[Plasmosis]

Hi, I have a quick question about a possible hardware problem, so I hope I've picked the right forum.

I bought a new PC running Windows 8 about a week ago. About two days ago, I stupidly plugged a printer into the powerboard that the PC is running through, while the PC was running. There was a blue spark around the plug followed by a loud pop, which I believe came from the PC. However, the PC didn't fault in any way, and I haven't noticed a difference in performance since, except one thing: whenever I boot, the screen quickly flashes orange after the manufacturer's loading screen. I'm not sure if it was doing this before, since I only had it for a few days.

Does this sound like something I should get looked at immediately? Could the orange flashing be a precursor to something going wrong in the future, or does the plug incident sound like something which wouldn't normally damage a PC, since it apparently hasn't? Or could the noise have come from something else, like speakers?

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Plasmosis

The sound may have come from the speakers and the power strip should be replaced or at least inspected by a competent person.

Please provide information about your computer, this includes is it a notebook or desktop, is it a custom build or brand name such as Dell or HP, if it is provide the model name or series number (not serial) providing these details will enable us to suggest some checks that you can do for testing the computers hardware.

[phillpower2]

Plasmosis

The sound may have come from the speakers and the power strip should be replaced or at least inspected by a competent person.

Please provide information about your computer, this includes is it a notebook or desktop, is it a custom build or brand name such as Dell or HP, if it is provide the model name or series number (not serial) providing these details will enable us to suggest some checks that you can do for testing the computers hardware.

[Plasmosis]

Plasmosis

The sound may have come from the speakers and the powers trip should be replaced or at least inspected by a competent person.

Please provide information about your computer, this includes is it a notebook or desktop, is it a custom build or brand name such as Dell or HP, if it is provide the model name or series number (not serial) providing these details will enable us to suggest some checks that you can do for testing the computers hardware.

Thanks for the quick reply! It is a HP Pavilion desktop PC, model is p6-2300a, running Windows 8 as mentioned.

[Wolfeymole]

This statement is somewhat vague...

About two days ago, I stupidly plugged a printer into the powerboard that the PC is running through, while the PC was running.

Now I cannot imagine a machine running Windows 8 would possess a parallel printer connector so we must be talking about a USB connector and in the main USB connectors are designed to be hot swappable, in other words one does not need to shut the machine down to plug something else in.

[Plasmosis]

This statement is somewhat vague...

About two days ago, I stupidly plugged a printer into the powerboard that the PC is running through, while the PC was running.

Now I cannot imagine a machine running Windows 8 would possess a parallel printer connector so we must be talking about a USB connector and in the main USB connectors are designed to be hot swappable, in other words one does not need to shut the machine down to plug something else in.

No, no! Not a PC powerboard, a plug powerboard, you know, for running power to multiple things when there aren't enough local wall sockets.

[Wolfeymole]

Now I understand mate, the UK term would be a plug gang socket.

Make sure the fuse rating in the plug that goes into the wall is correct and that you are not overloading the 4 or 6 way gang socket.

Also make sure the correct fuse is in the printer power plug.

[Plasmosis]

Now I understand mate, the UK term would be a plug gang socket.

Make sure the fuse rating in the plug that goes into the wall is correct and that you are not overloading the 4 or 6 way gang socket.

Also make sure the correct fuse is in the printer power plug.

Thanks, it's a 10A board, which is apparently okay for computer leads? But I'm utlizing every hole so I may be overloading it. It isn't surge-protected or anything, just a bare bones model. I guess this may have contributed to the sparks and popping noise. My main concern is whether the incident has damaged the PC and I just haven't noticed it yet.

[phillpower2]

Now that the power connection mix up has been clarified you can do some basic checks starting with dxdiag and then in the Device Manager, have you installed the Start button for W8 http://lee-soft.com/...start-menu.html or are you using W8 without it.

With Start button, go to start and enter dxdiag in the search panel, press enter, check the display, sound and input tabs to see if any problems are reported, next go to start, control panel, hardware and sound, device manager and check for any items with a red X against them.

Without Start button, go to search, type dxdiag in the search panel, press enter and check the sound, video and input devices as detailed above, next go to settings, control panel, hardware and sound, device manager and again check for any items with a red X against them.

While you are in the device manager check for a yellow ! by your graphics device.

As an asides when you hear a pop it is normally the PSU or a capacitor going bad and as I am sure you are aware the PC would not function if either had popped.

[Wolfeymole]

Well if the multi gang is not cheap and nasty then all should be ok mate.

[Plasmosis]

Now that the power connection mix up has been clarified you can do some basic checks starting with dxdiag and then in the Device Manager, have you installed the Start button for W8 http://lee-soft.com/...start-menu.html or are you using W8 without it.

With Start button, go to start and enter dxdiag in the search panel, press enter, check the display, sound and input tabs to see if any problems are reported, next go to start, control panel, hardware and sound, device manager and check for any items with a red X against them.

Without Start button, go to search, type dxdiag in the search panel, press enter and check the sound, video and input devices as detailed above, next go to settings, control panel, hardware and sound, device manager and again check for any items with a red X against them.

While you are in the device manager check for a yellow ! by your graphics device.

