USB ports causing damage to devices?

[sarotara]

I have a rather odd problem that I was hoping someone would be able to help me with. About a week ago any devices (cell phone, memory sticks) that I plugged into my desktop PC stopped working. When the devices were initially plugged into the PC's USB port they were not detected... when they were next plugged into another computer they simply did not work anymore (USB flash drives are not being detected, cell phone simply went dead). The odd thing is that the mouse and keyboard work no matter what USB port they are plugged in on that computer. The computer is running Windows XP SP3 with all of the latest updates, motherboard is Epox EP-9NPA+ Ultra with 2GB RAM and an AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+. Is what I'm describing here even possible or could there be another cause?

 

[mpilchfamily]

The USB devises get power from the 5V line of the PSU. If there is a problem with the PSu where the 5V rail is pushing more the 5V you could be frying components inside the items plugged into the port. But then you would also be having some other power related issues. A simple check of the 5V rail with a DMM will rule that out. There is also a chance there is a problem with the motherboard itself causing shorts in the USB connections. If the PSU checks out i'd just replace the motherboard.