DIY computer repairs

Lil306

Sowilo wrote: »

If you don't know what a multimeter is I suggest not wasting your time looking at the TECHIE page.

I know this is being fairly defensive here, but what does the person asking what a multimeter does as opposed to what it is have anything to do with their interest in the techie section?

I consider myself savvy enough to understand technology, but I've posted in here a few times for things I don't understand, because I don't understand certain things like servers does that mean I shouldn't be reading this section either?

Not everything is everyones speciality, that person may not understand electronics or what multimeters are yet they could be the guru when it comes to Microsoft

It's beginning to nark me the amount of negative replies being aimed towards other people in posts with their technical abilities.... I know myself I can be a hypocrite on certain things, but I never rip into someone just because they don't understand technology I will merely help them.

/rant

basmic

Don't worry about them, Lil - the trolls seem to be out in force all over these forums this weekend!

In the OP's case, a multimeter was likely used to measure the voltage on the computer's PSU. They have three primary voltages - 12v, 5v and 3.3v. All of these should ideally be within 5% - if they are outside that tolerance, usually the PSU is either old and/or dodgy.

So on the 12v line, you would check to see that the voltage is constantly between 11.43-12.60v. This, to me, would be acceptable to run a stable computer.

mikey72

cit_k wrote: »

Are you in the 'trade', if not what is a local chemist letting you lose on one of their computers for? There could be confidential patient records on it (I found a chemists PC in a backlane once, stuffed full of peoples addresses and prescription data), or if not, it could be networked, and you could install keyloggers, spyware, anything...

Not saying you would, it just does seem odd that a chemist would not think about the risks...

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

In the trade!
On any imaginable list, name the person who would be below the 16 year old in the back of the computer shop, who never sees daylight, and spends his entire life playing video games online, having found all the hacks to get to the end without dying 11 seconds after turning it on, that you would trust with confidential data.

spud17

Are you in the 'trade', if not what is a local chemist letting you lose on one of their computers for? There could be confidential patient records on it .

Chemist does not necessarily mean pharmacist.

Just keeping thread alive.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Lil306 wrote: »

I know this is being fairly defensive here, but what does the person asking what a multimeter does as opposed to what it is have anything to do with their interest in the techie section?

I consider myself savvy enough to understand technology, but I've posted in here a few times for things I don't understand, because I don't understand certain things like servers does that mean I shouldn't be reading this section either?

Not everything is everyones speciality, that person may not understand electronics or what multimeters are yet they could be the guru when it comes to Microsoft

It's beginning to nark me the amount of negative replies being aimed towards other people in posts with their technical abilities.... I know myself I can be a hypocrite on certain things, but I never rip into someone just because they don't understand technology I will merely help them.

/rant

Lil306, lighten up M8, the whole thread is not ' having-a-go ' at anyone. It's purely light hearted banter in a thread that was ( otherwise ) dead.

I've reread my input ref / tinned ends / budgies / PSU's / firedamp etc and can find nothing other than light humour in them, however, if I have offended you it certainly was not intended, it was as stated just 4 fun hence the smiley / beer mug invites and big red fonts etc!

Lil306

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

if I have offended you it certainly was not intended

Richie my post was not in reply to you, I know it's all light hearted, it was in reply to Sowilos response to davidmt83. It bugs the crap out of me when I see posts like below.

It may have been a joke, or it could have been a genuine question. However, reading the thread lead me to believe it was a genuine question whereas the reply was anything but useful imo...

Quote:
Originally Posted by davidmt83
What does a multimeter do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sowilo
If you don't know what a multimeter is I suggest not wasting your time looking at the TECHIE page.

Anyway, this thread has been done to death now. Time to move on and find others to read

ashleysly

ive fixed many comps in the past, some related to motherboard problems, i find it easy

jon_r_2

Had the above problem over the weekend,but for some reason it suddenly wouldn't work any more,checking the list of items in Device Manager there was a an exclamation mark against the drive,i did a google search and found several possibilities.I then went to one called microsoft fix it,followed the simple steps and bingo job done,all working fine,BUT have you had this,taken to a computer shop and been charged for a new drive,when it could have been a 1 minute fix yourself? my faith is restored i am not an experienced computer buff.I did a virus scan after and sure enough 2 worm things showed up in malawarebytes anti malware!
I use XP

The 'fixit' wizard program has various options,i used 'let it fix it for me'

I hope this helps or saves someone alot of spend out

cit_k

mikey72 wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

In the trade!
On any imaginable list, name the person who would be below the 16 year old in the back of the computer shop, who never sees daylight, and spends his entire life playing video games online, having found all the hacks to get to the end without dying 11 seconds after turning it on, that you would trust with confidential data.

I would not regard computer shops as being in the trade, they are simply box shifters, with as you say, some kids that fix the odd problem.

I would not trust them for anything other than buying parts if in a hurry, with no time to buy online.

Lil306

cit_k wrote: »

I would not regard computer shops as being in the trade, they are simply box shifters, with as you say, some kids that fix the odd problem.

I would not trust them for anything other than buying parts if in a hurry, with no time to buy online.

Not all of them are box shifters, some do have good intentions too

Then again, I don't own a shop, no point it's far easier selling over the internet and going mobile. Less costs to pay, plus I do all my support work by Word of Mouth

Free bump!