My DAW died! :(

OK, so after months of barely even turning on my DAW (lack of time, mostly), Rik F. sends me another cool guitar solo and I knew that thing just had to be orchestrated...or at least accompanied by a piano.  So...I turned on my ever-patient DAW, got the piece loaded up, started playing....smelled something starting to burn...and the screen went blank.  :(

I looked and it's so dusty inside there, I imagine it overheated.  

How embarrassing (and frustrating!) to lose my DAW just because I didn't clean it!  :(  Hopefully it can be resurrected without breaking the bank, or taking forever.  Fortunately, everything's backed up on another HD, and I have another cloned HD with everything but the latest update, whatever that was.

But...phooey!  :(  

Awwww! Sorry to hear it Janet. The good news is that parts aren't as expensive as they used to be. I know that's easy for me to say. There's plenty of help here!!! Wish I knew more. I gotta get ready to gig. Good LUCK !!!

Janet


OK, so after months of barely even turning on my DAW (lack of time, mostly), Rik F. sends me another cool guitar solo and I knew that thing just had to be orchestrated...or at least accompanied by a piano.  So...I turned on my ever-patient DAW, got the piece loaded up, started playing....smelled something starting to burn...and the screen went blank.  :(

I looked and it's so dusty inside there, I imagine it overheated.  

How embarrassing (and frustrating!) to lose my DAW just because I didn't clean it!  :(  Hopefully it can be resurrected without breaking the bank, or taking forever.  Fortunately, everything's backed up on another HD, and I have another cloned HD with everything but the latest update, whatever that was.

But...phooey!  :(  

Smelling something burning and computers is no good.
 
Hope you get it working again!

Does it still boot?

Sorry to hear about that, Janet.  Glad you have everything backed up.  Still, you'd rather be making music than fixing the equipment.  

No fans or LEDs?  

craigb


I could be as simple as needing a new power supply.  *Crossing fingers!*

+1


Prolly power supply. That's usually a "burning smell" symptom.

I'm in a similar boat.....mine won't even get into BIOS (forget about Windows)....pffft.
Hopefully, all you have to do is replace the power supply (internal) and get everything up and running.


Best of luck!!

power supply as in "some like it hot"?...o wait..that was the power station.

yup... if you suspect the UPS just plug straight to the wall. If nothing happens than it's likely the power supply. 

Hope you get it running soon.


And yes..... you do need to clean the dust out of the vents and cooling fins once in a while.  I work with some computers that do a specialty job.... running a life safety security system. If the vents get clogged, and the CPU fins too.... the computer server will crash and blue screen due to the heat build up. 

Keep those vents and fins clean.   Those fans suck in the dust. 

They run on magic smoke. When the smoke gets out you have to take it back to the wizard so he/she can put new smoke back in. Sounds like the magic smoke leaked out.

Mesh, I'll cross my fingers for both of us. :) 

Thanks Greg.  Some kind soul took out the processor so I could clean it better (much to my son's annoyance), so I'll have to wait for him to replace that before I can try anything else.  Or hopefully HE tries something else.) :) 

Old...tried that, but thanks. :) 

Herb, thanks...I will make a mental note to dust it at least once a month.  And try to actually do it!  (I dust about like my two grandmothers did...they were wonderful, clever, amazing and extremely well-gifted in do-it-yourself (and looking after me when I needed it)...but let's just say they didn't waste a lot of time dusting.)  :(  So it's their fault I guess. :)

Thanks Bruce.  Dust is now blown out.  Hoping it's just the power supply.  Waiting till my son shows up. 

pdlstl...I wonder if there's a wizard at Walmart? 

cb--snake oil...check. :)

That sounds hopeful.  I'm extremely blessed to have two sons that have built several computers for themselves over the years.  So as long as I keep giving them all the iced tea they want, love them, cheer them on, make them think I like them, and babysit their kids...they're usually willing to help me with my computers.  Fortunately, it's been about 2 years since I've needed their help in that.  :)  

Hi,

The power supply is actually the easiest and less hassle-some thing to change in the computer. All in all, you just unplug everything and then replug the new one.

The one thing I have had an issue with, is the amount of power necessary ... for example, I have to replace a 600 watt power supply that is, on occasion, powering down when you turn the computer on ... I wait 30 seconds, reset the power supply and I can bring the computer up. So that would suggest (in most cases!) that I need a bigger and better power supply to cover the needs from the motherboard and all the cards and parts in the computer itself.

With a DAW, and if you have a better/separate sound card that handles the sound (instead of the motherboard's cheapie), you will probably want the extra wattage to help.

When you look at the back of the computer you might see the label of the power supply, btw, which should tell you how strong it is ... but if you have a 300W or 400W power supply, it wasn't the dust that blew it, I bet!

Have fun ...

It was just the power supply!  Yippee!!!  Should be here in 3-4 days.

I know you've all been breathlessly waiting for an update.  Now you know.  Thank you. :)  

And I WILL dust that thing at least more than once a year.  I promise! 

+1 to Moshkaie's comments. 

An underpowered computer is not a good thing, and it is very easy to end up with an underpowered DAW due to all the extra RAM, hard drives, sound card(s), etc.