Thinkpads Forum

I believe the problem with Lenovo X300 notebooks freezing when you insert a USB device is not software, driver, or firmware related. I believe there is a hardware problem with the X300. Specifically, I believe it is a grounding problem and that the X300 is sensitive to static electricity. Thus, an X300 may work fine in a humid climate - but not in a dry climate.

I have sent my X300 to Lenovo twice. The last time they 'resolved my problem' by re-imaging the system (with Vista Ultimate). After receiving the re-imaged system directly from Lenovo (and before installing any software), I began testing USB devices. I concluded I could insert devices all day long if I stood perfectly still and wore a wrist grounding strap. But, if I walked across (a carpeted) room to get a USB device and then inserted the USB device, the X300 would freeze as usual.

People have theorized that moving the mouse before inserting a USB device has solved their problem. If so, I suggest they were simply discharging static electricity from their body before touching the USB slot.

To ensure this problem is not unique to Vista, I imaged the X300 with XP Pro. The results were exactly the same. I also did the same tests on a Lenovo X60 laptop and an Acer Aspire One notebook. I could get neither of these devices to fail, even after sliding my feet on the floor to intentionally build up a static charge.

Many of us have spent countless hours trying to figure out why we cannot reliably use USB devices on a $3,000 laptop. Even though there are numerous postings from users having USB problems, I can find nothing from Lenovo acknowledging the problem. It is time for Lenovo to rise up and solve this problem.

I have x301 and i dont have any problems with USB devices

My X301 never showed this problem either, only the 4 X300 that we have have this issue.

Well..

Let me bring some news here.

It also happens on my X301!
So I guess it's not just the X300 but also the X301.

It was just today that my wife complained saying that it happened to her several times also when she inserts a USB device. I actually came in the forum for something else, but here I see that is a some kind of an 'ilness' with the X300/X301

Lenovo should be ashamed of themselves. Worst, it seems like a hardware issue and so they would not be able to magically solve this thing through software.

I am happy to report that the USB freeze problem on my X300 has been resolved. It turns out that this is a known problem and there are newer mother boards that fix the problem.

rlmorrisonwy wrote:I believe the problem with Lenovo X300 notebooks freezing when you insert a USB device is not software, driver, or firmware related. I believe there is a hardware problem with the X300. Specifically, I believe it is a grounding problem and that the X300 is sensitive to static electricity. Thus, an X300 may work fine in a humid climate - but not in a dry climate.

I noticed this problem within the first week of owning my X300. I agree that it's some kind of static/hardware issue. I've had the machine hard-lock on me a couple of times while plugging in a USB device, but I've also had it happen a couple of times when I unintentionally gave the machine a hard 'tap' (by setting it down on a table a little too hard, for example).

I've had both Vista and Windows 7 on the machine, and it's happened at least once with each operating system.

I've debated sending the machine in for some kind of hardware fix/replacement, but I'm worried about how long I'll be without a machine. Has anyone had any experience with this?