I'm an expert. I own a computer.

**Hippie_Tech** · March 23rd, 2002, 01:59 PM

I had a customer bring in a computer and wanted a NIC installed. He said he had tried to install the NIC himself, but couldn't get the NIC drivers installed.
We physically installed the NIC and hooked up the cables and hit the power switch. Nothing. No sounds, no lights. We then took the NIC out and turned it back on. Again nothing.
We flipped it on it's side and started disconnecting everything to get a better look and check for loose connections. We noticed a little discoloration on one of the chips. Burnt.
We immediately called him up and asked him if he realized it wasn't booting. He said he was aware, but thought it was because he hadn't installed the NIC correctly. When we asked him what he did when he installed it, he told us that when he installed it Windows kept prompting him to install the NIC driver. He didn't know where to locate the driver on the CD so in order to boot without getting the message for driver installation, he decided to try to trick the operating system. With the NIC out of the machine and the case open, he booted into Windows. Once it was finished booting, he physically inserted the NIC into the PCI slot while the machine was running.

Quick, someone bring me my LART.

**Poseidon** · March 23rd, 2002, 02:43 PM

It's takes all kinds. . .
Well at least you can think of it as job security.

**Milenko** · March 23rd, 2002, 04:04 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Hippie_Tech:
he decided to try to trick the operating system<hr></blockquote>

Sadly, it seems that the OS tricked him into frying his mobo............

**korpse** · March 23rd, 2002, 06:22 PM

Sometimes I am amazed at what people do to their computers. I just don't get why people who have no idea how a computer works try and install hardware themselves. You don't see people who have no idea about cars trying to install a turbo...o well

**Matridom** · March 23rd, 2002, 08:39 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Hippie_Tech:
I had a customer bring in a computer and wanted a NIC installed. He said he had tried to install the NIC himself, but couldn't get the NIC drivers installed.
We physically installed the NIC and hooked up the cables and hit the power switch. Nothing. No sounds, no lights. We then took the NIC out and turned it back on. Again nothing.
We flipped it on it's side and started disconnecting everything to get a better look and check for loose connections. We noticed a little discoloration on one of the chips. Burnt.
We immediately called him up and asked him if he realized it wasn't booting. He said he was aware, but thought it was because he hadn't installed the NIC correctly. When we asked him what he did when he installed it, he told us that when he installed it Windows kept prompting him to install the NIC driver. He didn't know where to locate the driver on the CD so in order to boot without getting the message for driver installation, he decided to try to trick the operating system. With the NIC out of the machine and the case open, he booted into Windows. Once it was finished booting, he physically inserted the NIC into the PCI slot while the machine was running.

Quick, someone bring me my LART.

<hr></blockquote>

I've seen this happen before.. The worrisom part is, if you tried installing the nic BEFORE booting the system, he could claim YOU fried it....(i've seen one guy claim that) I ALWAYS boot the computer before doing ANY work.

BTW, the lusers are bad, the techs sometimes are worse.... I saw one tech FRY the mobo on a subs machine, then tried to make a deal with the sub . I pay half. you pay half.. Needless to say the tech paid for everything..

**Draggar** · March 23rd, 2002, 09:02 PM

[quote]Originally posted by korpse:
Sometimes I am amazed at what people do to their computers. I just don't get why people who have no idea how a computer works try and install hardware themselves. You don't see people who have no idea about cars trying to install a turbo...o well<hr></blockquote>

But its these people who give stores extra $$$ for their idiocy.

**goinpostal** · March 24th, 2002, 03:15 AM

User error pays the rent!

**Outcoded** · March 24th, 2002, 05:11 AM

[quote]Originally posted by korpse:
You don't see people who have no idea about cars trying to install a turbo...o well<hr></blockquote>

Errr, (think brain think), I'd better say no.

**deseqer** · March 25th, 2002, 05:55 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Matridom:


I've seen this happen before.. The worrisom part is, if you tried installing the nic BEFORE booting the system, he could claim YOU fried it....(i've seen one guy claim that) I ALWAYS boot the computer before doing ANY work.
<hr></blockquote>

I have been burnt on this a couple of times. Now the case does not come off until the system is powered on.

**+Daemon+** · March 25th, 2002, 06:50 PM

**+Daemon+** · March 25th, 2002, 06:52 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Milenko:


Sadly, it seems that the OS tricked him into frying his mobo............<hr></blockquote>

ummmm...1 word!

Microsoft

**KINGofBLEH** · April 1st, 2002, 09:15 PM

Never try to trick your OS. You will always get burned......LOL

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

**silencio** · April 1st, 2002, 09:30 PM

LOL. My Dad did this one time with a modem. It was an asus board and the machine never flinched. It actually prompted him for the drivers after he plugged it in. God I wish I had an extra board lying around just to try this myself.

High end servers already support hot plugging PCI cards...