Does hot weather affect computers?

moneyistooshorttomention

As in I've had a couple of fixes recently on my computer:

- new hard drive a few weeks ago
- very recently I had the wires swopped to my (only few months old) router
- had the DNS server swopped from my suppliers default one to another one (chose the Google one)

Had a couple of days of normal service - whizzing along/no fails/fine. First ones I think since I moved to this area a few years ago.

Now - my Internet connection is blipping on/off/on/off and I'm getting a new message some of those times of "Windows cant communicate with device or resource (primary DNS server)". That's the first time I recollect getting this particular message.

Doubt it's the Google DNS server - as it's being touted as one of the best and it was "normal" for a couple of days after I had the server swopped.

Thoughts??

poppellerant

Quite possibly your router is oveheating in this weather. Make sure it's not in a window or in any sun. If possible, put it somewhere shaded - such as on the floor in a corner, or behind the sofa.

Neil_Jones

Please don't put your router on the floor. Non carpet floor you're fine but not on carpet floors, that'll kill it faster than any heatwave.

The hard drive has probably been going for a while as these are gradual as the drive wears out so the fact its failed now is more coincidence than anything else. Computers with heat issues that they can get away with in regular weather tend to find themselves auto powering off when a heatwave comes along.

moneyistooshorttomention

My new hard drive is only a few weeks old - so at least it can't be that.

The router is on my desk - so not on the carpeted floor. I've spent the last couple of hours trying to cool this house down a bit - in case it's that.

There's a bit of difference in that respect to my last house. As my desk was further away from a window in my last house - but, in this one, it's in front of a window. I do keep (lined) curtains drawn across the window - so sun won't be "beating down" straight onto my router at any rate.

Unfortunately, the one thing I can't do is swop back to my old Internet provider - as it was Virgin Cable and they don't operate in this more remote area - darn it. We're much more restricted in our choice of providers here.

Fingers crossed it's just a very temporary blip thing - courtesy of this unusually hot weather.

EDIT; Think I'd better look out something to sorta "shield" my router from sun then - on top of the way the curtains are shut between it and the window - maybe a thick large book propped on the windowsill....

that

heat does influence not only electronics, but connectors too.

the connections can creep. Also if it is dusty the slight expansion and contraction can break the connection between contacts

Businesses do keep their servers in an temperature and humidity controlled a/c room for a reason. Over 98% of a computers power consumption ends up as heat.

I would back up the pc.

Most routers are not just routers, they are also a switch, dhcp server, firewall, dns provider, and a wifi access point. Get yourself a linux boot cd/usb and put the router into bridge mode and you will get maximum speed, but see how often it cuts out. Warning: this mode bypasses router security and puts your PC on line with no nat

Robisere

I have my router on top of a bookshelf in the lounge, in a shielded corner of an outer wall. It is 2 rooms and a hall away from this desktop, also in a shielded corner of an outer wall, connected by a Cat 6 Ethernet cable across the loft, to an Ethernet Hub which also connects to my NAS here and anything else that I need to temporarily connect. The router also connects by Ethernet to our Freesat Humax STB and the TV, across the loft, and by WiFi to other devices such as a laptop (wife's) 2 tablets and 2 phones. Never had any heat issues.

moneyistooshorttomention

Thanks for the further thoughts.

I am, unfortunately, rather restricted as to where my router can be - as it's not run on wireless. I'm "cabled-up" personally - as I didnt want wireless.

Have duly put a thick folder up on the windowsill in between window and the curtains to "block" the sun a bit.

poppellerant

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Please don't put your router on the floor. Non carpet floor you're fine but not on carpet floors, that'll kill it faster than any heatwave.

Good point! I took it for granted that a lot of people have hard flooring these days, so assumed the OP might have also.

I'm wondering if a laptop cooler from Poundland would help cool your router. It's USB powered, but Poundland also sell USB chargers too that will power the cooler nicely.

that

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Have duly put a thick folder up on the windowsill in between window and the curtains to "block" the sun a bit.

As well buy the screwfix £10 for a 12" fan and point it at the router.

You need to look at the router log files, or contact the isp to find out about the line going up and down, but some of the disconnections will be caused by you

moneyistooshorttomention

Good thinking Macduff - must look out a fan I've got stashed away somewhere.:T

greyteam1959

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Please don't put your router on the floor. Non carpet floor you're fine but not on carpet floors, that'll kill it faster than any heatwave.

The hard drive has probably been going for a while as these are gradual as the drive wears out so the fact its failed now is more coincidence than anything else. Computers with heat issues that they can get away with in regular weather tend to find themselves auto powering off when a heatwave comes along.

Please explain why a router should not be put on a carpeted floor.
I don't see anything in the router instructions about carpets !!!
:D