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1...Eric proposed a case that allows the motherboard to slide out for
CONTACTS
0201 - Mountain Computer Engineering O-00000701 0201
020101 - Mr. Bradley J. Schwab; Director of Engineering
020103 - Engineering Department O-00000701 0201
0202 - Mountain Computer Engineering O-00000701 0305
020201 - Mr. Eric M. Maxwell; Network Engineering
020203 - Technical Department O-00000701 0305
SUBJECTS
CPU11 Boot Failure, On\off Fails, Suspend Mode Problem
Motherboard, ASUS Pentium II 450 Mhz, ATX
0504 -
0504 - ..
0505 - Summary/Objective
0506 -
050601 - Follow up ref SDS 44 0000, ref SDS 43 0000.
050602 -
050603 - Eric disassembled C11 and found no evident cause of failure.
050604 - ref SDS 0 1530 After removing all components from the case, he got
050605 - the system to boot by connecting key parts laying on the desk. This
050606 - required removing and replacing the microprocessor from the mainboard,
050607 - several times. He saw a thin plastic element attached to the external
050608 - case of the Pentium II processor, and decided it was not needed, so he
050609 - removed this element. The CPU then seemed to seat further into the
050610 - motherboard socket. ref SDS 0 0867 This may have caused the problems.
050611 - After assembling all of the parts in the case, the system would not
050612 - power up. With ideas from the MCE office, Eric connected power to
050613 - divices in a sequence that resulted in power up. It now seems to run
050614 - okay, but there is suspicion that the main board or a device, may have
050615 - a defect. ref SDS 0 4717 Eric installed the Exabyte tape drive from
050616 - C08 in CPU11. ref SDS 0 9077 He networked C11 with C10. ref SDS 0
050617 - 9077
050619 - ..
050620 - Received and paid invoice for $262. ref SDS 0 7128
050622 - ..
050623 - MPE will submit a quote for an upgraded motherboard, case and 128M of
050624 - memory.
050626 - ..
050627 - Submitted ref DIT 1 0001 linked to this record.
050628 -
050629 - [On 000304 CPU11 failed again. ref SDS 46 0001]
050630 -
050631 - [On 000306 called to expedite quote. ref SDS 47 0001]
050632 -
050633 -
050634 -
050635 -
0507 -
0508 -
0509 - ëDE32 Discussion
0510 -
051001 - Brad said someone will visit this morning.
051002 - ..
0511 -
0512 -
0513 - 0910 Eric arrived
051401 - ..
051402 - C11 - Scope and History of Problems
051403 -
051404 - We reviewed the record explaining the problem and background reported
051405 - on 000229. ref SDS 43 0780
051406 -
051407 - The case was already removed and the CPU was sitting on the conference
051408 - table, next to CPU10, which we used to capture the record.
051409 -
051411 - ..
051412 - Removed System Circuit Boards - System Would Not Boot
051413 -
051414 - Eric initially removed the video card to see if the system would beep
051415 - when powered up, which would indicate a problem with the controller.
051416 - Eric said this is a common cause of boot problems.
051417 -
051418 - He pressed the power on button. The system exhibited signs of having
051419 - power, reported on 000229, ref SDS 43 6348, but the system did not
051420 - beep.
051422 - ..
051423 - Eric unplugged the power to turn shut the system off, then plugged it
051424 - back again.
051426 - ..
051427 - He removed all of the cards, except the video card, and pressed the
051428 - powered switch to power up.
051429 - ..
051430 - The system did not beep and did not come up. He unplugged the
051431 - power again to shut the system down.
051432 -
051434 - ..
051435 - Reset BIOS - Did Not Clear Problem
051436 - ASUS P2B AGP Mainboard Missing BIOS Reset Jumpers
051437 -
051438 - Eric tried to reset the BIOS, but could not find a jumper on the
051439 - motherboard for this purpose. He showed the ASUS P2B manual shows a
051440 - jumper to reset the BIOS, but this jumper is not at the location shown
051441 - in the manual, and there is no other evident jumper on the board for
051442 - this purpose. Therefore, he removed the CMOS battery and replaced it,
051443 - which has the same effect.
