[GRLUG] Dead Computer - final report

[Mark Farver]

The first step in any troubleshooting process should be to remove
everything that is not critical to the system.  CDrom, minimal ram,
modem, accessory cards etc.  A parallel port card would definitely
have qualified if we had known you had one.

(When I worked at Dell the first troubleshooting step for laptops was
always "screws and CRUs (Customer Replaceable Units)".  Dell sold
several models of laptops that used pressure from the case to hold
connectors together inside.  To make it worse they had a run of
systems in the 2001 era that were assembled to the wrong torque
specs.Screws would loosen or fall out, connectors would pull apart and
the systems became flaky)

Mark