Another computer fried???

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

I have a Dell older Tower..When I shut my computer down in April, using the proper sequence, & went back home for the summer, & I just got back to Tx. I turned on the monitor, then the Tower, the green light came on the switch, but nthing showed on the Monitor.. A computer guy was in the park sevicing another computer,(from some small shop), so he took mine in, phoned me back & said that the Processor is fried & the mother board has to be replaced, then called back couple hours later & said the hard Drive is fried & there's no way to get any info off the hard drive.
Is it possible for all this to get fried at the same time.. It was turned off prperly, has baeen off, unplugged all summer, then turned on, & is plugged in to a surge protector...or is this guy trying to hos me?? He said he will put it back together & bring it back to me if I decide not to fix it...

Mitch Drumm · From: Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake

The chances of a processor "frying" is near zero, let alone the chances of it happening either during your April shutdown or November restart.

Add that to his saying that your mobo and hard drive just happened to fail at the same time and I'd say it's a near certainty you aren't getting the right story. It's all far too convenient.

Unless you are leaving out a detail, unless someone operated it while you were gone, unless you didn't really unplug it, unless you misunderstood him, etc.....

I'd take him up on his offer to bring it back as is and get another opinion.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Most Dell's have "beep codes" when they start up if there is a POST hardware problem detected. There are also diagnostic lights, either on the motherboard at the rear of the PC or on the front of the Tower.

The color of the PC's power light (Green, Amber or Flashing Amber) can also help in problem diagnosis. Green is the "normal" color, but since there was apparently nothing displayed on the monitor, it could be the monitor is the problem and not the PC???

What Model Dell is it? examples, Dimension 2400, XPS400, etc.

If the motherboard is actually bad, only another exact model Dell motherboard will work. Dell has proprietary (and undocumented) front panel connectors on most older models. On some models the motherboard size and/or mounting is also not standard.

Depending on the age of the PC it may require a proprietary power supply or it could use a standard ATX power supply. It it's not a compact case model (S or C) and has a 24 pin power connector on the motherboard it's pretty safe that a standard ATX power supply will work, except that since Dell does not use power supplies with power on/off switches on some models you have to cut the rear panel so a standard ATX supply with a power switch will fit. Dell quit using proprietary power supplies in full tower systems about 5 years ago.

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

I have seen all of the things happen that the technician described, after a computer absorbed a surge during a lightening storm. It was unplugged from the wall AC socket, but they forgot to unplug the phone cord to the dial-up modem. Fried green tomatoes! Everything gone in an instant.

If indeed the motherboard and other components are fried, you will smell it. Sometimes a power supply shorts out and takes out everything connected to it, before its fuse trips. I've seen that too.
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jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Mitch, no details left out.. When we leave our place in Tx. & go north to our home, everything is shut down, Power Company physically remove our meter till we come back in the fall.. I do have a surge protector, but even then I still unplug everything in the house from all electrical sockets..

Jack, the on/off button in front had a green light in it. I don't remember the model & will post it as soon as he brings it back.. On Wed. he said he'll bring it back tomorrow, & this is Fri, so maybe I'll see it tomorrow (I Hope

Wiz, no phone cord or anything plugged in to it.. Just kinda got the feeling this guy might be a real artist, though others think he's OK.. I couldn't smell anything when I turned it on.. I will get another opinion when I get it back.. & will post the model..

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

If the local tech says it is fried, take it back, remove the hard drive and get a new PC. Make sure it has a socket that is compatible with the old drive (SATA or PATA/P-IDE). Connect the old drive as a slave and see if you can retrieve anything from it, once the OS boots from the new drive.
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Twitter: @Wizcrafts
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Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I would have to be leery of someone that tells you a PC that was powered off and not connected to anything has "everything" bad.

And if he tells you he can replace the Dell motherboard and power supply with stock ATX parts he is also wrong. Dell has used stock ATX style power supplies for about 5 or 6 years but it's only been in the last year or two that the motherboards have ATX front panel connections on some models.

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Thanks Jack & Wiz, I'll phone him today & ask him to bring mine back.. Hope he didn't do anything to it to make sure it don't work.. I am in the Rio Grande Valley right near the Mexican border, Our population here is predominantly Mexican, & shops abound everywhere, & I don't mean that in a bad way, just that there many shops. I should have taken it to somewhere like Future Shop, but other residents here in our RV Park seem to be satisfied with this guy's performance & he picked up & delivered, so I thought what the heck, give him a try, he's trying to make a living..

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

You should be "Snowbirding" here in Florida, not Texas (Ha Ha).

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Just got my computer back.. It's an HP 280..

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Aah, it's an HP and not a Dell. But I still can't believe everything went bad just sitting.

There is lots of traditional Country Music in this area too. Ollie Strong winters in this area and I get to jam with him while he's here.

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Jack I screwed up, It says Dell in front, I must've had a senior thing when I typed in HP..
I;ve met Ollie & his wife years back when he played in Prince Albert, think he also played on the Tommy Hunter show... great picker.

Anyway can anybody tell me anything about an HP A6813WB computer?? this came up for sale on flea bay, I got it for $310 for everything..

