Photosmart D5160 disables USB power

[Jack-F]

When the printer is connected to my Mac Pro, whether the printer is on or off, and I start up the Mac, it disables the power to my keyboard and mouse. If I attach the printer's USB cable after the Mac starts up, it's OK. However, when the printer is connected, my USB Wireless adapter won't work. So I must always be plugging and unplugging devices.

I have tried plugging into different USB ports, but it always affects the USB busses when plugged in. I leave the printer disconnected until I need to use it. If the printer is plugged in at startup, initially I see the mouse's LED on, but just before the startup finishes, the LED goes dead. 

[printerproblem]

I have a HP photosmart 3180 and recently upgraded to 10.5.8 "still leopard". I recently looked to install this printer again on network, so I went to hp site and downloaded latest driver (marked 10.4, 10.5) downloaded and installed. Hooked printer up and everything seemed to work fine, until I tried to restart. Upon restart the MOUSE FREEZES (or disables usb power like above) and the Apple bluetooth app launched looking for my mouse?? The mouse freezes in upper screen. I tried a different usb connection, nothing? I tried to restart again, zapping pram, nothing? starting to get anxious (computer is less than year old & printer is only three years old) unplugged all usb devices and restarted again.....ok everything works again...plugged in printer ok....restart same problem. So now I have narrowed it down to the printer which for all intent and purpose is still brand new, maybe printed about 50 pages in all. 

Since I narrowed it down to be an HP issue, I called HP support. First they wanted $35 because my printer is TOO old for phone support, out of warranty. Was given an option to use chat support by operator. I tried Chat support and was told they do not offer chat support for Apple? (I was sent there by their operator that knew I was running Mac OSX) I was then offered email support, still waiting. During my conversation with HP representative I was basically told that they no longer support that model (because it's 3 YEARS OLD!) I could pay and upgrade to another printer. When asked about the HP policy and driver/hardware support for printers more than 3 years old, I was told " since they release so many new printers, they do not offer full support for hardware more than 3 years out." 

Have I lost my faith in Apple? NO it just reaffirmed that non-apple products and support are crap.
They will not help you unless you pay another $35....in which case I was told again this is only "best we can do" help and will not guarantee that they can get things to work. Way to stand by your product, HP !! 

So, I will never by another HP product again as they refuse to stand by their own hardware past 3 years!, by their own admission. I can use the printer as long as I unplug it when not in use. lol