[GLLUG] dell computer

Julie Code jewels9321 at hotmail.com
Thu May 10 19:11:16 EDT 2007


Hi Rick,
       Unfortunately I cannot make it tonite.  I have to work tonight.  My 
mom is having a hysterectomy so I have to watch my bro.  So anyways, maybe 
next week?  Or some other time? Thanks for the offer, I really appreciate 
your help.

Julie

>From: Richard Houser <rick at divinesymphony.net>
>To: Julie Code <jewels9321 at hotmail.com>,  linux-user at egr.msu.edu
>Subject: Re: [GLLUG] dell computer
>Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 17:13:37 -0400
>
>Dell is known for putting a lot of junk components into it's systems. 
>Usually, the motherboard and cases are highly proprietary and not worth 
>buying replacement parts for.  However, before you get to that point, there 
>is probably a lot of other stuff in that case worth salvaging even if the 
>motherboard is trashed.  At a minimum, you are probably talking a CPU + 
>heatsink combo, a P4 processor, a little bit of low-end RAM, an optical 
>drive (probably a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo or a DVD writer), and a hard disk.
>
>Could you bring the power supply tonight? (if you can't remove it yourself, 
>just bring the whole tower).  I've got a low-cost power supply tester we 
>can plug into your machine to test the levels and flag any obvious problems 
>with it.  Overall, failed power supplies are probably the single most 
>common failure I've seen on low-end systems, and they can cause damage to 
>other electronics in the case.
>
>After you've tested the power supply, your second task needs to be taking 
>the cover off the case and powering it on where you can see the CPU fan.  
>If it's spinning quickly and evenly, and the heatsink is firmly attached to 
>the board, you aren't going to be in any major risk of damaging other 
>components.  From there, you need to run a memory tester like memtest86 
>overnight, then try to install an OS on it.  You can download memtest ISO 
>images from the Internet, but some Linux distros like Mandriva 2006.0 (in 
>2007, memtest didn't work for me) contain a copy of memtest86 off the 
>initial cd/dvd boot menu.
>
>
>
>
>Julie Code wrote:
>>Hi guys,
>>        Today when I went to take the trash out, there was a computer 
>>sitting in the dumpster.  A dell Demension desktop P4 4500.  I just 
>>plugged it in and the fans are moving and it beeps when i turn it on and 
>>says processor fan not detected.  I think it may say something about a 
>>mboard too but not sure.  I was wondering if anyone had a working 
>>motherboard that they'd be willing to sell me that i could put into this 
>>machine.  I know the LCD monitor works that they threw away because I just 
>>plugged it into my other computer.  I talked to Caleb on the IM and that 
>>is what he thinks is wrong with it.  I wonder if it was someone who didnt 
>>know a whole lot about computers and got mad and just threw it in the 
>>dumpster when it mayt be an easy fix?? Well, thanks for any of your input 
>>you may have.
>>
>>Julie
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>linux-user mailing list
>>linux-user at egr.msu.edu
>>http://mailman.egr.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-user
>




More information about the linux-user mailing list