Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (
More info?)
I agree with parts of this post, but there are a few flaws. I have only
heard about the hard disk speeding up and do somewhat doubt the
possibility. The only way I could see that happening is you overwrote
the firmware on the drive since I don't think increasing voltages
supplied would do this. It IS, however, possible to raise voltages or
change clock speeds of hardware from within Windows. There are many
tweaking/overclocking software programs that can do this at the hardware
level. There are viruses that can act in the same way. It is also
possible to flash different BIOSes and Firmwares from within Windows, so
why not a virus that is able to do the same thing (could just corrupt
things or change parts of it)? I do agree that there are different
methods of protection on a computer and the power supply that should
prevent things like this from happening.
I would just like to know exactly what is an e-board? Is this the Power
Supply? Is this the motherboard? This is the key part that is missing.
I think they are talking about their power supply, but it almost
sounds like a Mac thing.
----
Nathan McNulty
w_tom wrote:
> No way that software can cause a fuse to blow - as was
> properly posted earlier. Those who suggest otherwise are
> using classic junk science reasoning. In classic junk science
> tradition, they don't provide numbers. Numbers such as what
> is the maximum current draw by a computer. And what is the
> current rating of the fuse. Fuses are typically 1.5 or 2
> times larger than the maximum current draw of a power supply.
> And power supplies are typically rated far larger than the
> maximum power draw of a system.
>
> Does a CPU get hotter under certain programs? Yes.
> Provided on hardware would be numbers for maximum current
> draw. Computer system typically draws less than half the
> power supply rating. CPU may only increase that power
> consumption 10% or 20% to cause a temporary higher
> temperature.
>
> No way that software changes hard disk speed. This idea
> means the poster has no idea how a computer works. No way
> that voltage inside the machine is being increased by
> software. Again, insufficient basic knowledge. No way a
> computer consuming just over 1 amp will suddenly draw 15 or 20
> amps for many minutes.
>
> In the meantime, a properly constructed power supply must
> also have overpower protection. If computer draws too much
> power, then power supply protects itself by shutting down.
> Just another reason why fuse could not blow due to software.
>
> Too many basic electrical concepts were violated by other
> replies in this discussion. One must first learn basic
> electrical principles before posting technical answers. Too
> many posters here do not even have basic electrical knowledge
> which is why they 'feel' software can blow a fuse. Classic
> junk science reasoning was posted. Software did not blow that
> fuse. Just too many reasons why that is not even remotely
> possible.
>
> Nathan McNulty wrote:
>
>>Technically a virus could do something like this by affecting the
>>hardware at a low level or even through the drivers. Some
>>viruses can take advantage of "overclocking" the system from
>>within Windows. This could be increasing voltage, it could be
>>increasing the hard disk speed, or a ton of different things.
>>This would be a very complex virus, but there are a few like
>>this out there.