Computer wont boot with USB cable plugged in

[Jynx980]

Helping one of my friends hook up a new printer. It uses a USB cable. I brought one that I found in my closet of computer crap but it said that the computer could not connect to the printer. It also would not boot up with the USB cable plugged in either of the usb ports. I figured it was a bad cable and got a new one for it. The communication works fine now but the damn thing will not boot if the cable is plugged in. The lights come on, but nothing comes up on the screen and the hard drive does not seem to be accessed very much. It could be a bad port but then why wold it work in windows? Any idea on whats causing this? BIOS setting? Bad usb ports? Gremlins in the computer?

The computer is an old AT system with a 450 mhz PII and 256 MB PC100 Running windows xp. Printer is a used all in one Lexmark x1100 series.

 

[amdskip]

It could be a power issue with an older computer. Try using a powered usb hub between the two.

 

[phonemonkey]

Have you tried to plug the printer into another computer to see if it works? I had an old zip drive (ac powered) go bad that stopped my machine from booting when it was plugged in. I ended up tossing it as it wouldn't allow any machine it was plugged into to boot.

 

[Jynx980]

Havent tried it in any other computer, it was a used printer so it could be bad.

I have replaced the power supply on this computer before. No other devices are using the usb ports.

I think she is going to return it, just the cost of one black ink cartridge will cost more than she payed for it in the first place. This woman is on an EXTREMLY fixed income, yet she wants a fax/scan/print model. I will try those two things if I run into a similar problem again. Thank you.