Re: Power Supply Cause of Crashes?

From: W. Watson (wolf_tracks_at_invalid.inv)
Date: 03/19/05 

Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2005 02:45:35 GMT

ray wrote:

> On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 20:46:49 -0500, Al Dykes wrote:
>
>
>>In article <cqL_d.12185$oO4.3898@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
>>W. Watson <wolf_tracks@invalid.inv> wrote:
>>
>>>Al Dykes wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>In article <slrnd3mvkt.n9h.BitTwister@wb.home.invalid>,
>>>>Bit Twister <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 01:16:18 GMT, W. Watson wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Does it seem reasonable that a faulty power supply might cause my RHL 9 box to
>>>>>>crash on occasion, once or twice a month? It crashed once again, and now crashes
>>>>>>every time I get to the login after a reboot. I have to completely power down
>>>>>>the computer to reboot. That is, I have to make sure the red LED on the
>>>>>>motherboard is out, before attempting a reboot. Otherwise, I can't even get it
>>>>>>to reboot.
>>>>>
>>>>>I would guess heat problem.
>>>>>When was last time you cleaned cpu heat sink/fan.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Swapping the PSU is the first thing I swap whenever I don't have a
>>>>clue why a system is crashing.
>>>>
>>>>(After checking that all the fans in the system are running.)
>>>>
>>>>Next I reset the memory chips.
>>>>
>>>
>>>Interesing about the memory chips. How does one do that?
>>>
>>>--
>>
>>
>>Typo. I meant re-seat.
>>
>>With suitable consideration for static, and with the chassis unplugged
>>you eject each memory module and push it in again. You don't even have
>>to remove it completely, just dislodge the rust and mouse
>>droppings. <g>. This is a long-shot for the problem you describe.
>>
>>If it's a predictable as you describe (every time you get to the
>>login) it's either software or a disk problem. Maybe the
>>repeated crashes have scrambled something on disk.
>>
>>run fsck.
>
>
> I gotta second that concept - always check the easiest things first. I'd
> go beyond reseating the memory chips - I'd pull out everything I can on
> the motherboard and reinsert it - including disk cables and pci cards -
> even mouse and keyboard cables - everything. Then also try fsck on the
> disk partitions. Then if it's still acting up, the next shot is probably
> to swap power supplies and/or other components until the problem goes away
> - if nothing gets rid of it, that would seem to point to a motherboard
> component.
>
I have an ABIT VA-10. When I talked to their tech, they said get a 350 watt PS.
I think that's probably over kill. I found Staples (we have few choices where I
live) sells a name brand (amnet?) 300 for $49 and a 350 $60. I can take it back
if it doesn't work out. So which one do I experiment with?

I finally got a clean shutdown. Quite an ordeal. After getting through the fsck
boot stuff and all the rest, I get to login. It cycles every 3-4 secon between
text login and in some funky messed up graphics screen. It takes about 3 funkies
to get back to the login. Each cycle I get more of the userid and password in.
Finally, I get into the command line. Now it's the same battle of cycling on
command line and funky stuff. 3-4 four times through it and I entered shutdown
-h now. That got a clean shutdown. I then tried a regular boot, and bam back to
the knock out the power. Fun, eh? 

-- 
              Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
                  (121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
                   Obz Site:  39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet
              "I know that defies the law of gravity, but, you see, I never
               studied the law of gravity." -- Bugs Bunny
                         Web Page: <home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews>

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