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P4S800 and HDD Activity LED
I recently purchased a new computer using an ASUS P4S800 motherboard
(P4, 3GHz). I had been using it for about two weeks without any problems while moving software and data from my previous computer (PIII, 450MHz). The HDD activity LED only lit upon disk activity during this time, even upon application of AC power to the power supply (before actual turn-on). The last thing that needed to be done to the new computer was to move the PCI modem card from the previous computer to the new one. I powered up the machine and Windows XP Pro found the new hardware (modem) and installed support. I then created connectoids for connecting to dial-up accounts for backup (primary is DSL) Internet access. I then decided to put the side plate back on the computer so I told WinXP to shutdown. When the computer shutdown, I noticed the HDD activity LED was still on! The power LED was off!. This seemed odd to me, but I continued anyway. When I disconnected AC power, the HDD LED went off. I then put the side plate on, reconnected cables, and applied AC power. After applying AC power but before pressing the ON switch, the HDD LED came back on! I then powered up the machine. Everything worked properly. I left the machine on while doing other things. Sometime later (1 to 2 hours), I heard a very loud "pop" sound that came from the new computer and upon investigation I found the machine was off and there was a definite smell of burnt electronics coming from the power supply fan vent hole. The computer would not turn back on. I took the machine back to the computer store today and had the power supply replaced. The machine now works again. However, the HDD LED still comes on as described above when any (I tried two different ones in different slots) PCI modem is installed. Now thinking there is a possible problem, I removed the modem. The HDD LED is back to working like what I feel is proper - only on during actual disk access. My questions: 1. Does anyone know why installing a PCI modem causes the HDD LED to work the way described above? 2. Did the described HDD LED action with modem installed have anthing to do with the power supply going bad? Thanks in advance. |
#2
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In article , Bob Felton
wrote: I recently purchased a new computer using an ASUS P4S800 motherboard (P4, 3GHz). I had been using it for about two weeks without any problems while moving software and data from my previous computer (PIII, 450MHz). The HDD activity LED only lit upon disk activity during this time, even upon application of AC power to the power supply (before actual turn-on). The last thing that needed to be done to the new computer was to move the PCI modem card from the previous computer to the new one. I powered up the machine and Windows XP Pro found the new hardware (modem) and installed support. I then created connectoids for connecting to dial-up accounts for backup (primary is DSL) Internet access. I then decided to put the side plate back on the computer so I told WinXP to shutdown. When the computer shutdown, I noticed the HDD activity LED was still on! The power LED was off!. This seemed odd to me, but I continued anyway. When I disconnected AC power, the HDD LED went off. I then put the side plate on, reconnected cables, and applied AC power. After applying AC power but before pressing the ON switch, the HDD LED came back on! I then powered up the machine. Everything worked properly. I left the machine on while doing other things. Sometime later (1 to 2 hours), I heard a very loud "pop" sound that came from the new computer and upon investigation I found the machine was off and there was a definite smell of burnt electronics coming from the power supply fan vent hole. The computer would not turn back on. I took the machine back to the computer store today and had the power supply replaced. The machine now works again. However, the HDD LED still comes on as described above when any (I tried two different ones in different slots) PCI modem is installed. Now thinking there is a possible problem, I removed the modem. The HDD LED is back to working like what I feel is proper - only on during actual disk access. My questions: 1. Does anyone know why installing a PCI modem causes the HDD LED to work the way described above? 2. Did the described HDD LED action with modem installed have anthing to do with the power supply going bad? Thanks in advance. I think somehow, the PCI modem has bridged +5V to +5VSB. Maybe the PCI modem caused the demise of the power supply ? Looking at the PCI spec, I can think of only two ways this can happen. If the modem card is PCI 2.2 compliant, pin 14A connects to 3.3Vaux, which I think is used to power the modem card so it can detect a wakeup event (like Wake on Ring). Presumably, 3.3Vaux is derived from +5VSB somehow on the motherboard. That is a long shot. If the PCI card uses a spec rev number less than that, (PCI 2.1), then pin 14A is unconnected. To get +5VSB, an older PCI card would need one of those "Wake on LAN" three pin connectors and signal cable, which carries +5VSB, PME, GND. Do you have a cable like that connected to the modem card ? Perhaps the "sneak" path is through such a cable. Maybe the modem card has joined +5V to +5VSB through some fault or design feature on the card. In any case, if this were me, I would leave that modem card sitting in the junk bin for the time being. The funny behavior and popped power supply might be more than a coincidence. As always, this is Just A Guess, Paul |
