Subj : Re: USB lock up - poo! To : Barry Martin From : Ky Moffet Date : Sun Mar 06 2022 18:16:00 BARRY MARTIN wrote: > Hi Ky! > KM> There are a few vendors of parts-for-parts who are legit. (One in > KM> particular sells logic boards for hard drives, and repairs 'em > KM> too. They've got a whole bunch of info up on when their parts > KM> will NOT work, and link to it on every item listed. Hint: most > KM> HDs past about the 40GB era cannot be easily repaired, because > KM> the ROM is unique to each unit.) > > Well, yes.... I wasn't thinking to far into the details. Some items > like hard drives require (digital matching) of the components, something Used to be you could just swap the logic board (why Maxtors died) with any of the same model. Then it got to where it had to be same batch. And now, because platter densities are so high -- unique to each. Apparently with the right ROM programmer you can create a match. > I would not attempt. I was thinking more along the lines of repairing a > TV -- replace the power supply or backlight. That might not even be > worthwhile as still have an old TV and for the repair costs might almost > be able to get a new replacement. (I'm not really an advocate of break- > and-toss -- it depends. TV -- new would be better if for just the > better tuner, Audio amplifer like for a decent system: probably -- and > have.) Yeah, that kind of parts.... problem is, what died in one probably died in all of the same model about the same time, so unless you find new old stock, parts generally don't exist. > KM> Otherwise, the evidence is overwhelmingly that they're scammers. > KM> Regular vendors rarely charge shipping, or very little. Any > KM> "shipping" beyond the bare minimum to cover postage is a flaming > KM> redflag that it's a scam. > > Right: I like free shipping, though of course that's built into the > merchandise cost. A reasonable shipping fee is also acceptable, just > don't try to also put one in the merchandise cost and double-charge me. > $100 for shipping a lightweight item?? Did I just buy part of the > truck? That's how most of the "parts only" items are -- $35 shipping for a two ounce item that sells for some arbitrary price slightly below used-and-working price. This makes it obvious it's not actually "parts" but "junk" and either a scam, or drug sales under cover of "parts". > KM> The usual way is to hope that the buyer doesn't notice it's "for > KM> parts only" (or just an empty box!) or to just call it "used" > KM> without describing it further, and allow returns at buyer's > KM> expense... then charge a whole lot more than actual cost for > KM> shipping. The buyer gets defective or wrong merchandise, and > KM> returns it for a refund... but the seller doesn't care, because > KM> they made their profit on the shipping charge. > > If the price is super-low by comparison I get suspicious: something is > wrong. Parts-only selling isn't always a bad thing: a repair shop would Except genuine useful parts are not what they are. With rare and very specific exceptions (like logic boards for old hard drives), it always means nonworking junk. Or outright scam. > probably like them on hand. Also have seen where someone is selling a > probably-OK item but is unable to test: remember reading something like > "worked fine last time I used it but unable to test so selling as > parts-only". Those exist, but are very rare, and invariably are offered by people who are NOT regular sellers of whatever-it-is. Conversely, a whole lot of "tested good" are being sold by people in the general-imports-and-junk business, who obviously have no knowledge whatsoever of electronics and clearly have not tested anything. Or why I always check out "other items for sale by this seller" to see what their actual expertise is. I just bought a vidcard from someone who'd apparently retired it from their personal system; their main business is collectable ceramics. Feedback: excellent packaging and super customer service. Prices fair. Decided this was an honest seller and went for it. Works great. Likewise people who specialize in server parts, or are otherwise specialized like HDs or RAM, usually legitimately test 'em. (Tho one is notorious for resetting HD EPROM to show zero hours and selling as new. Don't really care because they warranty 'em well enough, and if I buy from them usually I'm looking for something older anyway.) But if it were someone selling random everything out of a warehouse? nope, won't