Some tips and precautions

• Stop all other applications before running Hot CPU Tester. Hot CPU Tester can be run in the background, in low priority mode  but it just doesnÆt seem prudent to do any important work when youÆre testing a computer to see if it will fail. In any case Hot CPU Tester will place such a load on the system that any other applications will run at a snails pace. Not having other applications running also frees up more RAM that can be used by the Memory test.
•  Back-up any important files before you start. Hot CPU Tester can simulate many days of typical office PC use in a few hours, this increases the risk of hardware failure. Note that the testing process itself doesnÆt touch any existing files on the hard disk or floppy disk.
• We recommends running Hot CPU Tester just after you install a PC for the first time, as this is the ideal time to find a problem. The PC will be still under warranty and you canÆt lose any of your data (because you havenÆt loaded any). Any disruption caused by a failure will be minimal.
•  Remember that Hot CPU Tester does not create problems in your hardware, it just helps you find them in a controlled manner. Hot CPU Tester doesnÆt use any nasty programming tricks to try and make your hardware fail. It uses the same functions and procedures that standard Windows applications and file servers use. If your computer fails when running Hot CPU Tester, it was going to fail in the near future anyway !
•  If you only want to test a particular component of the computer, turn the other tests off.
•  Doing a successful test run doesnÆt mean that the computer will never fail. Software problems, viruses, and the fact that no computer component has an unlimited life span means that precautions need to be taken. Having good Hot CPU Tester results is NOT a substitute for making good file backups in the future.- On some new computers, the warranty may be voided if you open up the case. Check your warranty before you start poking around in the case.
•  Old computers tend to fill up with dust over the period of many years. This dust layer can cause heat build up and even short circuits. Check for dust build-up in old computers before you start.
•  Check the computer has adequate ventilation & check all the fans are in good working order.
•  Check that the computer isnÆt full of bugs. (i.e. the insect type). Depending on where you live, insects can be a real problem. The term æComputer BugÆ was coined after a dead moth was found to have shorted out one of the first computers build.
•  There are many cases where a software bug may appear to be a problem with the hardware. Knowing who or what to blame isnÆt easy. Check with your hardware manufacturer(s) from time to time in case they have released new software that fixes some problems they may have found. The hardware components that in general have the most problems with their, æDriverÆ software are, Video cards (especially the 3D functions), Sound cards and CD ROMs.
•  Because of limitations in the memory test, faulty RAM errors may not be picked up by the test and faulty RAM can often manifest itself in different ways. These include disk I/O errors, system crashes and lockups.