20 Feb
2008
20 Feb
'08
3:58 p.m.
A nice-looking CBM Pet 2001 with chicklet keyboard (Item #300199788685),
described as:
"The computer powers up fine as you can see from the pictures, but it is
only half way through the booting up process. I know this because the
cassette motor is continuously turning. The screen is filled with little
patterns. This I hear is a simple problem to fix from what I have seen on
the net, memory chip problem etc. I am no expert on this machine so please
dont take me for gospel."
Erm, yes. Very simple to fix, if you happen to have a spare of the part (or
parts) that have failed. Otherwise, a complete bastard (pardon my Francais)
of a job.... and well beyond your average ePayer, I'd warrant.
Actually, 99% of probelms in old PETs are due to the terrible IC sockets
used. I find it best to replace the lot with good turned-pin ones. That
may well cure this fault, if not, at least you know that's _not_ the
problem (nothing worst that trying to trace logic faults on a PCB with
bad connections!).
And yet, from a "non expert" we're expected to believe this is an
"easy
repair"? Do people really fall for this sort of garbage.
The only 'easy repair' is one that I've done. Even if I know what the
problem is, it may stil lnot be 'easy' to put right (the part maynot be
availale, it might be a right pain to fit, and so on).
When I buy on E-bay, I always assume the device will not be working (no
matter what the seller says, I rralise that I am buying 30 year old
computer hardware from a person who may not know that much about it), and
I asusme I am going to have to do some work on it. So far I've been
pleasantly supprised in most cases.
-tony