Computer problems and/or advice 2013

[mark smyth]

After a very sleepless night Anthony you are correct. They don't  have in stock which is why the guy sold it to me. The customer service e guy in store said we'll change it when the better model comes in to stock. Do you want to take the computer back home install and download what you need. It will be set back to basic levels when you return it.

[mark smyth]

any views on large hard drives such as the 5TB below
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4tb-hitachi-0s03356-deskstar-7k4000-35-hdd-sata-iii-6gb-s-7200rpm-64mb-cache-8ms-ncq-retail?utm_source=google+shopping&utm_medium=google+shopping

[mark smyth]

It's not for my new computer but for a digital video recorder that records nest boxes. The 1TB I have records, from memory, 9 days before starting to record over again

[TC]

Mark
Will it physically fit in to your DVD machine.  I think I would seek professional advice on this one.  This post may help
http://myhumax.org/forum/topic/hard-disk-upgrade-using-wd20eurs-2tb

[Alan_b]

There are only two physical sizes for consumer hard drives, 3.5 inch and 2.5 inch so the physical fit is not an issue.  The largest storage capacities are only available in the larger size (3.5"). 

DVD recorders use a different disk format to computers.  All disks are supplied unformatted but I wasn't sure if the use of Hitachi Advanced Disk Format on the drive Mark is thinking about has any adverse implications.   

[Anthony Darby]

My daughter got a Samsung ATIV Smart PC for Christmas (I'm needing to have words with Santa). It seems to have some anomalies which we are noting. One caused her some grief today. It had been switched off all day, and she went to pick it up, but burned her hand on the back. I checked and one corner of the machine was definitely extremely hot - too hot to hold. Is this normal? It wasn't plugged in for charging and hadn't been in use all day! We are leaving it on the kitchen surface over night and will check again in the morning.

[Paddy Tobin]

This is not normal at all. Obviously, overheating. Fan may be broken or system which monitors temperature on the blink. This is a major problem - machine will cease to operate shortly if not dealt with - overheating while in use and automatic shutdown interrupting work.

Had a similar problem with a laptop - not quite so hot as you describe.

[Anthony Darby]

Thanks Paddy. I'll take it back tomorrow. It's just sitting on the table and is still red hot. It's not even switched on!

[Martin Baxendale]

Thanks Paddy. I'll take it back tomorrow. It's just sitting on the table and is still red hot. It's not even switched on!

I'm no expert but it sounds like a serious battery problem, which could be a fire hazard. Can you take the battery out and see if that's what's heating up - can't think what else it would be if the machine is switched off. If the battery is getting hot, I'd leave it out of the machine until you can return it and the machine (and put it somewhere - e.g. a concrete or tiled floor - away from  anything flammable).

[Martin Baxendale]

BTW Anthony, just found a packet of snowdrop seeds that I thought I'd posted to you ages ago!  Will get them off to you asap.

[Alan_b]

I'm no expert but it sounds like a serious battery problem

I'm a bit of an expert and I agree that it pretty much had to be a battery problem.  Faulty computer batteries have been known to explode so Martin's advice is sound.  You might even consider putting the battery inside a biscuit tin or similar strong container (although I think it should be okay once disconnected from the computer).

See

[Anthony Darby]

Strangely the computer cooled overnight and before I could check it Lucy had recharged it. We are still waiting for the hot spot to reappear!

[Alan_b]

You can remove the battery and the computer will still work connected to the charger.  Do that and see if the hot spot was somewhere along the length of the bit you removed.

[Anthony Darby]

Computer is now charged and we are trying to see if it heats up again. Cool as ice all day. This is the problem with faults. Trying to replicate them for the retailer. We have the extended warranty, but if they don't experience the problem first hand they just suggest it's in our mind.

[David Pilling]

Computers can spot when they're not doing anything worthwhile and switch to power saving mode.

To make it get hot you'd have to set it a computationally intensive task - calculate the first million digits of pi. Or maybe block the air vents.

Of course if it is some sort of intermittent electronics thing, this is not relevant.