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WFAA's COMPUTER CORNER Blog |
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September 2009
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When you work with computers for a living, it's — well, it's embarrassing when something goes wrong that you just can't seem to right. Here's my story.
The L100 was (and still is) hooked up to my LCD TV set in the living room. With a wireless keyboard and mouse, I could sit on the sofa and surf the Web, watch Internet TV, even update the content on WFAA.com. A couple of weeks ago, however, the L100 started acting strangely. It would spontaneously reboot itself without warning. My initial diagnosis was that the mysterious shutdowns may be heat-related. After all, the L100 has a dual-core AMD processor tucked inside a tiny, crowded chassis. The computer has adequate ventilation, but it sits behind my TV set and is often in direct sunlight from a nearby window. Letting the computer cool didn't seem to resolve the issue; nor did rolling back to earlier updates of the Windows Vista operating system that it came with. The L100 kept shutting itself down. Groan. Then I had an idea. What if this problem was somehow associated with Windows? Linux is an alternative operating system that is freely available. I had squirreled away several discs (bonuses from British computer magazines) that let you boot up to Linux from a CD without the need to actually install it. Guess what? My computer ran with Linux and didn't shut down. That would seem to indicate that the computer hardware is just fine, right? I had a copy of the new Windows 7 operating system ready to go; perhaps whatever incompatibilities my L100 had with Vista would be rectified with Windows 7! So, I started installing Windows 7, and things seemed to go pretty smoothly... at the start. But after 51 minutes, guess what? The installation shut down! When I pressed the power button, the "Windows Error Recovery" screen popped up. After following all the directions (and attempting to load Windows 7 several more times), I finally stopped trying. So now, I have a nice computer that's pretty much a doorstop unless I install Linux on it. Unfortunately, not all the applications I need to do my WFAA job will work with Linux, so I'm still searching for an answer. Now I have a fairly strong background in computer problem-solving dating back to the days of DOS, so when I run into a problem like this, it's very frustrating. I can only imagine that most people faced with a challenge like this just throw up their hands and get a new computer, figuring (probably correctly) that the cost of any necessary repairs to an out-of-warranty, two-year-old box would better be invested in a faster PC with more memory, better graphics and a bigger hard drive. To me, though, this is like a Rubik's Cube puzzle; I know if I spin it around enough times, all the colors will match on all six sides. Patience, Walt; patience. So I haven't given up on my Acer Aspire L100 just yet. I'll keep you posted. E-mail askwalt@wfaa.com 21 CommentsLeave a comment |
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Check the RAM. Ram that is defective can cause this issue in windows. MS have a diagnostic program at the URL below.
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't mention it in the story, but I did check out the RAM; it tested OK.
it could still be a heat issue. this model is notorious for overheating and mobo failures. it's possible that Linux is less taxing on the cpu and therefore runs cooler.
I would replace ram and see if the problem continues. I had the same issue and the ram checked out ok, but when I replaced it the problem went away.
Feeling the pain with you. Thanks for your openness.
Looks like community support is pretty good ... just as Linux is good community developed software.
Walt, this may be redundant and no offense but I assume you use a program to detect and correct registry problems? I used to have all the Windows issues until I installed System Mechanic. My computers have earned A's in deportment ever since. OF course it could be coincidence but I don't think so.
I have an HP 514n running XPSp1(wont go to sp2) bought in'03' that i have upgraded as much as i can according to "HP" for what that's worth? anyway i have 1mb ram ,320gb HDD and a P4-2.0chip w/2 cooling fans and my cpu does strange things all the time like sometimes it will let screen saver come on and turn off monitor and go to sleep this is the way i have it set ..but 75% of the time only the screen saver works and i do use CCleaner,Defraggler,Glary Utilities,RegCleaner,Karen's Power Tools:Registry Pruner .. some people i know say i run them too much they get ran every few days ..the CCleaner runs @ startup Oh i also run Ashampoo firewall & Avira AntiVirus and I'm on Verizon DSL .does anyone have a suggestion or idea's ..1 more thing i also run a keylogger
typo that's 1gb of memory NOT 1mb but most of you would already know that.
My first guess would be a boot sector virus that of course requires Microsoft OS to work properly. Try a different hard drive.
Install Virtualbox and then Windows 7.
Virtualbox is trivial to setup.
Sorry!
Install Ubuntu, then Virtualbox and Windows 7.
i do not have the e-mailjimmy.wright2006@sbcglobal.net anymore, at is now wright-jimmy@att.net thank you
Just reading the synopsis - makes me think that you have a driver problem.
One way to test, boot into Safe Mode and let it run for a while - if it does not shut down, boot into Safe Mode with networking - see if that keeps running. If so, you have a driver issue, just need to find out what.
If it does not, it may be an issue with the NIC card - but I rather doubt it's hardware since Linux runs fine.
I would back out of any drivers I have recently updated and teinstall one by one until it fails again and you will locate your problem.
