Ghosts in the Machine

[-pops-]

Not a problem but a potential answer if you do have a similar problem at any time.

There I was sitting working away just now and my mouse dies on me. It's a PS2 wired optical mouse. No light, no response from the buttons or from the scroller.

I've got spares so I sought one out, looked at the back of the machine and noticed that the mouse plug was not attached. In fact it was dangling some distance away from where it should have been. I shut the machine down (reason given later) plugged the old mouse back in, rebooted and everything worked fine.

This machine has been working without a problem and without being moved for about two years. Why the plug should have come out now, I can only guess at.

A computer case, however quietly it runs, is subject to vibrations and I am thinking that two years worth of vibration had caused the plug to work itself loose. On checking the other push fit peripherals attached to the back, all of them showed some looseness and all benefited from a push back into where they should live.

The point of all this is twofold:

1. If you have a piece of peripheral equipment that suddenly stops working, check that it is still attached to the computer.

2. It may be wise to check occasionally anyway to ensure that everything is fully pushed home to prevent any problems.

Note: I shut the machine down before replacing the mouse plug because, apart from USB and Firewire, connectors must not be hot plugged. This is because the surge in the current when powering up a device can rupture the motherboard fuses (I've known it happen with a PS2 mouse and a keyboard) Even with USB and Firewire, they should only be hotplugged according to the correct procedure.

Before I start up tomorrow, I'm having the case open to check all the internal connectors to ensure they are OK, although they are somewhat tighter and more robust. I might give it a clean out as well!

[catgate]

I think you have been incredibly fortunate to go two years without having to be "in to" a computer.

As far as

It may be wise to check occasionally anyway to ensure that everything is fully pushed home to prevent any problems

is concerned, I feel sure most WF members do this instinctively

[-pops-]

I think you have been incredibly fortunate to go two years without having to be "in to" a computer.

I build my own - build to last :)

As far as

QUOTE

It may be wise to check occasionally anyway to ensure that everything is fully pushed home to prevent any problems

is concerned, I feel sure most WF members do this instinctively rolleyes.gif

I did mean on their computer ;)