Date   : Sun, 08 Sep 1991 22:38:06 GMT
From   : cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!menudo.uh.edu!mtecv2!tamsun!tamuts!jdb8042@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (John Donald Baker)
Subject: My new(!) QX-10 just died! :-(

The Subject: says it all.  The QX-10 I just recently acquired has "winked out".

Situation:  I was online to tamuts.tamu.edu and reading alt.folklore.computers
           (I had been on a few hours) when I heard my phone make the little
           "dink" noise it makes whenever a phone is taken off-hook or
           replaced on-hook (a cheap UniSonic from Walmart).

           I though that my room-mate had picked up the phone (again) knock-
           ing me off-line.  But, when I looked at my screen, there was no
           garbage as I had expected.  In fact, the screen held the unblem-
           ished image of the last message I had read.  I typed <space> a few
           times to go on to the next message.  Then I typed <Return> and
           'q' and lot of other stuff and nothing was happening.  I looked
           at my modem and noticed that nothing was being sent and then
           that I was, in fact, on-hook.  I should have seen characters
           coming back at me.

           I tried of exit my comm program (ZMP 1.5) with no success.
           I had locked the machine before so I fugured it would be a simple
           matter of re-booting.  the sequence <ctrl><grph shift><stop> (for
           those who know the Valdocs Document Processor keyboard)
           did nothing.  Well, let's try the hardware RESET button under
           the ledge of the case.

           NOTHING!!   I pressed, released, then held for a while and released
           and absolutely nothing happened.  So I decided to turn it off and
           then on againn (power cycling as I've heard it called).

           Again nothing.  No 'INSERT DISKETTE' message, no disk drive homing,
           no flashing keyboard lights.  The only thing that appeared to work
           was the cooling fan.  The power supply seemed to be humming a
           a little louder than usual.

           I opened it to see if there was any obvoious damage that would
           indicate the fault.  I could see no gross damage.  (I looked at
           and removed and examined all circuit boards.)  everything looks
           OK on the outside.

Can anyone out there help me?  Any suggestions as to what could have failed and
caused this.  Any clue as to the nature of this failure.  Also any suggestions
as to where I might obtain service for this machine if the fix is not simply a
chip or other componet replacement.  I have neither the time, tools or experi-
ence to tackle a complicated bit of repair (but I have the enthusiasm).

I had no indication that the machine might fail when I bought it.  I has
operated just fine for the two weeks that I have had it.  (Just like I thought
the Hard Disk was OK.)

Thanks for the help.  Calling all QX-10 gurus!!!


John D. Baker  ->An Apple 3.5", 5.25", 8" PCPI Applicard ZCPR3 nut//
Internet:  JDB8042@{tamuts|rigel|sigma|summa|zeus|venus}.tamu.edu
BBSs:  JOHN BAKER on Z-Node #45 [(713) 937-8886], The Vector Board
[(716) 544-1863], The Black Box (FIDO 1:106/601) [(713) 480-2686]
Karnage: "Fire at will!"
Wil (desperately dodging a hail of automatic weapons fire): "AAAAIYEEEE!!"
Karnage: "No, no.  Do not fire at Wil, he is my Second Mate.
          FIRE AT THE SEA-DUCK!!"