I'm not sure if I posted this before - if so, apologies for the repeat. Also, as there are so many forum headings it would fit under, I think this is the safest place. The 'event' took place about a year ago. Not a sniff of a problem since



For a little while my DAW had been having occasional boot up problems. It would hang part way through, or fail to see the sound card etc. but every time this happened a reboot cleared the problem, and it was so eratic I couldn't pin it down.

This morning it failed totally. Fans came on, hard drive did it's seek but no video and no start beep.

So...
I started taking things out, first the video card (always a favourite) - no go.
Memory - nope.
Hard drive - Nah.
CDRM drive - bingo. Warning beeps.
Put everything except the drive back in and everything came up fine. Pootled about for a while with no probs, then switched off to reassemble the machine sans (obviously) faulty CDROM drive.

Went to have a bite to eat, then came back. Switched on and... nuttin!

Invented a few new words and opened the case up again. Checked everything was seated correctly - switched on and got a half-arsed start up. Hah! Thinks me. Bet it's a dodgy PSU (couldn't think why the CDROM drive would trigger it though). Filleted a spare machine and tried again. Computer booted first time.

Wasn't going to get caught out the same way twice so before reassembling switched off for about half an hour then tried again. Guess what?

Well, now I was begining to think it must be a motherboard/cpu problem, and as these are quite old (about 4 years) had a look online, using my normal 'office' machine to see what prices were like. I didn't really fancy all the hassle of a new install, so I thought I'd try a few more checks. After more stops and starts and poking around, I managed to get it to boot up again and went straight to the bios screen to see if that would offer any help. Nothing seemed relevant, so I rebooted to my normal desktop and opened the archiver so I could grab all my 'important' stuff.

Archiver refused! Complained that file dates were in the future! A dim glow of understanding lit the far reaches of my mind. I checked the system date. It was 1 Jan 1980. With a whoop of satisfaction I pounced on the battery sniggering in the corner. Not the required 3V but 0.2V. With a new battery all is now sweetness and light!

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It wasn't me!
(Well, actually, it probably was)

Ah yes, the battery has caught us all out I'm sure. Easy to overlook, but the cause of all sorts of odd behavioural problems!

hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

Yep, I'm with Hugh on this. We've tried to convince Martin, for the past 3 years, to update his Lithium to the more standardised 9V affair, but pah, you think he's interested? He says he gets more 'warmth' from the Lithium.

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Ah, but you wait until you’ve heard what a Lithium-ion polymer battery can do to your bottom end

I can see the future!

Anyway, back to business - yes, most of us at some point in our lives reach the cell-by date



Martin

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YewTreeMagic