This is a strange one!
We just purchased a new printer - an HP Deskjet 5470 to be precise. Whenever it's plugged into the main desktop PC, the surround speakers start making strange high-pitched noises, and white noise whenever the printer is, well, printing.
I've tried plugging the printer into my monitor USB ports, into the case ports and into the ports directly on the motherboard itself. The problem never seems to go away. I've tried moving the printer away from the computer, which does not work, which leads me to believe the interference is coming down the USB cable itself. It works absolutely fine, with no strange noises at all, when plugged into either of the laptops - in fact I can use it right next to the affected PC, as long as it's plugged into the laptop - so the interference must be via the cable?
Could the metal from one of my USB sockets be electrically linked to the backplate of the soundcard by touching the computer case? The noise comes from only the front speakers, but it's affecting all of the sockets. No other USB devices give me any problems. The printer doesn't have a parallel port I can use either
Thanks in advance for any suggestions
