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MTA

Technology will be the death of me!

I'm typing this on my dad's PC for the following reason:

Yesterday my own PC froze, so I held the on/off button for five seconds so it turned off. Now I can't get it started. It makes a brief sound of turning on, but the light showing it is on flashes ornage, and just won't turn on at all. I am REALLY p****d off with it, seeing as the person who plumbed my internet in seems to have dissapeared off the face of the earth, and I'm the only person in my family who knows how PC's work Any ideas of how I can get my PC working again? Info:

Dell Dimension 1100 on Windows XP Home Edition.
Mamodman123

I can help MTA... maybe...

When it crashed you are supposed to use the reset button.

What I would do, is open up the pc and start problem solving. A pc not booting up is I'd say pretty commonly a Memory problem.

Do the fans spin? or is it a case of not posting?

If the fans continue to spin, then it's probably something to do with your Ram. If not, then it could be worse, i.e motherboard, processor, or something has been fried!

What I'd suggest it keep trying, unplug any peripherals that aren't needed (printer etc) and it may post.
SPOKESMAN

control-alt-delete usually go to task manager, there you can find out whats causing the trouble and quit them . . .
MTA

Mamodman123 wrote:
I can help MTA... maybe...

When it crashed you are supposed to use the reset button.

What I would do, is open up the pc and start problem solving. A pc not booting up is I'd say pretty commonly a Memory problem.

Do the fans spin? or is it a case of not posting?

If the fans continue to spin, then it's probably something to do with your Ram. If not, then it could be worse, i.e motherboard, processor, or something has been fried!

What I'd suggest it keep trying, unplug any peripherals that aren't needed (printer etc) and it may post.


The fans do spin, you can hear the air being sucked in and out. It's just a very brief start up, then suddenly nothing except the on light flashing amber
Mamodman123

MTA wrote:
Mamodman123 wrote:
I can help MTA... maybe...

When it crashed you are supposed to use the reset button.

What I would do, is open up the pc and start problem solving. A pc not booting up is I'd say pretty commonly a Memory problem.

Do the fans spin? or is it a case of not posting?

If the fans continue to spin, then it's probably something to do with your Ram. If not, then it could be worse, i.e motherboard, processor, or something has been fried!

What I'd suggest it keep trying, unplug any peripherals that aren't needed (printer etc) and it may post.


The fans do spin, you can hear the air being sucked in and out. It's just a very brief start up, then suddenly nothing except the on light flashing amber


How many memory stick do you have in your Pc mate?

It's just not posting

We're slightly closer!
Chris

Hope you have important stuff backed up.

I had a hard drive break a while ago, I got remarkably cross about it. I managed to get most of the data off it by using it as a slave drive in another computer (while it made remarkably nasty noises). Then I chucked it out the upstairs window onto the patio below then went to finish it off with a hammer.

Felt better after that. Now everything gets backed up onto two other drives (especially since all my photos are now digital).

Hope you get it sorted. Hopefully it will be something simple, it normally is. Mine kept crashing the other day, found out it was the fan on the graphics card had broke so the card over heated and crashed the computer. One new card later, problem solved. Generally just takes a bit of time to go through things bit by bit and find the problem. At least you have a Dell, they are simple to get into and tidily built.
Mamodman123

Chris wrote:
Hope you have important stuff backed up.

I had a hard drive break a while ago, I got remarkably cross about it. I managed to get most of the data off it by using it as a slave drive in another computer (while it made remarkably nasty noises). Then I chucked it out the upstairs window onto the patio below then went to finish it off with a hammer.

Felt better after that. Now everything gets backed up onto two other drives (especially since all my photos are now digital).

Hope you get it sorted. Hopefully it will be something simple, it normally is. Mine kept crashing the other day, found out it was the fan on the graphics card had broke so the card over heated and crashed the computer. One new card later, problem solved. Generally just takes a bit of time to go through things bit by bit and find the problem. At least you have a Dell, they are simple to get into and tidily built.


