Comments on: Computertron Update http://mekworx.phenomer.net/2009/07/10/computertron-update/ Vivat Acedia Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:33:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Mechadon http://mekworx.phenomer.net/2009/07/10/computertron-update/comment-page-1/#comment-329 Mechadon Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:48:39 +0000 http://mekworx.phenomer.net/?p=575#comment-329 Hey, thanks alot for those tips Super Jamie! I had exhausted all that I could do up to opening up the case and taking a peak inside (I reinstalled windows multiple times and I even tried Windows Vista). I really wanted to avoid opening it up but...well that didn't quite work out :P I sorta know my way around the components and what to do and what not to do, but I just have stupid fingers and I tend to break things easily. Thankfully though, from what I can tell, I didn't really hurt anything (aside from breaking the edges of a really small clip...I can't see how people can grip those things). Incidentally, I was just about to make a new post on my whole computer situation. It turns out that the problem, from what Carn described to me, was Windows-based (possibly with Windows Update). He started getting the BSOD in XP and errors in Vista, which was the exact same problem that lead me to believe I was having some sort of hardware failure. So at this moment in time, the problem is resolved and I can resume working on Vega! Hey, thanks alot for those tips Super Jamie! I had exhausted all that I could do up to opening up the case and taking a peak inside (I reinstalled windows multiple times and I even tried Windows Vista). I really wanted to avoid opening it up but…well that didn’t quite work out :P I sorta know my way around the components and what to do and what not to do, but I just have stupid fingers and I tend to break things easily. Thankfully though, from what I can tell, I didn’t really hurt anything (aside from breaking the edges of a really small clip…I can’t see how people can grip those things).

Incidentally, I was just about to make a new post on my whole computer situation. It turns out that the problem, from what Carn described to me, was Windows-based (possibly with Windows Update). He started getting the BSOD in XP and errors in Vista, which was the exact same problem that lead me to believe I was having some sort of hardware failure. So at this moment in time, the problem is resolved and I can resume working on Vega!

]]> By: Super Jamie http://mekworx.phenomer.net/2009/07/10/computertron-update/comment-page-1/#comment-328 Super Jamie Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:37:31 +0000 http://mekworx.phenomer.net/?p=575#comment-328 Just so you know, a software memory test isn't really conclusive. It can identify alot of faults, but not all of them. Swapping the sticks is a good idea, and run as many different tests as possible. The Ubuntu LiveCD comes with memtest86, and if you're into pirating stuff, Microscope 2000 is a great commercial diagnostic suite if you can figure out the tests. Sometimes a faulty stick of RAM can get past the best of software diags, but swap the stick out for a new one and your problems magically vanish. You could try just running one one stick for a few days, see if the problem goes away. Try the same with the other stick. When you're changing your sticks, don't touch the chips or any contacts, grip it by the edges of the PCB. Keep a hand on the housing of the laptop (or any large metal chassis areas) to minimise the chance of static discharge. If things are dusty in there, brush with a small paintbrush. Put tape over the metal part of the brush bristles if it has one. It also might be worth investing in some isopropyl alcohol (10 bucks at a chemist/pharmacy) to clean the contacts if stuff is very dirty. Some LCD iso wipes would be better than nothing, just make sure whatever you use is alcohol-based, not water-based. It could also be a hard drive error (pagefile or something hitting a dodgy sector as you move large apps around in memory) or even just a borked Windows install. Wiping your hard drive and reinstalling everything might sound painful, but it's an option. Make sure you have the latest BIOS from your manufacturer too. This is all just general PC fixing stuff. I did it as a job for years, during and after highschool. Good luck! I'll turn on email notification for replies here. Just so you know, a software memory test isn’t really conclusive. It can identify alot of faults, but not all of them. Swapping the sticks is a good idea, and run as many different tests as possible. The Ubuntu LiveCD comes with memtest86, and if you’re into pirating stuff, Microscope 2000 is a great commercial diagnostic suite if you can figure out the tests.

Sometimes a faulty stick of RAM can get past the best of software diags, but swap the stick out for a new one and your problems magically vanish. You could try just running one one stick for a few days, see if the problem goes away. Try the same with the other stick.

When you’re changing your sticks, don’t touch the chips or any contacts, grip it by the edges of the PCB. Keep a hand on the housing of the laptop (or any large metal chassis areas) to minimise the chance of static discharge.

If things are dusty in there, brush with a small paintbrush. Put tape over the metal part of the brush bristles if it has one. It also might be worth investing in some isopropyl alcohol (10 bucks at a chemist/pharmacy) to clean the contacts if stuff is very dirty. Some LCD iso wipes would be better than nothing, just make sure whatever you use is alcohol-based, not water-based.

It could also be a hard drive error (pagefile or something hitting a dodgy sector as you move large apps around in memory) or even just a borked Windows install. Wiping your hard drive and reinstalling everything might sound painful, but it’s an option. Make sure you have the latest BIOS from your manufacturer too.

This is all just general PC fixing stuff. I did it as a job for years, during and after highschool.

Good luck! I’ll turn on email notification for replies here.

]]> By: Mechadon http://mekworx.phenomer.net/2009/07/10/computertron-update/comment-page-1/#comment-324 Mechadon Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:46:00 +0000 http://mekworx.phenomer.net/?p=575#comment-324 Don't worry, I'm still alive. It's just that I've been reduced to using a computer that's semi-retarded for the time being. Don’t worry, I’m still alive. It’s just that I’ve been reduced to using a computer that’s semi-retarded for the time being.

]]> By: Jimmy91 http://mekworx.phenomer.net/2009/07/10/computertron-update/comment-page-1/#comment-323 Jimmy91 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:08:16 +0000 http://mekworx.phenomer.net/?p=575#comment-323 What's up Mech? Haven't seen you on any of the forums in weeks. Hope everything's okay down on your end. :?: What’s up Mech? Haven’t seen you on any of the forums in weeks. Hope everything’s okay down on your end. :?:

]]> By: Mechadon http://mekworx.phenomer.net/2009/07/10/computertron-update/comment-page-1/#comment-320 Mechadon Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:23:54 +0000 http://mekworx.phenomer.net/?p=575#comment-320 I have an idea. I think throwing my laptop out of a moving vehicle might fix it. I'm gonna go do that now. >:( I have an idea.

I think throwing my laptop out of a moving vehicle might fix it. I’m gonna go do that now.

>:(

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