P4C800 High Tech, but not SATA Drive Activity Light

  • Thread starter Thread starter Martineau Gauda
  • Start date Start date
M

Martineau Gauda

Hi, just got off the phone with ASUS Support and discovered that HD drive
light is not a design feature of the P4C800-E Deluxe board when used with
SATA drive.

This is absolutely amazing!!!! This board has everything on earth but will
not provide drive activity light when using a single SATA drive on the SATA
channel. The light indicates PATA, DVD and CD-ROM activity if a SATA drive
is attached.

This shortcoming has been verified by ASUS.

I really want a drive activity light for my new "latest high tech system"

Anyone think of a work around?

Martineau Gauda
(e-mail address removed)
 
Martineau Gauda said:
Hi, just got off the phone with ASUS Support and discovered that HD drive
light is not a design feature of the P4C800-E Deluxe board when used with
SATA drive.
Click to expand...

Umm, bullshit.
I own this board, and i watch my damn yellow light flicker everytime i load
a program
or run an application.
This is absolutely amazing!!!! This board has everything on earth but will
not provide drive activity light when using a single SATA drive on the SATA
channel. The light indicates PATA, DVD and CD-ROM activity if a SATA drive
is attached.
Click to expand...
I only have my DVD-R and my CDRW on the PATA channels.
and 1 SATA hard drive, so either its reading nothing out of empty drives, or
its reading my HD, and working fine.
This shortcoming has been verified by ASUS.
Click to expand...

The person you were talking to didnt understand your question, because it
works.
I really want a drive activity light for my new "latest high tech system"

Anyone think of a work around?
Click to expand...

Hook your drive indicator up properly.
 
Martineau Gauda said:
Hi, just got off the phone with ASUS Support and discovered that HD drive
light is not a design feature of the P4C800-E Deluxe board when used with
SATA drive.

This is absolutely amazing!!!! This board has everything on earth but will
not provide drive activity light when using a single SATA drive on the SATA
channel. The light indicates PATA, DVD and CD-ROM activity if a SATA drive
is attached.

This shortcoming has been verified by ASUS.

I really want a drive activity light for my new "latest high tech system"
Click to expand...

ASUS support got it wrong. If you look on page 2-33 of the motherboard manual you'll see a connector for one
labelled IDE_LED. I use it for my SATA drives.

Tony.
--
3GHz P4 (HT enabled)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
PDC20378 IDE/SATA controller
ADI AD1985 audio
MSI FX5900U-VTD256 (BIOS 4.35.20.22.0)
2x 512MB Kingston PC3500
2x 36.7 SATA WD Raptors
52/32/52 LiteOn CD-Writer
16x Pioneer DVD-120S
Enermax 550W PSU
Windows XP Pro & Linux Fedora
PC-70 Lian Li case w/ side window
Hitachi 174SXW B 17" LCD

To email me, replace org.nz with net.nz
 
Tony

I see only one IDE light connector on board. This is the connector on the
20pin connector panel depicted at the top of page 2-33 (last 2 pins on the
bottom left). If it is, it is the same IDE connector I am using. I do not
have a RAID setup and I am using only one SATA drive. The light is working
properly for the CDROM and DVD drives on the parallel channel, but not the
SATA drive. I am running XP Pro and have bios 1011. The bios is set the
(enhanced IDE, SATA, NO RAID.

ASUS confirmed that the SATA light will not work with a single SATA drive.
He says tested it. I hope they are wrong.

Many thanks

Martineau

(e-mail address removed)
 
Martineau Gauda said:
Tony

I see only one IDE light connector on board. This is the connector on the
20pin connector panel depicted at the top of page 2-33 (last 2 pins on the
bottom left). If it is, it is the same IDE connector I am using. I do not
have a RAID setup and I am using only one SATA drive. The light is working
properly for the CDROM and DVD drives on the parallel channel, but not the
SATA drive. I am running XP Pro and have bios 1011. The bios is set the
(enhanced IDE, SATA, NO RAID.

ASUS confirmed that the SATA light will not work with a single SATA drive.
He says tested it. I hope they are wrong.
Click to expand...

My drives are raided. But I find it absurd that the LED will not work with one SATA drive. It makes no sense,
and so far have found no mention on the web about it. I'd figure there would be many complaints if what Asus
support said were true.

Tony.

--
3GHz P4 (HT enabled)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
PDC20378 IDE/SATA controller
ADI AD1985 audio
MSI FX5900U-VTD256 (BIOS 4.35.20.22.0)
2x 512MB Kingston PC3500
2x 36.7 SATA WD Raptors
52/32/52 LiteOn CD-Writer
16x Pioneer DVD-120S
Enermax 550W PSU
Windows XP Pro & Linux Fedora
PC-70 Lian Li case w/ side window
Hitachi 174SXW B 17" LCD

To email me, replace org.nz with net.nz
 
The Black Wibble said:
My drives are raided. But I find it absurd that the LED will not work
Click to expand...
with one SATA drive. It makes no sense,
and so far have found no mention on the web about it. I'd figure there
Click to expand...
would be many complaints if what Asus
support said were true.
Click to expand...

He has re-posted this crap 2 days running, regardless of the comments form
people who KNOW it works and OWN
the board, he's just got a faulty board, or a stupid Tech support person.
 
Le Wed, 31 Dec 2003 23:28:23 GMT, "Martineau Gauda"
Hi, just got off the phone with ASUS Support and discovered that HD drive
light is not a design feature of the P4C800-E Deluxe board when used with
SATA drive.

This is absolutely amazing!!!! This board has everything on earth but will
not provide drive activity light when using a single SATA drive on the SATA
channel. The light indicates PATA, DVD and CD-ROM activity if a SATA drive
is attached.
Click to expand...

