Subj : USB lock up - poo! To : Ky Moffet From : Barry Martin Date : Thu Mar 10 2022 11:17:00 Hi Ky! > 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. KM> The cost there is the clean room. Replacing the ROM is about KM> $100. My room is clean: I vacuumed it a couple of days ago! The $100 ROM is a fair price - more fair the more valuable the data is! Clean Rooms and the associated procedures -- that's where the expenses add up! (And the cost of the data back-up suddenyl becomes significantly smaller!) > 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: when recoving the unit may as well build from scratch too! KM> LOL, start over! Oops: too far: where'd the data go? Was here a minute ago. > 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> https://xkcd.com/325/ I do need to be careful how to phrase things! KM> Or.... KM> https://xkcd.com/576/ Better yet: send to a nosy or otherwise annoying neighbour or even a friend and get them on the list! ...(Oh poop: Ky has my address!) > 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. KM> Yeah, there was a major spike for a while, but it seems to be KM> leveling out. Good, though right now I don't need anything (hopefully!). > > "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> Or... powers up, no way to test it. Those rarely sell, tho. Not recently but I have looked up prices on eBay to compare what I might be able to get out of something old -- most not that much. Some still in storage, some went to electronics recycling. > 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> Yep... just go there knowing it's probably an old used drive, but KM> in good condition. But if you need a known-good IDE drive, there KM> aren't many options anymore. So tested and zero'd and sold as KM> "new" beats not finding if you need it. I've got a few of theirs KM> with mumble-years of service, so can't complain. Right: if no other real option one gets the "says new but know it's old" unit. > "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> "Seller refurbished" means just made-shiny or nothing much, it KM> never means what it's supposed to, ie. made good as new including KM> accessories. So unless it's the original vendor doing it (like KM> the Huion lightbox I bought for cheap) it's just noise for KM> "probably works". So probably keep away from that option unless trust the vendor. The good news is for my buying it's generally new-in-sealed-box (Scotch tape doesn't count! ), though 'open box' at a decent price is a consideration: customers will buy to 'shotgun test' -- is it this part? Nope! Technically used so can't be sold as new but essentially new. Again depends on the vendor and if I can afford if a part or two is missing (SATA cable was supposed to be included type of thing). > 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. KM> I sent 'em an email and asked. So far no response. Gee, that's strange! OTOH could be an error: "we're .NET and they're ..COM". > I might also get a little suspcious when seeing a thousand ratings at > 5.0 -- _everybody_ is perfectly happy?? KM> Haha, yep. So I mostly read the negative feedback, it's a lot KM> more informative. And sometimes humourous! "I bought this for my trip to Europe and it doesn't work!" Yeah dummy: the specs specifically said "120v" and EU is generally 230v. > KM> But I've seen probably a dozen vendor names over the years, > KM> offering this particular board for $5000ish. > So you're picking on this one seller with super-low overhead as he live > sin his parents' basement, works at the recycling facilty, snuck out > this board.... KM> LOL, that. You're soooo mean! > 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 KM> Yep, cuz otherwise blank lines sort first and that's not useful KM> when a whole bunch of 'em would otherwise be blank. Plus with the 'zzz' placeholder you know it's supposed to be blank. > 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> OOOPS!!! He didn't get fired but he did end up with 'egg on his face'. Which was probably worse because I'm pretty sure he was vegetarian. I gave him a chance by checking and testing privately before the meeting. > > 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 KM> Only provides info for the local machine. I've tried the map KM> network tool and it's goofy. > arp -a ...This sounds familiar. KM> Not to me! How about AARP?! I just looked at my chart and of course I didn't put the command I used on it. Would be the Linux option but usually can find the Windows equivalent. > > 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. KM> Pods. Looked into 'em when I moved. Storage was all done in KM> Seattle which meant too much risk of mold if the container isn't KM> perfectly airtight. Customer service was crap, tho I hear it's KM> since improved. Right: "PODS" was what I was thinking. For my use I'm thinking of when I have to move whatever I'm wanting from my Mother's house in New Hampshire to here in Iowa, so theoretically no Seattle storage. Just looking for something to move a bunch of stuff from there to here and have the shipping container sit in the driveway for a week or two or three. KM> The problem with shipping to another site is that you still might KM> need to contract with a local trucker... that wasn't included KM> when I checked into it. The Fine Print! > > > Haha! A nice bit of humour with the cartoon of the strongman bending KM> he > > > 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! KM> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gaqHi6--U8 I think he's in love! ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® .... How much do dead batteries cost? Nothing: they're free of charge. --- 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) .