iPod USB Sync cable can cause Keyboard failure problem

It was so strange, but it did happened: a loosely connected iPod USB Sync Cable can cause keyboard failure problem.

All started after I tried out the USB sync cable I brought form DealExtreme. The cable worked fine, and the price was just super at US$2.98. However, it had a very strange side effect: if the cable was not connected tightly, like all the way plugged into the iPod port until making a click sound, the cable can render my DELL's input to failure functioning. And then the whole machine will freeze up. Even if I reboot it, I will get a "Keyboard failure" message. The only way to get rid of it is by unplugging the POWER cable of my DELL and replug it again. Very starnge, but at least that solves the problem.

Since I figured out the symptom, I did two things:

• Open up a bigger hole on the plastic protector of my iPod so that it's easy to plug in the cable.
• Making sure that the cable is connected tightly by pushing the plug all the way until I hear the click sound.
• To play save, maybe I should unplug the USB plug first, wait til the iPod plug on the cable is tightly connected to the iPod, and then replug the USB cable again.

Again, what a strange problem, and what a strange solution that was.