Strange problem with notebook computer

[andrew cooke]

is using python the only time you run software that places a heavy
load on the computer?  it's unlikely to be something special about
python itself, but if your computer has a problem that only shows up
under load then it may be that python use is triggering it simply
because that's what you use when you load the computer.

i would suggest playing some cpu-intensive game on it for some time,
or doing something else that loads the computer.  i expect you'll see
the same problem.

(i don't want to be rude, but something you learn when you've been
using computers for a while is that the mind makes connections before
there is enough real evidence - you end up blaming something simply
because it's the first thing that comes to mind, and you tend to look
for things that support that conclusion and ignore things that don't.
it's disturbing how illogical you can be.  or maybe it's just me
that's mad... ;o)

another possibility (i have an old laptop that has a dektop cpu in it
because it was faster - this is from many years ago, before there was
a big difference between desktop and laptop chips - that has this
problem), for example, is that when you're using python you have the
computer on your knee, blocking the fan, while otherwise you tend to
leave it on a tabletop (in my case, the laptop had legs that kept the
fan clear of the table).  look for "silly" things like this...

good luck,
andrew

"Homer Ellison" <ellisonh at prodigy.net> writes:
> Hello,
>  
> I'm new to Python (and many years out of programming until now). I'm
> having a strange problem as I program and troubleshoot Python on my
> notebook computer. Often when I am troubleshooting code, the mouse
> pointer freezes. Sometimes even the keyboard freezes. The problem
> persists when I reboot. The only way I have found to be able to stop the
> problem is to turn it off and unplug it; remove the battery and floppy
> drive modules (this may not be necessary); remove the cover over the
> memory card; let the system cool down; and put it back together and
> start up again. I do not have this problem when I'm running other
> software, only Python. Is there a possibility that somehow Python or the
> code I'm writing in Python is causing my notebook computer to overheat?
> I can't imagine why this would be, but I can't figure out what else
> might be causing the problem. Any ideas?
>  
> Thank you,
> Homer
>  

-- 
http://www.acooke.org