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zenithproduct · May 31, 2006, 01:00 AM

Man I wish my MacMini had a hard drive light. It drives me nutty not having one.. I added one to my iMac.. Anyone ever done it to a Mini?

Jasoco · Jun 3, 2006, 04:09 AM

I can't see how it would be impossible. If you were to use the power light and rewire it to the HD's light pins. I can't try it myself yet as this is my primary computer, I am using it right now, and last time I tried to pry it opened I couldn't even with two putty knives. But one day I will. Though I'd rather have two LED's on the mini. One for power (And the awesome fading sleep light. God I love that. And it's white! I love white LED's.) and one for HD.

When you added one to your iMac, did you simply use the power LED as the HD LED? Or did you physically add one? I suppose if you're good with a drill you could add a second hole and LED to the mini if it's small enough.

zenithproduct · Jun 5, 2006, 05:47 PM

Yeah, I used the power LED location. Changed it to a blue bulb to better match the computer. Cool thing is that it glows dimly while the computer is on and flashes bright when the hard drive accesses. So it still functions as a power light.

Yeah, I figure I'd figure out what size drill bit it takes to make that hole and add a second hole next to the power light on my Mini.. The trick is getting it aligned with the previous hole so it looks factory. Might be cool to put a purple LED in there, they're kind of new.

Jasoco · Jun 5, 2006, 08:58 PM

Blue? Noooooooo! Seriously... Nooooooo! The white is so freaking much better! Blue LED's are so passé. You NEVER see white ones and now another one is gone? Nooooooooo!

As you can tell, I'm passionate about the white LED's Apple uses.

Though blue is really nice too, I can't see how it would match? Unless you painterd your mini blue? At least it's not a green LED. Those are so 1990's.

zenithproduct · Jun 12, 2006, 10:00 AM

I was talking about my iMac.. It's got a blue bulb in the power light spot. I agree, the white light is nice on my Mac Mini, and I plan to use a violet one next to it for the HDD..

Jasoco · Jun 12, 2006, 01:25 PM

Ooh, violet could look really nice.

I love LED's for some reason. I don't know why. Especially white, blue and violet. Red and green are so overused. Amber I could take or leave. Orange (Actual orange) is pretty good.

I REALLY like the kinds that can make any color you want. I wish I was an electronics genius. I'd create something really cool with a bunch of them.....

Like this...

http://www.lomont.org/Projects/LEDCube/LEDCube.php

Oh, God, I want one so much. Especially if it can be controlled by USB. It could sell really well on ThinkGeek.

pinktank · Jul 7, 2006, 03:05 AM

You can do the dim and flash thing, change out the power leds current resistor with a one thats double the value compared to the current one, or just add one in serie to the other one in the signal path. And use another one(with resistance equal to the new one or the total of the ones in series) and connect it to the hd light wire. That way it will flash with data and be dim while its on. Try not to connect all wires to a single resistors like a lazy bum as you can overload the resistor if its not big enough

thefunkymunky · Jul 7, 2006, 04:33 AM

Why would you need a light on your Mac to show you whether your HD is writing or reading data. I often wonder why PC's have them. Just seems a bit pointless. If you really want to see HD activity. Why not just install MenuMeters in your Menu Bar.

imitchellg5 · Jul 8, 2006, 02:14 PM

Because if the computer is froze it is nice to have a HD light to see if there is any activity.

Dopetrackalistic · Jul 8, 2006, 02:15 PM

I'm pretty sure you can get a software version of a 'harddrive activity' light. I had one in OS9.

imitchellg5 · Jul 8, 2006, 04:38 PM

That doesn't help if your computer is frozen though sometimes.

Dopetrackalistic · Jul 8, 2006, 04:58 PM

quick way to test if it's frozen: Activity monitor.

imitchellg5 · Jul 9, 2006, 11:51 AM

True.

Dopetrackalistic · Jul 9, 2006, 01:30 PM

If you want a light, say you want a light because it's cool. Saying you'd like one so you can 'see if it's frozen' is akin to some 16 yr old claiming he needs a wing on his honda civic for downforce. If you like the way it looks, say that, and then people won't hassle you since it's your own opinion.

macgyvr64 · Sep 23, 2006, 09:44 PM

Open the case of the Mac Mini, drill a tiny hole next to the front white power LED, and wire up another LED next to it:

On the hard drive and optical drive riser board, find pin 39 and solder a wire from there to the ground lead on the LED. Find a source of +5v (perhaps the hard drive's power pin) and solder a 220 Ohm resistor from there to the positive terminal on the LED.

Instant bus activity light.

chabig · Sep 23, 2006, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Dopetrackalistic

If you want a light, say you want a light because it's cool. Saying you'd like one so you can 'see if it's frozen' is akin to some 16 yr old claiming he needs a wing on his honda civic for downforce. If you like the way it looks, say that, and then people won't hassle you since it's your own opinion.