Michael, BTW, Apple publishes a hardware diagnostic CD or DVD, in fact it may be on the original install DVDs that came with the machine. If you can boot the machine, see if you can run the diagnostics. Jon On 09/18/2014 02:08 PM, Michael Havens wrote: > Thefirst thing I di was to stick the live cd in. That didn't fix a thing > plus that doesn't take care of the cooling fan issue..... did I tell you > I get that notice right before bios takes over? > > :-)~MIKE~(-: > > On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 9:24 AM, Stephen Partington > > wrote: > > Have you tried a live CD of any flavor to see if it persists? > > On Sep 18, 2014 8:35 AM, "Michael Havens" > wrote: > > 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 > > 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 > > 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 > > 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 > > 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 > > 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~(-: > > > ------------------------------__--------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - > PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.__org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change > your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/__mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > > ------------------------------__--------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - > PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.__org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your > mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/__mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - > PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss