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Tech: Computer breakdown.

15 Jul 08 - 09:05 PM (#2390280)
Subject: Tech: Computer breakdown.
From: Gurney

My boy got blue-screened at the weekend. It turned out to be his RAM discombobulating itself. However, when he sorted that, he found that the transformer for his LCD VDU had also gone wrong.
He found another on Trademe, but for two such remotely connected units to go at the same time seems to be stretching the bounds of coincidence.

Does anyone have any ideas what is going on here?

He IS up and running again.


15 Jul 08 - 09:45 PM (#2390302)
Subject: RE: Tech: Computer breakdown.
From: A3dvm

Could it have been a power spike / surge?
I had an Electricity Board local power transformer breakdown last year, and it was sending me 280 volts instead of 240.
Blew a number of plugin type transformers that wern't in the UPS circuit. (Netgear router, Speaker system etc) And Ram is very fussy regarding voltage stability.
Might be worth getting a UPS (Uninteruptable Power Source)- around £25 on eBay. It will control spikes / surges and give you 20 mins or so on battery to close down if the power goes off.
Mine has saved me from a number of power outs and spikes....

A3dvm


15 Jul 08 - 10:34 PM (#2390317)
Subject: RE: Tech: Computer breakdown.
From: The Fooles Troupe

Is that a Blues Song or a Bluegrass solo? :-P

Seriously, get a good UPS - I spent 10% of the value of my PC 12 years ago - and the UPS is the only thing still working! :-)

The UPS saves an amazing amount of nasty stuff getting into the PC - I regularly see brownouts, pulses, glitches, etc in the desk light, but the PC never misses a beat - and the UPS will work for almost ever.

Cheap Investment, even for a laptop.


16 Jul 08 - 07:36 PM (#2391024)
Subject: RE: Tech: Computer breakdown.
From: Gurney

Thanks, guys. I will, but I'll have to get two. The two computers are well seperated from each other.
We did go through a stage of burning out dial-up modems a couple of years ago, and I bought a spike arrester which also protects phone lines then. It didn't trip at the weekend though, it never has.


16 Jul 08 - 07:57 PM (#2391034)
Subject: RE: Tech: Computer breakdown.
From: The Fooles Troupe

ok - into UPS plug

CPU box
Monitor
modems - dial/ADSL
LAN router if one
ext hdd if separate


not needed in UPS

printer
speakers