bad day for me and computers

iroc409 · 02-03-2003, 02:10 AM

yep, that's what is is, it is suck. maybe some of you gurus can help me out, because i'm getting to run out of google pages.

first problem. reinstalled xp the other day, and was just lazy so i didn;t reinstall my sound drivers right away. knew i had older versions, so i downloaded the newest ones off creative's site. installed the drivers, did the restart, and i lost the right front channel. restarted again way later, not sure if it's fixed, but it still is ultra-suck. i have a platinum live 5.1 and klipsch 450w 4.1 setup. went through all the tests, tested the speakers and such, did the speaker test in the surround mixer, nothing. the only problem i'm getting is when you change from 2 to 4 speakers and back, get a nasty buzz out of the rf. assuming this is a driver issue, but it is still really suck. guess i'll call creative in the morning, but if anyone has anything, i'd appreciate it.

second problem, just as vexing. i need some help finding some error codes with not-so-mainstream parts for the pc user. sitting there using my computer like a good little user, and bam! my ups goes nutzo and my computer shuts off. alarms on a good ups are not the kinda thing you can sleep through.

check all the stats. error light on, displaying the error code. check voltages and such, line in ok, line out ok, battery voltage ok, 5% load. looks normal, and it's giving power to the stuff. restart the ups. everything looks to come up ok, power to everything. start computer, windows gets almost loaded, ups freaks again. this time i left it off. can't find any error codes on google, and my manual for this thing is not to be found.

my ups is an older best fortress. smaller unit that came with my as/400, using it on my pc right now because it's like the best ups comany out there, and i'm not running the 400 right now. but can anyone do me a HUGE favor and find these codes? it looks like best power got bought out

. but if anyone uses one of these things, a report would be phenomenal. the error code displayed is "A 11". and, if you are even more a godsend, send me a pdf of the manual. the documentation tells you how to make a monitoring cable, which i don't have.

anyway, any help on this stuff would be much appreciated. i hate computers

bigben2k · 02-03-2003, 07:45 AM

Many problems...

For the sound card, I'd check to see if the drivers are indeed for the correct card; sometimes there are slight variations in models, and that it is for Win XP. Double check you connections to the speakers. Make sure that there's no IRQ or DMA conflict.

For the UPS, you may have 1 of two things happening, or a combination: 1) your battery is dead and 2) you're overloading it.

1) Batteries don't usually last very long, but at least two years. IF you measured 12 volts when you tested it, then it's dead: it should be measuring above that.

2) When overloaded, a number of things can happen, depending on the UPSs design.

You didn't specify the model, so I can't help you, but I can point you to http://www.powerware.com/ where you can find your model, and manual. I can download this PDF and e-mail it to you, if you want (it looks like they can be 100+ page PDF files).

jtroutma · 02-03-2003, 01:56 PM

One other possiblity:
Is this UPS that you are using a smart monitoring unit attached to your system? If it is, the software controlling the unit MIGHT be wigging out. Happened to me with a server here at work. The UPS was causing the system to have a problem which in turned caused the UPS to have an even bigger problem.

Try running that UPS on another elecrical appliance with a similar load that the computer attached to it before was using. Say like a halogen lamp or something. If the UPS wigs out on that, then it is a UPS failure. If not, then it might be a software problem.

Also, if you need to, I know a company that you can ship your UPS to and they will completely refurbish the whole unit, replace batteries, and warranty the unit for 3 years.

good luck.

iroc409 · 02-04-2003, 11:21 AM

ok, well, good news, the soundcard finally fixed itself after a few reboots. so, i guess that's not an issue anymore, still not sure why it did it tho

as far as the ups goes. i haven't tried it on another small device yet, i will try that. i've got 2 model numbers on the back, one is a sticker and one is part of the back label. one reads: model:LI660VA, the other MN:9910-B08.

the unit is a 660, so i highly doubt i'm overloading it. the apc 300 i've got running everything now doesn't seem to be complaining.

as far as testing the unit, it has onboard diagnostics and stuff. the battery voltage while plugged in generally reads abot 27 volts. input voltage is generally 119-121, output a steady 120. it generally reads while plugged in and stuff running a runtime of about 15 minutes. the system also reads about 55% usage with all my junk running, except machine startup usually jumps to 65%.

