Computer power help needed.
 

I need some help about surge protectors. About 6 months ago I purchased B&Q Intelligent Extension Lead with Built in surge protector.

http://www.techdigest.tv/2007/10/bq_aims_to_save.html the middle one of the three.

I have been having computer and numerous memory faults for the last few months. It has been taking ages to boot, stopping at the first screen with only 1 CPU showing and then 5 minutes later showing second CPU then continuing to boot normally. Yesterday it just wouldn't boot at all it just had a long beep on switch on. I phoned tech support and he told me to switch memory chips and still nothing happened, he told me it was probably bad memory. I took it into the shop and he exchanged the memory, I thought great fixed just before the warranty runs out.:D This is the 3rd set of memory chips.

On setting up the computer at home I am still having the same problem, it being very slow to boot up. Not Happy:( I thought I would be ringing tech support again tomorrow Monday.

A light bulb came on this morning while in bed. I though surely the shop would have noticed the slow boot up on start up, now why didn't he mention it. So on getting up I disconnected everything of the Intelligent Extension lead and plugged everything straight into an ordinary extension, guess what the machine now boots up normaly.

My question is, could the Intelligent Ext Lead cut the power so much that it could damage the computers memory and is there a better unit out there.

Christine,

The extension lead should not have any effect on your computer in normal operation unless it is faulty; from the symptoms you describe, it could well be faulty. It does sound as though it was limiting the power available to your computer, which in turn did not then have sufficient power to reliably boot up. This is unlikely to have damaged the computer, though it may have reduced the power supply's reliability (unlikely and not worth worrying about).

I'd take it back to B&Q and get a refund. Even if you've lost the receipt, you are entitled to a refund if the unit is faulty. B&Q are pretty good on returns, I doubt if you'll get any grief.

Regarding better ones, all I'd say is that the more you pay, generally the better you get. If you get one with a known brand, such as MK or Belkin you're likely to get better quality control. We use stuff by Olson in a lot of kit at work and it's very good, but it won't be cheap.
http://www.olson.co.uk/data-protection.htm

I've been using a socket like this (but not this specific model, mine came from RS but they don't seem to do it any more)
http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrica...d-socket/64120
for a long time and find it convenient because it converts any extension lead you may already have into a protected strip.

Duncan

Thanks Duncan, I am not to worried about taking it back for a refund. I was just more concerned that is what was causing the memory to fail. The last surge protector blew from a big surge, we get lots of them out here so need to be protected.

Does the amount of units coming off one socket cause problems, most of them are low power I know but I wondered whether there is just to many at any one time. I have about 10 items in use at the same time such as printer, modem monitors, usb hard disks.

I may go for one of those single wall sockets if I can find something similar. Mario recently bought a belkin one for his electronic drums, they are not cheap.

It doesn't matter, as long as the total load being drawn from the single socket in the wall isn't drawing more than 13 Amps. On a home PC set up, this is highly unlikely. The kind of things you mention only draw a small fraction of this. I recently borrowed a power meter and found that the single socket I run all my PC stuff from is typically drawing about 150W, so that's just over half an Amp. If I had the printer printing, the scanner scanning, external HDD in use, etc., etc. I dare say I'd still not get above 1A. If you have a high-end gaming PC with a top end CPU and graphics card, then your load may well be a lot more than this, but it's still extremely unlikely that you'll get even close to overloading the socket.

If you get lots of surges, it may well be worth your while getting a really decent quality item. Get on the phone to Olson
http://www.olson.co.uk/left_right_filter.htm

Bowthorpe used to be a good brand for this kind of thing too. I found this product available
http://uk.farnell.com/580107/electri...-623gba-bow-hp
You can buy from Farnell even if you're not in the trade.

D.

The Olson protectors look quite good, I will give them a bell tomorrow.

We had a good surge last week when it was windy, I thought all the lights in the house were going to blow, without a protector I think it would have fried the machine.

