AIM 65 lives - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

2 May 2005

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Subject: AIM 65 lives
   From: Andy Dannelley <andyda at earthlink.net>
   Date: Sun, 01 May 2005 10:15:59 -0700
     To: cctech at classiccmp.org

Just a note of thanks for help and encouragement.  I finally got my AIM 
back running again with the help of a local who had some test 
equipment.

First, before getting the help I found several stuck address lines and 
cleared them by blowing an brushing and vacuuming.

We then found that 5 out of 8 2114 RAMs were bad, and the CPU just 
didn't have enough oomph.

After cleaning the board and replacing parts, it works like a charm.  
Seems weird that the CPU and RAM went bad just sitting, and the  board 
got something stuck in the address lines just sitting in the box for 20 
years,  It was the original shipping box for the AIM, but I guess more 
crud got in the box than I realized. 
People forget that plastic cased parts are not hermetic and therefore 
subject to internal corrosion and failure.  

The other is even assembled boards are susceptable to ESD damage.

The last is I have brough many boards with odd problem back to life 
by running them through the dishwasher.  I've seen odd failures due 
to conductive grunge on the board that could not bee seen with 
the naked eye.

Last some brands and styles of scokets really didn't stand the 
test of time. I have a few NS* boards I've desocketed and soldered 
the chips directly in becuase of that.

Allison