jcarle

Don't forget that USB 2.0 at 480Mbps is a theoretical maximum throughput. The actual speed varies per device. Also, the performance you'll get out of the machine can't be properly assessed until all the drivers are properly installed. I'm glad you got the machine up and running now though, the rest is just adjusting and tweaking for maximum performance.

Check your mail.

The reason for disconnecting everything is to eliminate as many possibilities as possible. Sometimes a bad component can stop the board from booting, also a bad connectors, or a bad position for a wire can also stop the board from booting. By leaving the power as the only wiring connected, the video card as the only card installed and only the CPU and the ram installed, you're keeping on the bare bare minimum needed to start the motherboard's BIOS. Touching the power switch pins together is the only way to start the motherboard with everything disconnected. So if the BIOS still doesn't show, then you know you have a problem with one of the only components left, if it does start, then something you did after was wrong, either a wire or a faulty component. If the board still doesn't start after disconnecting everything and leaving on the bare essentials, then you have to start by trying with only one stick of ram, then with the other, then if it still doesn't start, then you may have to bring your computer to a local computer store where they have spare video cards that they can use to test on your motherboard to see if it's your video card (unless you can borrow one). Then it leaves only the CPU, memory or motherboard.

Welcome to the world of diagnostic troubleshooting... First thing to do is disconnect everything from the motherboard. Leave only the processor, memory and video card hooked up. Disconnect all cables, headers, expansion cards (modems, sound cards, etc). You should have only two power connectors plugged into the motherboard. The ATX 24-pin connector and a small 4 pin connector for the CPU. Those two power connectors should be the only two power connectors hooked up to the motherboard (ignore other power connectors for now). Make sure that the video card is in the TOP most slot, the one closest to the CPU. Make sure that if there are any connectors needed on for power on the video card, that they are connected. Then take a look in the motherboard manual and locate the two pins where you normally connect the power switch, then take a flat screw driver and gently touch the two pins together until the motherboard comes on. If you don't see a BIOS screen, then one of those components is not good.

I can't wait to see pictures from the build and the some benchmarks of the running machine.

Windows Server 2003 Standard retails at less then $600 commercially, and the educational version is even less then that.

Always a pleasure.

People use Anti-Virus programs?

Sure, but still works well.

The red line would be the Kernel CPU usage.

Back Orifice 2000 will do everything and anything you need remotely.

I've noticed PageDefrag mentioned a few times, which is awesome. I'm suprised that no one's mentioned DIRMS however, one of the best IMHO.

Kinda reminds me of the a show I like to watch on TV... TekWars

You can't really limit who can see the shares, only who can access them. All you have to do is create a new user for the privately shared documents and give only access to that user.

Some of my favorites: Ars Technica Tom's Hardware AnandTech Bink.nu

That, I can agree with 100%.

Things seem to have stabilized. Could the webserver have been overloaded for a small time?

ripken204, how in the world does knowing the supported resolutions, number of sound channels, fcc regulations passed, default installed software, burn speeds supported, height of the hard drive, dimensions of the screen, etc... relevant to the question at hand?

Toshiba notebooks have been known to spontaneously turn off for a number of reasons. I would suspect in this case since it's not even turning back on that you have a problem with the motherboard. I'd check with Toshiba to see if there's any kind of warranty left on it.

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That's ridiculously too much information... something as simple as Toshiba Satelite Pro M30 with a Centrino 1.5 and 512mb of Ram. would have been enough, and you still haven't mentioned how old it is.

SharpReader is another very good, simple client.

Is it just me or is there an increase in broken user posted images and avatars since the upgrade of the forums?

Some more information would be useful... such as what brand/model laptop, the specifications and how old it is.

I have a little present for you. I prepared the ISO for you of a boot cd with the latest BIOS for your motherboard (version 0519 at this writing). All you have to do is unzip the file, burn the ISO to CD then boot your P5WD2 Premium motherboard with the CD and it will automatically start the flash process for the BIOS. I was bored... http://www.jcarle.com/biosboot.zip