Graeme

I've never heard of two power supplies failing so if you discount coincidence, it points towards the drive that you fitted. The other thing to check is are you sure did they replace the power supply or just take the cover off and replace a fuse?

Graeme, I would also consider your household wiring and the local electricity supply. Has anything happened in the last few weeks such as someone diging up the road near your house or have you had work done in the house recently?

Hi Optimist, they did put a new power unit in as it is all shiney and slightly different.(they offered me the old one back but I didn't take it).You have given me the idea though that I am going to try NEC and the supplier of the DVD drive to see if they can shed any light on it.(chance of them addmitting anything is slim,but worth a try).
Thanks for your comments,it helps because I am out of my depth once the cover comes off........Graeme.

robber.
No nothing has changed at all.I only live in a flat and everything is on one ring main.This desk top and the other one in another room are each pluged into Belking surge protectors(or whatever they are called) and the laptop just straight into the mains.Only this machine has the problem.Ihavent even got round to using the new drive yet.As Optimist says that is the only variable but I still cant see a direct link as the new power unit ran for 4 days 24/7 n0 problem then just went in the middle of watching tv. I wasn't actually doing anything so to speak. Graeme.

Graeme

Robbers suggestion should not be discounted. Get someone to measure the voltage between Live and Neutral (should be 230V) and Neutral and Earth (should be very close to zero). Also, have any of your neighbours had problems?

Have phoned the electricity supplier but the are pleading NOT GUILTY to any known problem......
Have e.mailed the DVD writer supplier (SVP Comunications) awaitng reply.
Have e.mailed the compter manufacturer (Medion) await reply.
and have arranged for tame electrician to come round with his meter to check the wires.
Hope fully I can find the caurse before I plug the new supply in. The repairers are going to test it for 24 hours and give me a new power lead to try to help. Graeme.Thanks again for input.

Electrician mate has popped in and voltage was between 214 and 221 which he says can be due to the time of night. ie tea time. resistance was fine at .04.
he checked the power lead and the surge protector ,so none the wiser at the moment.Graeme.

edit. the link to taderpc at the top now goes tosome web hosting site.I know Croc was involved with them but are they still running and if so does anyone know the contact.

graeme , ask Bullshare , I think him and croc where in partnership.

GRAEME.ALEXANDER,
I still think you need to check all the power connectors in your PC and check that all the boards are seated correctly. Then check that you have not shorted anything, for example could you have tightened something and causes a wire to be pinched so that it making short to the case.

I have seen several power supplies fail but never like this, as this all happened since your DVD (I think) install I would be amazed if the cause is not related to that install.

I think its very unlikely that there is a fault with the DVD that could cause this.

Check everything and then check it all again.

PS could you have dropped a screw into the case? it could have got behind the Motherboards and be causing a short.

Hi, just a question about Windows 2000. I have a Dell laptop with approx 340Mb of memory, Intel 600 processor, 6Gb HD. I presently run W98SE on it, and I'm about to reformat the hard drive and want to install W2000 instead.

My question is my copy of Windows 2000 professional says "reinstallation CD W2K SP3"
Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer. This CD is not for the reinstallation of programs or drivers.

Do I need a Certificate of Authenticity - 'cause I don't have one! The label on the packet says DS/N DE -0 then a series of number / letter combinations. Is this what I want, do I really need one for W2000?

I have jus installed windows xp2 but can't trade online on comdirect.i can access my acc. but not trade anyone know how to get round it.I'm a complete novice when it comes to computers so make it simple like a ,b ,c ,

SAW, suggest you download Mozilla Firefox as a secondary browser - ComDirect works OK with it - I know, just used it today. Download from:

Click here

MoneyAM doesn't work through it though so you still need Internet Explorer for this.

SC

To install W2K you need the product key which is five blocks of five numbers/letters.

I'm surprised that Mozilla does not work with MoneyAM. I've briefly used a mozilla derivative on a Linux system and it worked fine.

Optimist, thanks. I have a sticker that says DS/N DE -07P600 - 41350 - 3AF - then 4 more numbers (don't want to broadcast the lot!) Does this sound likely? It doesn't to me. I have W2K on a machine at work and will check that number.

SC, some W2000 installation discs don't need a product key since it is already incorporated on the disc. I guess that is likely for an OEM Dell disc. Not sure there is any way of telling until you try to use it and it asks you for a key or hopefully doesn't. Even if you do need a key however there are plenty on the web. Here's one: RM233-2PRQQ-FR4RH-JP89H-46QYB .

Thanks Kayak. Will have a go. If it doesn't work then I'll have to install W98 again. Would it be better to install over W98 or fresh install? Thanks.

I'd do a completely fresh installation SC, reformat and everything. Post above updated.

Thanks :-)

SC

If you reformat then always choose NTFS file system.

Thanks again.