On Wed, 26 Apr 2000, chris horn. wrote: > > Assuming that a software problem would leave clues in the logs or be > > predictable, and a peripheral problem (i.e., the HDD) would give > > symptoms first.... Try testing the memory (hwtools pkg), checking for > > overheating (take the cover off and point a fan at the motherboard), or > > checking the power supply (remove it and take it into an electronics > > shop). > > The hardware is brand new (August 1999), and top quality. I haven't had any > trouble with it until lately, really...
I believe you. :) Electronics (chips that is) either goes bad within the first few months, or lives for 15-20 years before the failure rate start to climb again. The initial failures are caused by defects, the later ones by `wearing out'. So, if the box is a few years old it is less likely to be a problem with the electronics than if the box is new. Also, overheating is not just a CPU (or wherever else they put temperature sensors) problem. If you have a bad bus transceiver (for example) it could cause the box to crash hard and you would never realize that is the problem, unless you checked its temperature with a thermometer (bad chips tend to run hot). The burnin (they still do that I assume) process should weed out defective chips, but ocassionally it will weken a marginal chip to the point where it fails prematurely. - Bruce