Just read DJ_Marcel\'s post- it must be a strange weekend because I havn\'t had any problems for ages untill friday night.
I had it crash once where the screen and DMC2 froze, but the music kept playing, so just switch to a CD, restart and all was fine. I\'ve had this happen before when it\'s been really hot, so i guess it\'s due to the laptop overheating
Then I had a strange thing, I loaded shakira- hips don\'t lie, which i\'ve played millions of times before without any problems and half way through playing it suddenly goes quiet! I thought it had frozen, but it hadn\'t, but on the wave display for the track show about a minute and a half of silence in the middle of the song!
Then after that I also had quite a few freeze ups, and also where it would just load the first half a second of a song (vob or mp3), then freeze the program.
Any ideas?
In marcel\'s thread somebody mentioned a RAM error, how would I check to see if that\'s the case?
Thanks!
BTW: I\'m working on an inspiron 6000 laptop, 1.86GHz centrino processor, 1GB of RAM, x300 video card with 128mb dedicated memory, DMC2 for controller, maya 44 usb soundcard, all media on a seagate 500gb hardrive in a caddie for usb connection.
The hard drive is the newest addition, got that a couple of weeks ago because my 320gb hard drive was full.
I had it crash once where the screen and DMC2 froze, but the music kept playing, so just switch to a CD, restart and all was fine. I\'ve had this happen before when it\'s been really hot, so i guess it\'s due to the laptop overheating
Then I had a strange thing, I loaded shakira- hips don\'t lie, which i\'ve played millions of times before without any problems and half way through playing it suddenly goes quiet! I thought it had frozen, but it hadn\'t, but on the wave display for the track show about a minute and a half of silence in the middle of the song!
Then after that I also had quite a few freeze ups, and also where it would just load the first half a second of a song (vob or mp3), then freeze the program.
Any ideas?
In marcel\'s thread somebody mentioned a RAM error, how would I check to see if that\'s the case?
Thanks!
BTW: I\'m working on an inspiron 6000 laptop, 1.86GHz centrino processor, 1GB of RAM, x300 video card with 128mb dedicated memory, DMC2 for controller, maya 44 usb soundcard, all media on a seagate 500gb hardrive in a caddie for usb connection.
The hard drive is the newest addition, got that a couple of weeks ago because my 320gb hard drive was full.
Inviato Sun 29 Jul 07 @ 9:12 pm
You can use GoldMem:
http://www.goldmemory.cz/
or Memtest 86:
http://www.memtest86.com/
http://www.goldmemory.cz/
or Memtest 86:
http://www.memtest86.com/
Inviato Sun 29 Jul 07 @ 9:47 pm
andytaylor125 wrote :
Just read DJ_Marcel's post- it must be a strange weekend because I havn't had any problems for ages untill friday night.
I had it crash once where the screen and DMC2 froze, but the music kept playing, so just switch to a CD, restart and all was fine. I've had this happen before when it's been really hot, so i guess it's due to the laptop overheating
Then I had a strange thing, I loaded shakira- hips don't lie, which i've played millions of times before without any problems and half way through playing it suddenly goes quiet! I thought it had frozen, but it hadn't, but on the wave display for the track show about a minute and a half of silence in the middle of the song!
Then after that I also had quite a few freeze ups, and also where it would just load the first half a second of a song (vob or mp3), then freeze the program.
Any ideas?
I had it crash once where the screen and DMC2 froze, but the music kept playing, so just switch to a CD, restart and all was fine. I've had this happen before when it's been really hot, so i guess it's due to the laptop overheating
Then I had a strange thing, I loaded shakira- hips don't lie, which i've played millions of times before without any problems and half way through playing it suddenly goes quiet! I thought it had frozen, but it hadn't, but on the wave display for the track show about a minute and a half of silence in the middle of the song!
Then after that I also had quite a few freeze ups, and also where it would just load the first half a second of a song (vob or mp3), then freeze the program.
Any ideas?
You may have hit on the problem with the heat. You may want to get a cooling pad (if you don't have one already.) If you have had your laptop for a while, it may have some dust bunnies in it. That is a common thing when working in club that use a lot of haze. I had to open mine up a couple of times to clean it out. RAM does not like heat. Strange things can happen when RAM heats up too much.
Inviato Mon 30 Jul 07 @ 1:39 am
Thanks for the replies.
I'll have a go with the ram testers
I've never taken a laptop apart before, I've taken a DAC3 apart before and put it back together ok, but I don't want to break my laptop, is it reasonably simple, or should i take it in somewhere?