I have just hit another snag. I thought I had solved the problem but no I haven't. The B&Q Intelligent ext is going back because after close inspection there is a wire trapped in the seam of the case so will swap it for something else.

Anyway here is the problem, I have removed the extension lead which has no surge protection and replaced it with Mario's Belkin protector, the computer is now booting very slow again, I am back to square one, any ideas as to what is going on.

Ok, try this as an experiment.

Empty the kettle completely, and then fill to a particular, repeatable level of water. Plug it in directly to a wall socket and switch it on. Time how long it takes to boil.

Empty the kettle, rinse with cold water from the tap, empty, fill from tap to same level as before. Plug in to wall via belkin protector, time how long it takes to boil.

If they take the same time, as I would expect them to, there's no problem with the surge protector. I can't imagine that a working surge protector is limiting the current being drawn to such an extent that it's preventing the PC from reliably booting. It can't be drawing more than an Amp on boot up.

I wonder if you have a poor quality power supply unit (PSU) in the PC which isn't power factor corrected and the PSU is being seen as a highly inductive load by the protector, which it doesn't like. How old is the PSU in your PC? Do you know if it is Power Factor Corrected, it will possibly have a label on it saying this, or PFC, if it is.

Duncan

The computer is only 11 months old, I have gone through 3 sets of memory chips because they have failed after a couple of months.
I will give that a go with the kettle and see if there is any difference. I will also try plugging the machine into other outlets in case the socket I am using is on a different circuit. The house is a bit of a mishmash with old and new and the wiring is the pits.

Hi Saphire

Your surge protector wouldn't cause your computer to run slow, it would either work or not work! In any case does the computer run OK direct from the wall socket or not, if not then the surge protector is not the problem? What's more likely is you have a computer power supply that has been damaged by previous surges, (you mention you had one recently), or is simply on it's way out. Surge protectors don't always protect the equipment that's plugged into them, I've repaired several computers that had been damaged by power suges even though they were plugged into so-called surge protectors. Another possible cause is a corrupt bios set up, you can try resetting your bios to default and see if that makes a difference. However if as you say you have already had to replace 3 sets of memory chips in an 11 month old computer, then there's a fundamental problem with the computer and I would suspect the motherboard. In any case if it's only 11 month's old I would be harrassing the shop where you purchased it and demanding they either fix it or replace it pronto!

nirofo.

There doesn't seem to be any problems with the surge protector so I can now rule that out. I also tried the computer back into the ext that worked first thing yesterday, that no longer works. It is definitely looking more like the computer is at fault and not the anything to do with the power.
If I want to go into the bios I have to sit and wait for about 5 min before I can press delete.
I have phoned them again and this time I will be without the computer for a week because they said it worked fine for them once they changed the memory. Now I am getting mad. No computer for a week:(

Hi Saphire

If I were you I would be demanding either a new computer or your money back, but don't forget to tell them you want your personal data and photo's retrieving first.

Good luck!!!

nirofo.

Nirofo, I have found out what the problem is through a process of elimination it has taken a long time to do but it is worth it.
Its the built in USB ports on the motherboard there is an intermittent fault on the ports.

I started of removing everything and just having the basic things plugged in monitor, keyboard and mouse, the machine booted fine. Then I slowly filled each usb port and on the last one would you believe, it failed to boot. I tried everything again changing ports for each item and for about an hour that port kept coming up with the problem but on the last try it worked fine and has done ever since. Now I know its a motherboard fault.
I am wondering whether the power to the ports is shorting or something and that is what is eventually corrupting the memory.

Now its trying to convince the shop thats its the motherboard.

Pleased to hear you've found the problem, I had a feeling it was your motherboard causing the problem! It may be that there's a bad solder joint between the USB socket and the board that could be shorting out when the device you plug into it tries to draw power, this could cause all sorts of nasty electronic things to happen on your motherboard and may be be the cause of your loss of memory. In any case you have a well documented case for either a new motherboard or a new computer from your supplier, stick to your guns and don't let them fob you off with the usual lame excuses. It's obvious that the computer is not fit for the purpose for which it was sold to you, in which case you have full consumer rights to demand satisfaction or your money back !!!

nirofo.

