Linux breaking hardware?

Leffe Brune · n00b Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 7

Hi,

I run gentoo on a toshiba p25 p4-3mhz ht, nvidia gforce fx laptop
I love Gentoo, but........
This is my second nvidia laptop that has broken down. (Good warranty on this one)

1st laptop the power inverter of the tft went and the videocard and tft itself. All on the MB.

This one has a dim hole in the tft backlite, mouse stopped working, and it sometimes completely locksup, also in XP, when the sound plays. Some serious MB problems in my opinion. Have run this one for a year.

The question, can some hardware break because Linux kerneldrivers run the hardware a certain way the commercial drivers don't, causing damage ?

Regards.

jacooper · n00b Joined: 20 Apr 2004 Posts: 6

I would say it's very unlikley that a Linux driver broke your hardware. Some of the issues you're describing (power inverter failing) are things that are not run by a driver in the OS.

The only possibily I've every heard of software breaking hardware is video cards driving monitors beyond their specs. And I believe that only applies to CRTs, not LCDs.

Does your laptop work correctly under Linux (i.e. does it lock up when sound is played?)

Have you checked for a BIOS update for your particular model?

I used to have a Sony Viao laptop that would lock up when running Linux or WinME. IT was a hardware issue with caps near the CPU overheating over a period of time and failing to provide a stable power supply to the CPU.

It sounds like you have a flakey laptop, I'd get it serviced un warranty if you still can.

Jeff
_________________
Jeff Cooper

Leffe Brune · n00b Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 7

The laptop has the same problems under XP as under Linux,

Apart from the downside of windows.

The computer just freezes, mouse stopped working yesterday, I have to use an external usb mouse now. Sound is sometimes distorted under both OSs or wont give a sound when playing.

I rarely use windows, only for an accounting program once every 3 months, so I use Linux very intense and this makes me wonder, since it is the second laptop that has problems after a year.

Gentoo itself runs rocksolid, but cant run properly with the hardware locking up.

I have looked, but I cannot find people with the same problems and that is somewhat good I guess.

vinayg · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:15 pm Post subject:

Hi...

I dont think this can be a problem of Linux, i have a P20, a system vey close to yours...

The only problem i had was with my hard disk (crashed due to some reason, i think the weather was such that something happened to it) but that was 6 months ago....

Everything else is pretty same as i got it...

ciao

Leffe Brune · n00b Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 7

Does your laptop give of "static" when you use 220-240v ? The laptop was purchased in the US, the adaptor says 110~240v.

Mine does, this might be the cause that a leak voltage has screwed up the computer?

Thanks for the reply.

vinayg · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:52 pm Post subject:

No i dont get any static....i am in india so i am using a 220-240....

If u have a msn account add me to it....
vinayrulz@hotmail.com
or yahoo
vinayrulz84@yahoo.com

ciao

Leffe Brune · n00b Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 7

I tried to ask you your specs of your ac adaptor on msn, but no bueno.

Any chance you can give me the brand and modelnumbers of the adaptor?