Calling all computer expets.....

[Blink Bonny]

Our machine, called (niminally Fred but has been you bloody... ) went phut on Sunday evening. Since then I've re-loaded Windows and even re-loaded the sound card driver.

However, it still refuses to accept that there are such things as printers and tells me that the PCI bridge has a problem, whatever the hell that means. Forth Bridge, Tamar Bridge, Royal Border Bridge, even the Bridge of Sighs I've heard of but PCI?

If anyone can help, please PM me with some contact details and I can then try to sort it. Until the next time it goes phut!

You will also materially help to delay the onset of "that textured look" to the machines's casing!

[richard]

You could try a Windows repair and re-install drivers, (the PCI bridges typically have their own drivers); however it sounds serious.
Also take the cover off and do a complete clean - get all the hair and dust out.

The PCI bridge(s) are on the motherboard. If it isn't a minor software problem, and hair/dust isn't causing an electrical problem (you'd be surprised...), then the bridge has trouble and you will need a new motherboard (ie. new PC).

The bridges are just chips that interface between different buses. PCI is one such bus - used by the extension cards. Peripherals (ie. your printer) not working would be the kind of symptom that could be expected.


Richard

[Blink Bonny]

I'll have a go at that but it just doesn't seem to find a driver for them.

Anyone any ideas? I've re-booted Windows after the phut and used one of these auto driver download programs (still had to find a sound card driver manually ) but nothing.

There's another new dent in the side.

Hmm. Cat hair. We have two so all my clothes are white mohair...

[richard]

When doing the whole clean install thing, it is probably a good idea to do a full disk check (including surface scan). Do this before the Windows repair. Bad sectors on the hard disk can lead to all sorts of weird file errors...

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

I've sorted it by using a combination of the CD installer and the "found new hardware" wizard.

It's all a foreign language you know, written in the Cyrillic alphabet...

Thanks for the advice, Richard.

Isn't it amazing what "we" as a community know about?

[richard]

Good - so not as serious as it was sounding.
Still a good idea to do a disk check if you haven't done one for a while. Also a good idea to clean the inside every so often - especially if there are animals in the house (dog at this end).


Richard

[PinzaC55]

Just curious BB how old is your PC? Make/model?

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

It's about 5 years old in total but has had a new motherboard (AMD Athlon 64x2) in the last 3 with a dual core something or other.

Make? High Level = some catalogue's cheapo. I reckon we may have gotten a virus from somewhere - the pesky things get everywhere! The reboot has worked, eventually, although it came close to a reboot with a size 12!

[strang steel]

I tried a size 12 reboot on my printer after 2 hours of changing ink cartridges only to be told that there was no ink in the brand new yellow one (when I only wanted to print a letter in black).

Now when it starts up, it just says "refer to instruction book", but doesn't say what for (and anyway I cant find an instruction booklet which has probably gone for recycling).

These new fangled gadgets certainly dont like it up em.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

This piece of semi-conducting scrap seems to be behaving itself so far. Touch wood....

It can't last.

Our local Librarian, a Terry Pratchett fan, has christened me "Death to Computers."

If the cap fits. Or should that be hood?

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Now the bloody thing keeps telling me that its got a network cable unplugged when its lying/ There is no cable unplugged that I can see.

Any advice?

[60800]

jiggle the cable around in the socket and turn the b##### thing off and on again

[Bryan]

I have a similar proble.
But it is an internal loom connection to the floppy drive that I never use anyway.
Looks like the loom itself is a little bit too short and keeps coming apart when I trying connecting it up so I don't bother now.

[strang steel]

I got my printer to work now, but only by taking each ink cartridge out in turn (there are 6) and wetting the little chip like metal bit at the front with a damp finger.

Still, I suppose it is better (and cheaper) than another re-boot.

[AndyG]

But it is an internal loom connection to the floppy drive that I never use anyway.

If you never want to use it go into the motherboard BIOS and disable the floppy drive.
You shouldn't get any warnings then.

Andy