We have been in touch with the shop and they said they can't just change the motherboard until they have done tests which may take upto 5 days. The problem is if the fault doesn't show I will be stuck with a machine that could fail again anytime. I wish I could still build my own but my eyesight won't let me anymore thats why I ended buying one already built
The thought of being computer less for a whole week will drive me mad.

If you don't have any success with the shop I would gladly upgrade your computer for you, unfortunately I live in the north of scotland and carriage would probably be about £15 each way. In the meantime I would continue to harass the shop and insist that they put it right for you one way or another, I suppose you will have to allow them some time to test the computer first though.

nirofo.

Thank you for the vey kind offer nirofo. Until last year I built loads of machines for myself, family and friends so I am finding it very frustrating not being able to do it myself. When I spoke to tech support last week and he asked me to swap the memory modules over I couldn't relocate the slot because I couldn't see it, I was getting really annoyed with myself.

We are taking the machine in tomorrow and don't expect to see it again until sometime next week, maybe longer. Mario asked if he could book a time to take it in but the support chap said he didn't know when he would be able to get around to looking at it to run the tests, he then put the phone down on Mario.

We know its a faulty motherboard with something wrong with the USB. Going through three pair of memory in 11 months and now the processor is only running on one core. The shop said they have to run thorough tests before they would consider changing the motherboard. I am just hoping they don't corrupt the hardisk messing around.

Computer has now gone in for repair, how long it will take I have no idea. I am using Mario's computer at the moment because he didn't want to be in the same room with me pacing the floor and twiddling my thumbs:eek:. Hopefully I don't download any viruses I can't get AVG to update.

Hi Saphire

Just a tip you might find useful, if you're having dificulty seeing things very close to you there may be a work round for you! Nip into Boots or one of the stores that sell the cheap reading specs, they're usually on racks of some sort. Try on various strength glasses on top of your own reading glasses, try looking at various subjects very close to you, (your normal close working distance) until you find a strength that allow you to focus at that distance. This was a tip I got from an optician when I asked him if he could make me a pair of glasses for extra close up work, said he shouldn't be telling me this as he was doing himself out of a potential sale. I find them very useful when doing fiddly electronic component soldering. Don't forget to take them off when you finish the job or you might break your neck when you trip over the rug that you couldn't see!

nirofo.

Thanks again nirofo, I do have all sorts of gadgets now to help included 10x power magnifiers but it doesn't help not having any central vision, only periferal vision left. Its more difficult with close work. It won't be long before I will have start using the screen reader on the computer. I knew this could happen but not so soon. Its a good job I can sort of touch type otherwise you wouldn't be able to read this, so you will have to forgive me for any spelling mistakes, my mind works faster than my typing.:D My photography is difficult, I have to use AF for everything now so when I get good sharp photos I am thrilled, thats why I don't post as many photos as I used to. I am still looking forward to the next new camera, hopefully in a few weeks, I still have to get more brownie points;).

Sorry you are having so much trouble, Christine.
Your computer problem reminds me somewhat of my minor problem. My computer won't boot if my printer is turned on. The printer is plugged in to a USB port. I only reboot my computer when I have to so it's not a major issue for me.

Hi Dan, I am just waiting now for the machine to be returned, hopefully they do find the fault and rectify it so I can test it before the warranty runs out.

I know im late...
 

As if after all that all it was, was the USB port. Its funny what can go wrong with computers.

I know its very late though but as previously mentioned, you do get what you pay for regarding PDUs so its always worthin spending a little more as it will last you longer and will be more reliable. I bought one a few years ago and i still have the exact same one looking after my computer and a couple of hard drives.

although i have all my software and images backed up.....the equipment they are backed up too is plugged into the same PDU..... all my faith is in it not blowing up!

This will be my next one anyway! http://www.pduonline.co.uk/special-a...cted-pdus.html or one of them at least....