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Strange Behaviour

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by floydiane

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Hi there

I hope someone can help. Have a strange thing happening with a clients computer. They asked me to install a new USB 2.0 PCI card. I did this but then the PC would not boot again. I took it into the workshop and reinstalled the PCI card and the PC worked first time, booting beautifully and the USB ports working fine. Triumphantly took the PC back to the clients house and it would not boot again. As soon as I take the USB card out it boots fine but with the card in it will not boot. Yet at my office it works fine with the USB card in!???

Any bright ideas?

Thanks
Floydiane

4 replies

by loonit

The variable in this troubleshooting situation is the power source it seems. If it is the only un-commonality, then perhaps we should look to it. Is it an older house with shitty wiring, or perhaps non grounded plugs? Are you using a surge protector? It seems odd that the PC would work if the wiring in the house were sub-standard without the PCI card installed, however anything is possible I guess. Based on the way you spelled behaviour I am assuming you are in the UK? I would begin by using a multimeter to test voltage and amps.

by robo_dev

if it's an older PC, maybe the power supply is right on the edge.

Bring a UPS with you from the shop to prove to your customer that you are not insane.

by ic-it

Not really repling to Robo, just seemed right since this is all eletrical in nature.

I've seen cases where the power cord had been rolled over/stepped on too many times. The system tested great except when that cord was used.

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