ot: problems
Michael Havens
bmike1 at gmail.com
Thu Sep 18 08:34:25 MST 2014
when the keybosrd problem stsrted about 6 months ago getting another
keyboard was the first thing I did and there was no problem with it when I
attached an external keyboard. You mentioned smoking being a problem? I've
never done that. You wondered about the distro? I run Linux Mint.
:-)~MIKE~(-:
On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 6:08 AM, Lisa Kachold <foobar at it-clowns.com> wrote:
> Hi Mike,
>
> In order to work with the technician effectively, you are going to want to
> be closely involved with the work process. In this respect, you will ask
> him what he thinks the problem is, or what his first actions are, for
> instance if he recommends a full diagnostic.
>
> But first, I would do some diagnostics myself before taking your equipment
> to the technician.
>
> IT IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT THIS IS DUE TO MORE THAN ONE CAUSE (but all
> related to your distro or drivers)!
>
> If you are SMOKING or exposing the laptop to soot of any kind, you will
> want to clean the laptop completely FIRST.
>
> Everyone has issues with the WIRELESS switch on older equipment, just futz
> with it, as I have never seen anyone have it STAY BROKEN? But this clearly
> would be the technician stage....
>
> Various diagnostic programs exist for linux, which you might consider
> before spending money on the technician, to verify power supply, bus, and
> CPU.
>
> Intel Proc Diagnostic for Linux:
> https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=19792
> PowerTop:
> http://xmodulo.com/2013/06/how-to-monitor-power-usage-in-linux.html
>
> What distro are you running? Known issues with KDE and Chrome with
> keyboard I/O are common (which I expect is the cause of your issues after
> applying a patch):
>
>
> http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=53398&p=306336&hilit=keyboard+stops+working#p306336
>
> Spares are your friend, so try an external keyboard and see if the issue
> follows that hardware (kernel driver) switch, then you can be sure that it
> is application/distro based rather than hardware based.
>
> As for fan control, there are various tools and again KNOWN ISSUES
> (ArchLinux) with fancontrol under linux:
> http://askubuntu.com/questions/63588/how-do-i-get-fan-control-working
> Karmic: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/451337
>
> You can use a live distro to rule out your keyboard issues - divide and
> conquer.
>
> Using OSI Level debugging, you go to the layer where the issue exists and
> traverse up and down to adjacent layers, so clearly there is only the human
> level on the other side of the Physical Layer 1, which is where the
> problems present themselves, so the other direction would be the drivers in
> linux.
>
> You would rule out issues here with a systematic diagnostic, use of spares
> and intelligent research.
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 8:54 PM, Michael Havens <bmike1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> What can I tell the service tech so I don't sound too stupid?
>>
>> :-)~MIKE~(-:
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 8:03 PM, Michael Havens <bmike1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> oh.... I forgot to say that none of the other computers in my house seem
>>> to have been affected though it may be that it needs to be power-cycled
>>> and/or it may be something that only affects wireless and something got on
>>> the phone lines (my home is on DSL).
>>>
>>> :-)~MIKE~(-:
>>>
>>> On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 7:50 PM, Michael Havens <bmike1 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thank you so much for the detailed explanation, Jon. You know.... I
>>>> have a laptop and I don't have a MAC but I read your troubleshooting
>>>> non-the-less. I got to the last paragraph and realized something that I was
>>>> told happened a couple of days ago that might be relevant. My room mate was
>>>> home when this happened so this is second-hand knowledge. She was watching
>>>> tv when the power went out then, a second later, there was a big POP down
>>>> the street (a transformer maybe?). Everything still worked with the
>>>> computer though; however, maybe it just needed to be power-cycled.
>>>>
>>>> Any other comments will be greatly appreciated!
>>>>
>>>> :-)~MIKE~(-:
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 6:56 PM, Jon Kettenhofen <subs at kexsof.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hello Michael,
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm curious, did you buy this quad new or did you buy it used or is it
>>>>> a work computer owned by a company? I get the feeling that you bought it
>>>>> used.
>>>>>
>>>>> There's almost always a reason for failures and it's usually a problem
>>>>> that can be isolated. If it's a part, it can be replaced. If it's
>>>>> something else, it can be fixed.
>>>>>
>>>>> When stuff like this starts to happen, it may be one of three things:
>>>>> a loose connection or a bad motherboard or a power supply. Apple builds
>>>>> solid hardware but sometimes it gets abuse or just used in a poor
>>>>> environment with too much heat and/or moisture or just takes a physical
>>>>> beating - they are rather heavy. Also quads, I believe, have water
>>>>> cooling. I have seen at least one report of leaks. That's usually easy to
>>>>> rule out if there's no leaks.
>>>>>
>>>>> So where to begin? Well, the pedant is back!
>>>>>
>>>>> You may want to take some anti-static electricity precautions. First,
>>>>> disconnect the Mac completely from all exterior cords, wires, etc. Lay it
>>>>> on its side where there is plenty of light, a clean worktop area and a
>>>>> Phillips screwdriver. As you have seen, it's easily taken apart, at least
>>>>> the easy pieces need only your hands. Pull the fans out, take the video
>>>>> and other cards out, unhinge and pull the memory sticks out and so on until
>>>>> you are puzzled how to get the cooling shrouds out. (Don't do that.)
