PCBE installs Smart Signalling on USB Smart UPS, but then prevents PC from booting

[Anonymous user]

Got a used APC Smart UPS for my computer system.

Installed PCBE using a Smart Signalling USB connection and everything worked as expected on a Win7-64 ASUS motherboard system. Used PCBE to update the UPS battery date and check voltages etc..

After shutting down PC, the PC would not boot up. Acted as if it was recognizing a Reset command; the BIOS (EUFI) flash screen showed and then the PC would shut down only to repeatably again try to re-boot.

Disconnecting the Smart UPS USB cable allowed the PC boot to run normally. Tried another USB port and different USB cables with no effect. Removed all other USB devices with no success.

Once the boot was successful, and then reconnecting the Smart Signalling USB cable, PCBE again works correctly. But subsequent PC boots were again unsuccessful.

A check of the UPS Driver showed that the driver was the latest version. I suspect that the ASUS BIOS is seeing something from the UPS during the USB Enumeration process that is causing the problem.The only thing that the BIOS has to use to Enumerate the USB is the driver installed by PCBE; don't know why it is sensitive to any Smart Signalling data. Never had any other PowerChute code installed on the PC under Win7 (which was a clean install).

Had a smaller APC Smart UPS installed on my Entertainment system with its necessary Sine Wave power (ever waited 5+ minutes for a DirecTV receiver to re-boot following a power outage?) and when I tried it on my PC also using Smart Signalling everything worked correctly including the PC boot. Indicates the UPS is the culprit but apparently ASUS is an accomplice.

Are there any UPS diagnostics? Is it possible to update the UPS program? How do you check the version of the UPS program?

Windows 7 64 bit.

ASUS M5A97 Motherboard.

PCBE 9.1 (all 3 pieces were installed on the same PC)

SUA1500 Fails, SUA750 works

[Anonymous user]

Followup

Good UPS SUA750 Firmware is 651.12.D

Boot Problem UPS SUA1500 Firmware is at 601.3.D

[BillP]

Hi,

Have you tried to reset the UPS? You can reset the UPS by following the instruction in Kbase FA156611

NOTE: The SUA1500 does not have upgradable firmware.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Thanks, but I tried the "Brain Dead " Reset without success.

I think my next effort will be to try the Serial Interface. The ASUS M5A97 has a connector on the motherboard for a Serial port but it requires a ASUS Serial Connector to a DB-9 back panel which I have on order. I am aware it needs a special APC Cable (940-0024) which I have on hand. Should know in a couple of days.