Written by Steve Endow
In August, my reliable file server began experiencing problems. Based on the issues (losing BIOS settings after each restart), I suspected the motherboard was failing. Given the computer’s age and past use, I wasn’t surprised. Instead of investing time in diagnosing the issue, I chose to retire the computer and replace it with a Synology DS1813+. This turned out to be an excellent choice. The Synology has been outstanding, offering more features than my old Windows file server, and it’s incredibly fast. Additionally, maintenance is minimal, with automatic software updates and dependable backups to external drives.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2014. During a family dinner at my grandparent’s house, my grandfather’s old Dell Optiplex (from 2008!) decided to quit. After assessing the situation, I suspected a dead power supply, possibly accompanied by a failing BIOS battery. As a result, I had the “pleasure” of taking the computer home for repairs, along with Thanksgiving leftovers.
Having encountered this before, I have a power supply tester. As expected, the Dell’s power supply was dead, only flickering for a moment before dying. I salvaged the power supply from my old file server, which tested fine, and installed it in the Dell. This allowed the Dell to power on, but it wouldn’t boot into Windows – a blue screen flashed briefly before an immediate reboot. The faulty power supply had seemingly affected the hard drive, and despite my efforts, I couldn’t get Windows XP to reinstall, repair, or boot. Ultimately, I had to install Windows 7 on a new drive. Fortunately, I was able to recover all the data, but not without losing several hours trying to revive the old drive and Windows XP.
Since I had removed the replacement power supply from my old file server, I began examining the inside of that older machine, which was experiencing boot problems and losing its BIOS settings.
While looking at the motherboard, I spotted something unusual with the BIOS battery.
There was visible corrosion on the BIOS battery! It was completely drained, explaining why the machine lost its settings after every restart. It seems the motherboard lacks a feature to detect a faulty BIOS battery.
Therefore, a $2 battery led to my file server’s instability. However, the machine was quite old and due for a replacement. This experience highlights why older computers are often not worth the potential risks and frustrations.
My current HyperV server is 3 years old and running smoothly. However, it contains several mechanical drives over 6 years old. To avoid potential drive failures, I’m replacing them with Samsung 850 Pro solid-state drives.
I also anticipate replacing the HyperV server next year when it turns 4, as a preventative measure against potential issues.
Steve Endow is a Microsoft MVP for Dynamics GP and a Dynamics GP Certified IT Professional based in Los Angeles. He owns Precipio Services, offering Dynamics GP integrations, customizations, and automation solutions.
You can also find him on Google+ and Twitter
http://www.precipioservices.com
