USB over-current errors with Linux on Intel DG945GCLF motherboard

I am running Debian Linux (5.0 Lenny) on an Intel DG945GCLF motherboard (this motherboard uses an Atom processor).
For some time now it has been continuously logging the following errors to syslog:
[ 15.454952] hub 5-0:1.0: over-current change on port 5
[ 15.558479] hub 5-0:1.0: over-current change on port 6
[ 15.664655] hub 3-0:1.0: over-current change on port 1
[ 15.768627] hub 3-0:1.0: over-current change on port 2
[ 15.935055] hub 5-0:1.0: over-current change on port 5
[ 16.038614] hub 5-0:1.0: over-current change on port 6
[ 16.142621] hub 5-0:1.0: over-current change on port 5
[ 16.253517] hub 5-0:1.0: over-current change on port 6
[ 16.357561] hub 3-0:1.0: over-current change on port 1

These errors keep the disk pretty busy and slow the system down.
My first thought was that there was a hardware problem, but I still get the errors when there are no USB devices plugged in.
After much googling and frustration I found a suggestion on the net to upgrade the BIOS and that finally fixed the problem.

Upgrading the BIOS on an Intel motherboard is very easy if you have a CD drive to boot off.
Go to the Intel downloads centre http://downloadcenter.intel.com/default.aspx
Select "Desktop Boards", "Intel 945 Express Chipset Family Boards", "Intel Desktop Board DG945GCLF" then select "BIOS" for the download type. Find the BIOS update that ahs a status of "Latest" and click on that update. Then find the ISO file and download that (as of 21st Jan 2011 the file is "LF0278P.ISO").
Burn the ISO file to a CD and then boot the DG945GCLF motherboard from that CD and follow the instructions.

Instructions on running the BIOS upgrade are here:
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-023359.htm