051444 -
051445 - How do we restore BIOS configuration to what it was before Eric
051446 - reset it. Is this necessary?
051448 - ..
051449 - [On 000310 installed new motherboard, so this issue is moot.
051450 - ref SDS 49 2068
051452 - ..
051453 - This did not clear the boot problem.
051454 -
051456 - ..
051457 - Memory Tested by Swapping from Another Computer, Seems Okay
051458 -
051459 - Eric removed the memory SIM and installed a memory SIM from CPU10, to
051460 - see if there is a problem with the memory.
051461 -
051462 - The problem remained, indicating the memory is not the problem. He
051463 - restored the memory to CPU10 and CPU11.
051464 -
051465 -
051467 - ..
051468 - Hard Drives Removed
051469 -
051470 - He disconnected the drives, and booted the computer.
051471 -
051472 - This did not clear the boot problem; power on switch would not boot
051473 - the computer.
051474 -
051476 - ..
051477 - Dust is Moderate, Not an Evident Cause of Problems
051478 - Motherborad Shows No Visible Signs of a Problem
051479 -
051480 - Eric removed the CPU from the motherboard, and then removed the
051481 - motherboard from the case to examine it.
051482 -
051483 - No visible evidence of a problem was found on either side of the
051484 - motherboard.
051485 - ..
051486 - We reviewed consideration of whether excessive dust may have
051487 - caused a short, raised in the record on 000226. ref SDS 41 0987
051489 - ..
051490 - Eric advised that the dust condition in CPU11 is moderate. He has
051491 - seen much worse, without impacting performance. He believes dust is
051492 - not causing the problems CPU11 exhibits.
051493 -
051494 -
051496 - ..
051497 - Motherboard, Video Connected Outside the Case, System Booted
051498 -
051499 - With the parts all removed from the case, Eric installed the CPU and
051500 - the video card in the motherboard. He connected the power supply to
051501 - the motherboard sitting on the desk.
051502 -
051503 - He used a metal screw to jumper the power up pins on the motherboard.
051505 - ..
051506 - The system powered up. We got a display on the monitor, something
051507 - that has been missing since Tuesday morning. ref SDS 43 0780
051509 - ..
051510 - So, we have some progress at last.
051511 -
051513 - ..
051514 - Insulator Washers Missing for Motherboard Connection to Case
051515 -
051516 - Eric noticed there are no washers for insulating the motherboard
051517 - from the stanchions used to elevate the motherboard so it does not
051518 - touch the metal case frame when fastened with screws into the
051519 - stanchions. He said this is a typical configuration that normally
051520 - works, but it may be a problem in this situation.
051522 - ..
051523 - There is no other explanation for the system we have hit upon for
051524 - the system not to power up.
051526 - ..
051527 - Eric does not have washers he feels might be needed. He thinks
051528 - there may be some in his shop. He suggested a new case, but again
051529 - noted that this case configuration typically works okay, and since
051530 - the computer has run for the past 14 months, this is not likely
051531 - the cause of the problems reported on 000229. ref SDS 43 0001
051533 - ..
051534 - A new case would cost about $60, plus an hour for installation.
051536 - ..
051537 - Eric proposed a case that allows the motherboard to slide out for
051538 - service.
051539 -
051540 - I asked about using the case for CPU08?
051541 -
051542 - Eric said the form factor for CPU08 does not match the parts
051543 - in CPU11.
051544 -
051545 -
051547 - ..
051548 - CPU Not Fully Seated Due to Interference, May be Cause of Problems
051549 -
051550 - Eric also noticed in replacing the microprocessor in the motherboard
051551 - slot, that there was a thin, black plastic element connected to the
051552 - Pentium processor, running the length of the processor along the
051553 - motherboard socket. This element has the word...
051554 -
051556 - ..
051557 - AMOCO
051558 -
051559 -
051560 - ...imprinted on one side. He removed this plastic element from the
051561 - processor believing it serves no evident purpose. When he replaced
051562 - the processor into the motherboard socket, Eric reported that it
051563 - seemed to seat more fully into the motherboard slot.
051565 - ..
051566 - Eric said he thinks cause of the system not function properly,
051567 - beginning on 000229, ref SDS 43 0001, is that the microprocessor was
051568 - not fully seated in the motherboard socket.