As an asides when you hear a pop it is normally the PSU or a capacitor going bad and as I am sure you are aware the PC would not function if either had popped.

Thanks phillpower2, I haven't installed the Start button but I checked dxdiag and nothing was out of the ordinary, checked through all drop-downs in Device Manager and no error icons. This puts my mind at ease a little but I'm still concerned about where the heck that pop came from...

[phillpower2]

That is a good sign to start with

Please Run the PCPitstop.com OverDrive Full Tests

Here's how:

You must use your Internet Explorer for this procedure. (doesn't work so well in Firefox or others). If your machine is running Vista or Windows 7, you must Select IE to “Run as Administrator”. After completing PCPitstop OverDrive you can close your IE browser and re-open it Normally so that you are no longer running as administrator.

Go to: http://www.pcpitstop...pit/default.asp
Click on "Free Computer Check-up" listed below PC Pitstop OverDrive
In the User Login - Click on "Sign up FREE!"
You'll need to submit a valid email address and create your own password, then click - Create Account(button)

Now enter your email address and password to Log in, Select - Scan this system Now!(button)
You will then be asked to download an ActiveX component and allow it to install.
It is safe and does not compromise your privacy.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install the ActiveX and to allow the Full Tests to be run on your machine.

The Full Tests take about 2 1/2 - 3 minutes on most machines.
When complete, a Results - Summary - Recommended Fixes will be displayed.

Please post the URL internet address, from your Results, back here into this Topic Thread so that we can review the configuration and present performance levels of your machine.

Note: During the graphics 2D and graphics 3D testing, your screen will display some rapidly moving objects.
If you are sensitive to visual flashing, it may cause dizziness. Therefore, look away from the screen during that portion of the testing.

After reviewing the results we will be more informed and may be able to provide better recommendations for you to work towards improving your machine's performance.

While PCPitstop does offer a variety of Paid Products, the PCPitstop OverDrive testing is FREE. Please ignore the references to Paid Products. We prefer to provide manual solution instructions that you can apply directly to your machine.

Thanks to rshaffer61 for the PCPitstop instructions

[Plasmosis]

That is a good sign to start with

Please Run the PCPitstop.com OverDrive Full Tests

Here's how:

You must use your Internet Explorer for this procedure. (doesn't work so well in Firefox or others). If your machine is running Vista or Windows 7, you must Select IE to “Run as Administrator”. After completing PCPitstop OverDrive you can close your IE browser and re-open it Normally so that you are no longer running as administrator.

Go to: http://www.pcpitstop...pit/default.asp
Click on "Free Computer Check-up" listed below PC Pitstop OverDrive
In the User Login - Click on "Sign up FREE!"
You'll need to submit a valid email address and create your own password, then click - Create Account(button)

Now enter your email address and password to Log in, Select - Scan this system Now!(button)
You will then be asked to download an ActiveX component and allow it to install.
It is safe and does not compromise your privacy.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install the ActiveX and to allow the Full Tests to be run on your machine.

The Full Tests take about 2 1/2 - 3 minutes on most machines.
When complete, a Results - Summary - Recommended Fixes will be displayed.

Please post the URL internet address, from your Results, back here into this Topic Thread so that we can review the configuration and present performance levels of your machine.

Note: During the graphics 2D and graphics 3D testing, your screen will display some rapidly moving objects.
If you are sensitive to visual flashing, it may cause dizziness. Therefore, look away from the screen during that portion of the testing.

After reviewing the results we will be more informed and may be able to provide better recommendations for you to work towards improving your machine's performance.

While PCPitstop does offer a variety of Paid Products, the PCPitstop OverDrive testing is FREE. Please ignore the references to Paid Products. We prefer to provide manual solution instructions that you can apply directly to your machine.

Thanks to rshaffer61 for the PCPitstop instructions

I've come to Recommended Fixes, but the URL is http://www.pcpitstop.com/neptune.asp which I imagine will not display my personal results on your end. The only fixes it has recommended are to change the Internet receive buffer, some security warnings about saved passwords and to turn on browser page check, and the performance results section is all ticks except for two of those fixes I mentioned, which have nothing to do with hardware. This seems like a good sign, but is there anything specific in the results I should relay to you?

[Plasmosis]

I reran the test out of IE and now have a visitable link, I thought the page switched out of Firefox the first time then thought it would be okay anyway, now I know why IE is recommended!

http://www.pcpitstop...?conid=25182043

[phillpower2]

Thanks for the url which reveals nothing untoward

There is nothing that I can see that would explain the pop, are your speakers working ok.
.
Keeping an eye on system performance is all that I can suggest I`m afraid.

[Plasmosis]

Thanks for the url which reveals nothing untoward

There is nothing that I can see that would explain the pop, are your speakers working ok.
.
Keeping an eye on system performance is all that I can suggest I`m afraid.

Thanks, you've put my mind at ease! I have actually just noticed that the little console speaker with the volume controls on it isn't making any sound, just a low fuzzy noise... but I'm not sure if this was always the case. I tried switching one of the smaller speakers into a different hole for a different speaker to force it not to work, and instead of sound I got the same low fuzzy noise, so the pop may have been the main speaker blowing. If not, I''m completely out of ideas as to what it could have been, but at least it doesn't seem to be an internal PC thing.

Thanks again.