New, New Chat Thread - Page 158

392cobra · #**3141** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 10:42 AM

Ron
I'll give it a try on removing the APC Software.I do have a feeling it does have something to do with the power and that software has things that control powering it down.

How do you get to the point of booting it up in safe mode ??? Where is that choice ?

wtm442 · #**3142** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 11:11 AM

The UPS hardware and/or software could be the problem. You have to try something to fix the problem. Seeing as there was/is an error message I would start there!

When the computer is first starting up, before you get to your desktop, a screen will appear (usually black with white letter, just like an old DOS screen) and it will give you a few choices. The choices will say to press one of the function keys (F1 thru F12), but I'm not sure which one. It's either F2, F8 or F10 if I remember correctly without rebooting now.

As soon as you see the selections on the screen, press the applicable key quickly, because it does not wait too long.

Get the UPS out of the wiring. Turn off the computer for a minute (Do NOT just Reboot). Push the button to restart and then press the applicable function key. I think its F2.

Turtle is HI all the time. He (she?) is about 4 feet off the ground at all times. Turtle is mounted to the base of a bird bath (minus the bath). This keeps Turtle away from all the riff-raff that scurries about, like those damn froggies.

Ron61 · #**3143** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 11:29 AM

Fred,

Do what Warren said about getting the APC out of the system. Then to get to SAFE MODE, just as soon as you turn the computer on start tapping the F8 key. That will bring you to a DOS like screen with some options, one of which is SAFE MODE. Select that by using the up and down arrow keys and hit enter. It will only load the stuff needed to make the computer run and the screen will be all strange looking but that is normal. The resolution will be way off. Then go to Control Panel and find your APC software and remove it. My APC units have one side with 4 plugs with a battery back-up and the other side with 4 plugs has a built in surge protector. I have two of them and have never loaded their software as I didn't like what I read when I opened the file and read what it was supposed to do.

Ron

trularin · #**3144** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 11:33 AM

No, once there is a margnal part ( thermal degrade ), it will shut down if the PS thinks it can not maintian ripple, voltage, current or stability from changes in load. I've had this happen more than a few times and on different PS mans.

You certainly seem to have a boat load of help.

Wish I had a spare supply, I'd send it out.

392cobra · #**3145** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 11:39 AM

It stayed on long enough to select 'none' on the UPS power option.Then went to add/remove programs and uninstalled the APC program.
It then shortly did the shutdown routine on it's own and restarted.Stayed on less than a minute,did the shutdown and thenstarted the on/off bit again.

wtm442 · #**3146** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 11:43 AM

Tru
It looks like it definitely could be a bad power supply. But I'd still turn off the UPS power rating option with no UPS in the loop. I do not think he needs to delete the UPS software as Ron recommended. If that does not solve the problem, then I'd go and replace the power supply.

Plus, I really like to see Fred squirm like a frog in a frying pan.

It's 60 ºF outside. I'm going for a RIDE

Bu-by, and TTFN and TTUL

392cobra · #**3147** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 11:44 AM

Tru,
It does seem tied to the work I ask it do and after it gets warmed up it has to sit for some time to get it to stay on for a short time and out of that on/off loop.

wtm442 · #**3148** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 11:45 AM

Sure looks like a bad power supply, but is the fan working?

Ron61 · #**3149** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 11:45 AM

Tru,

I agree with you to a point. That is why I asked him in one of my posts if he had checked the inside to see if the fans were working or not. Over heating will cause a similar thing, but this was before he finally told us about the APC software. Try the easy stuff before tearing into the computer and replacing hardware. And most power supplies or anything else in a computer will only do this so many times before they stop completely as the marginal part is going to fail with heat. And from the tone of his posts this has been going on for sometime and since he installed the APC software. Plus I have never seen a marginal part just turn a computer on by itself as he stated his was doing when he walked into the room. Not saying it can't happen, but just that I have never heard of it happening. Fred did not make very clear in his first posts just what and when the problem started.

Ron

trularin · #**3150** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 05:03 PM

Hey, I'm just passing on information. The last three machine I fixed, all had bad PS. Most Backup systems tell you they are going in for the shut down, even when their batteries are going bad.

Fred, find a Frys ( is that spelled right? ) and get a PS, 400 w or better.

First okay day for temps!!

Fixed the mail box post ( got run over a while ago ) and am getting ready to replace the six year old battery in the PT.

Got to put brakes on the jeep, fix a fuel problem on a Mercedes, wash the garage floor, Snuggle with my wife and sleep. WOW, what a weekend.

I'd take the cobra out, but the roads are mud for the next week.

trularin · #**3151** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 05:11 PM

Now all I have to do is decypher that gibberish at the bottom of Warren's screen.

Warren, what is all that???

And another thing...where is today's PIC of your last drive? We are keeping track, Ron has the collection going. We are calling it..."The Warren commision" staring; Some one named Kennedy, One or two Bushes and Costaring three or four female political types to be named later.

wtm442 · #**3152** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trularin

I'd take the cobra out, but the roads are mud for the next week.

