BB: Poltergeist? Gremlin? Or something really wrong?
Leigh Claffey
I mean 'click' and it just turned off, no shut down, no notice, nothing.
The buttons on the front did nada. and the on/off switch on the back was
'on'.
I had to turn it off, wait a few seconds and turn it back on then hit
the buttons on the front to get it to turn on again.
And now its running....
This happened like 5+ minutes after I'd turned it on this morning. I
had only just started checking my email.
It's been running a little warm lately (not hot, just a bit warm).
I was thinking it might be time to replace the fan (or blow/oil the fan
and add a second one, which I have on hand already).
And the normal 'hum' is getting louder (not really noticeable until I
thought about it: its why I've been shutting it down at night
when I don't have something I'm in the middle of and want to leave up:
we can hear it in the bedroom unless I shut the door).
I think it did this at least once before within the week (I'd left it on
overnight and when I came in in the morning it was off,
but the on/off switch on the back was 'on' and I had to turn it off,
wait a few seconds and turn it back on again then too).
What do you think?
--Leigh
Clothahump
just a long-distance swag, mind you. Good luck.
Old Prof. Otter
Yes, replace the fan in the power supply by replacing the power
supply :-)).
Anyway Clothahump is likely right.
OPO
Morgan
wrote:
Power supply was my first thought, too, having had this happen (no BSOD,
just *click* nothing), and usually at least a little heat related but not
necessarily hot. Good power supplies can be had for reasonable amounts of
money, and they're fairly simple to replace as long as you pay attention
to where the wires from the existing one go before yanking it.
Morgan /|\
David
<lcla...@comcast.net> typed:
I doubt that it is overheating. In my experience when overheating
occurs the computer complains very loudly and doesn't just shut down.
I'd agree with the other replies and suggest that it maybe a dodgy
power supply, If not the PS then the next thing I would look at would
be the motherboard.
--
David
No email replies please.
For the fashion of Minas Tirith was such that it was built on seven
levels, each delved into a hill, and about each was set a wall, and in
each wall was a gate. -- J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Return of the King"
[Quoted in "VMS Internals and Data Structures", V4.4, when referring to
system overview.]
Wes Struebing
wrote:
Adding my weight (such as it is) to Chuck's diagnosis. If there is a
dodgy (anymore) connection on the motherboard overheating *could*
cause the symptom of sudden shut off/wait a bit/start up again. As
connection heated, it expanded or like a thermostat disconnected until
cooled again.
But, PS makes more sense.
--
Wes Struebing
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America,
and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples,
promising liberty and justice for all.
Homepage: www.carpedementem.org
linkedin profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wesstruebing
Hanging Jester
news:ZdqdnUqbhMilwr_W...@giganews.com:
While I agree that the most likely culprit is a bad PS, While you have
the cover open, check the fan on the CPU to make sure that it's running
and that the CPU fan and heatsink are not clogged up with dust bunnies.
~ Jester
Captain Jack
news:ZdqdnUqbhMilwr_W...@giganews.com:
Same type of thing happened to me about 2 weeks ago- another computer in
the house would run fine for 5-15 minutes, then just shut down.
I had it set in the BIOS to shut down when the chip reached a certain
temperature as a safety precaution. I opened up the case to find the
chip cooler clogged with dust and cat hair. I cleaned it out
thoroughly, applied a fresh coat of heatsink compound to the chip &
cooler (scraped off the old dried out compound first), and it's been
running fine 24/7 ever since.
If your fan is getting noisier (even after a good cleaning), replace it.
They're one of the first things to go bad on a computer, they're cheap
(by comparison), and they're excellent insurance. DO NOT try to oil the
bearings; they are permanently lubricated. If they "need oil", they're
on their last legs. Replace them.
The Cap'n
rincewind
a small key with a circle with a vertical line through the top of it?
When my kid was typing really fast, he would ocassionaly (sp) hit that
and the computer would shut down. Just a thought.
Leigh Claffey
Well, we took the cover off and blew out the dustbunnies this morning
and it was running better (and quieter) than it had been for a while.
