alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt Google Group

Re: Hardware problem - RAM or MOBO?

n...@none.no (Kent_Diego) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:33:34 UT

It could be RAM, motherboard or power supply. Sometimes the power supply
connector does not make good contact and gets better if moved. Do you have
the latest BIOS for your motherboard? It has been my experience that Memtest
errors were always the RAM. Can you over volt the RAM or lower the frequency

Re: ALWAYS close USB flash drive before removing?

je...@example.invalid (Jerry Peters) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:02:30 UT

Until you *do*, of course.
Jerry

Re: A long shot...

glowingbluem...@truely.invalid (GlowingBlueMist) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:53:25 UT

Dense cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil and covered in wide clear tape will
work as well once you cut the proper holes with a sharp knife..

Re: ALWAYS close USB flash drive before removing?

s...@spam.com (kony) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:23:14 UT

... only in principle not reality, if you never see any
problem...

Re: Mobo vs PS problem

mi...@ster.invalid (Mike Easter) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:58:35 UT

a
&
What are the chances of some kind of 'mismatch' (involving something
that is triggered betwen the cpu and the supporting chipsets) between
the mobo and the cpu? Even tho' the cpu came with the mobo, the socket
A mobo is described as supporting athlon xp, sempron, or athlon, but it
doesn't actually say anything about the geode, nx or otherwise.

Re: Mobo vs PS problem

mi...@ster.invalid (Mike Easter) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:29:35 UT

Oops. My brevity answered the stress test assignment qx/s ambiguously.
Paul wrote:
Yes. test completed.
No.
No.
No.
Nothing even speeded up. In the past, but not recently, perhaps since I
added more ram, I had observed 'something' - that sounded like a fan
speeding up or becoming louder - under certain conditions, say maybe

Re: Mobo vs PS problem

mi...@ster.invalid (Mike Easter) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:23:43 UT

I'll try. :-)
Paul wrote:
?
No. No. and No.
I don't see how these explanations help me understand...
-1- why this symptom is only reproducible with one specific type of
scrolling in a browser window regardless of OS or browser
-2- why part of the mobo still has power to light the ethernet lights
after general failure protection shutdown

Re: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

v...@nguard.lh (VanguardLH) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:20:22 UT

Hmmmm, they must be secret applications. Wonder if one of them was a
registry cleaner.
So why not submit your post to the newsgroup that you mention in your
subject header? And use an appropriate subject when posting there, one
that introduces the topic of your post.
So can you reach the boot menu (by pressing F8 just as Windows starts to

Re: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

j...@usenetlove.invalid (John Doe) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:02:58 UT

Always keep a backup copy of important data to removable media.
The frequency and number of backup copies you have of important
data from your hard drive depends on the value you yourself place
on that data. If the data on your hard drive is very important to
you, the very first thing you must do is figure out how to make a

Re: Wont' read CD drives

tm1...@gmail.com (Tim Mastrogiacomo) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:01:16 UT

Are you using manufacturer provided drivers?
Tim Mastrogiacomo

Re: Power supplies with solid polymer caps

je...@cruzio.com (Jeff Liebermann) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:20:43 UT

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:07:39 -0800 (PST), "larry moe 'n curly"
Ok, I stand corrected.
Groan. So much for my method of using the case style to recognize the
difference between electrolytic types.
So that's the trick to recognizing the difference. Thanks.

Hardware problem - RAM or MOBO?

bour...@gmail.com (M Bourgon) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:17:41 UT

I just built a new machine and have been plagued with crashes. When I
first ran MEMTEST on it, everything came out okay. Both sticks in
bank 1 & 2 work fine (except for one set of errors when running it for
12 hours), and if they're in 3 & 4 they work fine, but in banks 2 & 4
I get errors. If I try one stick at a time in bank 1 or 2 they look

Re: Power supplies with solid polymer caps

larrymoencu...@my-deja.com (larry moe 'n curly) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:51:17 UT

So why do the good brands tolerate those conditions so well while the
same old junk brands don't? And contrary to what you say, most of the
caps aren't in hot spots but are running at under 60 Celcius
But the problems with junk capacitors showed up way before the switch
to lead-free solder, and only one of my RoHS mobos has so far popped a

Re: Mobo vs PS problem

larrymoencu...@my-deja.com (larry moe 'n curly) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:25:56 UT

Brevity, Mike, brevity. :)
The fact that your computer suddenly turns off occasionally AND you
have to flip its rear power switch to restore operation indicates the
power supply is at fault and its overcurrent/overpower protection
circuitry has triggered. Turning off the PSU resets that circuitry.

Re: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

co...@gmx.co.uk (Conor) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:50:47 UT

In article <9CCA8FDA41AFD5D4...@feeder.et ernal-september.org>, kathie
says...
Insert Windows XP installation CD and choose to do a Repair
Installation. That'll overwrite the Windows files, redetect hardware but
importantly, it'll keep applications and data in place.
BUT TO BE SAFE, I'd boot the computer off a Ubuntu Linux CD and copy any