Hackers

[LordSappington]

I have a Windows ME comp in my room, connected to the internet. Last night, all of a sudden it froze up, and when I tried to restart it, it won't boot up at all. It turns on, but it doesn't even send signal to the monitor, or make the familiar beep noise in the beginning. Is it possible a hacker owned my comp?

[MetalMilitia]

Windows ME is basically the worst OS out there. It's more likely it just crapped out all by itself.

[Tadao]

Usually when a comp doesn't even get to bios mode there is a problem with the ram or the power supply. I've only had the ram issue but I think someone had the power supply issue here a few months ago.

[Pub Lover]

Is it possible a hacker owned my comp?

Did you buy it from a hacker? If not, maybe you could ask the guy you bought it from if he got it from a hacker. It is a shame that computers do not come with log books like cars, if they did you would know who used to own your computer.

[LordSappington]

I can't tell if you're serious or not anymore

[Fathom Zero]

MOTHERBOARD FAILURE

Hardware issue. Corrupted BIOS?

[LordSappington]

I suppose; I really don't know. Wouldn't I at least get a prompt if that happened, MS-DOS or otherwise? What's happening with mine is it turns on, and all that comes on is the lights showing it's on. The monitor doesn't even respond. I think it might be power failure. How can I fix that, you think? I don't want to lose my 1000+ songs. :[

[Fathom Zero]

Listen to the hard drive. If it's accessing stuff, you'll know it.

You should just be able to shove the hard drive in a new computer.

[LordSappington]

Great, I smashed my old broken computer. -_-

[Mockery]

:eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/7187ZHT81ZL._SS500_.gif
:eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek :eek

[Guitar Woman]

I DID IT IR 1337 HAX0RZ GW 0WNZ J00

[Guitar Woman]

I think you've actually got a better chance of getting hit by a meteor than having your computer attacked by hackers.

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

I bet it was the hacker from Under Siege 2. Where he's trying to get into Steven Segal's personal profile but he can't because it's FBI encrypted. The hacker is like "Oh no, it's password protected. Hmmm, let's see. Well, I'll add 500 MB of RAM. Alright, we're in!"

I think that's what happened here....yep.

[Guitar Woman]

What about Diplomatic Siege, where the main character is such an awesome hacker that he can make the webpage visibly shatter when he breaks into it?

[Fathom Zero]

Or how about the Rock where Sean Connery smashes through San Francisco in a brand new Humvee?

[Guitar Woman]

That's not computer hacking!

[Fathom Zero]

Or when J.J. McClure and Victor find that weird doctor that graduated from the University of Rangoon and took assorted night classes at the Nashville College of Faith Healing to ride with them in the ambulance during the Cannonball Run.

[MetalMilitia]

I liked it when Will smith and the guy of Jurassic Park put a computer virus on an alien space ship in the film Independence Day. :eek

[Fathom Zero]

I'd have to say that aliens use Linux, though, so I don't know why that worked.

[LordSappington]

Anyone know where to buy the cheapest possible power supply for a comp?

[MetalMilitia]

In what country?

US: Probably Newegg
UK: Ebuyer

Or you could give eBay a go but PSU are worth buying new as they often fail.

[LordSappington]

Cool, thanks.

[Fathom Zero]

You don't sound like the computer literate type (Windows ME.) WHo told you you needed a new PSU?

[LordSappington]

Well actually, Im not the best with a comp. I can use it perfectly fine, but when it comes to hardware I'm oblivious.
And I never figured out what is wrong with the ME; I like it just fine.
But the computer turns on and never boots up. I was told that it COULD be that the power needs to be fixed. I know I can just put the hardrive or whatever into a new comp, but I don't know where that is, and I can't afford a new computer.... so it's worth a shot for a $20 PSU, right?

[Fathom Zero]

Ummmm.

If you're not technically minded when it comes to altering parts, I wouldn't do it yourself. The most important thing I find is to ground yourself and make sure that you don't snap off any capacitors (those little cylindrical things) on the motherboard. You should probably take the motherboard out if it's too cramped.

[Tadao]

Don't listen to FZ, the best way to learn is to try.

[Fathom Zero]

That's how I learned. And I broke things.

[Chojin]

Have you guys ever seen the movie that Rog posted, there? All the hackers use macs, and they use them to blow up fire hydrants over the internet.

[LordSappington]

Dude, I took a year in metal fabrication. One of the first things I learned is how to ground myself and other objects. Assuming I didn't unplug it in the first place. And yeah, my friend said he'd do it for me; he's a computer genius, practically.
Also, Chojin, I need a link to that. If I can figure out how to blow up hydrants via mac, then god help Austin, Texas.

[Fathom Zero]

Dude, I took a year in metal fabrication. One of the first things I learned is how to ground myself and other objects. Assuming I didn't unplug it in the first place. And yeah, my friend said he'd do it for me; he's a computer genius, practically.
Also, Chojin, I need a link to that. If I can figure out how to blow up hydrants via mac, then god help Austin, Texas.

Well, I never presume anything. So explaining something never hurts.

They used Powerbooks in the movie.

[bigtimecow]

i like how people still think that hackers can go into your computer and like, control it

I WAS CHATTING ON AIM AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN PAINT OPENED UP AND STARTED DRAWING A PENIS! IS A HACKER TOTALLY BANKING ON ME RIGHT NOW?

:rolleyes

[Fathom Zero]

Sometimes they can do that. Exploiting a VNC applcation (like you can in Leopard :p) can allow people to take control of the desktop, especially if the connection's not encrypted. And there's the kiddie tool SubSeven. If you want a prank-tool to pool the wool over your roommate or grandma, go ahead.

[Evil Robot]

The power supply overheated since you left it on all night. That shouldn't really ever happen but you probably have a peice of shit for a computer.

[executioneer]

if it's "turning on", there's probably not something wrong with the powersupply, it's probably a motherboard issue >:

buy a new computer already

[LordSappington]

I'M POOR
I have maybe five dollars to my name. And nobody will hire me, probably because I space out in the interviews and forget what they're saying.
I dunno what I'll do.....
Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but if you touch the hard drive, don't you have to wear gloves or your oils will ruin it? I don't want to lose my years of gathering songs.

[Fathom Zero]

No. I can't even call that a myth because I've never heard something so stupid.

Hard drives contain platters that spin at multiple thousands of revolutions per minute. Once again, electrostatic could possibly damage it.

[executioneer]

if you OPENED THE HARD DRIVE UP that's possible, but there's no reason to do that :/

[Fathom Zero]

Well, there's this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_TIoYXnYeI

or this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yISqCAnROh8

[executioneer]

alright no practical repair-based reason, then

[LordSappington]

I just vaguely remember hearing someone say that, so I figured I'd ask someone who knows before I start breaking windows in sheer fury.