Almost every SATA boards have the same problems I think, here A7V600,
and same before with my A7V8X.
 
Tony you do not have the same setup as I do and you may be assuming way too
much. I do not have a RAID!

Furthermore, how can I get an RMA number from ASUS to return the board when
they claim that it is not a defective board problem?

I am looking for someone with the same setup and have been able to get the
drive light working. Perhaps the senior ASUS tech I spoke to does not know
as much about the board as you.

Again, the problem is single SATA Raptor, without RAID, and drive light not
working.

I would appreciate help from anyone with this arrangement so that I can
proceed toward resolution of the problem.

You know what they say about assumptions. Please no more assumptions and
computers care less about assumptions.

Martineau
 
Tony,

Perhaps my last post should have also included Phil Callan for his sharp
remark.

Martineau
 
Phil and Tony you do not have the same setup as I do and you may be assuming
way too much. I do not have a RAID!

Furthermore, how can I get an RMA number from ASUS to return the board when
they claim that it is not a defective board problem?

I am looking for someone with the same setup and have been able to get the
drive light working. Perhaps the senior ASUS tech I spoke to does not know
as much about the board as you.

Again, the problem is single SATA Raptor, without RAID, and drive light not
working.

I would appreciate help from anyone with this arrangement so that I can
proceed toward resolution of the problem.

You know what they say about assumptions. Please no more assumptions and
computers care less about assumptions.

Martineau
 
Mmmmm.
I've run my system (based on the P4C800EDLX) with all configurations of
drives that the board supports. (Single SATA included).. My drive light
activated as normal in all situations.

JT...
 
I've also ran my Raptors in non-raid setup with the IDE led working. Did you
remember to set up the IDE in the bios for enhanced for both parallel and
sata?
 
Martineau Gauda said:
Phil and Tony you do not have the same setup as I do and you may be assuming
way too much. I do not have a RAID!
Click to expand...

Neither do I, I explained my setup (optical drives on PATA, single SATA HD)
No RAID at all.
Furthermore, how can I get an RMA number from ASUS to return the board when
they claim that it is not a defective board problem?
Click to expand...

Flash your BIOS to 1010 or 1014 and then see if you get this problem.
I am looking for someone with the same setup and have been able to get the
drive light working. Perhaps the senior ASUS tech I spoke to does not know
as much about the board as you.
Click to expand...

Perhaps the 'senior' ASUS tech you spoke to has to try and remember facts
and
figures for a whole product line, and doesnt have a lot of experience with
this particular
board. Either way, im telling you i dont give a shit what some lackey making
minimum wage
doing Tech support tells you (and asus telephone support has had numerous
complaints)

I'm telling you I have this board, and with 2 optical drives on PATA (empty,
no cd's dont try
and tell me the indicator is showing it reading nothing) and a SINGLE HD on
the SATA headers.

And each and every time windows loads, or I start a program, I watch it
flicker as it access the drive.

So please, Mr 'dont make assumptions' QUIT ASSUMING ITS THE BOARD.
Again, the problem is single SATA Raptor, without RAID, and drive light not
working.
Click to expand...

Okay, now here's the clincher, does the freaking LED work at all? is there
perhaps a loose
connect between where you have hooked the ide indicator and the front panel.
I would appreciate help from anyone with this arrangement so that I can
proceed toward resolution of the problem.

You know what they say about assumptions. Please no more assumptions and
computers care less about assumptions.
Click to expand...

You made an assumption, and persist in spreading it around the group,
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS BOARD AND ITS INDICATORS
You have had 2-3 OWNERS of this board, who have a perfectly working
indicator,
and have indicated so to you, but you persist in posting a message that
makes people
assume the fault is with the board, and not wiring, your case, or your
skill.

Why dont you try double checking the BIOS settings people have offered you
to check,
or double checking your wiring and the orientation of the wires on the
header, like has
been suggested, perhaps you have it backwards.
 
John Tindle said:
Mmmmm.
I've run my system (based on the P4C800EDLX) with all configurations of
drives that the board supports. (Single SATA included).. My drive light
activated as normal in all situations.

JT...
Click to expand...
Ignore him, he probably just has a crappy LED, but he persists in blaming
the board, and says
he spoke to ASUS tech support, but I doubt that as well.
 
Martineau Gauda said:
Tony you do not have the same setup as I do and you may be assuming way too
much. I do not have a RAID!
Click to expand...

I know, and I may be assuming way too much. So, on the off chance you spoke to a monkey at Asus support, I
sent them an email. There's less chance the same person who spoke to you on the phone would also be handling
emails. I'll post the response here when I get it.

Tony.

--
3GHz P4 (HT enabled)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
PDC20378 IDE/SATA controller
ADI AD1985 audio
MSI FX5900U-VTD256 (BIOS 4.35.20.22.0)
2x 512MB Kingston PC3500
2x 36.7 SATA WD Raptors
52/32/52 LiteOn CD-Writer
16x Pioneer DVD-120S
Enermax 550W PSU
Windows XP Pro & Linux Fedora
PC-70 Lian Li case w/ side window
Hitachi 174SXW B 17" LCD

To email me, replace org.nz with net.nz
 
Thanks,

I have the enhanced mode set up for SATA only, could this be the problem?

Are you running RAID 0 with one drive?

I am running 1011 bios, could that be the problem?

Also is there another connector on the motherboard that is used separately
for the SATA led. The connector that I am using is the IDE one on the 20
pin connector? It does light up when the CDROM or DVD drive is accessed.

Other people with this board have email me that had a problem with the led
and single SATA.

There may be something that we are doing differently.

Martineau
 
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