051570 - ..
051571 - He is unsure why the system has functioned normally since 981115,
051572 - until two days ago.
051574 - ..
051575 - Eric proposed that the system has been marginally okay, and we may
051576 - have moved it recently, causing the connection to fail slightly with
051577 - erratic impacts. Eric reviewed the record on 000212 showing the problem
051578 - with the mouse and keyboard. ref SDS 36 0001 He feels those problems
051579 - could arise from the CPU not being fully seated in the motherboard
051580 - socket.
051582 - ..
051583 - We reviewed history of the CPU having been taken to Saratoga, and so
051584 - it received moderate handling for that purpose 6 or 7 months ago. The
051585 - CPU has been taken in for service twice. Once for a new CPU fan, and
051586 - another time to swap out the CD ROM drive. On all of these occasions
051587 - the CPU was picked up, possibly turned up side down, and so forth.
051588 - This handling did not cause the monitor, the keyboard and the power
051589 - on/off switch problems encountered on 000229, nor the mouse and to a
051590 - lessor extent keyboard failures reported on 000212. ref SDS 36 0001
051592 - ..
051593 - Eric said there is no evident explanation. Possibly temperature
051594 - changes effected a tenuous connection.
051595 -
051597 - ..
051598 - Power System Fails During Re-assembly
051599 -
051600 - After concluding no evident problems exist with the motherboard, per
051601 - above, ref SDS 0 0897, Eric restored it in the case and assembled the
051602 - other circuit boards.
051603 -
051604 - He also installed the Exabyte tape drive from CPU08, in CPU11, per
051605 - below. ref SDS 0 9077
051607 - ..
051608 - After everything was back together, the power would not come up.
051609 -
051611 - ..
051612 -
051613 - Power On/Off Switch Would Not Work -- New Problem
051614 -
051615 - This is different, but similar to original problem. In the
051616 - original problem, repored on 000212, ref SDS 36 0001, that
051617 - occurred again on 000229, the Power On switch causes the power
051618 - supply to start the hard drive and the status lights, but the
051619 - rest of the boot sequence fails, including not reading the a:
051620 - drive; and, the Power switch will not turn the system off.
051621 - ref SDS 43 6348
051623 - ..
051624 - In this case, the Power On switch was not causing anything
051625 - to happen.
051626 -
051627 - [On 000310 similar problem after assembling new motherboard.
051628 - ref SDS 49 4158]
051630 - ..
051631 - Eric began removing cards and checking them one by one. He finally
051632 - removed and then replaced the power supply connection to the
051633 - motherboard. The system then came up. This suggests that the power
051634 - supply was not fully seated when he replaced the motherboard after the
051635 - prior step. ref SDS 0 3053
051637 - ..
051638 - I originally thought that we had a Power Supply issue, yet when we
051639 - installed the power supply from a known working computer (CPU10),
051640 - CPU11 still had the same problem.
051641 -
051643 - ..
0517 -
0518 -
0519 - 1115 called MCE office
0520 -
052001 - Called and talked to JT in the office, who, in turn, consulted with
052002 - Brad, on difficulties solving the CPU11 problem. ref SDS 0 3053
052004 - ..
052005 - JT and Brad thought that a device may be causing the power supply to
052006 - overload.
052007 -
052008 -
052010 - ..
052011 - Order of Connecting Devices to Power Supply Fixed Problem????
052012 -
052013 - To implement suggestions from JT and Brad, ref SDS 0 8588, Eric tried
052014 - connecting power to the devices in different combinations.
052015 -
052016 - 1. Disconnected all devises from the power supply and connected
052017 - them back one by one to test each one in combination.
052018 -
052019 - a. Connected the hard drive and powered it up, and it worked.
052021 - ..
052022 - b. Connected the floppy drive with the hard drive. That
052023 - worked.
052024 - ..
052025 - c. Connected the CD ROM drives, with hard drive and
052026 - floppy drive. This failed.
052028 - ..
052029 - Power On/Off switch would not work, replicating problem
052030 - explained above. ref SDS 0 3085
052032 - ..
052033 - Eric disconnected and reconnected this configuration several
052034 - times to verify it would not run, and got the same result.
