What you have to do is use the machine empty, make it start filling and then slightly open the soap drawer just enough to see if the water is actually going in the correct compartment. If it is not then disconnect the power supply, remove the top of the machine and inspect the top of the soap container, on most machines there is a thin wire rod connecting from this to the program controller. This wire rod moves the water to go to the correct compartment for each part of the cycle, if it breaks or falls off, then the water will go in only one compartment and it might be the wrong one for your cycle.
If you can't fix it or dont want to open the machine then look to see which compartment the water goes to and then put your powder in that one only.