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Fruss Tray Ted
05-21-2002, 12:05 PM
I don't seem to see a specific forum for my problem, it was here or after hours forum but this one has the title of my original intent before the fiasco.

Alright here's the scoop: I have an old pc that was my son's and I was readying it either for sale or to give to my sister when her daughter moves out and takes her pc with her, leaving my sis without anything worthwile.
It's not much but it was working.
IBM Aptiva model 2137-E24 with a socket 7 motherboard
Original cd-rom, floppy, PS, motherboard, 24megabytes pc66mhz RAM, case and 200mhz AMD K-6
Not original HDD 1 gig

Now the plot thickens:

I took it to a pc repair shop thar supports somewheres in the vicinity of 8-10 people. I wanted some more Ram because to support Win 98SE, a firewall, antivirus, scanner and dial-up modem the machine was bogged down. I slid the cover off and removed the power supply from the case without disconnecting anything as I have done in the past with no problems to get at the DIMM cards. (This is simple with IBM). I asked the clerk if there was a way to upgrade the processor as well. He said he would ask the techs out back and grabbed the case forgetting that the PS is unattached so when he rounded a curve to turn down an aisle the PS fell and did't hit the floor because the wires held it back plus the clerk sort of caught it too.

So he went out back and returned to tell me the advice was "Not to go there" as the upgrade processor option. He pulled out one memory card and saw the type then put it back in to test the tower before proceeding to install the 2 32 meg cards he got from 'out back' (service area). We hooked it up to a monitor and keys and mouse that was on display and nothing happened when the switch was depressed.

I need to note at this time the power supply was not physically attached to the case because I pulled it out of the way for him as put earlier.

What may have happened? What would you do if in this boat? Keep in mind because of physical problems and age creeping up on me that in the back of my mind the shop could become a place of employment for me. My first idea of recourse would be for them to fix it to a working condition at least as well as it was when I arrived but they never saw it work in the first place. Am I sunk?

The service people are at a 2 week turn around because of a backed up log due to being one of the only large dealers in my area. So I took the tower home when told that. Should I request (insist) on another motherboard and put it in myself? The power supply socket is unlike others so another PS would be needed also. Or could it have fried the processer due to a lack of being grounded?

Opinions anyone?
I think my username is a curse...

Everything has been unplugged and re plugged on the board, nothings cracked burnt broken etc. all looks well but not even a power LED blinks at all. I tested the power switch (while disconnected) with a VOM and it is fine.

Thanks for listening.

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This space for George Carlin quotes:

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

(He should broaden that to pc's.)

Whyzman
05-21-2002, 04:50 PM
Were the PSU leads still attached to the MB when it did the "Humpty Dumpty" thingy?

Does the PSU fan go roundy roundy when you power it up?

You might want to do a continuity check on the wiring harness if that's what substituted for a bungy cord during the freefall! Copper doesn't have much elasticity! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

I do think the Aptivas have proprietary PSUs...if the shop would be willing to just hook up a bench tester PSU to see if the MB fans would whirl...that would help.

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!


Whyzman
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Reserved for Punishing Humor...A Pessimist's blood is always B-negative!

Fruss Tray Ted
05-21-2002, 05:18 PM
Nothing at all but the ringing in my ears. Oh, this isn't the doctor's office?
Thanks Whyz,
It seems it stressed the power supply leads that go to the mobo but not enough to break a solder or crimp joint. Pushing the wires towards the mobo while depressing the on switch hasn't even caused a flutter. And I've opened the PS case but nothings visibly wrong.

I'll try a continuity test later but it would be so nice to get my hands on a shop manual or something of the sort to figure out what leads to connect together to get the power supply to turn on while nothing is hooked to it. Know of anything available on-line (free or otherwise)? What pin numbers maybe? Then I could check to see if it was the PS at least. I only have one other type of PS here and the leads do not match.

I'd like to try to fix it myself. But whatever broke should be either free or they're cost. Does that make sense? After all, one or two klutsy moves and I no longer have the potential of reselling it. Aux francais C'est TOUT Finit!

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This space for George Carlin quotes:

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

(He should broaden that to pc's.)

[This message has been edited by Fruss Tray Ted (edited 05-21-2002).]