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35 Replies Last post: May 21, 2008 6:04 PM by mphenterprises Go to original post 1 2 3 Previous Next

mphenterprises

9,066 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

15. May 14, 2008 7:55 PM

in response to: drski

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Okay, I think there may be a bit of miscommunication here. When you say "It just has the two light..." to what do you refer? Since you do not have a manufactured computer, just telling us that your computer has lights that you are unfamiliar with has no basis. We really want to help you but your posts so far have been ambiguous at best.

As Flashorn suggested, this could be the power and hard drive activity lights; however, as you stated, it would be very hard to figure how the hard drive and power light would remain on after the Power is turned off. At this point, we really cannot provide any real suggestions. The only thing I can suggest at this time is that your Power Supply is failing.

Other than that, please tell us exactly from where the light is emanated. Also, if the source of the light is emanating from the case, do you happen to know the case manufacturer and model number? That may help to narrow the source of the issue a bit.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

Flashorn

1,542 posts since
May 19, 2007

16. May 14, 2008 8:14 PM

in response to: drski

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Hey drski!!

The light that you see in front of your PC could also be a fan light or

a power supply light.

Is your PC feeling hot? Since it is 4 years old and you have never opened

the case , it could also mean that the inside of your PC is full of

dust and thus the fans are working longer to get the temperature

inside your PC under control.

Put your hand in the back of the PC and feel if the fan for the power supply

is working all the time and how hot is the air that comes out.

I don't want to push you in any situation that you would be

uncomfortable with but, opening the side of your PC is not

very hard or demanding. Two screws on the bottom left side

and two more on the upper left side and you are done.

This could be a solution to your problem.

FLASHORN.

Patience is life.

mcbarker

699 posts since
Aug 10, 2006

17. May 15, 2008 8:54 AM

in response to: Flashorn

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

I hope I'm not out of line, but I think you guys are overly complicating this. I have had this problem in the past, and found that having the (powered) speakers plugged into the same electrical circuit as the computer caused this (notice I didn't say outlet... A single circuit could cover several outlets). Make sure that both the computer and the speaker power plugs are properly grounded (earthed in the UK), and that the outlet itself is grounded.

If there is righteousness in the heart, There will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, There will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, There will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, There will be peace in the world. So let it be.

mphenterprises

9,066 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

18. May 15, 2008 9:00 AM

in response to: mcbarker

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Hi MCBarker. Don't worry about it at all. There is no such thing as out of line when it comes to this forum. I am glad that you can shed some light on this situation. Hopefully your suggestions will help.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

Flashorn

1,542 posts since
May 19, 2007

19. May 15, 2008 9:09 AM

in response to: mcbarker

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Hey mcb!!

Yes , we thought that the speakers were the problem, not being well grounded.

That;s why I asked if they were self powered and if everything was plugged in the same place.

But, I think that the speakers are just amplifying a noise of some kind from inside the

PC.In fact , the problem might be coming form whatever light is still flashing after

the member shuts down the PC.

This might be the power supply light or a fan light or the HDD light .

MPH suggested this might be a power supply failure

We don't know yet, the member did not specify.

FLASHORN.

Patience is life.

mcbarker

699 posts since
Aug 10, 2006

20. May 15, 2008 9:36 AM

in response to: Flashorn

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

On my older systems (1 home built and 1 Dell), I've seen the HDD light flash briefly after normally shutting down the system. It never became problematic.

Flashorn

1,542 posts since
May 19, 2007

21. May 15, 2008 10:05 AM

in response to: mcbarker

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Hey mcb!!

Good! I'm glad I'm not the only one that has had that experience.

But , you see, the member reports that it stays on for a couple of minutes after

shutting down.

If it would be a new build , I would say that the wires were somehow inverted

and that the HDD light is still getting some power.

drski also says the there is still some noise in the case after shutting down the PC.

which leads me to believe that there might be some kind of activity , like a fan

that is still running.

What do you think?

FLASHORN.

Patience is life.

mcbarker

699 posts since
Aug 10, 2006

22. May 15, 2008 10:31 AM

in response to: Flashorn

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Sorry, I misread the original post. I thought drski said a few seconds... not minutes. Since there is is obviously power still going through the system, something is either wrongly connected (not likely since the problem just started), a wire or connection may have loosened enough to short somewhere in the system, or there was a power surge (or maybe just old age) which damaged one of the PSU or MB components, causing something on either the PSU or MB to fail, and whatever capacitors are on the MB are holding enough charge to power something for the few minutes in question.

It's difficult for someone who knows very little about the technical side of computers to decribe the sound that he or she is hearing, or identify which component is causing it. Is it a whirring sound (HDD) or a whoosh (fan) or a clicking or clunking sound (dying HDD). At least there's no mention of electrical burning smell.

drski

14 posts since
May 14, 2008

23. May 16, 2008 5:49 PM

in response to: Flashorn

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Sorry been gone for aday.I took your advice and took the tower apart and blew it out.Still same problem.When it is shut down the fan still goes and i think the power supply is going.what do you think.

mphenterprises

9,066 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

24. May 16, 2008 9:18 PM

in response to: drski

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Hi DrSki. To be honest, we really have no other direction to turn at this point. We still do not know the manufacturer and model number of your motherboard. We would need this information if we are going to recommend any replacement Power Supplies. Also, it would be good to know the current peak wattage of your current Power Supply. This information is listed on the sticker of the Power Supply itself.

