USB memory stick
 

Haven't used a USB memory stick for some while; tend to use wifi to transfer data, but yesterday I'd left the lappy elsewhere. Never mind, I said, I'll put the docs onto a dongle. Plugged it in to my desktop machine.

BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH. :eek: First time since I installed W7 a year ago.

Another USB stick worked fine.

Today, with a bit of time on me hands, I plugged the first stick in, just for interest, in Safe Mode this time. Crashed the machine again. Needless to say, I've binned the offending stick.

But I'm just interested: I've never (had / heard of) this happening before. I'm sorta wondering what happened to what up to now has been a crash-proof system. Any thoughts?

No mechanical echos around the system? i.e. sudden slowing of fans, hard drive noise.

Now that it's binned, you can't try it on another machine. (It would have to be a low value item.) but it sounds as though it is 'crowbaring' the 5v line.