That's pretty much it Chris

Lets hope it's not your Processor MTA! or that might be expensive
Chris

First time I rummaged into a pc I was nervous as heck! Nothing to it once you have worked out which bit is which, and I am more than happy to rummage around in there now.

I thought about building one, but Dell seems cheaper than buying all the bits yourself.

Did you build yours MM?
Mamodman123

Chris wrote:
First time I rummaged into a pc I was nervous as heck! Nothing to it once you have worked out which bit is which, and I am more than happy to rummage around in there now.

I thought about building one, but Dell seems cheaper than buying all the bits yourself.

Did you build yours MM?


Yep built countless amounts of PC's! Dabbled into laptop repair too!

Depends what you want Pc's for! Dell are the best make you can buy! We're coming into an age now where its getting less economical for you to build your own..... At the time i built my PC for around 300 and it was worth if bought from a shop over 1000. Like you said it is possibly cheaper to buy from Dell...although i'm not entirely sure! With the bits from www.ebuyer.co.uk it might work out quite cheap

I would still build my own though! Gives you free cash for top of the range G cards! You can experiment a bit with dual memory etc
Dauntless

other good computer parts suppliers,

http://www.scan.co.uk

http://www.microdirect.co.uk
MTA

!!!I'M BACK ON MY OWN PC!!!

The problem was that the power supply had shorted out, and I now have a new, industrial fan and power unit in my Dell PC. It is much quieter, and I daren't use my on/off button anymore other than for switching my PC on Although the new unit did cost my dad a whopping £100 Although it comes with a lifetime guarantee
Mamodman123

MTA wrote:
!!!I'M BACK ON MY OWN PC!!!

The problem was that the power supply had shorted out, and I now have a new, industrial fan and power unit in my Dell PC. It is much quieter, and I daren't use my on/off button anymore other than for switching my PC on Although the new unit did cost my dad a whopping £100 Although it comes with a lifetime guarantee


At least you are back up and running!

I blew my power unit playing King Kong once bought another off ebay and I was back up and running in days

Using the on/off button isn't a good idea for restarting your PC. If the pc crashes use CTRL ALT Delete before anything . It shouldn't crash running XP anyway

Glad it's sorted anyway mate!
SPOKESMAN

MTA wrote:
!!!I'M BACK ON MY OWN PC!!!

The problem was that the power supply had shorted out, and I now have a new, industrial fan and power unit in my Dell PC. It is much quieter, and I daren't use my on/off button anymore other than for switching my PC on Although the new unit did cost my dad a whopping £100 Although it comes with a lifetime guarantee


I had a power supply goon my G5 recently - £380. Mind you its builtlike a brick sh!t house. I leave them on all the time . . . .
MTA

I would leave mine on as well Mike, but seeing as my PC is under my bed, and I being a light sleeper, I wouldn't get a wink of sleep
SPOKESMAN

MTA wrote:
I would leave mine on as well Mike, but seeing as my PC is under my bed, and I being a light sleeper, I wouldn't get a wink of sleep


Fair enough . . . switching them on an off causes most wear and tear . . .

My iMac is permanently on, except when I need to restart die to upgrades . . .
Chris

Glad you got it fixed and it wasn't anything too serious.
MTA

Thanks lads Now, what can I do so should anything more serious happen e.g. hard drive wiped?
Chris

Back everything up. Either by sticking a second hard drive in your computer, or buying an external hard drive (they are very cheap).

Most annoying thing then is having to reinstall operating system and having to set everything back up how you like it (unless you get a program to back all that stuff up as well, but I don't bother, I just back up data).

Honestly most things are simple, more simple than you would think and certainly not worth paying PC World prices to get it done for you.
MTA

One external drive on it's way then...
SPOKESMAN

MTA wrote:
Thanks lads Now, what can I do so should anything more serious happen e.g. hard drive wiped?


