Wierd computer issue.

manasecret · 10-02-2008, 03:47 PM

Do you have any other power supplies laying around? That would be an easy way to figure out if it's just your power supply (the cord dealie), and not something more critical (read: harder to fix) inside your computer.

Just make sure the specs on the power supply matches the one that came with your laptop. You want the output voltage to be exactly the same, and the output current to be equal to or greater than the one that comes with your laptop.

If you don't have one, I know that many stores like Best Buy sell universal power supplies now.

And remember from now on, since you learned the hard way -- surge protectors are critical for your expensive, time-consuming-to-replace electronics. And while the battery backup/surge protector systems (usually called a UPS) that Prof. S mentioned are nice to have, they are not any better at surge protecting than surge protectors and they're a whole lot more expensive. A UPS may help protect against swells in the line voltage, but most laptop power supplies these days are designed to handle more than twice the standard U.S. voltage (240V and up) with no problem at all. And a sag probably wouldn't do any damage.

TheGame · 10-02-2008, 10:05 PM

I have a surge protector actually. Which is what makes it even more odd... Its almost like the thing failed... The computer itself came with a special two piece plug also that's meant to stop surges too I believe. The problem is extremely wierd. I will be buying another protector soon though.

If I have to take a guess at what may have added to the problem, its the fact that I put my computer to sleep when the outage happend... Maybe the computer didn't want to reboot in its old state or something. But I'm not about to let my computer power completly down again quite yet. Time will tell I suppose.

My laptop is nice, but admittedly it has aged quite a bit. Even for when I bought it back on 06 it wasn't quite 100% up to date with the times. I was saving for a down payment for a new car, but the extra money I have now... if my computer doesn't pass all my tests next friday... will likely be put towards a laptop. lol

manasecret · 10-02-2008, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGame

I have a surge protector actually. Which is what makes it even more odd... Its almost like the thing failed... The computer itself came with a special two piece plug also that's meant to stop surges too I believe. The problem is extremely wierd. I will be buying another protector soon though.

Surge protectors, once they have done their job by protecting against a surge, will then need to be replaced. The reason being, the device inside the surge protector (called a varistor, almost always a metal-oxide varistor or MOV), protects the expensive electronics down the line by burning out itself instead of causing the electronics to go up in smoke. The problem is, once the MOV burns out, it's no longer there to protect anything. Most surge protectors now give an indicator light telling you when the protector no longer works. However, the asinine way they design that indicator light is to turn on a red warning light when the protector is working and turning off when it isn't working (!) instead of the more logical method of turning on the warning light when the protector is not working.

But this special two plug protector you mentioned worries me. What is it exactly? ALL surge protectors require a third prong ground connection to protect against surges, and I wonder if this two plug protector is something that converts a two prong outlet into a three-prong outlet?

Quote:

If I have to take a guess at what may have added to the problem, its the fact that I put my computer to sleep when the outage happend... Maybe the computer didn't want to reboot in its old state or something. But I'm not about to let my computer power completly down again quite yet. Time will tell I suppose.

I always worry about putting my computer to sleep, and so never do it. Windows XP can be so weird sometimes, and die for what seems like no reason. Seems possible that might be an admittedly voodoo reason for it dying.

Quote:

My laptop is nice, but admittedly it has aged quite a bit. Even for when I bought it back on 06 it wasn't quite 100% up to date with the times. I was saving for a down payment for a new car, but the extra money I have now... if my computer doesn't pass all my tests next friday... will likely be put towards a laptop. lol

I have a laptop and I agree that they age much more quickly then desktops. I don't think I will buy a laptop again for a very long time.

GameMaster · 10-02-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manasecret

I have a laptop and I agree that they age much more quickly then desktops. I don't think I will buy a laptop again for a very long time.

Desktops still offer more power per dollar too.

A couple weeks ago I was set to get a new MacBook Pro for school. And I ended walking out with an iMac. It was significantly cheaper and lot more powerful. Even though the resolution would've been the same 1900 x 1200 is much more enjoyable on a 24" screen.

I also think there's a large belief among parents and students that they think they need a laptop for college. And its simply not true. Its nice to be able to IM and surf the internet while you're professor is lecturing but I personally still prefer taking notes with a good ol' fashioned paper and pen. And if you need to go the library, computers are available. Couple this with the increasing capability and capacity of thumb-drives, and you can carry your files with you anywhere. And when you're in your room, you can use your desktop.

Not to rain down on laptops though. They're great for travel. They take up a lot less space than the typical PC with its giant tower. And its nice to have when you go on vacation.

TheGame · 10-03-2008, 12:58 AM

Yeah my surge protector is fried. The indicator is on saying that it doesn't work anymore. It just says surge, and the orange light is on by it that wasn't there before.

As for the plug thingy I'm talking about... it reminds me of gamecube's plug (I think?) where its one side of the plug wire, plugged into a little black box which has the other end of the plug wired and goes into the wall.

And as for laptops... well... Its just more convienent for me personally. Taking it on the road with me is a big upside, and I kinda like being able to toss it under my bed. Nobody even has to know I have it lol. For me its like comparing a cell phone to a house phone at home.. even when I'm in my house I still prefer to use my cell. I don't even know my own home phone number.

KillerGremlin · 10-03-2008, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGame

As for the plug thingy I'm talking about... it reminds me of gamecube's plug (I think?) where its one side of the plug wire, plugged into a little black box which has the other end of the plug wired and goes into the wall.

That's where the magic happens and the fairies turn the AC into DC.

manasecret · 10-05-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGame

Yeah my surge protector is fried. The indicator is on saying that it doesn't work anymore. It just says surge, and the orange light is on by it that wasn't there before.

Probably fried. But most surge protectors are designed to do the opposite, turn on the light when the protector is still working, and turn it off when it isn't. So it may think it's still working.

Quote:

As for the plug thingy I'm talking about... it reminds me of gamecube's plug (I think?) where its one side of the plug wire, plugged into a little black box which has the other end of the plug wired and goes into the wall.

That would be the power supply, and the thing that is probably fried. Before you give up entirely on your laptop, you might try switching it out with another one if you happen to have one laying about. Or go to Best Buy and buy a universal one and try that. Just be sure all the specs match between the original power supply and the extra one.

KillerGremlin · 10-03-2008, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manasecret

I always worry about putting my computer to sleep, and so never do it. Windows XP can be so weird sometimes, and die for what seems like no reason. Seems possible that might be an admittedly voodoo reason for it dying.

Windows XP has a long history of problems with the sleep function. It's something they never bothered to resolve for whatever reason.