usb ports question

[mcd840]

i have allways wondered this, why is it that when my computer is switched off there is still power going to my usb ports? my speakers still power on, my optical mouse still flashes, my partner bought me a new optical mouse in the shape of a car with lights on it but i cant use it because when the comp is switched of its front a rear lights stay on! is there a reason why the usb ports stay live? anyway of switching them of?

 

thanks

[KenB]

Hi,

 

This is because your Power Supply Unit is still supplying power to your motherboard.

To turn the USB ports off ( mouse too ) you will need to ensure that the machine is turned off at the wall so that no power gets to the PSU.

 

There may be a setting in the BIOS.

[mcd840]

Hi,

 

This is because your Power Supply Unit is still supplying power to your motherboard.

To turn the USB ports off ( mouse too ) you will need to ensure that the machine is turned off at the wall so that no power gets to the PSU.

 

There may be a setting in the BIOS.

 

hi ken, is it normal for the power to still be going to the motherboard when its switched of?

 

thanks

[KenB]

Hi

I think it is more normal for everything to shut down - but I have come across this before.

 

How are you shutting down ?

 

Check your Power Settings

Start > Control Panel > Power Options

Look for "Choose What the Power Buttons Do"

[martinlikecomputers]

The reply before are all correct. When you shutdown your computer it does not mean that you stop power reaching the motherboard. It has something to do with science.When your computer in plugged in to the wall you still a connect circuit but when you open the circuit meaning that power can no longer travel to the motherboard of the computer

[Plastic Nev]

From my own experience with my present Packard Bell Windows7 machine I think the power still on to other parts of circuitry is within the power supply itself. This could be common to more modern power supplies or just certain makes, I am not sure.

 

However, even though the system is shut down, there still has to be some power on from the power supply in order for the normal system start button on the front of the case to work.

That button momentarily makes a connection that turns the power supply fully on with all the different voltages coming on that are required to run the computer.

 

On my older XP machine, there seems to be no other power coming out other than the needed start system voltage, however this Windows 7 machine is similar to yours with power lighting things on the keyboard as well as still power to USB ports.

 

I have a multi socket surge extension lead that has a power switch on it, that gets turned off once the system has shut down. Surprisingly, since I started doing so, that has reduced my electricity bill by a substantial amount too.

 

Nev.