But then it got louder again, and tonight it up and quit the way it had
been doing before. So we ordered a new PS online tonight.
Thanks to everyone who responded! You guys are the best.
--Leigh
Richard Fallstrom
Claffey <lcla...@comcast.net> wrote:
What I think is the computer needs a general de-dusting and possibly
the power supply unit needs changing. If its an e-Machines, I /would/
change it and right quickly.
Rick (sometimes is a GentleRF and sometimes is not)
Tim Merrigan
That sounds like the symbol for the power button. I don't know of any
PC manufacturers who put it on the keyboard, for the very reason you
mention here.
On my new computer it's on the top of the tower, at the front, on the
previous one it was on the front of the tower, near the bottom, on my
wife's laptop it's on the strip between the function keys and the
monitor hinge. None places where it's likely to be hit accidentally.
The only computer I've ever seen with it on the keyboard was the Apple
][e
--
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America,
and to the republic which it established, one nation, from many peoples,
promising liberty and justice for all.
Feel free to use the above variant pledge in your own postings.
Tim Merrigan
Jette Goldie
> On Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:32:27 -0800 (PST), rincewind
> <edrh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Look at your keyboard. Just to the right of the "Enter" key. Is there
>> a small key with a circle with a vertical line through the top of it?
>> When my kid was typing really fast, he would ocassionaly (sp) hit that
>> and the computer would shut down. Just a thought.
>
> That sounds like the symbol for the power button. I don't know of any
> PC manufacturers who put it on the keyboard, for the very reason you
> mention here.
>
> On my new computer it's on the top of the tower, at the front, on the
> previous one it was on the front of the tower, near the bottom, on my
> wife's laptop it's on the strip between the function keys and the
> monitor hinge. None places where it's likely to be hit accidentally.
>
> The only computer I've ever seen with it on the keyboard was the Apple
> ][e
Tell you a story about an "intermittent fault".
This was a few years ago at work, and one of my colleagues' PC kept
shutting down while she was typing. IT came, examined the machine,
took away the "box" (hard-drive), examined it in the workshop but
couldn't replicate the fault. Replaced it with a new box, same thing
kept happening. The IT guys were tearing their hair out. the saga
went on for almost two weeks.
Till one day I watched her. Power up the machine, open the various
programs we use, settle down to type - and arrange her desk to get
comfortable by shoving the keyboard away from her to arms' length -
toward the "box" .... and in the process hit the "reboot" button on
the front of the box with the back of the keyboard.
Problem was solved by giving her a PC with the reboot button on the
side of the box instead of the front!
--
Jette Goldie
jette....@gmail.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wolfette/
http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)
Morgan
> On Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:32:27 -0800 (PST), rincewind
> <edrh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Look at your keyboard. Just to the right of the "Enter" key. Is there
>> a small key with a circle with a vertical line through the top of it?
>> When my kid was typing really fast, he would ocassionaly (sp) hit that
>> and the computer would shut down. Just a thought.
>
> That sounds like the symbol for the power button. I don't know of any
> PC manufacturers who put it on the keyboard, for the very reason you
> mention here.
>
> On my new computer it's on the top of the tower, at the front, on the
> previous one it was on the front of the tower, near the bottom, on my
> wife's laptop it's on the strip between the function keys and the
> monitor hinge. None places where it's likely to be hit accidentally.
>
> The only computer I've ever seen with it on the keyboard was the Apple
> ][e
FWIW, the keyboard I'm using right now -- a GE bought separately after the
original failed -- has a power button above the gap between the ESC and F1
keys. There are also Wake and Sleep buttons above the Scroll Lock and
Pause keys, more or less.
They're all up out of the way, so we've never had trouble hitting one
accidentally. Putting a power button near the Enter key, or anyplace else
too close to the main keyboard, is just asking for trouble :-).
Morgan /|\
rincewind
Yeah, this is a GE board that is replacing the worn-out keyboard that
came with the computer. The three keys you mention as being between
the esc and f1 are between the delete and the cursor keys
Hanging Jester
@news.eternal-september.org:
> <snip>
>
> Tell you a story about an "intermittent fault".
