Are USB ports powered after shut-down on MacPro

Question

Level 2

169 points

Are USB ports powered after shut-down on MacPro

I'm using a Seagate Free Agent 500GB external USB hard drive for Time Machine back-ups. Last night when I shut-down the machine the external HD did not power down/go to sleep. With my MacBookPro the external HD shut down without a hitch (the MBP was running on AC power).

So, either the USB ports on the MacPro remained powered after shut downs, or my Free Agent is failing to auto sense that the computer has shut down. I sleep in the same room with the equipment and really want everything to power down at night. I was hoping to avoid unplugging the Free Agent every night, as that does work.

MacPro 2.66, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Mar 21, 2008 4:24 PM

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Answer 1

Siron

Level 1

22 points

Mar 21, 2008 4:34 PM in response to Jazzman

I don't think so - as the machine powers OFF. Your external USB is separately powered - most are and do not draw power for the HD from the USB port. Which is why you hear the drives.

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Answer 2

Jazzman Author

Level 2

169 points

Mar 21, 2008 4:38 PM in response to Siron

So you think the USB ports of the MacPro do power down at full shutdown then?

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Answer 3

Siron

Level 1

22 points

Mar 21, 2008 4:43 PM in response to Jazzman

I believe that when the MP powers off everything on the machine is off. I could be wrong but the power button is the only "switch" on the machine - unlike a PC where there is a power button on the front and a power switch on the back.
Alan

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