[NTLUG:Discuss] one more OT question my laptop please

[Daniel Hauck]

./aal さんは書きました:
> On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 10:47 AM, terry <trryhend at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 4:46 PM, Sally Welch <skwelchit at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 4:36 PM, Fred James <fredjame at fredjame.cnc.net> wrote:
>>>> All
>>>> Gateway MX8734; MS Vista Home Premium - planned to upgrade to XP Pro SP2
>>>> as a dual boot with Linux (Mandriva 2008 or something like that)
>>>> Box has been back for warranty work twice
>>>>    once because it powered off and wouldn't power back on
>>>>    once because hung (mouse and keyboard had no effect) and then timed
>>>> out (blank screen - although it was still powered on, it wouldn't un-hang)
>>>> Now it powers off after several (exact quantity not known as yet) hours
>>>> idle - I have been leaving it idle as a test to see if Gateway had fixed
>>>> the problem, before I move on to the plan noted above.
>>>> (more detail upon request)
>>>>
>>>> Question:  Is this more likely to be a Gateway issue, or a Vista issue?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to offer
>>>> Regards
>>>> Fred James
>>>>
>>>> PS:  The power off occurs whether user is logged in or not
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>
>>>
>>> I would guess that it's getting hot.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>> I agree with Sally - it's probably getting hot - but, could be bad
>> memory - I would test memory for sure.
>> But most likely it's just overheating. I'd try placing it in a
>> particularly cool / well vented spot, some place where cool air will
>> blow across it, (especially across the bottom), and see if it locks up
>> or powers off in a situation like that.
>>
>> --
>>  <><
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
> 
> 
> 
> boot into bios, let it sit there
> bios might not heat it up like an OS would, but if it misbehaves while
> in bios you know it is hardware
> 

I once had a laptop system board that would drop power abruptly while
playing many 3D games under 64 bit Linux.  Most people immediately cried
"hardware problem!"  I wasn't so sure.  So I experimented a bit.  I
never actually loaded Windows on the machine to test Windows.  Instead,
I loaded 32 bit Linux on it and it seemed to perform quite well.  No
power drops.  Sounded like a 64 bit driver problem to me so I contacted
NVidia on the matter and never heard back.

I decided to contact the hardware vendor anyway and had the system board
replaced under warranty.  64 bit Linux games played perfectly and had no
such failures.  It was, indeed, a hardware problem.

My point here is, especially in the case of a laptop, be warranty
covered and just don't mess with troubleshooting too much more than you
have to.  If your machine came with Windows, buy a second hard drive and
don't use the one that came loaded with Windows until you need to
troubleshoot a problem.

In my case, the problem couldn't be tested in BIOS or by using any
standard diagnostic software -- only 3D games could make the problem
occur.  That was a tough one to troubleshoot and ultimately, I couldn't
confirm the symptoms in any solid way, so I just said "replace it" and
was dealing with an arm of the company (Dell in this case) that would
actually listen to me.

This is why I deal with Dell.  Sony would never listen to anyone under
such circumstances... actually Dell wouldn't normally listen either -- I
just happen to know how to get my way in most circumstances.  But the
choice of company has a LOT to do with it.  I won't deal with HP, won't
even think about Sony and Lenovo is simply inexpensive enough that they
are approaching "disposable" status.

While, I recall days when I would exert all sorts of brain power
trouble-shooting problems, there are times when the desired result has
shorter paths that can be followed, or by making good consumer choices
from the beginning, your path to future problem resolution can be
minimized from the beginning.

Some people actually enjoy fixing these sorts of problems.  I know I did
at one time.  But if problems such as these are annoying, then rethink
buying strategies and never forget to look "around" the problem instead
of only looking "through" the problem.