> > > > More of a discussion. > > > > > > > > My sister is still having trouble with computer. They had a > > > > problem two weeks ago and replaced the power strip, thinking > > > > that was a source. It was actually because of too many of > > > > those hidden programs were running, or at least that fixed > > > > it. But it failed again last night, and the resources were at > > > > 85%. Her office computer guy said it may be the wall outlet. > > > > > > How exactly would a faulty power supply effect system resources? > > > *boggle* > > > > > > (I'm not a hardware guy, I just play one on TV) > > > > > > > But now I'm thinking: America may not have the best power in > > > > the world, but I'd bet we have better power than other > > > > computer using countries like China or India. So are their > > > > computers failing all the time because of poor power? > > > > > > I've had power supplies burn out, but only 2 or 3 times over hundreds of > > > computers I've used or admin'd. > > > > > > -j- > > > >It had to do with diagnosing the problem. Sister sent e-mail, went to > >cooking dinner, came back and found computer locked up. So hit reset and > >the computer wouldn't fire up at all, and the monitor wouldn't come on. She > >called me on phone and after offering suggestions she unplugged computer > >from power strip and it fired up from a different outlet, but wouldn't get > >past Win98 cloud screen. > > > >Hauled to work and techie fixed it, couldn't say why computer locked up so > >hard, but found resources were way down because of junk programs. That's > >the only thing he found. > > > >So now two weeks later, different power strip but same outlet, computer > >again stops running. She can do safe mode but nothing else. That's why > >techie said maybe wall outlet. > > > >Kevin T. > > Is it possible that this is a processor heating problem and not a power > supply problem? Often a processor that's being overworked by many TSR's > (That's olde-time shorthand for "terminate and stay resident", or "programs > that suck system resources,") will overheat when they're not properly > ventilated. The symptoms you describe: crashes, locking-up etc., are also > consistent with overheating. I would think that's more likely than a power > supply short problem. > > If I may make a suggestion: set up a small fan that will blow into the back > of the computer case. See if the problem stops. Also, clean the fans where > possible inside the case. Most computers now have at least two fans, and > one additional on top of the processor. Buy some canned air and blast the > fans and processor to remove excess dust. Sometimes heat builds up when the > fans are clogged. > > I might be off base... but these are low-tech, low-$$$ solutions that might > help. :-) > > Jon, who saw a laptop advertised by Alien Computers that had 8 (count 'em) > fans installed to offset the heat produced by a 2.4ghz processor. :-)))) > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Now that's a good suggestion! (Smacking hand on head). The computer is in a very small space, as in it just fits into desk area with wood on both sides and no back room probably no air movement at all, it runs 24/7 and the house does get hot. It's a 500, I think, but only two fans if that, power supply and processor. I know it's clean, I gave it a air can blast not too long ago, and I'm sure techie at work would have also. Will offer these suggestions. Kevin T. Thank you.