Gee, Tru .... most all of the roads around my way are paved! They invented a couple of machines to put asphalt over the dirt.

Just about all of the snow has melted and it was in the low 50's today and the streets were dry. So yes, I did take a ride.

It must be spring, because my crocus have sprung!

Oh, here is a picture I took so you can add it to your scrapbook.

wtm442 · #**3153** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trularin

Now all I have to do is decypher that gibberish at the bottom of Warren's screen. Warren, what is all that???

And another thing...where is today's PIC of your last drive? We are keeping track, Ron has the collection going. We are calling it..."The Warren commision" staring; Some one named Kennedy, One or two Bushes and Costaring three or four female political types to be named later.

Gibberish at the bottom of what screen?
Do you mean the "Bu-by, and TTFN and TTUL"?

Bu-by = Bye Bye. TTFN = Ta Ta For Now. TTUL = Talk To You Later.

Pic of today's ride? Scroll upwards until you see a BIG picture.

The Warren Commission? You can call me Earl, you can call me Mister, but don't call me late for dinner! I was in high school when President Kennedy got shot. Boy, was that a bummer of a day!

wtm442 · #**3154** (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 09:37 PM

Tru - just for you I took a video of my ride today. I added to my thread over in the NE Club section.

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...778#post725778

Ron61 · #**3155** (**permalink**) 03-24-2007, 06:44 AM

Tru,

I was not arguing with you about the power supply and it could well be the problem. I just like to make sure there is no software problem before I start changing hardware. And Fred's statement that this started after he added the APC sounded like a good place to start to me. I have never had a bad power supply in one of my computers, but have changed them in others and I never saw one that would just turn the computer on when it was shut off. But with these so called modern marvels, anything is possible. He could take the computer down to the store where they work on them and they can test that in a short time.
Hope that your weather is better by now and you can start driving soon. We have had almost two weeks of high 70s and low 80s and now it is supposed to rain for the next four days. I wanted to go driving yesterday but had to take my last little dog back to the hospital and leave him and I don't know what is going to happen to him. So I just really don't have the heart to get out and try to have fun right now.

Ron

wtm442 · #**3156** (**permalink**) 03-24-2007, 07:15 AM

Ron
My prayers for Teddie. No prayers for the roads around Tru's house. I expect that Tru might take his first ride of the year in about 4 weeks from now.

I agree with you Ron AND Tru regarding Fred's computer problem. It could be more than ONE cause. And I always like to eliminate possible software problems before doing the dumb mechanic routine ... namely, start replacing parts until the problem is fixed! But I still think Fred has a problem with Frenchy!

Cloudy and 50 °F today, but some of the idiot weathermen around here predict anywhere from a dusting to 6" of snow Sunday.

SYL, Tru.

392cobra · #**3157** (**permalink**) 03-24-2007, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtm442

But I still think Fred has a problem with Frenchy!

Frenchy has been a problem every since I saved her from drowning in the backyard during a Frog Strangling t'storm last 11/06.

Ron,keep us updated about your pup.

The System Events Log showed no error msgs about any thermal or fans.Fan test showed no problems either.
The log did show Keyboard errors though..??

Per Ron's ideas I will be going back thru it trying to be sure all APC stuff is removed.

SOME memory returning...I did add an external harddrive at about the same time.Maxtor 250gb that backs up the internal harddrive.

wtm442 · #**3158** (**permalink**) 03-24-2007, 07:48 AM

Hey
I just noticed some of the smilies are now animated. I also remember that happening about a year ago for a short time.

Even Ron's moose is galloping! Hmmmmmmm. Where can I get a nice .gif file of a turtle moving at warp speed?

Ron61 · #**3159** (**permalink**) 03-24-2007, 07:51 AM

Do you leave the external hard drive connected or just use it when you are backing up? Also did you back up the OS to it? If so, unplug it as computers don't like having the same OS on two drives at the same time. Otherwise write a small program that gives you the option of which drive to work from. I don't know what you used to do the back up with, but some programs will do a mirror backup which includes the OS. Others just back up the data files and such. You could possibly have registry problems now with all of the things going on. If you open the tower and find a bunch of small French Frogs in there, return the Computer to Dell as quickly as possible.

Ron

392cobra · #**3160** (**permalink**) 03-24-2007, 08:01 AM

Do you leave the external hard drive connected or just use it when you are backing up? I disconnected it a couple of days ago.
Also did you back up the OS to it? If so, unplug it as computers don't like having the same OS on two drives at the same time.
Otherwise write a small program that gives you the option of which drive to work from. Ron,that is like asking Turtle to go jogging with you.
I don't know what you used to do the back up with, but some programs will do a mirror backup which includes the OS. Others just back up the data files and such. You could possibly have registry problems now with all of the things going on.
If you open the tower and find a bunch of small French Frogs in there, return the Computer to Dell as quickly as possible.Maybe that is why the Tower hops up & down at times.