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    always-on USB port

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by pipspeak, Aug 19, 2011.

  1. pipspeak

    pipspeak Notebook Deity

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    Can someone explain when the always-on USB port (the yellow one) on a T420 is supposed to have power?

    I went to charge my cellphone last night via USB.... laptop was off and closed but still plugged in to a power outlet, yet there was no power from that USB port. The only way I could get power is when the laptop was in sleep mode rather than off altogether.

    Is this how it's supposed to work, or is there some setting I need to tweak?
     
    pipspeak, Aug 19, 2011
    #1
  2. kirayamato26

    kirayamato26 Notebook Deity

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    There is a setting you can tweak in Power Manager, as well as the BIOS.
     
    kirayamato26, Aug 19, 2011
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  3. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

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    The yellow port is the "powered" port. All of your USB ports are "always on" if enabled in the BIOS.
     
    talin, Aug 19, 2011
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  4. pipspeak

    pipspeak Notebook Deity

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    Yes, I meant the "powered" port -- the yellow one that's supposed to provide power even when the computer is off. Well, it doesn't provide power when the computer is off so I'm wondering what i need to adjust to get it working.

    I did find the setting to enable that "always on" USB port (Lenovo's term, not mine) in the power settings even when the computer is turned off... kirayamoto, which setting needs tweaking in the bios? I
     
    pipspeak, Aug 20, 2011
    #4
  5. kirayamato26

    kirayamato26 Notebook Deity

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    I know it is somewhere under BIOS as I've seen it before but not exactly sure where. Check "Power" first, if that doesn't work, keep going through stuff until you see something mentioning "Always on USB".
     
    kirayamato26, Aug 20, 2011
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  6. fraushai

    fraushai Notebook Evangelist

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    Is it possible to turn on the port when the laptop is off the grid + powered off? I would love to charge my mobile devices when I'm on the go.
     
    fraushai, Aug 21, 2011
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  7. power7

    power7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, that's "always-on USB" function exactly.
     
    power7, Aug 21, 2011
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  8. fraushai

    fraushai Notebook Evangelist

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    My T410i would only charge up my blackberry only when it is powered off + connected to a charger, and I read somewhere on the net that it was normal?
     
    fraushai, Aug 21, 2011
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  9. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    yes that is true.
     
    lead_org, Aug 21, 2011
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  10. pipspeak

    pipspeak Notebook Deity

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    so just to confirm... for that yellow always-on port to deliver power, the laptop must be plugged in to an outlet, correct?
     
    pipspeak, Aug 21, 2011
    #10
  11. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    that is true for my T400s, T410, X1.
     
    lead_org, Aug 21, 2011
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  12. takeabyte

    takeabyte Notebook Evangelist

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    true for my alienware m14x's powered usb port as well
     
    takeabyte, Aug 22, 2011
    #12