Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread

[ParadigmShifter]

Well i's not necessarily the processor drivers, it could be any driver. OEM drivers are pretty bad and the Microsoft certification program wasn't the best when I was doing that sort of thing. They certified one of our serial drivers even though it crashed when transferring "large amounts" of data (i.e. more than 1 meg, which is floppy disc size which I don't consider large ).

I think Microsoft said something like 60% of bluescreens/hard crashes were due to dodgy 3rd party drivers...

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I remember when I was installing the Omega drivers, the Microsoft Certification program wording made it sound like my computer would die if I installed it.

I'd only use a third-party driver if it was well-known. Not something picked up on those "freeware" sites that have a lot of shareware

What I mean, is that when I google "freeware something", I get a bunch of dodgy-looking sites that say "freeware" but have mostly shareware.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Well we sold hardware so our drivers shipped with them (even though the MS drivers were better).

The priority was the hardware and not the quality of the software and when I realised that (and was unable to change their poor working practices) I left pretty sharpish

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Well, hardware is pretty much useless without working drivers.

 

[Zelig]

Whenever I put my computer into either standby or hibernate, I always end up havign to do a hard boot to bring it back. I have an AMD Athlon 64 processor, which I'm suspecting the drivers. Would updating the drivers help any? (I don't use standby anyways, I'm just wondering.)

Likely not, a lot of low-end K8 motherboards don't do well with standby or hibernation.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I tried googling the model, and I got something about problems with ACPI suspend/standby. I googled ACPI standby, and I think it's the same thing, but not quite sure.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I have another funny problem with the processor -- sometimes, when I start up a game or another CPU-intensive thing, another program (usually Firefox or Yahoo Messenger) will "snatch" the CPU cycles, taking up about 98%, and slowing down everything else. However, when I kill the misbehaving process (it usually freezes up so I can't exit normally), and restart it, it behaves. Any idea about this?

Also, is there a way to slow down a CD drive? Mine's making some awful noise, and I can't hear anything else. I googled and someone had a program, but the link doesn't work. I don't mind if programs install a little slower.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Also, is there a way to slow down a CD drive? Mine's making some awful noise.

Remove the Tom Petty CD then

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Remove the Tom Petty CD then

I think I found something that'll work: http://cdromtool.sourceforge.net/

Edit: Trying to figure it out. Now another question -- if you wear rubber gloves while installing hardware, does that help any with the anti-static? Another reason why is because my hands tend to get sweaty and slippery easily....

 

[lndm]

Bear in mind that the correct method of storing boards is in a conductive bag. If for example you wrap it in foil, the electrical potential between any two points will be zero. Charges will be shorted and dissipated in the packing.

Similarly, the standard practice for handling boards is to strap yourself to earth (through your right wrist), work on an earthed mat, and use your bare hands.

In the case of a computer, that means that you should be at the same potential as the case, which rubber gloves will prevent as they will permit a charge to build across them.

BTW, an earthing strap uses a high value of resistance in series which is for your safety.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I get it, so the static will build up on the gloves. I've also been googling a bit, you can get anti-static spray/wipes, so when I go to upgrade my computer I'll probably try to get some to remove the static on the kitchen table, which at the moment is the only worksurface large enough to do anything on.

 

[Zelig]

which rubber gloves will prevent as they will permit a charge to build across them.

I feel the need to point out that rubber is generally useless against static electricity. Air is a super good insulator, if it manages to jump through that, a little rubber isn't going to stop it.

(See cars, rubber tires have nothing to do with their protective abilities from lightning.)

FWIW, I've build dozens of computers, have never done anything to help prevent static discharge (other than avoiding working on carpets, etc.), and have never damaged any components via static. Not that it will hurt to take reasonable precautions, but you're probably more likely to break parts by some other way.

 

[GoodGame]

$6 for a discharging wrist strap, do your work standing on a kitchen floor, only touch the fibre board, don't wear sweaters, never the metal of the components directly and you won't need to worry about static discharge.

I have seen fancy disposable gloves for electronics, but they're not affordable in small quantities.

 

[lndm]

anti-static spray/wipes,

I can imagine they'd discourage buildup, not remove what's there.

I feel the need to point out that rubber is generally useless against static electricity. Air is a super good insulator, if it manages to jump through that, a little rubber isn't going to stop it.

Sorry to pick you up on this one, air is a good insulator, better than rubber but an arc of current through ionised air is not static.

The "charge" I refer to (as opposed to "current") would use the rubber as a dielectric substrate to collect energy (the potential between the hands and the device differs). I'm simply referring to capacitance here, and under the right circumstances that charge will release into the board somewhere.

FWIW, I've build dozens of computers, have never done anything to help prevent static discharge (other than avoiding working on carpets, etc.), and have never damaged any components via static. Not that it will hurt to take reasonable precautions, but you're probably more likely to break parts by some other way.

I've found the same thing.

 

[carmen510]

What exactly is happening with this video, admittedly music, but with virus footage in the background? (0:14 onwards)

Has this virus(es) been identified yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS0tjv5Q07c

 

[Zelig]

Sorry to pick you up on this one, air is a good insulator, better than rubber but an arc of current through ionised air is not static.

The "charge" I refer to (as opposed to "current") would use the rubber as a dielectric substrate to collect energy (the potential between the hands and the device differs). I'm simply referring to capacitance here, and under the right circumstances that charge will release into the board somewhere.

Boo first year physics, I'm sticking to math that isn't applicable to the real world.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

What exactly is happening with this video, admittedly music, but with virus footage in the background? (0:14 onwards)

Has this virus(es) been identified yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS0tjv5Q07c

A lot of viruses seem to do crap like that. Could be a drive-by virus.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

I feel the need to point out that rubber is generally useless against static electricity. Air is a super good insulator, if it manages to jump through that, a little rubber isn't going to stop it.

(See cars, rubber tires have nothing to do with their protective abilities from lightning.)

FWIW, I've build dozens of computers, have never done anything to help prevent static discharge (other than avoiding working on carpets, etc.), and have never damaged any components via static. Not that it will hurt to take reasonable precautions, but you're probably more likely to break parts by some other way.

Im fairly certain that it was because of static discharge that my last three motherboards were lemons.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Boo first year physics, I'm sticking to math that isn't applicable to the real world.

I started a "let's discuss mathematics" thread in science and technology that is in need of some action.

 

[ainwood]

I feel the need to point out that rubber is generally useless against static electricity. Air is a super good insulator, if it manages to jump through that, a little rubber isn't going to stop it.

(See cars, rubber tires have nothing to do with their protective abilities from lightning.)

Ironically, its probably related to the same effect: rubber gloves would probably not work particularly well, because the charge exists on the outside of the conductor (ie on the glove itself) not on the hand in the glove.

The best protection against static is to make sure that there is no potential difference (ie voltage difference) between you and the components your handling. If the motherboard etc is touching the case, and you are touching the case, you should all be at the same potential. Ie: touch the case before you touch the component. Even better if the case is connected to earth (via the power cord - just have the socket turned-off at the wall, that doesn't turn-off the earth).