Hardware & Devices

7-Aug-07 2:55

If you have one major problem, which one is it? Question #1 or question #2? Ah heck, I take a stab at both of them. Notice in my response that I'm using the American colloquial version of the square bracket, also know as the "parenthesis":

1) Dialup network? Are you insane? Why don't you connect your laptop and desktop with a CAT5 cable, and dial out to the remote client machine?

2) There is no support. You're on your own. Cowboy-up and deal with it.

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

Home network design

David Crow1-Aug-07 5:17

David Crow

1-Aug-07 5:17

I'm in the very early stages of creating a very simple home network, and had a question about connecting the printer.

In this picture, the wireless router is one without an internal print server. The printer is connected to one of the RJ45 ports on the router. In this scenario, would the laptop or PC be acting as the print server just as it would if the printer were connected directly to either of them?

My utlimate question is whether I need to get a wireless router or a wireless router with an internal print server.

Thanks,
DC

"A good athlete is the result of a good and worthy opponent." - David Crow

"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne

#realJSOP1-Aug-07 6:05

1-Aug-07 6:05

You can get one of those single-port print servers (most are wireless AND wired). It would be cheaper than a) buying a network printer or b) buying a new router. It would also save wear/tear on the PC that you would otherwise be using as a print server, and would save in electric bills as well since powering up a PC costs a lot more than powering up a little printer server.

Look on NewEgg.

David Crow1-Aug-07 6:45

David Crow

1-Aug-07 6:45

I have to buy a router anyway, just wasn't sure if I needed one with an internal print server or not. If I get a router without an internal print server, which piece of hardware handles the print jobs? When the printer is connected directly to the PC, the PC will handle the print jobs. I'm just wondering if this same thing holds true when a wireless router sits between the PC and the printer.

"A good athlete is the result of a good and worthy opponent." - David Crow

"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne

Craster9-Aug-07 3:26

Craster

9-Aug-07 3:26

DavidCrow wrote:
If I get a router without an internal print server, which piece of hardware handles the print jobs?

You can have the PC working as a print server for a networked printer, but it will mean that the PC will have to be on for you to use the printer.

David Crow9-Aug-07 3:33

David Crow

9-Aug-07 3:33

Craster wrote:
You can have the PC working as a print server for a networked printer, but it will mean that the PC will have to be on for you to use the printer.

Which is the situation I was trying to avoid. Thanks anyway.

"A good athlete is the result of a good and worthy opponent." - David Crow

"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne

Craster9-Aug-07 3:34

Craster

9-Aug-07 3:34

Then John's solution is the way to go - cheap and simple, and no need to have the PC running.

Physical memory dump

Hari_10101-Aug-07 0:20

Hari_1010

1-Aug-07 0:20

Hi all,

While working on my pc, it automatically gets an error in a blue screen saying that physical memory dump complete. After this, I am forced to restart my system. When it gets restarted, there is a pop message saying that "The system has recovered from a serious error". Can anyone of you aware of this problem. Could you please help me out to solve this problem.

My System configurations:

Intel P4 2.4ghz dual core
asus motherboard
512MB RAM

Thanks and Regards,
Hariharan C

Re: Physical memory dump

Feroz R1-Aug-07 2:08

Feroz R

1-Aug-07 2:08

Hi,

Blue screen errors occur mainly due to hardware failure. The next time you encounter such an error make a note of the stop error message cos only by using this code we shall figure which hardware is causing the problem.

Feroz.

Re: Physical memory dump

Mike Dimmick1-Aug-07 2:39

Mike Dimmick

1-Aug-07 2:39

Firstly, when this happens, you normally (on Windows XP and Server 2003), the "The system has recovered from a serious error" message box prompts whether to send information to Microsoft about the problem. I would recommend doing this - if this is a common fault, they may already know about a fix.

If you are in a corporate environment, they may have turned error reporting off. Check in Control Panel, System, Advanced, Error Reporting. It may not be possible to turn reporting back on.

This sort of problem is commonly a driver bug or a hardware issue. Check to see whether there are updated drivers for any of your hardware. Ensure that none of your hardware is being overclocked - the rating on the component is considered by the manufacturer the highest safe speed to run that part at. Check that cooling fans are working, are not blocked (e.g. by a build-up of dust) and that there is sufficient ventilation around the PC - to work most effectively, the cooling fans need to pull in a source of cool air. If kept in a confined space, the warm air does not dissipate and the heat exchange cannot take place, so the temperature-sensitive components do not cool down.

Consider checking that your computer's RAM is still OK. Use a tool like memtest86 or Windows Memory Diagnostic[^] to check it.

Stability. What an interesting concept. -- Chris Maunder

Re: Physical memory dump

fat_boy22-Aug-07 11:01

fat_boy

22-Aug-07 11:01

BSODs are caused by drivers.