I'll have a go with the ram testers
I've never taken a laptop apart before, I've taken a DAC3 apart before and put it back together ok, but I don't want to break my laptop, is it reasonably simple, or should i take it in somewhere?
Inviato Mon 30 Jul 07 @ 2:26 am
You should get it in PC-Laptop service and ask them to clean it inside.
Inviato Mon 30 Jul 07 @ 2:50 am
If you can take the DAC apart, a laptop isn't much harder. If you aren't sure of what are doing, do what ALF suggests.
Inviato Mon 30 Jul 07 @ 2:58 am
Thanks, I think I'll give it a go tomorrow,
if i get stuck, I'll just take all the pieces into the computer shop!
Could I stick some more RAM in it while I've got it apart I wonder? I've got 1 Gig at the moment, maybe 2 would be better...
if i get stuck, I'll just take all the pieces into the computer shop!
Could I stick some more RAM in it while I've got it apart I wonder? I've got 1 Gig at the moment, maybe 2 would be better...
Inviato Mon 30 Jul 07 @ 3:13 am
More RAM is always a good thing. :)
Inviato Mon 30 Jul 07 @ 6:08 am
I second that ;)
Inviato Mon 30 Jul 07 @ 11:11 am
If you want to take it apart yourself, try searching for the factory service manual on the web. I got one for my HP and it made everything a breeze.
Inviato Mon 30 Jul 07 @ 4:26 pm
Try here:
www.eserviceinfo.com
www.eserviceinfo.com
Inviato Mon 30 Jul 07 @ 4:39 pm
Thanks guys, I stayed up nearly all last night taking it to pieces!
I found the service manual on the dell website, 10/10 for dell on that one- made it so simple.
Generally the laptop was nearly spotless inside, but there was a heat sink on the end of a "heat pipe?" that was pretty clogged up, so got that cleared and put it back together again. I was a bit worried, but everything came together and worked perfectly at a 4 hour gig tonight (although it wasn't that hot).
Now I know what everything is, I've left the cover off the ram compartment on the underside of the laptop to help with ventilation (got a fan under there in my case).
In true comedy style though, I've got one extra screw left over and I can't work out where it was meant to go!!!
I found the service manual on the dell website, 10/10 for dell on that one- made it so simple.
Generally the laptop was nearly spotless inside, but there was a heat sink on the end of a "heat pipe?" that was pretty clogged up, so got that cleared and put it back together again. I was a bit worried, but everything came together and worked perfectly at a 4 hour gig tonight (although it wasn't that hot).
Now I know what everything is, I've left the cover off the ram compartment on the underside of the laptop to help with ventilation (got a fan under there in my case).
In true comedy style though, I've got one extra screw left over and I can't work out where it was meant to go!!!
Inviato Tue 31 Jul 07 @ 4:31 am
If it is only one screw than it is ok ;)
Inviato Tue 31 Jul 07 @ 3:06 pm
lol, i hope so!
Thanks again for the help
I'm pretty sure now it must have been the heat. I did the RAM test before I took it to pieces and all was fine.
So now I'm gonna put together a desktop machine instead of using the laptop...
Thanks again for the help
I'm pretty sure now it must have been the heat. I did the RAM test before I took it to pieces and all was fine.
So now I'm gonna put together a desktop machine instead of using the laptop...
Inviato Tue 31 Jul 07 @ 8:50 pm
I put together my desktop because my laptop was outdated.
It would run 3.4 - but only barely.
I havn't tested the RAM in my unit yet, but I might just replace it. I only put in 2MB when I built it, The MOBO can handle 4MB.
So new and more ram for me I think
It would run 3.4 - but only barely.
I havn't tested the RAM in my unit yet, but I might just replace it. I only put in 2MB when I built it, The MOBO can handle 4MB.
So new and more ram for me I think
Inviato Tue 31 Jul 07 @ 8:54 pm
Marcel -- I know you mean 2 GigaBytes (2GB) and not 2 MegaBytes (MB)?
Inviato Tue 31 Jul 07 @ 8:56 pm
Lol, that might be your problem if your video mixing with 2MB of ram!
Seriously though, did you get very far working out what went wrong?
Seriously though, did you get very far working out what went wrong?
Inviato Tue 31 Jul 07 @ 9:11 pm
cstoll wrote :
Marcel -- I know you mean 2 GigaBytes (2GB) and not 2 MegaBytes (MB)?
Ummm yeah that's it.
I wasn;t not thinking when I posted theat.
yeah that's it.
so far havn't had time to go through it yet
but it's a civic holiday this weekend here so monday is an off day - perfect for testing.
Inviato Wed 01 Aug 07 @ 6:07 am