Power Shut Down issue with an Odd motherboard

**Warpath** · 01-18-2005, 08:22 PM

Hello. I am using a Sony VAIO desktop motherboard manufactured by Foxcomm.
The problem with this board is that I don't think it is ACPI compatible. The sony Vaio had only one switch, you push the button once and the computer basically goes into standby (drives shutdown, but powersupply still running) when you hold the button in for 5 secs the computer evenually shuts down.
Another problem...when you go to start then shutdown, the computer doesn't fully power off. I get the message "it is now safe to turn off your computer" I then have to hold the button in for 5 secs or disconnect the power.
I am able to hibernate the computer, but I still have to hold in the button to fully shut it down. And even then it only powers the computer off and doesn't go through the windows shutdown process. I am not able to put the computer into standby...there is no option for that available.
I want to use this http://www.dashwerks.com/dw_dssc.php but do not think it will work with my situation. It seems like all it will do is send a single pulse signal to the motherboard and just put the computer into a standby mode....still draining the battery power until I hold the power button in for 5 secs to fully shut it down.
What I would need for it to do is to send the pulse signal and hold it there until the PC fully shuts down. I do not think this is the safest method, but I have tried this just by holding the power button in for 5 secs to power it down...the computer shutdown fine and booted up fine.

My setup includes a power inverter, and soon a 7" LCD. I want to be able to shutdown/powerup both with the cars ignition. Any ideas around this issue would be great. I'd like to hear of maybe alternative setups I could try. Thanks in advance.

**NiN^_^NiN** · 01-18-2005, 10:16 PM

You need to go to your power options in windows

Windows can set the power button to shutdown goto standby or hibernate.

I bet if you look at the settings you will see that it's set to standby.

All moden computers need u to hold the power button for 5 or 6 seconds to shut it off if the pc isnt shutting down.

Go check the options in control panel

**cbergeron** · 01-19-2005, 12:33 AM

Warpath - The DSSC _will_ work easily in this configuration. The DSSC is designed to completely kill power to the notebook after the amount of time that you select. This time can be anywhere from 10 seconds to 60 seconds (for shutdown). If your computer displays the screen that says, "It is now safe to turn off your computer", the DSSC will shut the computer off completely; and you can leave your car knowing that the DSSC will safely take care of things.

If you decide to choose the DSSC, we can help you install it for this exact situation. You get full tech-support with the DSSC and we'll make sure that your DSSC installation is a complete success.

Kind regards,
CB

**Warpath** · 01-21-2005, 12:35 AM

Thanks for the info... Let me try to explain the situation a bit better. When I press the power button, the computer goes into a standby mode. Now this is not the windows standby mode, but more like the motherboards stand by mode. When I move the mouse the computer comes out of it and back to the desktop. When I push and hold the power button the computer shuts off, skipping the windows shutdown process.
The control panel does not have any settings for standby mode, but does have a hibernation mode. I can enable hibernation and when I go to start>shutdown, it shows up as one of my options...so I have (hibernation/shutdown/restart) There is no abillity to set the power button to go into hibernation when pressed.
So is it OK to disconnect the power when the computer goes into this so called "standby" mode? I'm thinking that the DSSC will send the signal>computer goes into standby>after a set number of seconds>power is disconnected. If this is what will happen...is it OK to disconect the power will in standby mode?
Thanks for the help.

**gubon13** · 01-21-2005, 12:59 AM

Display Properties >> Screen Saver menu >> Advanced menu >> Power Buttons section

You don't have this? The one that says "When I press the power button on my computer" and then there's a drop down box with options. It's a standard item for WinXP, Win2K, Win98SE, WinME...

**hd54321** · 01-21-2005, 01:45 AM

This is a BIOS issue - go into your BIOS (if you can) and handle the ACPI settings from there. You should not have to physically shut the computer off when you receive the "it is now safe to turn off your computer" message. All computers shipping with Win 98 Second Edition and later had ACPI functions. These functions reside within the mobo BIOS. Good luck.

-HD

**Warpath** · 01-21-2005, 09:56 PM

Yep. Have been to the BIOS many times before posting to this site. There are no setting for power managment. One thing I forgot to mention is when I right click on "My computer">"Properties">Hardware>Device Manager....then click the + nect to "Computer". It shows up as "Standard PC" and not "Advanced Configuration and Power Interface PC" I know that this computer came with windows98, but maybe not win98SE. The only thing I can set in the BIOS is the standby setting. All that the settings give me are time intervals for standby mode if the computer is idle. If I disable the standby mode in the BIOS it means that I manually put the computer into standby by pressing the button once. Again there are no setting to tell the computer to shut down when I press the power button once. Thanks for your help.

**Warpath** · 01-21-2005, 11:19 PM

OK, I had an idea...
I think what I need is something to send a signal pulse to the switch thus putting the computer into standby. Then after a set time interval, powering the computer off. So basically I would turn the car off>the computer goes into standby>then I after 15minutes all power to the inverter is switched off. I know this might not be a proper shut down, but it would save me from having to manually boot/shutdown the PC and also keep from draining my battery. If the DSSC can do this then I' be happy with just that approach.

**gubon13** · 01-22-2005, 01:13 AM

what would be the difference between that and just pulling the power from the start?

and try changing the computer type to ACPI (force it) and see if that works. i pretty much NEVER does, but hey, you never know.

**Warpath** · 01-22-2005, 02:29 AM

I think I can only Force ACPI if my BIOS supports it. I found this site during my searches. I think im SOL unless I get a better motherboard...looks like id have to skip the shutdown controller and just shut it down from the start menu, huh.

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBJ/tip4900/rh4911.htm

INFO FROM SITE: 2 - ACPI is enabled on the basis of the GoodACPIBios list and the ACPIBiosDate. This is the default setting. The default ACPIBiosDate is January 1, 1999, so if your BIOS is newer, there should be no need to change this entry.

If you set ACPIEnable to 1, support for your ACPI BIOS will be installed, as long as the ACPI BIOS is detected.