>>>>> Inspect everything. Look for any corrosion. Remove as much dirt and dust
>>>>> as you can with an air duster can (take care here, the these cans may
>>>>> contain hydrocarbons that are flammable and they should not be inhaled!).
>>>>> If you use an air compressor, be gentle and use lower pressure less than
>>>>> 40psi. What you can't get out with air, start with a clean microfiber
>>>>> cloth and wipe without generating static (i.e. don't rub hard). Make sure
>>>>> all the connectors are clean and shiny before reassembling.
>>>>>
>>>>> We call this clean and re-seat the boards.
>>>>>
>>>>> Make sure you put the same memory sticks back into the same slots - it
>>>>> usually matters or makes a difference. If you don't remember, read up on
>>>>> it from a manual, usually online at Apple.com.
>>>>>
>>>>> Memory sticks are tricky because they often won't reseat properly
>>>>> without strong pressure. First, make sure the middle slot on the memory
>>>>> stick is lined up with the ridge in the bottom of the connector. The slots
>>>>> are offset from the middle on purpose, they are only supposed to go in one
>>>>> way. (Having burned out a memory stick by forcing it in backwards, I can
>>>>> speak from experience! Won't do that again!) The way to handle this is to
>>>>> use two hands, with thumbs or your choice of fingers at each end of the
>>>>> board. Making sure the stick is aligned correctly in the connector; push
>>>>> FIRMLY down until both ends of the connector snap into the stick. Main
>>>>> logic boards are epoxy and embedded fiber, are very strong and can take a
>>>>> little flexing without
>>>>> hurting them. Same with memory sticks.
>>>>>
>>>>> Make sure the memory is seated well - it may take close inspection
>>>>> with a flashlight. If the sticks are all the same size, then no stick
>>>>> should be higher than the lowest one.
>>>>>
>>>>> OK, reassemble the computer.
>>>>>
>>>>> Testing the power supply can be difficult. It's easier with a common
>>>>> desktop PC because the power connector is almost always on top of the board
>>>>> and easily accessible. It's not enough to test a power supply out of the
>>>>> computer because it won't be under load.
>>>>>
>>>>> Here's how an expert taught me to test the power supply on a desktop
>>>>> PC (but not a Dell!) Take a meter and set it to DC volts. There will be a
>>>>> pair of test leads with pointed ends to poke at things.
>>>>>
>>>>> You will push the points into the connector until it connects to the
>>>>> metal of the connector sleeve. Connect the common lead to a black wire's
>>>>> connector. Test all the colored wires with the positive (usually red)
>>>>> meter probe. Here are the correct voltages for a PC:
>>>>>
>>>>> Yellow +12 Volts
>>>>> Red +5 Volts
>>>>> Purple +5 Volts
>>>>> Orange +3.3Volts
>>>>> Green don't test; this turns on the PC when shorted to black
>>>>> White -5 Volts
>>>>> Blue -12 Volts
>>>>> Gray I think this one is for the power-is-on LED
>>>>> Brown Not sure about this one
>>>>>
>>>>> The important thing is that the voltages are nearly correct when the
>>>>> computer is powered on because that shows the power supply to be good when
>>>>> under a load.
>>>>>
>>>>> One other thing - sometimes a part can acquire a static charge which
>>>>> won't dissipate properly. The only remedy for this is to wait until it
>>>>> discharges (unless you are a motherboard repair person).
>>>>>
>>>>> Things that have hurt my equipment is usually near lightning strikes.
>>>>> Lost one treasured Mac to a lightning strike that hit the phone lines. Took
>>>>> out phones for three stories above me. Mac did not fail right away but
>>>>> eventually lost it (sniff :( ). Lightning strikes across the strike have
>>>>> taken out a couple ethernet ports over the years even though my equipment
>>>>> has always been on a UPS. Strong strike will generate an EMP which is
>>>>> sometimes picked up by a network wire of a resonant length. Usually,
>>>>> though, it's not serious but if the storm is bad, we'll turn off the
>>>>> electronics until it's past.
>>>>>
>>>>> I apologize for the length of this, but you get the idea of the
>>>>> lengths I go to fix things.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best of Luck and let me know how it turns out if you have the time,
>>>>> As always, take care.
>>>>> Jon
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 09/17/2014 06:27 PM, Michael Havens wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> first certain keys sometimes don't work unless I hold the key down and
>>>>>> then after a time the character will appear (sometimes multiple
>>>>>> times).
>>>>>> So it was recomended I pop the keys off and clean under them. So I do
>>>>>> and it doesn't fix the problem. No problem. I'll stick it under my
>>>>>> table
>>>>>> and attach wireless periphiels too it. Then I need to go visit my
>>>>>> kids.
>>>>>> So I figure I'll suffer with the keyboard problem. The day I left for
>>>>>> Miami (at the airport) the hardware internet switch would not turn on.
>>>>>> Then, after I arrive in Miami, I turn on the computer and a notice
>>>>>> appears at boot saying that 'the cooling fan is not operating
>>>>>> properly'.
>>>>>> What problem do you think is causing this? I called my dad and he said
>>>>>> it sounds like the hard disk is going bad. He also said maybe the
>>>>>> keyboard controller (because of the internet switch).
>>>>>> :-)~MIKE~(-:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
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