News

Page: All << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >>

Date	Title	News
20/08/2004 22:45:32	Server Still Locks Up	This server is still locking up, but this time even with the second hard disk removed. This means the problem is software, hard disk or other hardware. The standard Windows disk check doesn't find anything, so I think a comprehensive hardware check is necessary.
20/08/2004 05:25:59	Finally (Hopefully) Sorted	The server continued to lock up until I removed the DVD-ROM drive, which was slave to a DVD-Writer. I have been suspicious of the drive ever since I acquired it, as it used to lock up another PC when set to use bus mastering. It seemed to work fine with bus mastering on this server, but since I installed the DVD writer four months ago, there have been a few bluescreens when accessing it. I don't think a device likes being on the same IDE channel as a bus master (Ultra-DMA) compatible drive when it doesn't support it properly itself. I never had much use for the DVD-ROM drive after installing the DVD-Writer anyway, especially considering it can't read DVD+R/RW. Ho hum. Now I really should try get some sleep.
20/08/2004 03:12:40	Server Locked Up Again	I have just finished getting the server up and running again after it locked up for the fourth time at 23:45 (when I was just about to go to bed early for once). I have enabled S.M.A.R.T. on the hard drives and installed S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring Tools to see whether it is the hard disk overheating this time. The Maxtor and Seagate Barracuda's maximum operating temperatures are 55 and 60 degrees respectively so we shall see what temperatures are reported in the system log.
19/08/2004 22:33:36	Server Overheated	This server locked up last night, froze on startup and then refused to start up at all until it was left for a while. I had installed a second hard disk recently, which was running quite hot, so I moved it to a slot away from the first and turned both hard disks upside down. This seemed to work, but it froze again when running an anti-virus scan this morning. I had a closer look and discovered an awful lot of dust, especially on fins of the Zalman Flowercooler heatsink and fan. I vacuumed the whole thing out, powered up and started the anti-virus scan again. Everything is now working and the CPU is running seven degrees cooler than before. It looks like the CPU gives up at 50 degrees Celcius, so I have configured Motherboard Monitor to set off an audible alarm and email me whenever the temperature reaches 48 degrees. I also need to remember to vaccuum it out every six months, as it has been that long since I last did it.
30/06/2004 13:20:51	Passed "70-100: Analyzing and Defining Solution Architectures"	I passed the "70-100: Analyzing Requirements and Defining Solution Architectures" exam today! You can view a transcript by visiting my "cv > mcp" section.
28/06/2004 17:11:47	Passed "70-015: Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual C++ 6"	I passed the "70-015: Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual C++® 6" exam today! You can view a transcript by visiting my "cv > mcp" section.
18/06/2004 15:30:00	Passed Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications with Microsoft Visual C++ 6	I passed the "70-016: Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications with Microsoft Visual C++® 6" exam today! You can view a transcript by visiting my "cv > mcp" section.
18/05/2004 20:32:00	Document Management and Backup Guide	I have added a Document Management and Backup guide that describes how to organise your various media and apply a good backup strategy.
18/05/2004 20:31:59	Telephone Savings Guide	I have added a Telephone Guide that shows how to make up to 81% saving on telephone calls from the UK, which all started back in 1999 when trying to get cheaper calls to South Africa (currently 1p/min!).
18/05/2004 20:26:36	Software Guide	I have added a Software Guide describing how to obtain, install, configure and use applications I find useful.

Page: All << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >>

Currently Reading

"Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation", Lynne Truss

"Change the World for a Fiver: We Are What We Do", Tim Ashton, et al.

"Web Usability for Dummies", Richard Mander PhD and Bud Smith

"MCSD: Analyzing Requirements and Defining Solution Architectures Study Guide", Ben Ezzell

"Search the Scriptures", Alan M. Stibbs

"Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", Stephen R Covey

"Complete Time Management System, The", Christian H. Godefroy, John Clark

See more...