[clug] Any ideas on what to look for to get an old PC running?

[jhock]

On Mon, 2008-12-22 at 11:32 +1100, Chris Henman wrote:
> John,
> Have you another power supply you can swap with the current one ?  

No.  Just one computer.  I took all my other ones to the recycling place
that fixes them up and gives them to charity.  I can't remember their
name now.  Somewhere in Fyshwick.

>  
> Sounds a bit like PS failure to me.
> By the way, all voltages inside the machina are no more than 12V.  
> Unless something has gone drastically wrong with the PS there should be 
> no problem with electocution.  It should have blown your house fuse by 
> now if there were.  If you are in doubt and have no multimeter at hand 
> the safest way to test for high (mains) voltage is to wack the 
> microprocessor  heat-sink or some other similar metal object with the 
> BACK of your hand.  Make sure you are standing on dry carpet with 
> shoes/dry slippers on.  If it is live your reflex action will be to 
> throw your hand away from the nasty bit. As an Elec. Eng. I have used 
> this method many times, some shocking, and I am still here typing.
> Be bold and have a go.  You'll still be here for Xmas !!!

Still alive so no shocking incidents. ;--)

> Cheers,
> Chris Henman (B. Eng. (Elec.) UNSW, 1969)
> 
> jhock wrote:
> > Hi Chris,
> >
> > Thanks for your prompt reply.  When I say "nothing" happened.  This is
> > what happened:
> >
> >      1. No lights,
> >      2. No fan,
> >      3. no noise,
> >      4. No response at all from the computer even when I repeatedly
> >         pressed the power switch (it "clicked" on each press),
> >      5. The monitor came on with a "No signal" message,
> >      6. I swapped the computer power cable with the monitor power cable
> >         and 1-5 above repeated.
> >
> > I hope that explains what I mean by "nothing".  ;--) ( Sorry for the
> > frivolous mood, I just started my holidays.) 
> >
> > John
> >
> > On Mon, 2008-12-22 at 10:08 +1100, Chris Henman wrote:
> >   
> >> John,
> >>
> >> When you say "nothing happened" what exactly did NOT happen ?  Any 
> >> lights? Any exhaust fan starting ?  Any "beeps"; they are usually a 
> >> message, like Morse code.
> >> Have you tried another power cord ?  Monitor OK ?
> >> How long has it been out of service?  Have you checked the CMOS battery 
> >> if it still uses battery CMOS backup?  Usually a CR 20xx or something.
> >>
> >> Just a few thoughts I would try.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Chris Henman
> >>
> >> jhock wrote:
> >>     
> >>> Hi All,
> >>>
> >>> Thanks to Ian (I love this list. It's so helpful) I have a power cord
> >>> for my old PC (MISI Pentium 4).  I have now unpacked it all from storage
> >>> however, when I switched it on nothing happened.  I don't want to spend
> >>> too much effort on it because I hope to soon get an Eee PC 10 with LINUX
> >>> (Once they are available in Australia) but I thought that I could use
> >>> this one as a proxy, print server, game machine for my five year old,
> >>> wireless modem firewall or something.  (I prefer to reuse than recycle.
> >>> Its more energy saving.)
> >>>
> >>> I was wondering if anybody has any advice on how to get it to work. EG.
> >>> is there likely to be a fuse inside, is there an area which I should
> >>> "jiggle" when I open it, is there a good spot to bang it like they do on
> >>> TV (Fonze type thoughts here)?  ;--)
> >>>
> >>> Thanks in advance for any help.
> >>>
> >>> John
> >>>
> >>>   
> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> No virus found in this incoming message.
> >>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> >>> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.19/1859 - Release Date: 12/20/2008 2:34 PM
> >>>
> >>>   
> >>>       
> >
> >   
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> > Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.19/1859 - Release Date: 12/20/2008 2:34 PM
> >
> >   
>