052035 - ..
052036 - 2. Changed order of connecting devices.
052037 -
052038 - Eric disconnected all devices from the power supply.
052039 -
052040 - a. Connected only the CD ROMs, which failed in step 1b. The
052041 - system powered up with the CD ROMs connected first.
052042 -
052043 - b. Connected hard drive with the CD ROM drives, and this
052044 - worked.
052046 - ..
052047 - c. Connected the floppy drive, with the CD ROM drives and the
052048 - hard drive, and this worked. This is the configuration that
052049 - failed under step 1c, above. Only the sequence of making
052050 - the connections is different. ref SDS 0 6090
052051 - ..
052052 - d. Connected Exabyte tape drive, and that worked.
052053 -
052055 - ..
052056 - Device May be Defective Causing Improper Power Distribution
052057 -
052058 - Based on the record today, Eric believes there may be a device that
052059 - has a marginal problem. But since the problem is no longer happening,
052060 - we cannot further troubleshoot it.
052061 -
052062 - We shut the system down several times and powered it back on. It
052063 - worked flawlessly.
052064 -
052065 - [On 000310 developed possible explanation. ref SDS 49 4071
052066 -
052067 -
052068 -
052069 -
0521 -
SUBJECTS
PG&E Example Technician, Project Manager
Psychologically Demanding to Discover Error Constantly
Debug Management Discover Communication Issues Before Mistakes Impact
Proactive Learning Discovry Analysis Insite Intelligence
1206 -
120701 - ..
120702 - Technical Work Debugs Mistakes in Real-Time
120703 - Management Defers Mistakes, Communication Biggest Risk in Enterprise
120704 -
120705 - Eric noted everything on CPU11 is now working after he changed the
120706 - order of connecting devices to the power supply, ref SDS 0 6180; but
120707 - said, it makes no sense at all! ref SDS 0 6180
120708 -
120709 - He feels the record today is "weird" in relation to his experience the
120710 - past 4 years fixing computers.
120711 -
120712 - [On 000310 developed possible explanation. ref SDS 49 4071
120714 - ..
120715 - Eric likes working on computers, even though some days are stressful,
120716 - because knowledge and skill comes from experience. Each assignment
120717 - widens understanding of issues that help solve future problems.
120719 - ..
120720 - We reviewed differences between debugging computers and management,
120721 - from the record on 940820 at PG&E, showing project managers like their
120722 - work because the impact their mistakes is deferred. ref SDS 1 5588
120724 - ..
120725 - Managers don't have to stay and fix small mistakes. They can ignore
120726 - them because everything seems to keep going. They unwittingly pass
120727 - off their mistakes to others through communications in meetings, calls
120728 - and documents, then attribute their problems to people who tell the
120729 - truth, reported on 950412. ref SDS 3 3920
120731 - ..
120732 - Whereas, a technical engineer feels the stress of not being able to
120733 - move to the next step until every little mistake with the current step
120734 - is fixed. This is called "debugging" because it relates to small
120735 - matters. Management does not have a quality control "metric" that
120736 - shuts down the system, as Eric encountered today, to identify when
120737 - their work, which is 90% communication, does not align with
120738 - requirements. The CEO rarely checks the policy manual or the diary of
120739 - his prior meeting to see if he is drifting off course toward a future
120740 - collision with reality.
120742 - ..
120743 - Com Metrics "debugs" communication as explained in POIMS to help avoid
120744 - future collisions. ref OF 1 1108
120745 -
120746 -
120747 -
120748 -
120749 -
120750 -
1208 -
SUBJECTS
Mainboard, Memory, Case, Quote
Case Not Properly Insulated
Windows, Microsoft
1705 -
170601 - ..
170602 - Motherboard Replace, ASUS P2B May Be Defective
170603 -
170604 - As a result of the record fixing CPU11, ref SDS 0 3053, Eric suspects
170605 - there may be an underlying problem with the ASUS main board, purchased
170606 - originally on 981113, ref SDS 9 5220, even though nothing is evident
170607 - from the examination today.
170609 - ..
170610 - Eric related having encountered problems with ASUS boards on other
170611 - systems.
