Software Problems That Aren't

Self | 10 Jan. 02 | Grut

[Grut]

A while back the fan on my computer's power supply got very noisy so I pulled the PS and replaced the fan. No problem.

But I'd been having trouble with IE 5.5, namely that it kept forgetting my preferences and coming on in not-full-screen mode and sometimes with the IE window collapsed rather than full size. I noticed after changing the fan that these problems disappeared.

This gave me another idea; I'd also had trouble running Norton Utilities 'Speed Disk' application in 'thorough' mode. It'd run fine for a while and then the execution would slow down until there was only an occasional burst of activity from either the CPU or the HDD. I once let it run for ten hours out of curiosity and it never finished! Figuring one mysterious 'cure' deserves another, I tried 'Speed Disk - thorough' again and it went like a bomb, finishing in twenty minutes or less.

Why this should be I don't know; perhaps a more computer-literate Freeper can explain it to us. But the thing is, the power supply seems to be one more place to look for solutions to 'software' problems before consigning Bill Gates to perdition.

[Grut]

Whoops! Forgot to mention I run Windows NT4, SP6a.

[Publius6961]

Interesting.
The remaining question is... why?

[KansasConservative1]

Quick Thought... Some older computers (Actually some new ones as well) use the power supply fan to pull air across the heat sink on the CPU. Overheating CPU can cause many problems. Replacing the noisy fan probably increased air flow and fixed any thermal problems. My first impression. What type of chip and speed? may give a clue

[E. Pluribus Unum]

You forgot to mention the brand of dental floss you use. That would be about as useful as the rest of the information you provided.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Sounds like you were starting to over-temp the CPU.

[boris]

In my experience Norton Speed disk is pure poison on NT boxes. It ate my boot record several times.

BTW, so is "DiskKeeper". Did the same thing.

I finally found an NT/XP defragger that works. It is from a German company called O&O Software.

--Boris

[tacticalogic]

I've seen lots of wierd things go away after unplugging and reseating all the cable connectors and the memory sticks. How much other stuff did you have to unplug/reseat in the process of getting the PS out and back in?

[RightWhale]

It may be the plug on the power cord. The older ones could be put in the electrical socket backwards if the ground lug is removed.

[WhiteKnuckles]

It's heat. It can screw up your CPU and/or HD. That is why they tell you not to block the ventilation slits on the PC case.

Use to have these problems alll the time at the company I used to work for.

[Hoosier Patriot]

I'd say that your Johnson rods weren't fluxing properly, causing the isa double dutch bus to be out of sync with the complimentary metal oxide semiconductors. All caused by the power supply fan going south. New fan, problem solved!

But, you made sure that you replaced it by using a left handed screwdriver, didn't you? I sincerely hope so, or boy you've got a world of trouble to look forward to now!

[Grut]

Sounds like you were starting to over-temp the CPU.

This is a k6-2 450 on a Tyan s1590s MB, which has an AT form factor. PS cooling doesn't play that much of a role in CPU cooling in this layout and the CPU has its own heatsink and fan anyway.

[Scally Wag]

I had a problem with my fan,
I didn't know about till my CPU trashed my hard drive by writing Cr*p all over it,
I had to reformat.

After fitting a new fan.

[Looking4Truth]

I have seen things just as strange, too many to mention.

Trying to convince a user or client that re-seating something makes a problem go away or that all the junk they keep under their desk blocks airflow thus causing heat problems is like trying to get Jesse Jackson to shut his pie hole.

And forget trying to explain things like Windoze's famous 'leaking resources' problems or how installing software will hose up other things.

People think that you are trying to B.S. or cheat them. I usually never bill full hours on a job to begin with, people go thru the roof when you have to spend hours researching their problem and try to bill them for it, it sucks.

Yet the same idiots have no problem paying the Plumber or Mechanic 100 buck an hour. Idiots.

[Lazamataz]

I'd say that your Johnson rods weren't fluxing properly, causing the isa double dutch bus to be out of sync with the complimentary metal oxide semiconductors. All caused by the power supply fan going south. New fan, problem solved!

Now Hoosier. Everyone knows that the Johnson Rods on the new machines flux just fine. Quit funnin' the poor lad. It's quite clear that the power grommets aren't sealing properly and electrons are gumming up the Oreman differential slip-gear. When that happens, you get flayers inside treadling back and forth and batch and forth, and soon a slat will get kicked out, and THEN you get a BIG mess of pneumatic fluid and computer juice!

[Scally Wag]

If the temp of the power supply changes, it would be possible for the resistance
withing the PS could change, producing higher voltage.

[Xenalyte]

What about his Edelbrock intake?

[Xenalyte]

What about his Edelbrock intake?

[VMI70]

...your Johnson rods weren't fluxing properly,...

It has been my experience that they tend to that as they get older.

FReegards,

[metesky]

Norton Speed Disk ate my entire HD about two months ago. Never had a problem before installation. All our applications were backed up, but I lost ten %#*^% years worth of bookmarks.

GGRRrrrrrrrr...