ot: problems

Wed Sep 17 20:54:02 MST 2014

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~(-:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---------------------------------------------------
>>>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at 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 at lists.phxlinux.org
>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
>>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>>>
>>
>>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.phxlinux.org/pipermail/plug-discuss/attachments/20140917/302ce5eb/attachment.html>