170612 -
170613 - This step, however, does not address the possibility that a device
170614 - may be impacting the power distribution to other components, per
170615 - above. ref SDS 0 8588
170617 - ..
170618 - Eric advised that Mountain Computer recommends Intel motherboards.
170620 - ..
170621 - He believes from experience and research that ASUS boards are slower
170622 - and less reliable than Intel boards.
170624 - ..
170625 - This aligns with the record on 980225 showing CPU10 has an Intel
170626 - mainboard. ref SDS 5 5220 We have not had any problems on CPU10, and
170627 - it is about 10 months older than CPU11.
170629 - ..
170631 - ..
170632 - A new motherboard would cost about $120, plus installation of an hour.
170633 -
170634 - He said a motherboard with Pentium III capability can use the 450Mhz
170635 - Pentium II processor we have now, and, also, provide the ability to
170636 - upgrade later.
170637 -
170638 - [On 000306 called to expedite quote. ref SDS 47 0001]
170640 - ..
170641 - [On 000310 upgraded motherboard installed. ref SDS 49 0897
170643 - ..
170644 - Adding another 128 MB of RAM would improve performance. Eric is
170645 - unaware of any issues with W98 about handling RAM above 128 MB, which
170646 - is currently installed.
170647 -
170649 - ..
170650 - Windows 2000 Upgrade Potential
170651 -
170652 - Eric said MCE has reviewed Windows 2000 (W00). He related that Brad,
170653 - or someone in the MCE office, got a free copy at the Microsoft event
170654 - in San Franciso a week or so ago announcing W00. Eric has installed
170655 - and evaluated a pre-release version of W00. He said it installs
170656 - similar to W98. It recognized and configured all of his equipment,
170657 - which sounds like an improvement over NT, which required individual
170658 - configuration of everything, rather than plug and play.
170659 -
170660 - [On 000307 Brad confirmed these understandings. ref SDS 48 5159
170662 - ..
170663 - Based on personal use, and having serviced W95 and W98 systems over
170664 - the past four (4) years, Eric believes W00 is faster and more stable
170665 - than the prior products. This might further avoid problems we have
170666 - experienced using W98. On 000229 W98 2nd Edition was installed on
170667 - CPU11, but it does not seem to improve performance. ref SDS 42 0001
170668 - Performance gets slower and slower, as more applications are loaded
170669 - for multi-tasking, and performance does not improve when programs are
170670 - closed. The only way to restore respoiveness is to boot the system.
170672 - ..
170673 - We will monitor performance over the next week, and if the problems
170674 - occur again, will definitely have to upgrade.
170675 -
170676 - [On 000303 asked Morris for recommendation on Intel board.
170677 - ref SDS 45 0001]
170678 -
170679 - [On 070601 report Windows XP glitchy, needs to be removed and
170680 - installed once a year to run efficiently. ref SDS 51 XS5H
170681 -
170682 -
1707 -
SUBJECTS
Installation
Tape Backup, Exabyte 10 GB
Exabyte Tape Drive
Novaback W95 SN: 11701-SCSI, 970207
2106 -
210701 - ..
210702 - Exabyte 10 GB Tape Drive Installed in CPU11 from CPU08
210703 -
210704 - On 981114 did not install Exabyte tape drive in C11 because it entails
210705 - extra work to configure. Typically, it will be done wrong, because
210706 - near-term perceptions about what is needed, based on the record of
210707 - prior work, will be incorrect. Planned to use RW CD ROMs for backup.
210708 - ref SDS 11 7482 On 981229 received RW CD ROM Spressa model
210709 - manufactured by Sony, and ordered backup software. ref SDS 13 3690 On
210710 - 990309 received and installed Spressa backup software from Sony.
210711 - ref SDS 27 6136 This method has not worked well for full file
210712 - backups, so...
210714 - ..
210715 - Per above, while the system was disassembled, asked Eric to remove the
210716 - Exabyte tape drive from C08 and install it in C11.
210717 - ..
210718 - This was a very simple step.
210720 - ..
210721 - He used the ribbon from CPU08 to connect the tape drive to the SCSI
210722 - card we originally purchased for the tape drive.
210723 - ..
