev site for jailbreak to work and then uninstall it, so I'm thinking you might have the same problem as I had the same thing happen to me (dark screen with message).

 

[iLog.Genius]

Yes it does happen in a new user I tried creating a new user and it still gave me the same problem

Try backing up your data and perform an erase and install. If the problem still occurs, set up a repair.