6 ms·

This reminds me of a time I tried to install Ubuntu on an old thick Dell laptop many years ago. Each time I would try the system would overheat and then crash.

This reminds me of a time I tried to install Ubuntu on an old thick Dell laptop many years ago. Each time I would try the system would overheat and then crash. The existing (windows) system still appeared to work fine with light loads so I was pretty sure I just needed to get past the install and decided to try one more time. It was winter at the time, I can't remember if it had snowed recently, but I think it was probably close to 40 degrees F outside. So I hooked up a wired keyboard and mouse, and then plopped the laptop outside on the deck and closed the door with only the keyboard and mouse inside. There was a window which I could see the screen through and start the install. Sure enough with the natural winter cooling the install completed and I was able to use the laptop for a few more years.

notfed 3y ago
Hilarious imagery!!! Thanks for sharing.
aizyuval 3y ago
Download with some help from god. Haha
bonton89 3y ago
I used to frequent overclocking forums and at the time a lot of this was crazy custom work instead of purpose built cooling products or things like water cooling AiO setups. I remember people building intakes into their window so the computer case sucked in cold winter air from outdoors. There was even a guy that installed a homemade water cooling setup and had the reservoir tank outdoors and piped through the window. I think the later had a real risk of freezing if his folding at home rig stopped working on very cold days. I mostly just installed insanely loud tornado fans myself, which were in style at the time. This was before building a quiet PC was on anyone's radar it seemed.
- sandworm101 3y ago
  Ive done that. I am doing that. Using the outdoors as a natural heatsink isnt crazy. In a couple months it will be -30 outside my window. Why should my computer fans whirl around constanly using 20c indoor air when literally inches away there exists and unlimited supply of -30c outdoor air? Some simple water cooling parts, a 30$ heat exchanger and a little radiator fluid. Net result is lower temps and significantly lower noise. The only practical problem is consensation, but with dew points of -30c even indoors that isnt much of a worry.
  - pwndByDeath 3y ago
    https://www.instructables.com/Mineral-Oil-Bitcoin-Mining-for-Aquaponics/ https://www.instructables.com/Mineral-Oil-Bitcoin-Mining-for...
  - ToucanLoucan 3y ago
    I had this idea but never executed because it's only bitter cold outside for about 3 months out of the year. And then I'd basically be doing a semi-annual detachment/attachment of my PC from the wall and probably removing/adding an insert from a window for the other end of the loop. This combined with my roughly 4 month itch to rearrange my office made it seem like much more of a pain in the ass than it was worth to ever actually do.
    - sandworm101 3y ago
      I've done it a few times. I find that seasonal temperature changes are not as much of an issue as I first thought. Automotive radiator fluid basically never freezes. And once you have a coolant loop running outside, your options are far greater. Even radiators are a unnecessary. I once has a coolant loop run outside to 20-gallon washtub sitting on the ground under a wood deck. No radiators or fans. The entire rig cost less than 100$. Just a tiny aquarium pump pushing water up the loop into the house. The tub was in thermal contact with the ground and was so massive that it took many hours for my computer to warm it up even in high summer.
  - bityard 3y ago
    It's a neat hack but I have to wonder whether the hole through which you pass through the pipes leaks more heat energy to the outside than the fans take to run on an all-indoor system. Plus, in the winter, you get "free" heating by running the machine completely indoors. Not actually free of course, but free as a side-effect of using the machine for other tasks. Had a friend who tried splitting his electrical service off into a cheaper heat-rate branch to run his bitcoin mining rigs and claimed they were the same as a space heater. I don't think the power company bought it.
- piperswe 3y ago
  I would assume folks would use antifreeze when doing sub-zero liquid cooling, that would prevent issues in all but extreme cold. It would have a bit of an impact on heat transfer though...
Const-me 3y ago
Good story! Still, IMO a better solution is fixing the hardware. Many years ago, I had similar symptoms with an old thick HP laptop. I think I have paid something like $30 for the new fan assembly, it’s a large part which includes a fan, radiator and couple of heat pipes. The assembly connects to the motherboard with a small plug, no soldering was required. It only took half an hour (and a blob of thermal paste) to replace the part.
- hutzlibu 3y ago
  Opening it up and vacuum cleaning the fan from dust also can do wonders with old and "broken" laptops as a first step. Tiny bit of WD40 in the fan mechanic is the next, then thermal paste, then replacing parts. (Advice, prevent the fan from spinning while doing vacuum)
  - HankB99 3y ago
    WD40 - Nooooo! It gets gummy. Use a proper lubricating oil. Or replace the fan. "Pro tip:" Do not direct the output of a strong air stream (e.g. the kind used for automotive work) at the fan as it can de-blade the fan.
    - hutzlibu 3y ago
      Good to know, but in those few fans I used it for, it worked so far ..
    - BizarroLand 3y ago
      And if you do that anyway, don't be a dingus. Disconnect the fan cable from the socket so that the motor doesn't send pulses of energy back into your laptop. It probably won't harm it, but better safe than sorry.
      - malfist 3y ago
        Motors have flyback diodes. Otherwise they'd burn out things every time they turn off
KMag 3y ago
Though, at 40 F, you could have put on some socks, shoes, shorts and a t-shirt and sat outside, instead of peering out through the window in your underwear. Or, were you fully clothed and this was in Florida or something? (I half joke, but when it warms up to 40 F again in the Spring, in Minnesota we break out the t-shirts, if not shorts.)

