Re: Very Strange Problem

In news:OoCvWPI1FHA.560@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Bob <bob@xxxxxxx> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> Galen wrote:
>> In news:%23dNY0nr0FHA.916@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
>> Bob <bob@xxxxxxx> had this to say:
>>
>> My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
>>
>>> Galen wrote:
>>>> In news:%239XJ2BF0FHA.3408@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
>>>> Bob <bob@xxxxxxx> had this to say:
>>>>
>>>> My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
>>>>
>>>>> Here is the problem I have been having. Prior to upgrading my
>>>>> entire box, I was having what appeared to be power supply
>>>>> problems. That is, difficulty in finding USB devices, computer acting
>>>>> crazy on
>>>>> reboot, massive file corruption and then finally Windows 2000 not
>>>>> starting at all on reboot and requiring repeated reinstalls. I
>>>>> felt the problem was a bad power supply. We never diagnosed it but
>>>>> instead just redid most of the box and the problem seems to have
>>>>> gone away. However, with the new box I recently put on some new
>>>>> Windows updates
>>>>> (10 of them) and rebooted. First of all, it would not shut down (a
>>>>> common problem from back in the "power problem" days). It came
>>>>> back up and lost the USB cable modem (a chronic problem with the prior
>>>>> setup) and it never could grab the cable modem again. I rebooted
>>>>> and it froze while loading at
>>>>>
>>>>> BIOS version
>>>>> [Something else]
>>>>> Checking memory
>>>>> 512 MB memory
>>>>> Press Del to Enter Setup
>>>>>
>>>>> Freeze.
>>>>>
>>>>> Furthermore, attempts to power off the box with the power button
>>>>> repeatedly failed. The box had to be powered off with the switch
>>>>> in the back of the computer. Repeated attempts to power off and
>>>>> back on the box resulted in the same freeze. The box would not accept
>>>>> any floppy at all, even a Checkit floppy that supposedly even
>>>>> boots a fried OS.
>>>>> Finally, I pulled the cord from the wall and put it back in and
>>>>> powered the box back on. Everything came back up fine and Windows
>>>>> 2000 found the cable modem again.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is really bizarre. It smells like the power supply problem
>>>>> again but there is a whole new power supply in the box. The box
>>>>> has: New power supply
>>>>> New motherboard
>>>>> New CPU
>>>>> New memory
>>>>> New video card
>>>>> New sound chip
>>>>> New DVD drive
>>>>>
>>>>> In short, everything is new on the box except for the hard drive
>>>>> and CD burner.
>>>>>
>>>>> Yet the same bizarre problems, which smell like "power problems"
>>>>> continue unabated.
>>>>>
>>>>> What gives? Any thoughts? I am terrified to reboot the box for
>>>>> fear of all the problems that may occur.
>>>> I am sorry, this post won't help you. I have read your initial post
>>>> in new_user earlier on (a couple of days ago) and didn't have an
>>>> answer then. My thoughts led to a power switch (the front of the
>>>> case) when reading it if that helps? I thought of RAM but you
>>>> mentioned swapping it out. I don't think PS right away - that would
>>>> have been low on my list of things to check actually... I really
>>>> don't know but that would be where I'd start or looking for odd
>>>> problems like potential shorts somewhere in the box???
>>> Thx very much. Presently we are looking at an electrical problem in
>>> this older apartment unit. Apparently only 3 of 18 outlets are even
>>> suitable to handle a computer. The neighbor downstairs destroyed
>>> around 10 computer monitors over a period of yrs before he figured
>>> it out. It's nothing to do with Windows or the box. Apparently an
>>> environmental factor.
>>> You may wish to file this in the list of interesting problems
>>> though.
>>
>> Thank you. Unfortunately the majority of problems don't USUALLY stem
>> from there in my country - I'm in the U.S.A. so I tend to save that
>> for last.
>
> I'm in USA too.
>
> In
>> fact it's on my list of trouble-shooting steps but it's down near
>> the bottom and labeled "dirty power" and seldom comes into play.
>
> I think comp gurus ought to keep it in mind. This is one of the
> weirdest comp problems I have ever had, and frankly, it baffled 100%
> of the local computer techs, and many of the online ones as well.
>
> If you do not mind the
>> additional expense head to your local department store with a sizable
>> electronics or computer department. I'm usually reluctant to be brand
>> specific but in this case I will...
>>
>> Get, for your PC, an APC Back-UPS EFS 350 or 500...
>
> Hi I just located by 350 UPS from my previous residence...
>
> Not only will you get
>> access to battery backup (it's not a true UPS system but more like
>> the battery in a laptop) but you'll get some mean electrical
>> filtering capabilities AND that makes one heck of a difference. You
>> may need to tweak a little bit to set it's settings so it's not too
>> sensitive. There are more expensive and even better options but this
>> is a fairly inexpensive and effective solution.
>>
>> I've read the bottom-most response from you and it's really not that
>> good to go buy an extension cord. Not only do you then risk
>> overloading an already poorly maintained electrical system you add
>> additional resistance before it reaches even your suppresser. For a
>> similar price you can/will get the above mentioned toy though I'd
>> recommend looking to see if the one you have lost in the move is
>> still around. If it's from APC you'll want to update it as the
>> security certificate is expired and will cause untold issues with
>> it.
>
> The security certificate?
>
>> (Just an odd problem that's cropped up and now since buried
>> fortunately. Oddly ONLY people who were signed up to get
>> notification got the email alert BEFORE it happened. Other than that
>> their support has been pretty good though.)
>
> I think I will use extension cord and UPS. The extension cord to the
> new plug seems to have solved the problem, BTW.


Sorry about that, java certificate...

http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=7202

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/

"A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the
furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the
lumber-room of his library where he can get it if he wants it."

Sherlock Holmes


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