PC freeze after using serial cable

[snorlax]

I connected up an old pentium 1 PC to mine via a serial cable and turned on my PC, to find that it wouldn't boot up at all, but still obviously had power. After disconnecting everything and leaving it for half an hour it seemed to be back to normal for about ten minutes, before hanging completely. This has happened a few times, and each time it hangs there is absulotely nothing I can do with it. Can using a faulty serial cable lead to this? My only guess is that it's something to do with static or power supply, as it doesn't seem likely it's a software problem. All help gratefully received!

[Randy_tx]

I dont understand what you mean by "I connected an old pc to mine using a serial cable"....are you trying to move files from one computer to another?? I'm lost here.....why would you want to connect two computers together in this manner to begin with?
The most common reason a computer will work for a while and then stop is OVERHEATING.......and it sounds like that is your #1 problem...the cpu fan on your old computer is probably not working and it is shutting down when the cpu gets too hot.

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When all else fails...I'm a heck of a parts swapper!

[Reid]

Originally posted by Randy_tx:
..why would you want to connect two computers together in this manner to begin with?


A Direct Cable Connection can be a convenient way to transfer files between computers, especially when files are too large to fit on floppies and slicing them is time consuming. Cheaper than buying network cards.

Which computer fails to start? If it was the old one, I'd suggest moving its hard drive to the newer computer as a slave and copy that way.

I think the failure was just a coincidence.



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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

[snorlax]

whoops, i'll try again. the idea was to access the cd rom on the newer PC to install software on the older one. Both PC's were working perfectly right up to the point when I connected up the cable, booted up the old one first (which was OK) and then tried to boot up the newer PC, which didn't get anywhere at all. After a few clicks of the hard drive it decided to play dead. Theer were no messages, no start up sequence etc. After taking the back off and checking connections and so on, then waiting 10 minutes, it started up again only to hang again after a short while. Now it does nothing whatsoever. The fan is working fine, as well. I agree this may all be a coincidence, but wanted to check whether anyone knew of the same thing happening before because of a serial connection.

[spaceAlien]

Greets --

If you disconnect the serial cable, does the problem go away? If not, then probably is coincidence, and you need to start looking at a hardware problem...

I believe you can connect/disconnect serial cables without powering down...

> After taking the back off and checking connections and so on,
> then waiting 10 minutes, it started up again only to hang
> again after a short while.
>
How do you mean 'hang'?
Does the mouse and keyboard lock-up?
Does the screen go blank?
Does the Hard Drive continue to spin?

Grins



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[snorlax]

By hang i meant that the PC stopped responding in any way to the mouse, keyboard, on/off button etc. When I disconnected the cable the problem didn't go away. Now when the power's connected (by plugging in the power cable, as the switch on the front of the PC does not respond) The PC makes a few clicking sounds, the lights on the front come on and the monitor comes on in standby mode, but that's all. Thanks for your help guys - i'll have another tinker with it tonight, otherwise it's a trip to the repair shop...

[spaceAlien]

> By hang i meant that the PC stopped responding in any way to the mouse, > keyboard, on/off button etc.

OK, thanks

> When I disconnected the cable the problem didn't go away.

So there are 2 separate problems. Let's work on the boot failure of newer machine. Let's get the new box back to 'normal' then we can work on the serial connection.

> Now when the power's connected (by plugging in the power cable,
> as the switch on the front of the PC does not respond)
> The PC makes a few clicking sounds, the lights on the front come on
> and the monitor comes on in standby mode, but that's all.

Sounds like something has come loose -- I once had a case that flexed when the cover was off, and all the ISA cards came loose when I tipped it onto it's side.

My first try would be to re-seat all cards and connectors. If that doesn't work, remove all but bare system (take out sound card, modem -- everything that is not absolutely necesssary.)

Try: Troubleshooting Boot Problems (http://pcguide.com/ts/x/boot/index.htm)

Grins --

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[snorlax]

Over the weekend I tried disconnecting everything unnecessary, and it still failed to boot up. My wild uneducated guess is this:

The serial cable was faulty/wrong spec, and has damaged the motherboard in some way by supplying too much current. Is this likely? Anyway, I'm going to hand it over to an expert this week and see what happens. Thanks as ever.

[bassman]

I may be wrong in this, so if I am I hope someone else will post and let me know. In reading about connections it states to use a Parallel Cable. Are you sure you used the smaller 15 pin serial cable? You should be using the same type as for your printer as that is the port you would use. See, programs, accessories, communications, direct cable connections. Not sure if you hurt the mobo, but can you boot with a boot disk?

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is a feesh taco shaaaped like a feesh

[Randy_tx]

There is NO way you can screw up a motherboard by using a serial connection between two computers! THAT IS NOT THE REASON YOU HAVE A DEAD COMPUTER!!! You have a coincidence on your hands.....I guarantee.

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[Randy_tx]

Look back at my earlier post regarding HEAT!

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[spaceAlien]

Originally posted by snorlax:
Over the weekend I tried disconnecting everything unnecessary, and it still failed to boot up.


I assume you don't literally mean "everything" -- there is a minimum you need to connect to your mobo, cpu, memory, video, kb, not sure what else -- to get it to post.

Different people have different experiences -- I have never had an overheating problem -- but I have had a number of occasions where cables or cards have come loose...

all for now --
cheers


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[spaceAlien]

Greets --

Originally posted by bassman:
In reading about connections it states to use a Parallel Cable.


I believe you can use either a 9-pin serial cable or a 25-pin parallel cable. I have only used the 9-pin serial (null modem) cable.

The 15-pin (3 rows of 5) port is only for svga. The 2-row 15-pin port is only for gameport/midi, far as i know...

Grins --


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