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So I set up a desktop computer running ubuntu in a classroom that was running through an AVR at 220 volts. I got a report that it wasn't working, so I came to look at it, and sure enough, fans and lights would go on, but the screen would remain blank.

Then I realized somebody had plugged it into 110 volts. I plugged it back into 220, and ta-da! it boots. However, everything you do is extremely sluggish, be it opening an app, a folder, animations that should play when moused over, etc. I ran an hdd test, but the results came up fine. The PSU is also outputting the right voltage on all lines as tested by volt meter. What is the problem?

I remember having this happen with one other computer, but i quickly realized my mistake, and after plugging it back into 220 it worked fine. It could be that this one was a longer duration of incorrect voltage.

So anyway, any help to identifying the problem would be greatly appreciated.

edit: example of slowness: it takes 8 seconds to open a folder containing 1 item
-it takes about 10 seconds to open the shut down dialogue box, and about 1 more minute for pressing "shut down" to actually get rid of the box

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  • Is the computer's PSU an automatic switching model or does it have a manual switch on the back for changing voltage? If it's not auto switching and it got the wrong voltage then I would expect it to either shut off or go bang. Try checking your CPU status to verify clock/voltages using I-Nex or something similar in case something screwed up the BIOS and caused it to underclock.
    – James P
    Commented Jan 13, 2015 at 10:08
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    In fact, you could try just restoring the BIOS to defaults to be sure.
    – James P
    Commented Jan 13, 2015 at 10:14
  • the psu has a manual voltage change. Yet as i stated, it is still working fine. It was set to receive 220 volts, but got 110, so I think going lower did not damage it. Higher, yes, It would go bang. In the Bios the clock is the same as before, so that looks fine.
    – Blaine
    Commented Jan 13, 2015 at 10:16
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    Have you checked the temperatures? I'm wondering if someone was messing around with it for a laugh, and as well as plugging it into the wrong voltage they did something else like loosen the heatsink or stick something in the fan to stop it turning. That could cause extreme slowdown. That I-Nex program I mentioned could be useful for checking.
    – James P
    Commented Jan 13, 2015 at 10:40
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    Thank you, you have just helped put Leonard back in a classroom sites.google.com/site/techforteachinghome/leonard
    – Blaine
    Commented Jan 13, 2015 at 11:01

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