Subj : USB lock up - poo! To : Ky Moffet From : Barry Martin Date : Mon Mar 07 2022 08:30:00 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 too far into the details. Some items > like hard drives require (digital matching) of the components, something KM> Used to be you could just swap the logic board (why Maxtors died) KM> with any of the same model. Then it got to where it had to be KM> same batch. And now, because platter densities are so high -- KM> unique to each. Apparently with the right ROM programmer you can KM> create a match. Probably while drive recovery costs so much: more difficult with higher platter densities (requires more precision mechanical alignment), plus each unit is unique, so pretty much starting from scratch with each repair. > 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.) KM> Yeah, that kind of parts.... problem is, what died in one KM> probably died in all of the same model about the same time, so KM> unless you find new old stock, parts generally don't exist. Hey: whne recoving the unit may as well build from scratch too! > 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? KM> That's how most of the "parts only" items are -- $35 shipping for KM> a two ounce item that sells for some arbitrary price slightly KM> below used-and-working price. This makes it obvious it's not KM> actually "parts" but "junk" and either a scam, or drug sales KM> under cover of "parts". "Look inside specially marked packages for a surprise!" > 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 KM> Except genuine useful parts are not what they are. With rare and KM> very specific exceptions (like logic boards for old hard drives), KM> it always means nonworking junk. Or outright scam. Right: seems a lot of people are taking advantage of supply chain issues and so increasing the price on used items which used to be sold at (say) half the price of new because currently the new is being delayed -- the used stuff can be had now. > 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". KM> Those exist, but are very rare, and invariably are offered by KM> people who are NOT regular sellers of whatever-it-is. That would be me if I ever get into selling off some of the old stuff. KM> Conversely, a whole lot of "tested good" are being sold by people KM> in the general-imports-and-junk business, who obviously have no KM> knowledge whatsoever of electronics and clearly have not tested KM> anything. KM> Or why I always check out "other items for sale by this seller" KM> to see what their actual expertise is. Good idea. KM> I just bought a vidcard from someone who'd apparently retired it KM> from their personal system; their main business is collectable KM> ceramics. Feedback: excellent packaging and super customer KM> service. Prices fair. Decided this was an honest seller and went KM> for it. Works great. Makes sense. By your orginal rule the seller might be scammimg but digging into the specifics seemed to be a valid reason. KM> Likewise people who specialize in server parts, or are otherwise KM> specialized like HDs or RAM, usually legitimately test 'em. (Tho KM> one is notorious for resetting HD EPROM to show zero hours and KM> selling as new. Don't really care because they warranty 'em well KM> enough, and if I buy from them usually I'm looking for something KM> older anyway.) The resetting of the hours seems like it should be a red flag but then if they're warranting based on their zero hours guess problems fall back on them. So far seems to be working out for both sides of the cash register. KM> But if it were someone selling random everything out of a KM> warehouse? nope, won't be tested and would be a crapshoot. (But KM> probably working just because most computer parts are fairly hard KM> to kill, so if priced very right, and a tough component like RAM, KM> might consider anyway.) Right: RAM and CPU are more electronic than mechanical and so probably difficult to damage. Hard drives are more mechanical so more of an issue with wear. Fans - pretty much pure mechanical and unless desperate I wouldn't bother buying used. > 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! KM> Or that they have dozens available of this very rare board! Well y'know that crate that's been sittin' in the corner with all that dust on it? WEll, someone finally got around to openin' it and guess wha'?! KM> There are exactly two listed on eBay right now: KM> https://www.ebay.com/itm/185277348567?epid=74079715&hash=item2b236 KM> 3fad7:g:xB8AA KM> SwFaNh-J-r KM> This looks like someone who works off the back dock of an KM> electronics recycling center. That's about the going price for KM> this board (even tho it was made in 1998). I think the county's electronics recycling facility does recover and sell some items it takes in, but AFAIK it identifies itself. ...Well, did a quick search and Scott County Iowa is present and has items but they're generally vintage postcards, maps, etc. KM> And here's one for 20x the price: KM> https://www.ebay.com/itm/400329643563?hash=item5d3581962b:g:vGAAAO KM> xy~iJRAWeb "Seller refurbished" might mean they tested and replaced some parts like aging electrolytic capacitors or could just mean they air dusted and dipped in solvent to make shiny and pretty again. KM> Note that despite listing all sorts of electronic junk (some at KM> fair prices, some at ridiculous prices, like a $900 battery that KM> goes for $50, or a server rack for $700 that's basically scrap KM> iron) they've only got two feedbacks less than a year old. KM> Whether this is the actual company KM> https://berkcom.com/pages/about-us or someone piggybacking on the KM> name and not legit? Hard to say. I might also get a little suspcious when seeing a thousand ratings at 5.0 -- _everybody_ is perfectly happy?? KM> But I've seen probably a dozen vendor names over the years, KM> offering this particular board for $5000ish. So you're picking onn this one seller with super-low overhead as he live sin his parents' basement, works at the recycling facilty, snuck out this board.... > > 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! KM> 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 KM> I've bought quite a lot of stuff off eBay, so have developed KM> Criteria. Which is why I am paying attention. :) > 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"..... KM> LOL, something like that. KM> http://www.doomgold.com/writing/characterchart2.html Aiy! I'd need a chart to read the book! KM> And that's not complete, just who I remembered off the top of my KM> head when I took a notion to do this. Reload to return it to KM> default order. Some of the weird entries are to force sorting KM> since blanks don't work right. I scanned through and say "zzz" which I figured was a placeholder. Some sort utilities don't always play nice with blank fields, or like the incident I had in college doing keypunch: my cards were right (well, for this example!) but the programmer didn't put in the 'clear field' so if Card #1 had a second address line ("Apartment 123") it would print out (correct), but if Card 2 did not have a second address line (because it was a house) then it would print out with "Apartment 123". Computer guy said it was me, I checked and tested, then proved to him it was his error, he still said it was me. I got a meeting together with him, my boss, his boss's secretary (a V.P.).... It did not turn out well for the computer guy. > KM> What's that tool for showing all the IP addresses on the local > KM> network? > nc / netcat ? > nmap -sn ? KM> Well, not in Windows... ipconfig /all should work for starters. ...Though the way things are phrased in the summary doesn't seem right arp -a ...This sounds familiar. > > 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! KM> Sometimes the discovery is "The Closet is Full." ....Argh! I can't recall the name of the storage company: they'll put a metal storage container on the property. They'll also ship the container to another site. > > 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! KM> Hahaha nope, don't do that. Even if you're an Evil Overlord. I'm not evil, I just had a bad day! ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® .... If number 666 is considered evil, then 25.8069758 is root of all evil. --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .