AstroBoy Online Forums

Last night, my POWERDVD hung, & would not even close. I even rebooted, no change, I could not get any response from my external DVD drive. I tried various things, checked the device manger, nothing worked. I plugged the drive into my laptop, & it worked. After checking the DEVICE MANAGER, & swapping plugs on my externally powered USB hub, I plugged it directly into the front panel USB; worked. I replaced the cables behind the desk's right front leg (as the drive sits under the desk), & reached around for the cables, & found the external power cable hanging there with the data cable.

I was looking right at the spot where it plugs into the USB hub, & failed to notice only 5 cables where 6 should be, & of course, the center conductor of the thing, sitting there, laughing at me.

This is another reason why I do not work in hi-tech.

Hehehe!

Years ago, I came home one evening and couldn't connect to the Internet. I called my ISP, and of course I got asked if I everything was connected. "Of course, nothing has changed in months!". I was the only one familiar with these at home. I was told to send back the modem.

I then realized that a family member had in fact mixed the phone and modem lines during the day for a reason I can't remember...

Nobody touches my PC on pain of 30 lashes with a wet noodle!

"Astro Forever" wrote:I then realized that a family member had in fact mixed the phone and modem lines during the day for a reason I can't remember...

This is exactly the reason why I don't trust even what is certain At least after having verified everything else. As Spok put it "Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

So a few days ago I experienced a small interruption in electricity distribution. Nothing bad: lights switched off, then on barely 1 second later. This of course was enough to reboot anything on sight So after my computer finished rebooting I tried to access the Internet. Of course it didn't work, it wouldn't have been funny So I checked the modem (sync light on), the server (hard disk moving, ok), the switch (lights on, ok). Then I unplugged and replugged all network cables. Nope the Internet wouldn't come up anymore :d oh: I also discovered that I couldn't access my server. I rechecked the switch, still no problem. So I plugged a keyboard and screen on the server: everything ok. Checked again the switch: lights still on, so it is ok, right? RIIIIIGHT? Well in fact no: I unplugged and replugged it; after that everything worked. That stupid switch had simply crashed while leaving all lights on

I would think YOU, of all people would have an uninterruptible power supply for your whole computer and peripherals. I have been using them for years, now, & would not frustrate myself by not using one.

I actually have 3:

1 that puts out DC & plugs directly into my cordless phone's 7.5 VDC jack. By bypassing the DC to AC & back to DC conversions, this ought to run the phone for several hours.

The big one, 1500 VA, I use for the PC, monitor, amplified speakers, & powered USB hub. Then, I have an 825 Va unit for the modem & router, plus two CFLs. With these two, I should stay on & on-line for at least 30 minutes.

"jeffbert" wrote:I would think YOU, of all people would have an uninterruptible power supply for your whole computer and peripherals. I have been using them for years, now, & would not frustrate myself by not using one.

Actually I have one, but it covers only the server. I never thought I should plug the switch on it since it is so low in the list of critical systems My main computer isn't either, because I wouldn't want to waste batteries in case of long interruptions. We had more than half an hour once, which is the claimed autonomy for 4 average computers, but my main computer is more power-hungry than average.

My PC is a bit old & a bit slow with the NORTON AV, anyway. But even if the power outage outlasts your UPS, it will still save you from brownouts & give you time to save & close your docs.

Of course... I never have unsaved documents This is because for years the only computer I had was an old "portable" computer not unlike this one (it was a more recent one with a foldable LCD screen similar to the ones on current laptops, but almost unreadable black on green). Its main "feature" was to freeze every few minutes. Needless to say I learned to save very often Years of using Windows 95/98 with its regular BSoDs didn't help shake off the reflex

The UPS helps to avoid having to reboot the server for petty reasons such as a power outage Since I have the UPS I managed to go beyond mere months of uptime and reach years, my record being almost 2 years and 10 months without rebooting

Remember the huge power outage that struck the Northeast quadrant of the US and part of Canada about 10 years ago (think it was '02)? My poor husband, loaded down with deadline illustration work from clients in (Vancover) Canada, Illinois and California, had only 30 minutes via the battery backup and then had to wait until we got our power back with everyone else.

The clients - in parts of the earth WITH power - were NOT happy!

The next week we purchased a big ol' Generac Guardian propane-powered generator, which set us back over $3,000 but can power the whole house for THREE DAYS!!

Talk about back-up! No more blackouts for us!!