Under the heading of "wrong place, wrong time".

[lwoodbloo]

So, I got home from watching jeff play basketball. Came downstairs to the Hovel, flipped on my monitor, then my computer. The monitor had the bouncy "self test" banner up, which usually stops when the computer boots to a certain point. It didn't this time. Very curious, I recall thinking. So, I held the power button down, and restarted the computer. Same problem, did the power button thing again, and by accident, hit the power button again, starting the computer as it was powering down. At this point, when the computer powered back up, it started to say (through my speakers, very very odd) "System Failure CPU Test".

This. Is. Bad.

Now, all you technologists out there. (besides teh infidel, who gave me advice which, sadly, did not work) What exactly is going on here? ANY help at all is appreciated. Unless you tell me to Buy A Mac, in which case I will sell you into sex slavery. Which I think is the worst thing a human can do to another.

Comments

[zrealm.livejournal.com]

Let it sit off for 15 minutes then reboot.

If that doesn't work, you might need to get dirty. Flip open the case, check that the CPU fan and CPU are solidly mounted. If they are, take a look for bubbling on the surface of the CPU (if you feel comfortale looking at it matt) or scortch mark, or some other sign.

How old was your CPU\Fan? was it beint overclocked or anything?

Unfortunately, this is usually an actual CPU failure.

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on that.

Details:

No overclocking. I bought this at running gagg...2 years ago? Maybe? It wasn't last year...no, it was 2005 I think, because I didn't have this system in Astoria. I brought the big one with me, and I gave Perry that system to scavenge. So it's around 2 years old.

[zrealm.livejournal.com]

You bought it at Gagg? Does that mean it was used? Who made it?

Do you feel comfortable opening the case and taking a peek?

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

It was newly made, more or less. It was bare bones, I added my own parts.

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I never smelled anything, but I don't even know if that's diagnostic of anything except a REALLY catastrophic failure.

[ladyjendifi.livejournal.com]

I was at work last night; call me anytime today. I'll be home doing calculus homework and watching extended edition LOTR. :)

[leahpia77.livejournal.com]

My hard drive failed on Thursday, and I am crying. Especially since I haven't backed it up in AGES. Hopefully, the Geek Squad can help me recover the data; Dell is sending another HD and disks to attempt repair.

You have my deepest sympathies.

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

Eek. Define failed?

[leahpia77.livejournal.com]

Well, mine keeps blue-screening at startup and I can hear the motor whirring but it doesn't quite catch. After the Windows XP logo, it just says "nope" and goes to the blue screen. I think it's a mechanical failure (i.e. the data can be recovered) based on what I'm hearing, so I should be okay with getting my data off of it and transfering it to the new hard drive Dell sends me. At least that's what I hope.

Sadly, this has happened to me at least twice before, so I have some experience. Windows has failed on at least 3 times before, which was NOT fun. With the help of my ex, I found this great site to help me restore it each time. I just printed it out and have it on hand in case Windows ever fails. That is so sad. But I too, am morally opposed to Macs.

If I can locate the site, I'll pass it on to you.

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

Well, my failure seems to be deeper even than that. I wasn't even getting any display, which indicates to me something either on the board or the proc itself.

[just-plain-kc.livejournal.com]

I am hoping it's nothing major. at least you dont have to tip your computer on it's side to hopefully boot it up. It's the last time I build one on my own (this is over 4 years old)
Good luck!
talk with yah sometime.

Maybe a cat got to it....

[brokensiren.livejournal.com]

Re: Maybe a cat got to it....

[tarnakk2.livejournal.com]

*laughs* AWESOME!! :)

Hey, Matt - just wanted to drop in and say hi. I have a problem. I just got hired. It's going to conflict with RG - dontkillmedontkillmedontkillmeohgodplease!!

The good news - not sure if you heard - is that this job is going to finance my living in your part of the world.

That's right, soon you'll have local servings of Corwin.

*grimace* I am sorry it means missing the others, but you were one of the few I wanted to go and see, anyway, and most of the rest live down that way too, I understand.

Re: Maybe a cat got to it....

[tarnakk2.livejournal.com]

I am sorrt bout your puter, though. Considering the launch of Vista, and your irrational aversion to Macs, I'd make 2 suggestions. 1) if it is the proc and/or mobo, replace those and keep going. Warning, if there was a surge or a spike, you may be hosed. Find a techie with a bunch of spare parts to test your parts and determine what is good and what is fried. 2) If the system is wholly fried, buy a Mac tower, install Boot Camp, and run a copy of WinXP off it. 2 reasons. Best is service - you'll actually get some. The lesser reason is you absofuckingloutely DO NOT WANT Vista. This is 6 years of PC technician and Network Security Specialist talking. Avoid Vista. When XP is no longer viable, buy a Mac. Period. You don't want this hell.

Re: Maybe a cat got to it....

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

Don't worry. i'm not going either. No harm done.

Do I get details? I'll call you this week.

Re: Maybe a cat got to it....

[tarnakk2.livejournal.com]

Wow, dude - you have no idea how much of a weight that takes off my shoulders. I was all annoyed I was gonna miss a chance to see ya. Details? Well, Rochester is pretty lame - you might have noticed. I'm tired of living in lame, so I decided to move. The first place I checked out was Jersey City and Woodbridge - I have a couple of very odd friends down there who've been trying to get me down there for years.

Basic answer is I went down there skeptical, and came back a changed man. Dude - I found Corwin! He was under the bullshit the whole time! Who knew??It seems like such a wonderful place down there - not something I expected to want to be part of. I was going to visit when I was down there, but my local contact forget to get a message to you.

You can get pretty depressed living 5 blocks from the local "gang-related violence" body depository - I guess living here caused me to forget how to be me.

The details are more of an outline right now as I am many months from launch, but the plan is to move in either late August or early September, based loosely on when me and my roomate can get jobs there. So far the only logistics are a single-stage evacuation, set up target landing zone and such via remote ops, pack everything in one moving van, and lead our trrops to glorious victory. The plan exists in this format to allow time to both save money, build job contacts or transferrable jobs, and make the transition as close to Pennsic as possible - but after my sister's wedding.

I may look and sound a little whipped for a few months, but the effort will be worth it - if for no reason other than to find myself again. Wish me luck.