capnq is in trouble, and may need our help

Possum · #1 December 23rd, 2006, 09:19 PM

Our old pal capnq has been the victim of a hardware upgrade gone horribly wrong.

Here's what he posted in the forum for our PBW game -

Hey, everybody,

yesterday I attempted what should have been a minor hardware upgrade. I botched it so badly that I'm going to have to ask for professional advice on whether the computer is salvagable. (I'm posting this from the public library.)

If my computer can be fixed, I should be back online before Kaspar gets back. If it can't, I'll probably have to get a replacement player for the Mi-Go.
capnq

What a prince, eh? To actually bother going to the library and informing us wtf was up, in the middle of a nightmare like that.

So, anyhow, that's all the information I have atm, but I'm sure poor cappy is hurting real bad right now.

Argh, losing your bawx....I shudder to think what that would be like.

narf poit chez BOOM · #2 December 23rd, 2006, 10:45 PM

Well, I don't know much about hardware, but if I think of any relavent suggestions...

Ed Kolis · #3 December 24th, 2006, 12:33 PM

What exactly did he try to upgrade, and how did he botch it?

President_Elect_Shang · #4 December 24th, 2006, 01:30 PM

The biggest problem seems to be not grounding yourself. Maybe he did that and fired the motherboard or CPU.

Fyron · #5 December 24th, 2006, 07:23 PM

Not grounding yourself is one of those urban legends...

Renegade 13 · #6 December 24th, 2006, 08:05 PM

I know for a fact that I fried the motherboard in my computer about a year ago due to messing around with the guts while on the carpet (static electricity). I know, I know, a stupid thing to do, but I'm good at doing moronic things from time to time

Possum · #7 December 24th, 2006, 08:53 PM

Like I said above, guys, that's all the information I have.

I was hoping he might have posted here, but no luck, eh?

Atrocities · #8 December 24th, 2006, 08:59 PM

It is possible that he simply got saddeled with busted hardware. I cannot count the times that I have bought components that were bad or failed shortly after purchase.

Especially components made or have parts included in them that were made in china. They simply do not hold up.

President_Elect_Shang · #9 December 24th, 2006, 09:21 PM

You might think it is urban legend but I have worked on enough electronics to know that it is a fact. If you don�t discharge by touching something first you could arc with an object that has a charge; such as a computer, or a floor lamp with a 20 dollar circuit card.

First hand experience.

Randallw · #10 December 24th, 2006, 11:30 PM

bugger. When I clear the dust out of my computer I sit it down on the carpet and take the side off before blowing air into it. I did the same thing when I insalled the DVD burner. Mind you the carpet is not very thick.