[sclug] OT: hardware issue

[Graham]

> My main desktop machine at home appeared to freeze up a few days ago
> with no video output (at all).  Freezes happen occasionally on this
> ubuntu box so I hard powered off and back on.  I got no apparant
output
> from the box and the monitor remained in sleep mode.

Reseat the memory chips and check the video card
isnt loose, tilted by the video cable.
Reseat the CPU (but you would have to clean
and renew the heat-conductor seal to the fan)
Reboot with only the MB and VDU (no disk allows fast off).
Run MEMTEST diagnostics (bootable ISO/CD from somewhere)
Brush/hoover off any dust from the PCB (beware static).
Try cleaning off the jam fingerprints, oxidised copper PCI/e
Simply pulling out and pushing back might scrape the connectors.
Avoid using heavy duty motors on the same mains circuit,
but your PSU is probably OK and filtering out most noise,
but some argue that such noise slowly destroys the CPU.
Check that fans arent causing vibrations.
Reset your BIOS settings to not-overclocked (battery low?).

Graham