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Lessons Learned



 
 
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Old November 1st 12, 08:10 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Paul
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Default Lessons Learned

BeeJ wrote:
I installed the Media Center IR dongle to allow use of the remote
control. A few days later my PC just turned off. I hit the power
switch on the front panel and it started up and ran for days. Then
again it shut off. So I removed the only new thing, the IR dongle and
hit the front panel power switch and up it came. It ran for several
days, then the power went off again.

I looked inside and saw no lights anywhere. I saw a little dust here
and there but nothing significant, or so it seemed.

Then I got out my trusty LED flashlight and took a longer look.
Under the CPU fan I saw some gray something that looked like felt where
I expected to see the heatsink fins.
I poked at it with a stick and it wiggled.

I got out my miniature vacuum attachments and maneuvered it between the
fan blades and sucked the heck out of the thing. Now I can see heatsink
fins. After getting all that I could with the vacuum I then applied a
blast of air to get the remaining dust out of the CPU heatsink under the
fan. I did the same for the graphic adapter heatsink and fan.

Now all is well. And dust free. Well at least for a little while.

Looking back:
The power went off when I asked the CPU to do some heavy lifting,
copying files and other stuff at the same time. That cause the CPU to
heat up and with no place for the heat to go. The CPU said it wanted to
take a break and shut down everything.

Wonder if they couldn't pop up an over temp message.
Could not find anything in the event log either.
Now I will have to write some code to monitor the temperature if I can
get at the readings seen in the BIOS.
Oh well, something new every day.


There are already utilities that can read out temperature.

http://www.almico.com/speedfan447.exe

Give that a try and see if the features are of any use.
In this screenshot, I can see "log" and "events", as well as "Mail".

http://www.almico.com/images/fancontrol3-l.png

Paul
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