>
> This was a few years ago at work, and one of my colleagues' PC kept
> shutting down while she was typing. IT came, examined the machine,
> took away the "box" (hard-drive), examined it in the workshop but
> couldn't replicate the fault. Replaced it with a new box, same thing
> kept happening. The IT guys were tearing their hair out. the saga
> went on for almost two weeks.
>
> Till one day I watched her. Power up the machine, open the various
> programs we use, settle down to type - and arrange her desk to get
> comfortable by shoving the keyboard away from her to arms' length -
> toward the "box" .... and in the process hit the "reboot" button on
> the front of the box with the back of the keyboard.
>
> Problem was solved by giving her a PC with the reboot button on the
> side of the box instead of the front!
>
>
I've run into that kind of "operator error" to many times to count.
That's why I like to be their in person to see what they are doing just
before "the problem happens".
One time I entered a TOR (Tactical Operations Room) to trouble shoot a
malfunctioning radar scope. Walked in asked them to explain the problem.
(It was noticed on a "shift changover") The equipment was powered on but
there was no trace on the screen. I walked over and looked at the unit's
settings. Then I turned up the trace gain control. Viola! it's fixed.
On other occasions it might take more elaborate actions. Like plugging
the equipment into a wall outlet or turning on the power switch.
Operators. Gotta love them.
~ Jester
Wes Struebing
True story (and I hang my head in abject shame to relate it)
Since someone mentioned a keyboard with the shutdown key (why a
keyboard would have an actual shutdown key I don't know, but...) next
to the "enter" key. I have one of those keyboards. And today, for
the FIRST TIME (and I hope, the last), reaching for the "delete" key -
the shutdown key is also right below it, I hit the shutdown key>
Knew it as soon ass my finger headed in that direction, and by then I
couldn't recall it!
<mutter, mutter> Mike, something strong and single-malt, please!
--
Wes Struebing
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America,
and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples,
promising liberty and justice for all.
Chris Zakes
It could be worse. I recently bought a new laptop. It's a nice machine
overall, but it has two significant problems:
1. The keyboard is not as sensitive as on my old laptop, so frequently
when I hit the "shift" key and a letter, it doesn't register until
*after* I've typed the letter, thus giving me a lower case letter
instead.
2. (and *much* more annoying) The touchpad is significantly more
sensitive than on my old machine. It seems that if my thumb goes
anywhere near it, it'll react, causing the cursor to jump to some
other location on the screen. Since I tend to look at the keyboard
much more than I look at the screen, I end up with part of a sentence
randomly inserted elsewhere in the text.
-Chris Zakes
Texas
I hallucinate gently for a living.
-Terry Pratchett
Marten Kemp
If there's any other shutdown mechanism on your computer
then get a grabbing tool and remove that keytop. You'll
be able to restore it if you need to but removing it will
vastly reduce the chances of a repeat occurrence.
--
-- Marten Kemp (Fix ISP to reply)
You can't help being ignorant 'cause there's always
something you don't know; what you can't be is stupid.
Bean Counter
There is usually a way to edit the keyboard layout, so you can just
assign a null value to the power switch. I've turned off the caps lock
that way, frex.
--
When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it.
- Scott Adams, "Dilbert" Sept 22,'09
Hanging Jester
news:hfioi5tr80l7ffm5e...@4ax.com:
Go to mouse properties. You should be able to adjust the sensitivity.
~ Jesetr
Hanging Jester
news:8heoi5p4qdkvbogeo...@4ax.com:
Those key covers will usually pull right off. It's not as pretty but
that makes it much less likely that you will hit that key.
~ Jester
Wes Struebing
<hangin...@cox.net> wrote:
<snip>
>
>Those key covers will usually pull right off. It's not as pretty but
>that makes it much less likely that you will hit that key.
>
POINT! I'm seriously thinking of doing that if it happens again.
(so far, I've only done it once - but that's too often. <grin>)
Hanging Jester
I used to have a mirror-tape backed "ANY" key cover stuck in an empty spot
of my keyboard. I've thought of digging that out again, but I don't know
which key cover I'd replace it with, Maybe the "Pause Break" key.
~ Jester