Linux can destroy hardware??? If it's true then it sucks.

[bwid_s_01]

I read recently on two different sites (looking for links again) that it's possible in Unix/Linux to physically damage and/or destroy hardware if you misconfigure something in the OS. In one of the sites someone claimed to have destroyed a monitor by configuring it badly.

I find this hard to believe. I don't understand how software can physically destroy hardware.

But since I'm not yet a Linux user (soon to be though) I must know if this is true or not.

[suselinux]

Your chances are nill, I would'nt let this stop you from using Linux

Frankly I've never heard of a reliable source putting out a study on such a thing.

[mobrien_12]

You could trash your harddrive by forcing it to go too fast with hdparm.  Very few people ever touch hdparm, and those that do are experts who know what they are doing.  The point is that it is there if you need it.  If I hadn't told you about it, you may have never heard of it.  The analog of this would be overclocking your CPU: you can cook it if you aren't careful.  
 

Older versions of XF86 could wreck old (say 1993 or before) monitors if you FORCED X to use too fast refresh rates. What would happen in such a case would be the monitor picture would be scrambled, and you would need to turn it off and reconfigure X.  Modern monitors have safety circuits that cut the picture if too high a refresh rate is supplied.  Furthermore, modern XF86 autoprobes multisync monitors (such as the 6 year old monitor I'm using right now) for refresh rates within a range you specify at setup.  Hence, this is not an issue anymore, AFAIK.

Do not be afraid of linux killing your hardware.

[ August 26, 2003: Message edited by: M. O'Brien ]

[Great_Satan]

I've had the refresh rate on Windows 98 set too high for one old monitor I have a couple times.  The monitor was made to work at 640X480.  One program (for running an Intel computer microscope) I have always changes the display to 600X800 when run.  To fix it, boot into safe mode (runs in 640X480) and change the resolution.

[erosnemesis]

how do you use HDPARM in the first place because i want to use it to overclock my CPU because my BIOS dont let me to that.

[mobrien_12]

quote:Originally posted by erosnemesis:
how do you use HDPARM in the first place because i want to use it to overclock my CPU because my BIOS dont let me to that.

Erosnemesis, I said that overclocking the CPU in the BIOS is analogous to what hdparm can do to your hard disk.  Hdparm affects hard disks, not your CPU frequency.  Sorry if that wasn't clear.

[ August 27, 2003: Message edited by: M. O'Brien ]

[Stryker]

quote:Originally posted by erosnemesis:
how do you use HDPARM in the first place because i want to use it to overclock my CPU because my BIOS dont let me to that.

that's not what ur sig says.

you wouldn't stop telling me how great your computer was because it could overclock so well.

and hdparm is for hard disks, not the processor. and you seem to be happy with your hard drive's speed anyways, i wouldn't risk breaking it. (read the specs, see if the udma mode is set to as high as it can go)

[Refalm]

You can destroy your videocard in Windows. Just co to the nVidia or 3dfx control panel and increase the clockspeed. Reboot and play a game like Enter The Matrix or GTA: Vice City. Have fun