Just my .02.
Good luck!
BTW - I would be happy to take a look at it for the $60 Acer was going to charge ...
(wait for it)
...
Ok, just kidding - if you're like me, you don't want somebody elses grubby little paws in your system.
I would be willing to take a look at it for you (if you want a second set of eyes) and you can document my success or failure for all the world as a fee. :)
Hi there,
I have the same model, and tried like you to install windows 7 yesterday. The installation crashes all the time but i'm 100% certain that is because it overheats. The solution was to place it flat with the cover open and a fan i have in my bedroom pointing to the guts of the machine. it did the trick!!, the only thing important to know is that for whatever reason (drivers need to be released for the model), now tv, and videos have a jerked playback (with vista was perfectly smooth). I installed the windows 7 32 bits version, i'm going to try today the 64 version (amd 64 bits), to see if it makes any difference.
Kind Regards
Your problem is almost certainly heat-related. The reason you seem to have less trouble with a Linux OS installed is due to the way the Linux kernel manages CPU power (of which heat is a side-effect). If you're really that interested, Google for "tickless + kernel + heat".
BUY A MAC
You might also try replacing the power supply. Sometimes when a PS goes bad it will display those symptoms. As described by Prosper, Linux tends to be less power intensive than Windows and may not trigger the PS to cut power and reboot.
I read This Thread and Seen very Good comments on
this matter. Have you Use Bench mark tools?
You Can find Very Good Free Bench mark Tools
@ www.Cpuid.com Tool that identify even RAM serial
numbers make, model, of ram. Temp of CPU Case HDD
Speeds Of the fans In CPU case Hope this helps
STAY COOL. ;-)
My Dell Hell Story:
From the very first dat I received my computer (Dell Inspron 1525) Christmas 2008, I have loved it. About Six months into owning the computer I started to have problems with it no problem seeings how my computer was brand new and cost over a grand I figured Dell would handle it correctly and in a timely manner, oh boy was I wrong! First off My motherboard crashed so I called up dell for the first time they seemed to be friendly and helpful they sent me a box the very next day free shipping to my house and back to dell 10 - 12 business days later I got my computer back everything was working fine I was very impressed with Dell. A few weeks later I went on vaction and someone stepped on my laptop and shattered the screen no big deal that was my fault I would certantly pay to have that fixed gave dell a call and was charged $500 to repair it. When I received my computer back 10 - 12 business days later I turned it on the screen looked nice but, I soon noticed my Internet was not working it wouldnt find a signal, my sound drivers had been deleted, as well as my web cam drivers my microphone drivers, and the virus protection I paid for out of my own pocket ($50) GONE! I was pissed. So I called up Dell again! Thank God for me having a extra desktop in my house the Dell Tech had me download it to the desktop and burn it on a cd and load it on my laptop well that fixed my internet problem but, after restarting my computer a few times the drivers would be gone. No sound, Mic, or Cam. Well that ended up being the least of my concern, A few days after that my touch pad went out this ignorant Dell tech had me on the phone forever to send me another box to send my computer to them and reiceive it back again in 10 - 12 business days. Got it back used it for a few weeks then the damn thing crashed again, Dell sent me a new hard drive. Towards the end of August it crashed again, This time it was a diffrenet problem with the hard drive and they were gonna try to get to the bottom of this. Sent it in well I just got my computer back a few days ago 9/10/09 I opend the box plugged my computer in turned it on and noticed there is a big ass space where my hard drive should be on the side of my computer. I read the paper work that came with the computer and it says it will be here within the next 3 business days well today is 9/16/09 and I still have not gotten it so I call up Dell again and am like where is my hard drive? It NEVER got shipped it wasn't even in there records that I should have gotten one but I have the letter sitting right in front of me that I should! What the Hell you would think a big corporation like that would have been able to get there stuff together. My hard drive should be here in a few business days we will see how it all goes. In the past 6 months I have sent my computer to dell more the 7 times, been on the phone with Dell for a total of 25+ hours, I have learned tons of things about my lap top from taking it apart to reloading everything imaginable, Hell I have confused a Dell Tech by going like 5 steps ahead of him! If Dell doesnt get on the ball and fix my computer now I am gonna get on a plain and fly to India and through my computer through the Dell Tech Supports Window, No wonder you can never understand what they are saying they are located in india! I am just out of options and completely sick of it I have tried more than once to get the Dell Corportion number its where you can go to complain all I get is "We are not authorized to give you that number" and hung up on! I am 17 years old and own a Military Design / Support Site free of charge from myspace for all the spouses, family member, and friends of our military men and women. myspace.com/limaoscarvictorecho my computer plays a very big part in that without it I cant do it. All I want is my computer fixed or replaced and the only thing I know to do to get anything is to make some publicity for Dell!
Thanks so much!
Emily from Dallas Texas
Again...
BUY A MAC
Again...
BUY A MAC