Really strange computer problem....

[Schmidty]

...and I am stumped.

Here's the problem: Every time I move my keyboard, my computer shuts off. It just randomly started happening today and I have no idea why.

I have tried many things to figure out why this is happening. I've made sure that the keyboard chord isn't touching anything that would cause the power to turn off if moved. I've checked the power supply and it's chord. I've tried plugging the computer into a different outlet. I've checked the drivers for the keyboard. I've unplugged and cleaned every chord and connection to the computer, and then organized them so that they weren't touching each other.

No matter what I do, the problem keeps happening.

Any suggestions?

[Craptacular]

Can you try hooking up a different keyboard? This is one I've never heard before.

[Draft Dodger]

if you jiggle just the keyboard cable (not the keyboard itself) does it still shut down?

could there be a short in the keyboard/cable that's screwing up the power? odd, that's really fucked up.

[Schmidty]

I'm going to bring another keyboard home from work and see that makes any difference.

This is really pissing me off because it's such a wierd problem.

[mckerney]

Are you able to turn your computer on right away after it shuts down, or are you unable to at first?

[Airhog]

hmm sounds like you have a keyboard with a power off button on it. thats probably the only thing that could cause it. Try pluggin in another keyboard and see if that fixes it. If not, you might have a problem with your motherboard

[Schmidty]

Originally posted by mckerney
Are you able to turn your computer on right away after it shuts down, or are you unable to at first?

Sometimes it'll come right back on, and sometimes I have to wait a few seconds or plug the computer into a different outlet.

[mckerney]

Hmmm......

I may be way off base, but on the back of your computer there should be a red switch which I believe is something like voltage settings. May be a power type problem, so it may help the next time it shuts down to shift the switch to the other side. At the very least, this may allow you to turn on the computer right away.

[mckerney]

Dola:

Just out of curiousity, I'm guessing that you're using a PS/2 keyboard and not a USB keyboard.

[Schmidty]

Originally posted by mckerney
Hmmm......

I may be way off base, but on the back of your computer there should be a red switch which I believe is something like voltage settings. May be a power type problem, so it may help the next time it shuts down to shift the switch to the other side. At the very least, this may allow you to turn on the computer right away.

Correct.

Edit: I quoted the wrong person here. Oops. My answer of "correct" was directed toward the person who asked me if I was using a PS/2 as opposed to a USB.

[mckerney]

But that still doesn't fix the problem most likely. It would seem to be a problem with the power supply being overloaded or shorted through the PS/2 or USB port (again, assuming that's what you're using). I believe it would be unlikely that it would be a problem with the power supply, which would likely leave a problem in the PS/2 or USB port, or some sort of problem with power in the keyboard (less likely, I think).

If at all possible, try a keyboard that's the opposite of the connection your using.

[mckerney]

If you're the kind of nerd that, like this guy, has several keyboards you would be able to plug you'd easily be able to test if it was somehow in the keyboard, port, or somewhere else. If your not, then what the hell are you doing with your life?

[Draft Dodger]

I'm dying to hear how this turned out

[Schmidty]

I switched the keyboard to a USB port and the problem disappeared.

Wierd.

[mckerney]

Most likely it was a power surge problem with the PS/2 port your keyboard was connected to if your using the same keyboard, just through USB. If your computer would still be under warrenty you might want to have it looked at if possible, but if you can use USB connection from now on you may not want to bother as long as the problem goes away.

[Schmidty]

Originally posted by mckerney
Most likely it was a power surge problem with the PS/2 port your keyboard was connected to if your using the same keyboard, just through USB. If your computer would still be under warrenty you might want to have it looked at if possible, but if you can use USB connection from now on you may not want to bother as long as the problem goes away.

I built my computer up from a bare bones configuration that I bought, so a warrenty isn't an option. Luckily, switching to the USB port worked, so I don't have to worry about that right now.

Thanks for everyone's help.