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My query to ASUS support explaining problem exactly as explained here
returned an absolutely useless response. All they suggested was to ensure power supply in use was 350W or greater. I have resolved the problem, however. I finally tracked down a manual for the modem. Turns out there is one jumper on the card. It needs to be removed when there is +5V standby power in the system. With jumper removed, HDD activity LED now works normally with modem installed. On Wed, 06 Oct 2004 15:10:37 -0700, Bob Felton wrote: Thanks for the reply, Paul. Most informative. I, too, think the demise of the P/S was more than a coincidence. I believe the modem insertion and P/S demise were related. I have left the modem out until I determine if it was the cause. I will look up its specification to which it "conforms". The modem does not have a cable assy attached nor does it have a connector for one. The modem is about 3 years old. Thanks, again, Paul. On Tue, 05 Oct 2004 20:28:30 -0400, (Paul) wrote: In article , Bob Felton wrote: I recently purchased a new computer using an ASUS P4S800 motherboard (P4, 3GHz). I had been using it for about two weeks without any problems while moving software and data from my previous computer (PIII, 450MHz). The HDD activity LED only lit upon disk activity during this time, even upon application of AC power to the power supply (before actual turn-on). The last thing that needed to be done to the new computer was to move the PCI modem card from the previous computer to the new one. I powered up the machine and Windows XP Pro found the new hardware (modem) and installed support. I then created connectoids for connecting to dial-up accounts for backup (primary is DSL) Internet access. I then decided to put the side plate back on the computer so I told WinXP to shutdown. When the computer shutdown, I noticed the HDD activity LED was still on! The power LED was off!. This seemed odd to me, but I continued anyway. When I disconnected AC power, the HDD LED went off. I then put the side plate on, reconnected cables, and applied AC power. After applying AC power but before pressing the ON switch, the HDD LED came back on! I then powered up the machine. Everything worked properly. I left the machine on while doing other things. Sometime later (1 to 2 hours), I heard a very loud "pop" sound that came from the new computer and upon investigation I found the machine was off and there was a definite smell of burnt electronics coming from the power supply fan vent hole. The computer would not turn back on. I took the machine back to the computer store today and had the power supply replaced. The machine now works again. However, the HDD LED still comes on as described above when any (I tried two different ones in different slots) PCI modem is installed. Now thinking there is a possible problem, I removed the modem. The HDD LED is back to working like what I feel is proper - only on during actual disk access. My questions: 1. Does anyone know why installing a PCI modem causes the HDD LED to work the way described above? 2. Did the described HDD LED action with modem installed have anthing to do with the power supply going bad? Thanks in advance. I think somehow, the PCI modem has bridged +5V to +5VSB. Maybe the PCI modem caused the demise of the power supply ? Looking at the PCI spec, I can think of only two ways this can happen. If the modem card is PCI 2.2 compliant, pin 14A connects to 3.3Vaux, which I think is used to power the modem card so it can detect a wakeup event (like Wake on Ring). Presumably, 3.3Vaux is derived from +5VSB somehow on the motherboard. That is a long shot. If the PCI card uses a spec rev number less than that, (PCI 2.1), then pin 14A is unconnected. To get +5VSB, an older PCI card would need one of those "Wake on LAN" three pin connectors and signal cable, which carries +5VSB, PME, GND. Do you have a cable like that connected to the modem card ? Perhaps the "sneak" path is through such a cable. Maybe the modem card has joined +5V to +5VSB through some fault or design feature on the card. In any case, if this were me, I would leave that modem card sitting in the junk bin for the time being. The funny behavior and popped power supply might be more than a coincidence. As always, this is Just A Guess, Paul |
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