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PC Memory

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21 replies

by technogeek-1995

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I have a friend and when he starts his computer it comes on (screen is black) for about 5 seconds and then shuts off. (the caps lock light blinks) I finally got it to turn on and then ran a Pre-boot System Analysis and it sat at the memory for about 15 minutes. But, I was then told by an error message to restart the system, I did. It didn't come back up.

The computers specifications

512mb Ram
Pentium M
Windows XP

21 replies

by rob miners

Faulty Fans, Dust and Grime build up on the Heatsink restricting air flow. I would give the inside of the case a blowout with compressed air. When blowing air through the fans make sure that you physically stop them from spinning, as they may generate power and blow something up. Remembering to ground yourself by placing the back of your hand on the Power Supply Unit and not moving your feet. By not taking this precaution it is possible that you could inadvertantly cause damage to the PC from an electrostatic discharge. Then remove the Heatsink, giving it a thorough clean and reseat the CPU applying new CPU grease. If the Fans spin freely when you give them a spin they are probably OK. If there is resistance replace them.

Clean the golden edge of each memory stick with a soft rubber, remembering not to touch the golden edge of the memory stick. Check with one stick at a time, remembering to disconnect the power from the PC.
Also check Capacitors around the CPU for swelling or bulging.

Let us know how you get on.

by captbilly1eye

Would that be one with or without ribs?
Non-lubricated?
?:|

....couldn't resist, Bud :)

I think you are referring to an eraser (for us Yanks). 'cause to us, a rubber is a condom. Picturing the guy rubbing a prophylactic across his RAM sticks had me grinning. ...specially used in the same paragraph as 'swelling or bulging'.

:)

Good tips, BTW.

Say.... I was incommunicado for a while. What brought on the name change?

by older mycroft

[i]"With or without ribs"[/i] you said.

If you get Spare Ribs with 'em I'll have to give serious thought to gettin' myself some. Dunno what I'd do with 'em tho'.

Might come in handy if I ever have a party I s'pose ... :D

by rob miners

I must have pulled some old text. ;)

It's the second time that I have been pulled up for not adding eraser. :p

The name is more like me, a bit laid back and relaxed. It's actually an Aussie name for the type of singlets that I wear. Navy blue. ;) I wouldn't be seen dead in a white one as the Aussie kids refer to them as Wife Bashers. :p

Sweet & Sour Prawns please. :D

by older mycroft

You could have added:

Make and model
Desktop or Laptop (some Desktops run with Pentium M's)
Graphics card
Age of system

Apparently you "[i]finally got it to turn on[/i]" - How ?

What exactly was the Error Message that you saw?

It's all in the detail. ;)

by technogeek-1995

Specifications

Dell
Insprion 600m
Laptop
It powered for an unknown reason??? I tried it about 10 time and it worked.
I think that he told me it was about 5-7 years old and was designed for Windows 2000 (I have no clue why he would have a laptop that old but).

I don't know what the graphics card/sound card is.

I also found out that the laptop has a malfunctioning fan. Sometimes it turns on and other times it turns off. The port for a docking station is stuck open.

Anything else...

by older mycroft

As you say the fan is intermittent, turning on one minute then turning off again.

In a laptop the fan NEVER turns off, it only ever turns down its revolutions but the thing is always turning. No fan - the CPU will shutdown to prevent getting fried.

Anything that's 5 years old is bound to be clogged with all manner of detritus, dust, dirt, bits of biscuit, snot, sneeze droplets, pet hairs, dead insects,... you name it, it could be in there blocking the circulation of clean cool air.

The one time it worked there might have been a cool breeze happened to pass by just as you turned it on.

Jacky Howe got it right first post. He posted at the same time as me, but was smart enough to mention the heat thing in his.

Give it a good blast with compressed air, and if it were me I'd lift the fan out and check it. It probably need replacing - after five years of spinning round, I'd be knackered too! ;)

by ozi eagle

Hi,

Does the laptop have two fans?
If it does, then one turning on and off is normal, it also jumps the CPU clock to 50% when idle. These are power saving tactics.
I got caught on this a while back, eventually found that the HDD was on its way out.

Herb

by oh smeg

If it now works replace the Power Supply as it is failing if it is a Desktop.

If it is a NB look at the battery and replace if it is dead or not charging.

Col

by ---tk---

If you know the make and model, that would be very helpful also...

by older mycroft

"1. wife basher

A singlet worn by tradesmen, miners or industrial workers; because of the general belief that any Australian bloke can drink every foreigner under the table and still be sober enough to teach his wife a lesson.
"yeah gonna change into me wife bashers before going to the pub"
australia yobbo beer drunk wife
by Mattistopheles Oct 22, 2006

2. wife basher

An Australian term referring to a [u]dark blue singlet[/u]. Commonly worn by labourers, the term was derrived from the "rough as guts" hard working men back in the 50's & 60's who had great expectations of their wives; if the wife didn't do what was 'her duty' she would usually get roughed up by her husband.

[i]The greatest example of an Australian male is he who walks in flip flops, wears a pair of stubbies, a wife basher on his his back, an akubra on his head and holds a tinnie is his hand while talking about cricket over the back fence.[/i]"

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wife%20basher

Maybe the colour of the simmet doesn't matter?

I gotta hand it to you Aussies tho' - terms like 'Wife Bashers', used in common dialect, just make me giggle.

LMAO :^0

< :D >

by rob miners

flip flops? Thongs Mate THONGS. ;)

I even know a bloke that mows the lawn in speedos. :p

by older mycroft

Never stops, it just slows down.

The second fan is part of the internal heat-pipe assembly - it stops from time to time, but you'd never know it unless you had the case apart.

Therefore my point was: given that the chassis fan is the only one that you can tell is turning - if IT stops (the cpu fan may also be stopped at that point) that could be causing the system to shut down due to overheating.

I've never owned a laptop with twin chassis fans, so if that is the case, I cannot comment.

by rob miners

they come in handy for cleaning and wipeing up spills. ;)

by technogeek-1995

1 fan

I suppose I will take it a part this weekend and see if it needs cleaning. He told me he had a guy replace the memory 2 years ago (before he got the PC from his grandpa). He also told me that the fan should be clean because with the fan on the bottom and the PC setting on a docking station all the time.

by older mycroft

So whether the chassis fan is top- or bottom-mounted it makes no difference.

Dust is invariably airborne. If the fan can suck in air, it can also suck in dust.

Dust is invisible in small amounts, just like pollen. When you breathe in dust or pollen you sneeze and get rid of it again.

A laptop can't sneeze. ;)

by thumbsup2

What do you mean they can't sneeze? They hiccup and burp all the time! Haven't they learned to sneeze yet? :D :p ;)

by technogeek-1995

I think someone told me that if his fan didn't turn freely it was broken. Well that would be true; It doesn't turn. So I guess I should replace the fan???

by older mycroft

...whatever they get - they hold on to, including dust and crud. :p

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