I love it when TV shops don't want to/don't know how to fix TV's

[dr.ido]

Originally Posted by ablethevoice

After reading the responses here, you guys have restored some hope in me that there are some folks who still do have a decent set of ethics - and are willing to actually LOOK at an item and determine if, indeed, the device is truly dead or only "unconscious".

And yes, this damned "everything is disposable" mindset is a plague. Of course, modern manufacturing techniques support this habit. Anyone ever see a cellphone repair shop? Is it possible to resurrect/repair a PCs motherboard? Has anyone ever tried?

It never ceases to amaze me what people will throw away. Almost everything I own from computers, audio/video gear, cameras to appliances and furniture is stuff that was thrown away. Much of it needing minor if any repairs.

Up to a certain point PC motherboards and related parts can be repaired. It is just that most people - PC technicians included either assume that they can't or are unwilling to do so.

Among other things I sometimes repair PCs for people. Some of those that have waited around for something done on the spot have been down right shocked when rather than replace the motherboard because the capacitors have failed or they broke off a connector when they tripped over a cable I will repair it.

To me it just seems practical. Cheaper, quicker and easier than driving down to the shop to buy a replacement only to find that they no longer stock a compatible board and then having to replace even more parts. Though especially in the PC industry this is seen as wrong. I once applied for a job at one of those refurbished PCs places, but was told they didn't want someone who worked so "in depth".

In the past I've gone as far as changing the platters in a hard drives. This can't be done with any even remotely recent drives, but back when I was running MFM drives in XTs and ATs it was possible. Done on the kitchen table, no clean room or special equipment required, no bad sectors.

I don't claim to be an expert at anything, but I will try to repair anything. If I fail I've lost nothing and have learned something.