FC5 Installation Killing Computers

[Robin Laing]

Robert Gann wrote:
> 
> We have a lab with a number of computers with two AMD 32 bit CPUs and a 
> few computers with two AMD 64 bit CPUs.
> 
>  
> 
> Two years ago we ran FC4 on both types of these computers with no 
> problem. 

Have these computer you are having problems with run Fedora before?  Or 
Linux before?

  However, attempting to install FC5 has killed several
> computers.  We have now burned out two of the 64 bit computers and two 
> of the 32 bit computers.  Generally, the behavior is that they go a ways 
> into the installation process and hang.  After retrying the installation 
> another time, the computer is basically dead; when I tried a Knoppix 
> CD-ROM one of them could not get past the screen telling you to press a 
> key to boot Knoppix.  One of the 64 bit computers went “poof”, and I 
> smelled smoke.  It is,of course, completely dead.
> 

I have had this happen due to hardware problems.  Heck, even burning a 
CD was causing me problems due to a power supply that was just at it's 
limit.

Depending on the hardware, running Linux on it can push cheap hardware 
past it's limits.  Power supplies that are rated XXX watts but this is 
actully peak power.

Multitasking/mutithreading can load a system more than just the old 
windows way of doing things.  This causes the processors and power 
supplies to work harder.  Dust in the cases or as someone else 
suggested, slow or non-working fans on top of the extra work has caused 
things to overheat.

FC5 won't be burning the computers out but it could be showing the 
weaknesses of the hardware.
-- 
Robin Laing