the error code, however, displays without anything plugged into the ups. generally it reads an 83 minute runtime this way. now turning it on by itself is getting just the dots in the readout blinking like the bginning of the self-test, it goes no further. i'm sure the batteries are gone, but i've been using that way for a while for protection. everytime the lights flicker, my computer dies. so, it hasn't provided battery protection for a while, but it still has worked.

anyway, i'm pretty sure i need new batteries, but i'm concerned that the unit has other problems now. bigben, i've been having some problems finding the papers, if you'd be nice enough to email me the docs, i'd *really* appreciate that. thanks for your help guys, hopefully i'll get this sorted out with just some battery purchase or something

oh yeah, something else that might be of interest. the power system in my apartment is *awful*. the worst power in history, i think. so, i run everything off 2 new outlets i had installed. but the setup ran on this power for a short time, and this ups did *not* like that power coming in. but, it's been running on the new power for several months with no problems. maybe that affected it?

thanks again

iroc409 AT iroc409 DOT com

bigben2k · 02-04-2003, 11:57 AM

Well, first you'll have to check that outlet: get a hold of an outlet tester (Radio-Scrap carries them).

I had to hardwire a ground to the outlet of an old appartment, and I did it with solid copper wiring, and a pipe clamp, to the water radiator (talk about old!).

The 933kb PDF is on it's way... It might not be exactly the right manual, but it should get you through.

UPSs can really behave erraticly, with a low battery. I hope that a replacement can get you going again!

iroc409 · 02-04-2003, 02:34 PM

well, i very much appreciate the pdf, bigben. only one problem tho, i don't think this will work. still reading through it, but the powerware is very different from the best fortress series. the best has a lot of buttons on the front for diagnostics and an led readout. tells error codes, and all the info datas. looks like the pictures below, except mine is black (and much cleaner

). i'll keep reading through the docs tho. the outlet is clean, the grounds and everything are all brand new, wired properly. checked them, have a line checker thingie. i'll keep reading... that is a big pdf... and so many languages!

thanks agian, and here's the pics:

bigben2k · 02-04-2003, 03:10 PM

I'll look again, maybe I can find something closer...

iroc409 · 02-04-2003, 04:05 PM

i appreciate it man

02-03-2003, 02:10 AM	#1
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	bad day for me and computers yep, that's what is is, it is suck. maybe some of you gurus can help me out, because i'm getting to run out of google pages. first problem. reinstalled xp the other day, and was just lazy so i didn;t reinstall my sound drivers right away. knew i had older versions, so i downloaded the newest ones off creative's site. installed the drivers, did the restart, and i lost the right front channel. restarted again way later, not sure if it's fixed, but it still is ultra-suck. i have a platinum live 5.1 and klipsch 450w 4.1 setup. went through all the tests, tested the speakers and such, did the speaker test in the surround mixer, nothing. the only problem i'm getting is when you change from 2 to 4 speakers and back, get a nasty buzz out of the rf. assuming this is a driver issue, but it is still really suck. guess i'll call creative in the morning, but if anyone has anything, i'd appreciate it. second problem, just as vexing. i need some help finding some error codes with not-so-mainstream parts for the pc user. sitting there using my computer like a good little user, and bam! my ups goes nutzo and my computer shuts off. alarms on a good ups are not the kinda thing you can sleep through. check all the stats. error light on, displaying the error code. check voltages and such, line in ok, line out ok, battery voltage ok, 5% load. looks normal, and it's giving power to the stuff. restart the ups. everything looks to come up ok, power to everything. start computer, windows gets almost loaded, ups freaks again. this time i left it off. can't find any error codes on google, and my manual for this thing is not to be found. my ups is an older best fortress. smaller unit that came with my as/400, using it on my pc right now because it's like the best ups comany out there, and i'm not running the 400 right now. but can anyone do me a HUGE favor and find these codes? it looks like best power got bought out . but if anyone uses one of these things, a report would be phenomenal. the error code displayed is "A 11". and, if you are even more a godsend, send me a pdf of the manual. the documentation tells you how to make a monitoring cable, which i don't have. anyway, any help on this stuff would be much appreciated. i hate computers __________________ :shrug:

