Section C — Diagnostics and fault-finding (3 × 8 = 24 marks) 8. A system with the IPISB-VR front panel shows the power LED lit but no POST and no fan spin. What front-panel and motherboard checks should you perform (stepwise), and what likely faults could cause this symptom? (8 marks) 9. The HDD LED never lights even during disk activity. Explain how to test the LED and header to determine whether the issue is with the LED, wiring, or the motherboard signal. Include expected voltages or multimeter readings for a simple continuity/voltage check. (8 marks) 10. After replacing the front-panel PCB, the USB ports on the panel work but audio does not. Provide a concise fault-isolation plan to determine whether the problem is cable, connector pinout mismatch, header orientation, or motherboard audio settings. (8 marks)
The motherboard, commonly found in Acer Aspire and Gateway desktop systems like the Acer M3970 or Gateway DX4860 , is an Intel H67-based board that supports Sandy Bridge processors. Because it is an OEM board, finding an official manual is difficult, which often leaves users confused during a case swap or repair. Understanding the Front Panel Header acer ipisb-vr rev 1.01 front panel
The front panel header on this board is typically a 14-pin or 10-pin block located near the bottom right edge. The pins are numbered in an alternating fashion: even numbers on one row and odd numbers on the other. Connection Description HDD LED + Hard Drive Activity Light (Positive) 2 Power LED + Power Indicator Light (Positive) 3 HDD LED - Hard Drive Activity Light (Negative) 4 Power LED - Power Indicator Light (Negative) 5 Reset SW Reset Switch Not Polarized 6 Power SW Power Button Not Polarized 7 Reset SW Reset Switch (Ground) Not Polarized 8 Power SW Power Button (Ground) Not Polarized 10 Empty Key Pin (Missing) 12 LAN LED + Network Activity Light (Positive) 14 LAN LED - Network Activity Light (Negative) Key Installation Tips Section C — Diagnostics and fault-finding (3 ×