UP FOR SALE IS A HP DESKTOP COMPUTER MODEL A6813 WB COUPLE MONTHS OLD IN EXCELLENT CONDITION COMES WITH A 21.5'' LCD MONITOR HAS 5 GB MEMORY 500 GB HARD DRIVE HAS SUPER MULTI-DVD BURNER WINDOWS VISTA HOME PREMIUM THE 21.5 HP MONITOR IS FULL HD 1080 LCD MONITOR IT IS NEW NEVER USED BUT DID TAKE IT OUT OF BOX TO PUT UP BUT WAS TWO BIG FOR MY ENCLOSED COMPUTER DESK NEEDED TO BUY SMALLER ONE SO GOT A 19'' ONE , ALSO HAVE A HP ALL IN ONE PRINTER MODEL #1410V USED BUT IN GREAT CONDITION. IT USES #21 AND #22 INK CARTRIDGES, ALSO HAVE A HP KB-O60 BUT IN GREAT CONDITION KEYBOARD AND MOUSE MODEL #SK2950ALL ITEMS LISTED FOR SALE WILL COME WITH ALL THE CABLES AND CORDS SO YOU CAN HOOK THEM UP. ALL WILL BE SHIPPED AND WELL PACKED FOR TRANSPORT SAFETY.

I HAVE 100% PERCENT FEEDBACK AND WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP IT AT 100% PERCENT. USED VERY LITTLE NEW CONDITION

ITS HAS A E2220 2.4 GHZ PROCESSOR 2.4GHZ 800MHZ PROCESSOR SPEED
IT HAS INTEL PENTIUM DUAL CORE PROCESSEOR SPEED

Mitch Drumm · From: Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?product=3956374&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us
HP page

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/manualCategory?product=3956374&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us
HP manual

What did you decide about the other PC that was supposedly "fried"?

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Mitch, nothing yet, thinking maybe I'll open it myself, see if I can smell anything, & then put the hard drive in the other computer as a slave & see if I can recover anything, maybe take it to another computer shop & get another opinion.. I plugged the computer in & the front panel button is orange, & there is an orange light on the motherboard.

Oh, & thanks for the links, I'm not real big computer savvy, other than hd space, ram, etc. don't know if it's a Pentium 4, or if the video & sound cards are good ones, & am debating whether or not I should upgrade to Windows 7, before I start using it & putting a bunch of stuff on it.. I thought $300 was a pretty good deal with monitor, printer & all. Though I really don't need a printer, & might get a few bucks for it...

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Took it to a reputable shop, & he hooked up a new power supply to it & it works fine.. $23 plus installation..

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

The "cheap" power supplies can be problems. They tend to be overrated in watts (not as much as they claim) and also tend to have poor DC Voltage Regulation. At the first sign of problems, dump the cheap power supply and get one that is good quality.

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

thanks all, Jack, I'll do that, but mostly I'll be using the computer I bought, & give the old one to my grand daughter..

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Years back we had a shop in town that built PCs from used parts and discount house components, selling them as new. He also sent out the machines all with the same Windows product key. He didn't last long once the local Microsoft dealer got wind of it.

Also had another shop owner that built and resold new machines, but in the process of system integration, he kept the manuals and disks for the components. He would also "unbundle" the Microsoft promotional items (like keyboard/mouse combos) and sell them individually. He's gone too...

Make sure the OS validates, then get your Windows product key off the "new" machine before you retire the OS for a new version. Any good tech knows how to do that, if it's not on a sticker. It may prove valuable down the road.
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Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Up to and including Windows ME, you could use the same copy of Windows on multiple machines. Starting with Windows XP, Microsoft required the OS to be "Activated" to prevent the same copy of Windows being used on multiple machines. You can get away with 30 days on a machine that isn't or can't be activated but after 30 days it's over.

I'm sure hackers have found a way around the "legal" copies and activation of Windows.

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

I don't condone hacking, but having said that, I don't see why Microsoft is allowed to (for lack of a better word) OWN our computers. I own a laptop, & a desktop, & if I purchase Windows 7, I should be able to legally install it on both my computers.. without purchasing a licence for 2 or 3 or more.. Now I'm using the word PURCHASE, but in actuality it isn't, it's more like renting, because Mister Gates tells me what to do. When a Person purchases something, then in my opinion I own it, on the other hand if I rent or lease something, then I must adhere to the contract, so maybe they should change the wording from purchasing Windows 7 to leasing, renting, borrowing for a term of use, etc.. I can assimilate this to buying a new car, & Firestone says I can't take the tires off my new car & put them on another car I own without paying Firestone X number of dollars so I can put them on a second or third car I own.. Personally I see very little difference, & maybe that's coming too..lol..

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

It's not just Microsoft. Apple has the same thing. Many software programs must be registered/activated just like Windows.

There are family packages of Windows 7, you can buy relatively cheap a 3 PC version.

But, you don't have to buy an Operating System. There are free versions of Linux, such as the free Ubuntu Linux.

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Jack you are correct.. I checked on family packages, & to my financial situation, they are not cheap. I would need the Professional version, because of the many XP programs I have. Seems like they run around the $500 mark. But many & I suppose most programs that require activation & registration, Mixcraft for example, but once registered & activated, I can put it on 1 or more of my computers, same with Digital Image etc., etc. I purchased them, & they are mine... I realize there are other operating systems to use, but my initial statement is that I purchased (bought, own) Windows 7, or did I in fact just think I purchased it, or did I in fact just rent/lease it from Mr. Gates. because if I purchase something, I should have sole total rights to the program, or item, & the only time a seller should have a vested interest is if the item is not paid for, house, car, furniture, etc.. If I buy a TV there are no stipulations as to what room or which house I can put it into.. Once again, unfortunately it's the dollar.. Mr. Gates richer, me poorer..
Just as I type this Mr. Gates is on TV talking about his accumulation of billions..

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