02-03-2003, 07:45 AM	#2
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Many problems... For the sound card, I'd check to see if the drivers are indeed for the correct card; sometimes there are slight variations in models, and that it is for Win XP. Double check you connections to the speakers. Make sure that there's no IRQ or DMA conflict. For the UPS, you may have 1 of two things happening, or a combination: 1) your battery is dead and 2) you're overloading it. 1) Batteries don't usually last very long, but at least two years. IF you measured 12 volts when you tested it, then it's dead: it should be measuring above that. 2) When overloaded, a number of things can happen, depending on the UPSs design. You didn't specify the model, so I can't help you, but I can point you to http://www.powerware.com/ where you can find your model, and manual. I can download this PDF and e-mail it to you, if you want (it looks like they can be 100+ page PDF files). __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

02-03-2003, 01:56 PM	#3
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	One other possiblity: Is this UPS that you are using a smart monitoring unit attached to your system? If it is, the software controlling the unit MIGHT be wigging out. Happened to me with a server here at work. The UPS was causing the system to have a problem which in turned caused the UPS to have an even bigger problem. Try running that UPS on another elecrical appliance with a similar load that the computer attached to it before was using. Say like a halogen lamp or something. If the UPS wigs out on that, then it is a UPS failure. If not, then it might be a software problem. Also, if you need to, I know a company that you can ship your UPS to and they will completely refurbish the whole unit, replace batteries, and warranty the unit for 3 years. good luck. __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

02-04-2003, 11:21 AM	#4
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	ok, well, good news, the soundcard finally fixed itself after a few reboots. so, i guess that's not an issue anymore, still not sure why it did it tho as far as the ups goes. i haven't tried it on another small device yet, i will try that. i've got 2 model numbers on the back, one is a sticker and one is part of the back label. one reads: model:LI660VA, the other MN:9910-B08. the unit is a 660, so i highly doubt i'm overloading it. the apc 300 i've got running everything now doesn't seem to be complaining. as far as testing the unit, it has onboard diagnostics and stuff. the battery voltage while plugged in generally reads abot 27 volts. input voltage is generally 119-121, output a steady 120. it generally reads while plugged in and stuff running a runtime of about 15 minutes. the system also reads about 55% usage with all my junk running, except machine startup usually jumps to 65%. the error code, however, displays without anything plugged into the ups. generally it reads an 83 minute runtime this way. now turning it on by itself is getting just the dots in the readout blinking like the bginning of the self-test, it goes no further. i'm sure the batteries are gone, but i've been using that way for a while for protection. everytime the lights flicker, my computer dies. so, it hasn't provided battery protection for a while, but it still has worked. anyway, i'm pretty sure i need new batteries, but i'm concerned that the unit has other problems now. bigben, i've been having some problems finding the papers, if you'd be nice enough to email me the docs, i'd really appreciate that. thanks for your help guys, hopefully i'll get this sorted out with just some battery purchase or something oh yeah, something else that might be of interest. the power system in my apartment is awful. the worst power in history, i think. so, i run everything off 2 new outlets i had installed. but the setup ran on this power for a short time, and this ups did not like that power coming in. but, it's been running on the new power for several months with no problems. maybe that affected it? thanks again iroc409 AT iroc409 DOT com __________________ :shrug:

02-04-2003, 11:57 AM	#5
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Well, first you'll have to check that outlet: get a hold of an outlet tester (Radio-Scrap carries them). I had to hardwire a ground to the outlet of an old appartment, and I did it with solid copper wiring, and a pipe clamp, to the water radiator (talk about old!). The 933kb PDF is on it's way... It might not be exactly the right manual, but it should get you through. UPSs can really behave erraticly, with a low battery. I hope that a replacement can get you going again! __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

02-04-2003, 02:34 PM	#6
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	well, i very much appreciate the pdf, bigben. only one problem tho, i don't think this will work. still reading through it, but the powerware is very different from the best fortress series. the best has a lot of buttons on the front for diagnostics and an led readout. tells error codes, and all the info datas. looks like the pictures below, except mine is black (and much cleaner ). i'll keep reading through the docs tho. the outlet is clean, the grounds and everything are all brand new, wired properly. checked them, have a line checker thingie. i'll keep reading... that is a big pdf... and so many languages! thanks agian, and here's the pics: __________________ :shrug:

02-04-2003, 03:10 PM	#7
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	I'll look again, maybe I can find something closer... __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

02-04-2003, 04:05 PM	#8
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	i appreciate it man __________________ :shrug:

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