PS/2 Model 'M' - 1995 Lexmark w/converter - NumLock LED

[ultra24]

Hello:

Here I am, happy with my Model 'M' for which I have ordered a bag of springs fro a chap in the UK.

At US$16.61 for a bag of 29 used but grade 'A' Unicomp springs and 'flappers', it ends up being US$0.57 ea.  which is not too bad.
Save for the shipping and import taxes ... 8^|

I hard wired a PCP-BCG4209 converter inside the case which works perfectly well (as expected) and as I am not a fast touch typist I have not noticed any issue, but something has drawn my attention: the NumLock LED, it remains lit after the box is shut down.

This Sun Ultra24 has an ATX PS, so the USB port probably has +5v power as long as you do not de-energise the PS.

Q: is it normal for the NumLock LED to remain on with the box powered off?

Has anyone else seen this?

Thanks in advance,

U24

[yui]

all my converted keyboards and usb keyboards do keep their last know state when they lose communication with the pc but keep power, can be good, can lead to some strange bugs (numlock lit on the board but off in the OS, happens to me all the time with VM) come to think of it my ps/2 M does that too when plugged into the ps/2 port on the motherboard.
TL;DR: yeah pretty normal overall.

[ultra24]

Hello:

TL;DR: yeah pretty normal overall.

Right ...

I haven't used a PS/2 kb. since I got this U24 WS (late 2015) and I cannot recall seeing the NumLock light stay on with the old box.
But then it was an old-ish Soyo mobo.

Good to know it's the usual behaviour for  Model 'M'.
Thanks for you input.

Best,

U24

[Snowdog993]

I would think that would be a BIOS setting for numlock on at boot. If you turn it off, then the numlock key will always be off. Or am I over-thinking this?

[ultra24]

Hello:

... BIOS setting for numlock on at boot.
If you turn it off ...

That would be so if and when the USB ports have been initiated, something that happens every time the machine boots, at the very beggining when the BIOS is run.

That is when USB ports and on-board controller drives are detected and listed, you can usually read it on the screen.
Unless you have opted (through a BIOS setting) for watching some tacky OEM logo instead of useful information.

I believe there is always +5V on (some, not all?) USB ports these days unless you switch off the PS.
Switching off the PS (or unplugging it) turns the NumLock LED off.

Thanks for your input.

Best,

U24

[Snowdog993]

Hello:

... BIOS setting for numlock on at boot.
If you turn it off ...

That would be so if and when the USB ports have been initiated, something that happens every time the machine boots, at the very beggining when the BIOS is run.

That is when USB ports and on-board controller drives are detected and listed, you can usually read it on the screen.
Unless you have opted (through a BIOS setting) for watching some tacky OEM logo instead of useful information.

I believe there is always +5V on (some, not all?) USB ports these days unless you switch off the PS.
Switching off the PS (or unplugging it) turns the NumLock LED off.

Thanks for your input.

Best,

U24

I was talking about the PS/2 port. Not the USB port. You are so smart it's amazing.

[fohat.digs]

a BIOS setting for numlock on at boot. If you turn it off, then the numlock key will always be off.

My impression was that the BIOS setting just made the default either "on" or "off" and the key still flip-flopped the state when pressed.

I  *ALWAYS*  keep NumLock  ON, and would love to get rid of the stupid light always being on. I would be ecstatic if the light indicated "NumLock OFF"

[Snowdog993]

a BIOS setting for numlock on at boot. If you turn it off, then the numlock key will always be off.

My impression was that the BIOS setting just made the default either "on" or "off" and the key still flip-flopped the state when pressed.

I  *ALWAYS*  keep NumLock  ON, and would love to get rid of the stupid light always being on. I would be ecstatic if the light indicated "NumLock OFF"

Yep.

[yui]

I believe there is always +5V on (some, not all?) USB ports these days unless you switch off the PS.
Switching off the PS (or unplugging it) turns the NumLock LED off.

some motherboard will allow you to choose, depending on the age with a jumper or bios setting, some will just be always on and some will have "charging" ports that are always on. and yeah when you remove electricity the LED turns off and the keyboard loses init, pretty normal too.