In addition to this, MCBarker provided an alternative that may resolve your issue, please review his post and follow his suggestions.

I would like to be frank for a moment. I can understand that it is hard to describe from where the light is emanating or the exact sound your computer is making but this information would go a long way in determining exactly what is wrong. The Power Supply suggestion was the best suggestion we could provide based on the information presented to date.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

drski

14 posts since
May 14, 2008

25. May 17, 2008 4:17 AM

in response to: mphenterprises

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

The tower is made ASUS and the motherboard is the same.The power supply is Nspire 300watts.The power supply was replaced 7/2005.There are two lights on the front of the computer.One on top of the other.the bottomone is the one that is blinking.I'm not including the cdrom and floppy lights they are fine.Its the other two.Right under the two lights are two buttons the bottom is to it on the other i have never used.i put my ear to it when it was shut down and i could hear a noise. the fan keeps going but not strong at all.I blew the inside of the computer out but that didn't help.Is it possible to take the power supply out if my sons and put it in mine to see if thats the cause.I have never worked on a computer.

mphenterprises

9,066 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

26. May 17, 2008 5:00 AM

in response to: drski

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Okay, as Flashorn surmised, the lights are more than likely referring to the Power LED and the HDD (Hard Disk Drive) Activity LED. Now, the fact that both of these lights stay on for minutes after the computer is completely shut down, and the fact that you hear and feel the spinning of the hard drive, would lead me to believe that the Power Supply is still providing juice to the computer components. I personally have never ran into a situation where the Power Supply would do something like that; however, as MCBarker stated, there could be a corrupt lead from the Power Supply or, as speculated, the Power Supply may be failing.

Before we consider swapping Power Supplies, please do the following: (with the computer case cover off)

Check to make sure all Power Supply leads are securely in place

When the computer shuts off, verify which fans are still spinning

When the computer shuts off, gently touch the hard drive to verify if the hard drive is still spinning (When doing this, make sure you are grounded by touching a metal part of the computer case)

We cannot arbitrarily swap one Power Supply for another until we determine the exact motherboard configuration and match it with the other Power Supply. Please download, install, and run the Belarc Advisor. This will tell you the model number of the motherboard. If your son's computer's Power Supply is compatible, then we can safely suggest a swap. To determine this, please provide the manufacturer and model number of your son's computer. If his computer is custom as yours, please install the same Belarc Advisor on his computer and provide the motherboard model manufacturer and model number.

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

Flashorn

1,542 posts since
May 19, 2007

27. May 17, 2008 11:50 AM

in response to: drski

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

Hey drski!!

Could you also download and install HDtune . Use the FREE version

which is for Personal Use, meaning all of us. just click on the BLUE word.

This is what you will see:

OK, now at the top of the application, you can see the Temperature that your HDD is

running at . This value should not be more the 55*C if it is , this is an indicator that

your Hard Drive is having difficulties.

You can now click on the START button to verify that your HDD does not have any

BAD SECTORS. All of the gray squares will become GREEN .

This test could take as long as ONE (1) HOUR .

Do NOt check mark the Quick Scan box.

Let it do a Full Scan.

IF any of the squares turn red , that would also indicate that your HDD

is having difficulties.

Next , once the test is finished click on the "Info. Tab "

This what you will see:

This tab will give you all the information concerning your Hard Drive.

When you have finished gather up the info from both of these tabs

and report your findings in your next post.

This will tell us if your HDD is in fact in good working order.

Thank You.

FLASHORN.

Patience is life.

drski

14 posts since
May 14, 2008

28. May 17, 2008 5:20 PM

in response to: Flashorn

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

I did not get a temperature reading.In the info tab i got

Capacity 114439 MB

Usage 12.19%

Type NTFS

Bootable Yes

Support Features

these all had chack marks

S.M.A.R.T

Read Look Ahead

Write Cache

Host Protection Area

Device Configuration

Firmware Upgradeable

Automatic Acoustic

Power Management

Firmware Version 16.06V16

Serial # WD-WMA8C4369305

Capacity 111.8GB

Buffer 8192KB

Standard ATA/ATAPI-5

Supported and Active UDMA MODE5 { ULTRA ATA/100}

The error scan came all green

The light has been staying on alot longer lately

drski

14 posts since
May 14, 2008

29. May 17, 2008 5:48 PM

in response to: mphenterprises

Re: Speakers Pop When Computer Shuts Down

I took the cover off and both fans are running.There was a little green light that was lit also.When the power was disconnected everything shut down right away.There were no loose wires that i could see.

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