Re: ot: problems

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Author: Michael Havens
Date:  
To: Main PLUG discussion list
Subject: Re: ot: problems
thanks, Jon. I think I'll take it in. I get the fan warning and the
internet switch still will not turn on when I'm running it off of the
battery.

:-)~MIKE~(-:

On Fri, Sep 19, 2014 at 5:12 AM, Jon Kettenhofen <> wrote:

> Sure, a bad power supply will not only affect the fans but it can affect
> everything in the computer!
>
> What do you think? The power supply failed because it got too hot because
> the cooling fan did not do it's job? Maybe. But you won't be able to
> diagnose the fan or other failures until you determine the status of the
> power supply. Considering that you have seen multiple symptoms, it could
> point to either the power supply or the motherboard. The easiest way I can
> think of to diagnose the power supply is to trade power supplies with a
> duplicate quad system quad and see if the symptoms move to the duplicate
> quad system. If not, then the motherboard becomes suspect.
>
> I'm saying duplicate quad because quads draw the most power and the
> failure should be obvious on the duplicate. Otherwise if the symptoms did
> not show up on either system, then the diagnosis would be in doubt because
> it could be a power supply cable or connector and the exchange fixed the
> problem, possibly only temporarily (time will tell).
>
> On the other hand, if you just buy a duplicate (make sure it's for a quad)
> power supply and exchange the supplies, you won't be sure that the old
> power supply was bad or that you just fixed a cable problem - assuming you
> haven't ruled out the cable/connector at fault.
>
> I've seen power supplies on ebay for about $100 in the past but make sure
> the dealer is reputable whatever you pay - if you go that way.
>
> There's a fellow in Florida who repairs motherboards for PC's for $169 but
> I don't know if he does Mac motherboards and you have to pay postage to
> ship the board to him. (Pack it well and insure it!)
>
> If you replace the power supply and still have the symptoms, then can you
> return the extra power supply?
>
> Anyway, if you can boot and run, try the Apple hardware diagnostics if you
> have the DVD. Or if you have a copy of Tech Tool (Pro) try to boot that.
> It takes a while to boot because it does so with it's own system without
> violating Apple's copyrights, etc. I know Tech Tool Pro is stand alone and
> tests all the hardware because I use it. Since my Mac G5 is down, I don't
> know if it tests the power supply, but it should.
>
> Jon
>
>
>
>
> On 09/18/2014 09:35 PM, Michael Havens wrote:
>
>> so the power supply will affect the cooling fan? If so this might be an
>> easy fix. What about the internet switch? That was the first thing that
>> failed.
>>
>> :-)~MIKE~(-:
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 5:24 PM, Jon Kettenhofen <
>> <mailto:subs@kexsof.com>> wrote:
>>
>>     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
>>         < <mailto:cryptworks@gmail.com>
>>         <mailto:cryptworks@gmail.com <mailto:cryptworks@gmail.com>>>
>> wrote:

>>
>>              Have you tried a live CD of any flavor to see if it persists?

>>
>>              On Sep 18, 2014 8:35 AM, "Michael Havens" <
>>         <mailto:bmike1@gmail.com>
>>              <mailto:bmike1@gmail.com <mailto:bmike1@gmail.com>>> 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
>>                  < <mailto:foobar@it-clowns.com>
>>         <mailto:foobar@it-clowns.com <mailto:foobar@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
>>         <https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=19792>
>>                      PowerTop:
>>         http://xmodulo.com/2013/06/__how-to-monitor-power-usage-in-
>> __linux.html
>>         <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
>>         <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
>>         <http://askubuntu.com/questions/63588/how-do-i-get-
>> fan-control-working>
>>                      Karmic:
>>         https://bugs.launchpad.net/__ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/__451337
>>         <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
>>                      < <mailto:bmike1@gmail.com>
>>         <mailto:bmike1@gmail.com <mailto:bmike1@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
>>                          < <mailto:bmike1@gmail.com>
>>         <mailto:bmike1@gmail.com <mailto:bmike1@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
>>                              < <mailto:bmike1@gmail.com>
>>         <mailto:bmike1@gmail.com <mailto:bmike1@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
>>                                  <
>>         <mailto:subs@kexsof.com> <mailto:subs@kexsof.com

>>
>>         <mailto:subs@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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