An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

[Dan2k3k4]

Well this Old PC was "failing" back when we used it as one of our main PCs, I don't remember if it instantly shut down when it was on for awhilst, or if it shut down programs then turned itself off - but ages ago, it used to just turn off whilst it was on. Then when you tried to turn it back on it would flash/power up for less then a second then nothing. No fans spinning, no electricity passing through... always had to unplug the thing and then try to turn it on again.

Well I've tried getting it working again, but it's alot worse... I got it on maybe three times... it's really hard to get it to work and stay on.

I'm not sure what it is though, would it be the PSU? The motherboard? The graphics card? The RAM? Or something else?

Basically I just need help in trying to diagnose what the problem might be.

I think it's either the PSU or the Motherboard, since I got it to work for more then 5 minutes whilst loading Linux.

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

Most likely heat issue. Maybe improperly installed CPU HSF.

[Warhawk]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

Most likely heat issue. Maybe improperly installed CPU HSF.

Either that or a very unstable PSU. I say clean all the dust out. Then go snooping through the case and look for any potential shorts.

[Dan2k3k4]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

That's the first thing I did when I was putting it back together - well the whole thing was setup fine, I just unplugged everything and cleaned it all. I thought maybe I've put a plug in loose or something, but that's not the case. Everything's in the right place - and this happened when it was our main computer... so it's probably the PSU failing.

It's not a heat issue, since it just won't turn on at all, only a few times it's come on and stayed on for a bit... it takes alot of effort just to get it on...

[pennywise]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

P0wrr supplrr

[Dan2k3k4]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

Ya the PSU is 450W or something, but I have another one which is 250W - so I'll try that see if it runs ok... the only difference is that the 450W PSU has a 'square' connector which goes onto the Mobo, Biscuit said this if for 12V but the mobo should still run without it (since the 250W doesn't have the square connector)

[Dan2k3k4]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

After plugging in the old 250W PSU which didn't have a square connector for the Mobo, it powered on instantly - though the mobo didn't fully run, just powered the fan and the light switch, wouldn't run the graphics or the USB ports though it seems since I was able to get it working on the other PSU for a bit, that I only need to replace the old PSU (the 450W one)

So I've gone and bought a Corsair 450W ATX, should be here next week (along with a cheap keyboard + mouse, just need em for spare)

[Dan2k3k4]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

Corsair PSU 450w came today... plugged it in and it worked perfectly, installed openSUSE 11.0, everything works great!

Now I've just gotta get used to Linux and what not :laugh:

[[USAC]S|Cpl.TinFoil]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

installed openSUSE 11.0

ಠ_ಠ

Waste of a DVD, that distro was.

[pennywise]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

ಠ_ಠ

Waste of a DVD, that distro was.

Still, at least I was right. That's all that matters

[=98=]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

Why not Ubuntu. It's more user friendly?

You should get VMware and install a few Linux Distro's on virtual computers on your main rig, find what suits you best.

[Dan2k3k4]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

I wanted Ubuntu, but my dad got the latest issue of Linux Format which has openSUSE on it, so I just installed that for now, at least it works and all... now I've just gotta create a Ubuntu CD and load it up and install it...

Oh I have 2 hard-drives, master = 60gb, slave = 120gb... Should I use partition based install or LVM? (I went with partition with openSUSE, but I've not got Windows on the old PC and I probably won't be installing it since I'm just gonna use it as a Linux server box)

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

How many of you still use vim, grep, awk, sed and find to do things in linux?

[[USAC]S|Cpl.TinFoil]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

vim

Get out. nano and gedit are superior. Don't even get me STARTED on vim and emacs... :awes

Besides that, I just use grep since I don't have much of a use for find & replace type operations.

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: An Old PC... trying to build into a Linux Box...

LOL OWNED :)