be tested and would be a crapshoot. (But probably working just because most computer parts are fairly hard to kill, so if priced very right, and a tough component like RAM, might consider anyway.) > KM> Oh yeah, I first noticed this about 18 years ago. Since I was > KM> getting the occasional inquiry about my Tyan S1830S mainboards... > KM> I checked prices and found the average was about $250, if you > KM> could find one (they were a server board and uncommon in the > KM> consumer market). Except for one vendor who ALWAYS had one for > KM> sale, for $5000. And it would occasionally be marked "Sold" but > KM> then would immediately be listed again. This went on for about > KM> ten years before they moved on to some other item. > > Amazing how all the buyers backed out! Or that they have dozens available of this very rare board! There are exactly two listed on eBay right now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185277348567?epid=74079715&hash=item2b2363fad7:g:xB8AAOSwFaNh-J-r This looks like someone who works off the back dock of an electronics recycling center. That's about the going price for this board (even tho it was made in 1998). And here's one for 20x the price: https://www.ebay.com/itm/400329643563?hash=item5d3581962b:g:vGAAAOxy~iJRAWeb Note that despite listing all sorts of electronic junk (some at fair prices, some at ridiculous prices, like a $900 battery that goes for $50, or a server rack for $700 that's basically scrap iron) they've only got two feedbacks less than a year old. Whether this is the actual company https://berkcom.com/pages/about-us or someone piggybacking on the name and not legit? Hard to say. But I've seen probably a dozen vendor names over the years, offering this particular board for $5000ish. > > Now nor that heatsink.... Spray paint and make a paperweight? If the > > fins are long enough could hold up notes! > KM> I was thinking use 'em as caltrops, but that works too. :) > My little AMD ones aren't even going to tickle! I'm sure they can be sharpened.... > KM> Yeah, I like to see 99% positive feedback on hardware vendors. > KM> Anything less starts to become suspect. Always check the NEGATIVE > KM> feedback. Pay a little more and avoid pain. I have a list of > KM> saved sellers that I use if I have a choice. > > I don't do enough buying to have established a listing but yes, low I've bought quite a lot of stuff off eBay, so have developed Criteria. > feedback will cross that listing out. If what appears to be a new > seller, determined by low sales numbers or low number of feedback I'll > allow a lower overall number but not by too much. Some buyers will give > a bad score just because it was wrapped in used bubble-wrap. Yeah, there are a variety of judgment calls like that. > KM> Yeah, I have a simple script for sorting columns and use that, if > KM> I feel the need. (I do that with my fiction character sheets, cuz > KM> there are a lot. If anyone asks me for a character reference....) > > "He was born on page 34"..... LOL, something like that. http://www.doomgold.com/writing/characterchart2.html And that's not complete, just who I remembered off the top of my head when I took a notion to do this. Reload to return it to default order. Some of the weird entries are to force sorting since blanks don't work right. > > KM> This one, in fact: > KM> https://www.kryogenix.org/code/browser/sorttable/ > > That looks worthwhile to keep a note on. :) Yeah, it's simple to use. Just put a copy in the same directory, and add to the section of the HTML. Does everything I need it to. > KM> What's that tool for showing all the IP addresses on the local > KM> network? > > nc / netcat ? > nmap -sn ? Well, not in Windows... > > KM> Note the status column; some are reduced to parts or no longer > > KM> with us. > > RIP - stands for RIPped apart! > KM> LOL, that. I also especially like the tagline, stolen from a > KM> Techhole video (linked): "I'm not a production environment, I'm a > KM> basement." > Not all discoveries are made in formal settings! Sometimes the discovery is "The Closet is Full." > > Haha! A nice bit of humour with the cartoon of the strongman bending the > > pipe. > KM> Just don't wrap it around yourself. > Do not wrap in something your assistants can not unwrap you out of! Hahaha nope, don't do that. Even if you're an Evil Overlord. þ RNET 2.10U: ILink: Techware BBS þ Hollywood, Ca þ www.techware2k.com --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .