REFORMAT - Computer Help Needed

[h_i_s]

Nope. Certain that i didn't. If i jiggled, loosened, or reconnected anything, it's to be found inside the power supply box ... i'd bet.

i did punch the back of the power supply box, and then reached into the tower by the side, and punched it there too. Pretty certain the issue with the PC crashing is related to overheating, probably the power supply ..... especially since i understand that the fan runs sometimes .... and sometimes does not.

All that was a problem before everything became tinged in green though. It all remains a problem still, even while the green tinge has corrected itself. Go figure .....

 

[DVS]

ok, the green suddenly went away. No reason, i wasn't even trying to fix it ... i was actually getting used to it in a way that made it hardly noticable.

All i did was clean my computer desk a bit. And i'd had the tower sitting sideways with one side open with a household fan directed at the interior ...... so i decided today to turn it facing forward as it should be. i'd turned off the PC for a bit (shouldn't matter though as i'd turned it off a hundred times since it went all green). Suddenly i turn it on just now and the green is gone. All of the colors are normal again.

So, in effect, i fixed my PC by simply turning it about 90 degrees to the left.

THe weakest point of any cable is right behind the connector. Anywhere along the length of the cable is pretty flexible and the connector itself is usually fairly solid, although they are getting worse all the time.

iI'm not saying this has happened, but with a lot of people, they put the computer against the back of something, be it a wall, or the back of a computer desk, etc. that will force all of the cables to bend abmormally right behind the connections. This makes the keyboard, mouse, video power and any other cable coming out of the back bend to at least a right angle from the connection.

This can be no problem, if the cable is never moved again. Sometimes cables will do fine with one abnormal bend like that, but after a while, trying to bend it back can only make things worse. Sure, if you catch it quick enough, bending it back is possible, but the longer that cable stays that way, the more it's going to want to stay that way. The wires inside get twisted around and it's really best to leave it alone.

If your video cable has been wrenched around like that, or if it has had any stress on the connection where it connects to the video card, you might have a weak connection with one of the wires inside that cable. There are quite a few little wires in there, and losing one might not make you lose the complete video, but it could change the colors around like you are seeing.

The simple moving of the computer would be a possible clue to this, because moving the computer wiould also move the wires. You might be able to check this out by wiggling the cable at the connector and alsos right behind it to see if you get any color changes on your screen.

Now, as a disclaimer, I will not be responsible for any color change that results and doesn't go away. I don't want you to be looking at a funny green screen again and blaming me for it. Remember, what you do could result in the green coming back and not going away. But, look on the bright side of it...you could wiggle it again and the green could go away again.

I've seen keyboards do this morst often. The keyboard can not type anything or type strange charactors and unplugging it and replugging it can fix it. But, all of those connections are fragile, and keyboard and mouse are the most. One time, the keyboard connection was so bent, it damaged the soldered connection on the motherboard. Any movement of the cable caused strange charactors and sometimes would even lock the computer up.

The solution, because they didn't want to buy a new motherboard, was to tape the cable so it woudln't move the connection and it was fixed. Well, until someone moved the cable again.

 

[AngelicAssassin]

... but with a lot of people, they put the computer against the back of something, be it a wall, or the back of a computer desk, etc. that will force all of the cables to bend abmormally right behind the connections.

And the reason the smart monitor manufacturers now design flat panels with the cable connections at the bottom of the panel.

Then again, most folks must take lessons from the private left on a deserted island with nothing save an anvil for two days.

 

[h_i_s]

THe weakest point of any cable is right behind the connector. Anywhere along the length of the cable is pretty flexible and the connector itself is usually fairly solid, although they are getting worse all the time.

iI'm not saying this has happened, but with a lot of people, they put the computer against the back of something, be it a wall, or the back of a computer desk, etc. that will force all of the cables to bend abmormally right behind the connections. This makes the keyboard, mouse, video power and any other cable coming out of the back bend to at least a right angle from the connection.

This can be no problem, if the cable is never moved again. Sometimes cables will do fine with one abnormal bend like that, but after a while, trying to bend it back can only make things worse. Sure, if you catch it quick enough, bending it back is possible, but the longer that cable stays that way, the more it's going to want to stay that way. The wires inside get twisted around and it's really best to leave it alone.

If your video cable has been wrenched around like that, or if it has had any stress on the connection where it connects to the video card, you might have a weak connection with one of the wires inside that cable. There are quite a few little wires in there, and losing one might not make you lose the complete video, but it could change the colors around like you are seeing.

The simple moving of the computer would be a possible clue to this, because moving the computer wiould also move the wires. You might be able to check this out by wiggling the cable at the connector and alsos right behind it to see if you get any color changes on your screen.

Now, as a disclaimer, I will not be responsible for any color change that results and doesn't go away. I don't want you to be looking at a funny green screen again and blaming me for it. Remember, what you do could result in the green coming back and not going away. But, look on the bright side of it...you could wiggle it again and the green could go away again.

I've seen keyboards do this morst often. The keyboard can not type anything or type strange charactors and unplugging it and replugging it can fix it. But, all of those connections are fragile, and keyboard and mouse are the most. One time, the keyboard connection was so bent, it damaged the soldered connection on the motherboard. Any movement of the cable caused strange charactors and sometimes would even lock the computer up.

The solution, because they didn't want to buy a new motherboard, was to tape the cable so it woudln't move the connection and it was fixed. Well, until someone moved the cable again.

Why is all of this reminding me of the days when TVs had no remote controllers?? I can remember back when Mom or Dad would tell me to get up from my seat on the sofa, and then direct me to push the folded matchbook a bit further into the underside of the channel knob. And when that fix didn't make the static go away on the screen, and the channel to come in clearer, they'd move onto fix #2: Jiggle the KNOB. How many households in the 70's *didn't* have a matchbook stuck on the TV to keep the static away, and the pciture clear?
Solution would have been to not have jiggled the knob from day one .... maybe. lol

I get your point though DVS ... had thought of that. And yep .. most plugs on many ppls PCs are backed up and squished to the wall behind the desk. i'll try that ... will take the risk and jiggle some things about here ..... tomorrow. Good suggestion, thanks.

 

[DVS]

Nope. Certain that i didn't. If i jiggled, loosened, or reconnected anything, it's to be found inside the power supply box ... i'd bet.

i did punch the back of the power supply box, and then reached into the tower by the side, and punched it there too. Pretty certain the issue with the PC crashing is related to overheating, probably the power supply ..... especially since i understand that the fan runs sometimes .... and sometimes does not.

All that was a problem before everything became tinged in green though. It all remains a problem still, even while the green tinge has corrected itself. Go figure .....

You can get cheap fans with the same power connector that all computer devces have. That way, you can put in another fan, that might help keep things cool. You don't replace the existing one, but just put in another somwehre that will cause more airflow to blow across the insides.

Best Buy has them, here. I''m sure you can bet them at most any computer type store. But, I know they don't have drive rails. I have a slot for a drive, but the drive is 3 1/2 and the drive bay is 5 1/4. I asked the "kid" if they had any drive rails, and he asked me what they were.

Yes, they are kind of old, for today's computers as most drive bays are now 3 1/2 ONLY. But, this computer is a desktop and it has three drives in it, plus a CD, and the only spot left for this drive is the second 5 1/4 bay.

When I told the kid what it was, he acted like he knew what I was saying (although I'm sure he didn't) and promptly said "we don't have any of those". The dyd have drive mounting kits, but only to make an internal an external drive. Oh well, I bet I have some in a box up in the attic. At least I hope I do.

Oh, but they do have fans. I got one there.