Clueless Field Service

From: Ethan Dicks <erd_at_infinet.com>
Date: Mon Jun 8 23:08:18 1998

Jason D. <jpero_at_cgo.wave.ca> writes:
 
> I add to this tricky problems:
>
> - Cheapo motherboards (very often!) or cheapo jumpers (did that
> once after swapping for good jumpers on whole thing).

Or jumpers missing the brass insert altogether. I found one of those on
a SCSI drive that was misbehaving. Fortunately, it was on an ID pin,
not a strange-feature pin. When I moved the jumpers around and the ID
didn't track, it was easy to zero in.

> - Dead machines with loose screw or metal standoff(s) in wrong
> locations wedged and out of sight finally shorting out after years.
> Sometimes lucky somestime not.

I don't know how many times I've seen this one. A cow-orker bought
a new MB and it came up DOA. He asked me what could cause a new
MB to not work and the power supply to act dead. Without a moment's
hesitation, I answered, "a brass standoff in the middle of your
board." He thought I was crazy, but he wasn't laughing when he got
home.

-ethan
Received on Mon Jun 08 1998 - 23:08:18 BST