shutdown problem

when I shutdown the computer shuts everything down but when the power is finally shut off the little white light on the front continues to blink and tick unless I shut off the power to the computer. Other than that everything works fine. Help. Thanks.

 

Welcome to MG.

What sort of PC is it? And what OS are you using?

 

It's an emachine running XP Home.

 

Good - but what sort of eMachine? Desktop? Notebook? Please try and give as much information as you can. It can then help us find a solution for you.

 

Sorry. It's a Model T2596 desktop. The power supply went on it. I tried to turn it on one day and it wouldn't. I determined that it was the power supply. I installed a used power supply from an emachine Mod. T2682. I started it up and everything worked fine until I shut it down. That's when, after everything else shut off, the hard drive access light kept on blinking and it made the ticking sound. Also the green light on one of my CD drives blinks along with it. I disconnected the CD drive but it still happens. Thanks for your interest.

 

Was the used power supply known to be in proper working condition?

 

Yes it was.

 

Unplug the HD and try booting from your CD (or bootable floppy). What happens then?

 

The same thing. Even with the hard drive disconnected, when I shut down the HD access light blinked and it made the ticking noise. ???

 

So, where is the ticking noise coming from?

 

It was coming from the floppy drive. I unplugged the power and the noise stopped but the light kept blinking. So I started up again with the floppy disconnected and I shut down again. No noise but a cd drive light was blinking along with the HD access light. I started up with the cd drive disconnected and shutdown and the HD access light still blinked and the green light around the power button was blinking. It seems as though the system doesn't want to shutdown completely or it's trying to startup again and is searching for a startup disc in the floppy or cd drive. I don't know. What do you think?

 

I think to err on the side of caution, you should run an HDD diagnostic, just in case the failed power supply did any damage to the HDD (hard drive).

If S.M.A.R.T. is enabled:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/DiskCheckup_d3464.html

If not, this is web based and does any HDD:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Western_Digital_Data_Lifeguard_Tools_d2855.html

The second may be easier, since you can boot up.

 

Will try that. Let you know tomorrow. Thanks.

 

Checked HD. OK. I also took out my HD and put in another one from a working machine and the same thing is happening. It seems it's not shutting down all the way.

 

Since everything checks out OK, had my worries because of the PSU failure, I would double check to make absolutely sure you have all the pins and sockets correctly configured for the control circuits. That would be the very small plugs that go to the power button, etc.

 

I agree with the mekanic. Now we are sure that it is not the HD it can really only be a duff connection or the PSU.

 

Re-read your post, I just took a nap since I work in the wee hours of the AM on the East Coast.

That other machine you used, it functions normally with another HDD, correct?

If indeed it does, have you tried your HDD in that machine?

There are times when a bonafide electrical problem may exist, and not show up in a standard diagnostic.
Sort of like Spyware coming up on some scanners, and not others.

 

@ Mekanic,

I'm pretty sure that's what edzwordz meant was a working HD from a second PC gave the same symptoms in the duff PC. But I agrree that it would be a good idea to try the HD from the duff PC in the working PC just to confirm that the HD is, as I think we both suspect, working OK.

 

Yea Guys, I did that and it works. :cry

 

It's the HDD? Or the PSU? I'm sorry I'm a little confused at the moment...

 

I had the same problem with an emachine desktop that I never figured out. I just unplugged the power cord from the back of the machine everytime i shutdown. (The clicking does indeed come from the floppy drive.) It has the original PSU installed also.

I pulled the HDD, CD, and floppy drive and put in new box. New setup works great. I am assuming it is a motherboard issue.

 

I put the HD from the problem PC into a working PC and everything worked normally. So, I don't believe it's a HD issue. I also just turn off the power to the computer when it's shut down to stop the problem. From all I've read here and elsewhere I believe it's a power down problem and it could be caused by the power supply. I will try to find another one to substitute again. I've tried other repairs I found online and none of them worked. LejaBeatz, are you saying that after you replaced all those components you don't have the power down problem any more?

 

Good! At least I don't need to wish you deepest condolences in regard to your HDD!