You you have a n emergency start up disk or partition?

Also back up your essential files to CDr or DVDr.
Chris

SPOKESMAN wrote:
MTA wrote:
Thanks lads Now, what can I do so should anything more serious happen e.g. hard drive wiped?


You you have a n emergency start up disk or partition?

Also back up your essential files to CDr or DVDr.


And if they are really essential then store them somewhere other than your own house.
Mamodman123

A partician would be useless as its the same Drive!

Back it up to CD or DVD

Your Hard drive can't really be wiped MTA not when its on anyway as half the windows and programme files are in use. So basically it can't delete windows when you're in it
Chris

Mamodman123 wrote:
A partician would be useless as its the same Drive!

Back it up to CD or DVD

Your Hard drive can't really be wiped MTA not when its on anyway as half the windows and programme files are in use. So basically it can't delete windows when you're in it


It would be hard to wipe it, but they do break. Not often admittedly, but they do.
Mamodman123

Chris wrote:
Mamodman123 wrote:
A partician would be useless as its the same Drive!

Back it up to CD or DVD

Your Hard drive can't really be wiped MTA not when its on anyway as half the windows and programme files are in use. So basically it can't delete windows when you're in it


It would be hard to wipe it, but they do break. Not often admittedly, but they do.


Yes they can break!
Cedge

I generally replace the old harddrive and then install the operating system on th enew one. Purchase a USB external drive shell and put the old hard drive in the shell. Plug in the USB external and all the data is right there ready for use, unless the old hardrive had some sort of catastrophic physical failure.

I've used the trick for a couple of years now and even when the system died, the data was there for use as soon as I plugged it into the freshly updated computer.

Best trick an IT guy ever shared with me.

Steve
SPOKESMAN

Mamodman123 wrote:
A partician would be useless as its the same Drive!

Back it up to CD or DVD

Your Hard drive can't really be wiped MTA not when its on anyway as half the windows and programme files are in use. So basically it can't delete windows when you're in it


Yes physically if the HD is duff, if its just startup or read write errors then a seperate partion may help, ir for the system and recovery.
MTA

Just noticed that I have the old part next to me! Would it be possible to hijack it for parts e.g., it has a grill, could that be used for something steam related?
Chris

MTA wrote:
Just noticed that I have the old part next to me! Would it be possible to hijack it for parts e.g., it has a grill, could that be used for something steam related?


I'll have a steak, medium rare.

MTA

SPOKESMAN

MTA wrote:
Just noticed that I have the old part next to me! Would it be possible to hijack it for parts e.g., it has a grill, could that be used for something steam related?


Large vap burner?
MTA

Here is a pic of the item in question:



Anyone want a load of cables
James

MTA, your room is a shit hole
MTA

James wrote:
MTA, your room is a shit hole


Tell me about it Although as long as I find those castings for tmuir, and it's clean before Steely comes in June, the jobs a goodun
James

It's a wonder you can find the carpet never mind the castings!
Sandman

Jeez MTA.

Do me a favour and PM me the next time you have problems mate.

I could have got you a power pack for a fraction of what you paid.

I know I'm too late now but in the future???
SPOKESMAN

Tidy your room son!
MTA

Sandman wrote:
Jeez MTA.

Do me a favour and PM me the next time you have problems mate.

I could have got you a power pack for a fraction of what you paid.

I know I'm too late now but in the future???


will do mate
MTA

SPOKESMAN wrote:
Tidy your room son!


Will do dad
tmuir

Geez MTA you must want that stuff from forest clasics pretty bad to trash your room like that to find the castings.

I will try and scan the drawings of the castings tomorrow as I've decided to give myself the day off tomorrow.
Its nice being the boss.
Chris

Is your maid on strike mate? Not been giving her the half a day off a week again?



