Need HELP. Computer Red Light

[Prime]

Okay, my computer's tower has 2 lights. A green light on top and a red light on bottom that usually flashes when stuff is going on. Now, when I turned on my PC today, and even after I have restarted a few times, the red light doesn't flash or turn off. Even when nothing is going on, no programs running, the red light is constantly lit.

Any ideas?

All my programs work properly, and everything is good, I just don't know why this would happen.

[Cricket]

The red LED is on the case, not the motherboard, right?

Does the LED have a small symbol next to it? What is the symbol?

Home built computer or name brand?

Can you see where the LED wires are connected to on the motherboard?

Cricket

[Prime]

The red light is on the case. It has a symbol that looks like a cylinder. I have no idea where it's connected to the motherboard.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Prime The red light is on the case. It has a symbol that looks like a cylinder.

That's the hard drive activity LED. Don't know why it's always on if your computer is working properly.

Did you build this computer or is it a store bought name brand computer?

Cricket

[Prime]

It's a custom computer but I didn't make it. The computer is working perfectly, it just kind of freaks me out because I'm scared something could be wrong.

[Cricket]

You aren't running something like SETI@Home or Folding@Home are you?

Does your computer seem slower than before?

Do you scan it for viruses, spyware, trojans and hijackers on a regular basis?

Do you have broadband internet and is the computer behind a hardware firewall or using a software firewall?

Cricket

[Prime]

I don't have if I am running SETI or Folding, the computer hasn't really seemed slower. I just scanned for viruses, spyware, trojans and hijackers. A few found, but all cleared and still the red light issue. I do have broadbank internet. There is no hardware firewall. I use A software firewall called zone alarm.

Any idea?

[Cricket]

Well, I'm out of ideas...but you said your computer is running okay so maybe it's nothing to worry about. Don't worry, be happy.

Cricket

[Electric Gnome]

Could the wires to the mobo be wired wrongly, IE the HDD activity led is on when there is no activity and vice versa. I do not know, just a thought really, but either way if your machine works fine, dont get freaked out just have fun.

[Spaz06]

Originally Posted by Electric Gnome Could the wires to the mobo be wired wrongly, IE the HDD activity led is on when there is no activity and vice versa. I do not know, just a thought really, but either way if your machine works fine, dont get freaked out just have fun.

I think you have some wires crossed somewhere. Double check your mobo manual for wire placement. It could get annoying after a while, but its not hurtng anything.

[piasabird]

Usually the case has a set of wires that plug into the motherboard. They normally have written on the connector what they are. With most motherboards you get a little manual that tells you where to plug the leads into. However, if you dont have one you can look at the motherboard and normally get the model number/Manufacturer and go to their website and look it up and download it. You might have to use someone elses computer to get the information.

Most of the wires will fit onto pins that are all right next to each other or in the same area. Sometimes there is information on the MB that tells you how to set it up but it is often very small and hard to make out.

My inclination is that this is some kind of program running in the background. It might even be the zone alarm firewall. Norton System works or virus scanner sometimes runs in the background and causes problems as well. Microsoft Update can run a lot in the background as well. Besides that Windows sometimes tries to back up its own settings and can run quite a bit in the background. Sometimes if you have some kind of software downloader program it will keep trying to download stuff. Besides all of that you have to look at programs like Instant Messaging like AIM (AOL Instant Messager) that also run in the background.

As you can see if you have installed a lot of extra programs there are a lot of things that may be running in the background causing problems. One way to find out what is causing the problem is to uninstal one program at a time until you figure out what it is. This is a bit of a hit and miss type of detective work. Having some Spyware scanners may be a good idea. I like to run them manually from time to time.

[edfair]

This may be an output from the controller that has gone bad. If the system is working correctly proceed with your life.

Somewhere, possibly on another support site, XP was implicated in one case when the problem was resolved by installing 98, then recreated by reinstalling XP.

If you have DOS available you could try doing a power cycle and loading DOS from a floppy and see if the light shuts off. That would resolve whether the controller output was bad as the stuff in DOS to access the controller seems to be more primitive and doesn't shpw the problem.