If you have installed any hnew ardware/drivers recently, or upgraded any drivers they are suspec. Uninstall them and try see if it solves the problem.

If not, you might have failing memory, ror a very rare crash.

Crashes can be accumulative. When the system BSODs, system files can be damaaged. This can make crashes more and more ffrequeny
t. So always take a system back up. I use Ghost. You can then o back to a stable image.

If you really want to know what the bug is, install WinDbg.exe, and open the crash dump you will find in either Minidunp or the windows dir.

Wen it has opened, type !analyze -v at the prompt, and it will auto analyse the crash. This will often point to the driver. Gogle the sys file named, and see if it is a known issue, or if there is an upgrade.

Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception

USB HDD Problem

Sarath C31-Jul-07 18:50

Sarath C

31-Jul-07 18:50

I have a portable USB HDD. No external power supply.

From yesterday onwards, it is not working properly. It's taking long time to copy files. and most probably it ends with time out.

I checked for Bad sectors but there's no problem with the data.

Next I doubt on the case which I'm using. It's a low cost one. I've assembled the HDD some time back(3-4 months). Is the controller making the issue(??)

What could be the issue?

-Sarath.
"Great hopes make everything great possible" - Benjamin Franklin

My blog - Sharing My Thoughts, An Article - Understanding Statepattern

Shouvik Das31-Jul-07 20:53

31-Jul-07 20:53

I think there is no problem with your Hard Disk, I have a Htachi 80 GB 5400 RPM 1.8" Harddisk with a Zippy's case (Rs 200/-) I got it nearly 1 yr back. I had the same problem. All I did was defragmented the disk. Next it was fine again. many a times if you connect your Disk to older USB 1.1 interfaces it would become 1/10 times slower. Don't worry your external drive is in Good Health.

There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating-people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Regards...
Shouvik

Sarath C31-Jul-07 21:27

Sarath C

31-Jul-07 21:27

This is Hitachi 160 GB, 2.5" (Im not sure whether it is 1.8"). Ez.Digix case (brought from Japan.). It's a cheap case cost nearly 800 Yen (250 INR).
My files are not fragmented. Anyway I tried to de-frag the volume. But it's still facing some problems I believe

-Sarath.
"Great hopes make everything great possible" - Benjamin Franklin

My blog - Sharing My Thoughts, An Article - Understanding Statepattern

Shouvik Das31-Jul-07 22:12

31-Jul-07 22:12

try using it in some other system. If the problem persists then change the USB casing. your Hard Disk has no problem. Don get scared you need not replace it.

There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating-people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Regards...
Shouvik

Luc Pattyn1-Aug-07 2:51

Luc Pattyn

1-Aug-07 2:51

shouvik.d wrote:
your Hard Disk has no problem

I see no information that backs this up.
It may be true, it may be false.
As the OP's system has problems, chances are the disk is at fault.

Luc Pattyn

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Shouvik Das1-Aug-07 2:56

1-Aug-07 2:56

The thing is if there is a Hrd disk problem more or less it will reslt in corrption of Data rather than slow copy. So generally what happens is the inteface is either 1.1 at times or there is severe fragmentation becase external hard disks are more often sbjected to data transactions like a pen drive.

I too had the same problem but got rectified. Hitachi Harddisks have the maximum market share in Laptop harddisks. They are really reliable.

I know I'm talking on topic without sfficient proof. the OP can verify with other Hardware vendors too.

There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating-people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Regards...
Shouvik

#realJSOP1-Aug-07 2:51

1-Aug-07 2:51

You may need more power than a USB port provides. Get an A/C adapter and see if that helps. Someone else suggested defragging the drive - that might help.

Shouvik Das1-Aug-07 3:04

1-Aug-07 3:04

John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Get an A/C adapter and see if that helps

This 1.8" Harddisks are laptop harddisks placed inside a 2.5" casing containing an IDE to USB interface. They draw power from USB only. you have no sockets to give A/C input.

There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating-people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Regards...
Shouvik

Sarath C1-Aug-07 15:09

Sarath C

1-Aug-07 15:09

I've a cable which can connect to two USB ports. Let me try this option.

Thanks alot for the info. Defragging did not help me.

-Sarath.
"Great hopes make everything great possible" - Benjamin Franklin

My blog - Sharing My Thoughts, An Article - Understanding Statepattern

#realJSOP1-Aug-07 23:57

1-Aug-07 23:57

Some do, some don't. Check out NewEgg.

Mike Dimmick1-Aug-07 2:42

Mike Dimmick

1-Aug-07 2:42

IDE hard drives have a tendency to keep retrying silently if errors occur, rather than report the error quickly. You notice a general slowdown in performance. I would try a different disk to see if you get different results.

Stability. What an interesting concept. -- Chris Maunder