210724 - There were no configuration issues. W98 recognized the tape
210725 - drive, and required no special drivers. It is listed in Device
210726 - Managers. The driver tab says no drivers are required.
210728 - ..
210729 - After Eric got the network working, per below, ref SDS 0 9077, we
210730 - looked up in SDS and found that Novaback is the software that runs the
210731 - tape drive in W98.
210733 - ..
210734 - We copied the Novaback software from C10 to C11...
210735 -
210736 -
210737 - h: 00 34
210738 -
210740 - ..
210741 - Ran a test backup on C11, and it worked. It was not necessary to
210742 - install the Novaback software.
210743 - ..
210744 - The system seems to run correctly. Did a full file back up and
210745 - verified the data set.
210746 -
210747 -
210748 -
210749 -
210750 -
210751 -
210752 -
2108 -
SUBJECTS
Network, W95, EtherPCI
Ethernet Card, Fast EtherLink XL, PCI 10/100BASE TX
Network, EtherPCI LAN
IP Address TCP/IP
2606 -
260701 - ..
260702 - Network on CPU10 Network to CPU11 Using TCP/IP Rather than Netbui
260703 - Downloaded 3Com Drivers for CPU10
260704 -
260705 - Eric networked CPU10 to CPU11. He used the configuration set for
260706 - CPU11 by Randy on 000227. ref SDS 42 1704
260707 -
260708 - This requires setting the TCP/IP pointing to 3Com network protocol
260709 - address on CPU10...
260710 -
260712 - ..
260713 - IP 100 100 100 4
260715 - ..
260716 - Subnet Mask 255 255 255 0
260717 -
260718 - ..
260719 - Subnet Mask has to be identical on network systems; IP address
260720 - has to the same for the first three fields, the last field is
260721 - different.
260722 -
260723 - [On 000310 w00 seems to configure itself on CPU11. ref SDS 49
260724 - 0783]
260725 - ..
260726 - Eric used TCP/IP instead of Netbui.
260728 - ..
260729 - He said TCP/IP configuration will work better than Netbui with the DSL
260730 - service we are considering.
260731 -
260732 - [On 000310 Eric installed W2000 and configured the network using
260733 - TCP/IP, installed today. ref SDS 49 0783
260734 -
260735 - [On 000422 TCP/IP failed with DSL, ref SDS 50 5740, according to
260736 - Pac Bell, because need "domain" for w2000. ref SDS 50 6699
260738 - ..
260739 - Initially network on CPU10 10 wasn't working correctly.
260741 - ..
260742 - Eric thought it was a software issue with the protocol TCP/IP.
260743 - ..
260744 - He removed all the protocols and reinstalled them. Problem
260745 - remained,
260747 - ..
260748 - He concluded the 3Com ethernet drivers were not working correctly
260749 - because even though the computer recognized the drivers were
260750 - installed, when WINIPCFG was run, it did not detect the NIC.
260752 - ..
260753 - Eric then downloaded the drivers from 3com's website, and installed
260754 - them on CPU10. PROBLEM SOLVED.
260755 - ..
260756 - We put the driver files downloaded from 3Com's web site in...
260757 -
260758 -
260759 - g: 00 3Com
260760 -
260762 - ..
260763 - Need to put uncompacted drivers in same drive on CPU10, that is used
260764 - for the same drivers on CPU11. ref SDS 42 0896
260765 -
260766 -
260767 - h: 00 02 02 01 Disk 1
260768 - h: 00 02 02 02 Disk 2
260769 -
260771 - ..
260772 - There seem to be two files downloaded....
260773 -
260774 - 3c90xx1.exe
260775 - 3c90xx2.exe
260776 - ..
260777 - These were then expanded into the driver installation files that
260778 - are read by W98 for configuring the 3Com card.
260779 -
260780 -
260781 -
260783 - ..
2608 -
2609 -
2610 - 1208 received invoice
2611 -
261101 - Eric prepared an invoice #3782.
261102 -
261103 - Paid by check #2312 $262.50
261105 - ..
261106 - He will contact us with a quote for an Intel motherboard, and another
261107 - 128 MB of RAM.
261108 -
261109 -
261110 -
261111 -
261112 -
2612 -
Distribution. . . . See "CONTACTS"