notfed 3y ago

Hilarious imagery!!! Thanks for sharing.

aizyuval 3y ago

Download with some help from god. Haha

bonton89 3y ago

I used to frequent overclocking forums and at the time a lot of this was crazy custom work instead of purpose built cooling products or things like water cooling AiO setups. I remember people building intakes into their window so the computer case sucked in cold winter air from outdoors. There was even a guy that installed a homemade water cooling setup and had the reservoir tank outdoors and piped through the window. I think the later had a real risk of freezing if his folding at home rig stopped working on very cold days. I mostly just installed insanely loud tornado fans myself, which were in style at the time. This was before building a quiet PC was on anyone's radar it seemed.

sandworm101 3y ago
Ive done that. I am doing that. Using the outdoors as a natural heatsink isnt crazy. In a couple months it will be -30 outside my window. Why should my computer fans whirl around constanly using 20c indoor air when literally inches away there exists and unlimited supply of -30c outdoor air? Some simple water cooling parts, a 30$ heat exchanger and a little radiator fluid. Net result is lower temps and significantly lower noise. The only practical problem is consensation, but with dew points of -30c even indoors that isnt much of a worry.
- pwndByDeath 3y ago
  https://www.instructables.com/Mineral-Oil-Bitcoin-Mining-for-Aquaponics/ https://www.instructables.com/Mineral-Oil-Bitcoin-Mining-for...
- ToucanLoucan 3y ago
  I had this idea but never executed because it's only bitter cold outside for about 3 months out of the year. And then I'd basically be doing a semi-annual detachment/attachment of my PC from the wall and probably removing/adding an insert from a window for the other end of the loop. This combined with my roughly 4 month itch to rearrange my office made it seem like much more of a pain in the ass than it was worth to ever actually do.
  - sandworm101 3y ago
    I've done it a few times. I find that seasonal temperature changes are not as much of an issue as I first thought. Automotive radiator fluid basically never freezes. And once you have a coolant loop running outside, your options are far greater. Even radiators are a unnecessary. I once has a coolant loop run outside to 20-gallon washtub sitting on the ground under a wood deck. No radiators or fans. The entire rig cost less than 100$. Just a tiny aquarium pump pushing water up the loop into the house. The tub was in thermal contact with the ground and was so massive that it took many hours for my computer to warm it up even in high summer.
- bityard 3y ago
  It's a neat hack but I have to wonder whether the hole through which you pass through the pipes leaks more heat energy to the outside than the fans take to run on an all-indoor system. Plus, in the winter, you get "free" heating by running the machine completely indoors. Not actually free of course, but free as a side-effect of using the machine for other tasks. Had a friend who tried splitting his electrical service off into a cheaper heat-rate branch to run his bitcoin mining rigs and claimed they were the same as a space heater. I don't think the power company bought it.
piperswe 3y ago
I would assume folks would use antifreeze when doing sub-zero liquid cooling, that would prevent issues in all but extreme cold. It would have a bit of an impact on heat transfer though...

Const-me 3y ago

Good story! Still, IMO a better solution is fixing the hardware. Many years ago, I had similar symptoms with an old thick HP laptop. I think I have paid something like $30 for the new fan assembly, it’s a large part which includes a fan, radiator and couple of heat pipes. The assembly connects to the motherboard with a small plug, no soldering was required. It only took half an hour (and a blob of thermal paste) to replace the part.

hutzlibu 3y ago
Opening it up and vacuum cleaning the fan from dust also can do wonders with old and "broken" laptops as a first step. Tiny bit of WD40 in the fan mechanic is the next, then thermal paste, then replacing parts. (Advice, prevent the fan from spinning while doing vacuum)
- HankB99 3y ago
  WD40 - Nooooo! It gets gummy. Use a proper lubricating oil. Or replace the fan. "Pro tip:" Do not direct the output of a strong air stream (e.g. the kind used for automotive work) at the fan as it can de-blade the fan.
  - hutzlibu 3y ago
    Good to know, but in those few fans I used it for, it worked so far ..
  - BizarroLand 3y ago
    And if you do that anyway, don't be a dingus. Disconnect the fan cable from the socket so that the motor doesn't send pulses of energy back into your laptop. It probably won't harm it, but better safe than sorry.
    - malfist 3y ago
      Motors have flyback diodes. Otherwise they'd burn out things every time they turn off

KMag 3y ago

Though, at 40 F, you could have put on some socks, shoes, shorts and a t-shirt and sat outside, instead of peering out through the window in your underwear. Or, were you fully clothed and this was in Florida or something? (I half joke, but when it warms up to 40 F again in the Spring, in Minnesota we break out the t-shirts, if not shorts.)