Can't think of a good use for a broken power pack.
James

Give Jeeves a slap
MTA

Another PC rant, this time about software. I recently upgraded to Adobe Reader 8. And now everytime I try to open a pdf file with it, it won't open so I can read it! So much for upgraded software being better
Mamodman123

MTA wrote:
Another PC rant, this time about software. I recently upgraded to Adobe Reader 8. And now everytime I try to open a pdf file with it, it won't open so I can read it! So much for upgraded software being better


Abobe = spyware
SPOKESMAN

Mamodman123 wrote:
MTA wrote:
Another PC rant, this time about software. I recently upgraded to Adobe Reader 8. And now everytime I try to open a pdf file with it, it won't open so I can read it! So much for upgraded software being better


Abobe = spyware


I use Abobe CS2 (upgrading to CS3) soon . . . .

Their software is faultless - used it since 1990.

I couldn't work without Acrobat professional along with Photoshop and Illustrator . . .
mc_mc

For reading PDFs on Windows I can highly recommend this bit of software:

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

It's completely free and loads about 100 times faster than Adobe Acrobat reader.
Wallace

mc_mc wrote:
For reading PDFs on Windows I can highly recommend this bit of software:

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

It's completely free and loads about 100 times faster than Adobe Acrobat reader.



Thanks for that, I'll give it a try.

I hate PDF's all together, but at least if I have to look at them, it'll be less painful if I don't have to use Adobe.
Chris

PDF's are a very good way of packaging up drawing and documents before sending out to clients.

You generally end up with small files that can be e-mailed easily and the end result can't be readily changed or fiddled with.

Hard to imagine how many companies would operate in the electronic age without them.

But I also had problems upgrading to Acrobat 8 on my work computer. It kept asking for a file it didn't have. Can't remember how I solved it now, expect I did an internet search for a solution.

Works now anyway.

I also use Ghostview as that allows conversion between pdf and several other file formats.
SPOKESMAN

Chris wrote:
PDF's are a very good way of packaging up drawing and documents before sending out to clients.

You generally end up with small files that can be e-mailed easily and the end result can't be readily changed or fiddled with.

Hard to imagine how many companies would operate in the electronic age without them.

But I also had problems upgrading to Acrobat 8 on my work computer. It kept asking for a file it didn't have. Can't remember how I solved it now, expect I did an internet search for a solution.

Works now anyway.

I also use Ghostview as that allows conversion between pdf and several other file formats.



PDFs can be edited using the full/professional versions - we use it to extract images, adjust text, insert spot colours, remove unwanted items etc, build larger PDFs insert proofing corrections, the list goes on . . . .

Couldn't live without it!
Mamodman123

It's acrobat reader I can't stand.... you have to click hold and drag with that hand it's like something out of the stone age plus on slower machines it takes forever to load.

They were so desperate at one point they used to give it away free with games so you could read the manual
Chris

SPOKESMAN wrote:
Chris wrote:
PDF's are a very good way of packaging up drawing and documents before sending out to clients.

You generally end up with small files that can be e-mailed easily and the end result can't be readily changed or fiddled with.

Hard to imagine how many companies would operate in the electronic age without them.

But I also had problems upgrading to Acrobat 8 on my work computer. It kept asking for a file it didn't have. Can't remember how I solved it now, expect I did an internet search for a solution.

Works now anyway.

I also use Ghostview as that allows conversion between pdf and several other file formats.



PDFs can be edited using the full/professional versions - we use it to extract images, adjust text, insert spot colours, remove unwanted items etc, build larger PDFs insert proofing corrections, the list goes on . . . .

Couldn't live without it!


Yes they can be fiddled with, but not easily (you need the kit). So if sending a drawing electronically to a client or a contractor we will send a pdf, then what they print is exactly what we wanted them to see. Also they won't go fiddling with what we have drawn on the CAD file and build something different. Can't think of another file format where we could do that.

Agreed that the reader could be better, but I find the latest version loads very quickly.
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