Irritating CF-28 Problem

Ok so I got totally scammed off ebay on a CF-28 that I bought. Seller said it posts and works fine, was just missing the HD, battery and adapter. I so I got it in the mail yesterday and I had al the parts ready, threw it together and.....nothing.... I was pissed, I could tell it had been opened because they put the corners on the wrong way. I opened it up. Every single wire inside was unplugged from the board. I put it all back together plugged everything in, added a few small parts from my parts 28 that it was missing, Looked like it was working just fine and now it randomly started turning on and off on its own. I don't understand whats causing this. I assumed it might be something pinched or loose so I took it back apart and it got better but now its doing it again. If I smack the case a little it causes it to turn on or off but I cant find anything loose! Any suggestions, I'd like to get this thing up and running to make the best out of this scam.

 

Well first off I always hate to hear about anyone getting scammed, but it has happened to me too
Now to the problem you have,,,,,
You say it does power up,,,
Is it flaky when it is powers up? (Does it do it every time?)
How long does it run before shutting down? (over heating problem?)
You say it helps to "smack it", I would guess maybe a lose connection.
(check where the different boards plug together)
Also check the thermal pads for the cpu.
Get back to the forum and we will trouble shoot some more

Bob

 

Connor... PLease post the auction number or tell us who you purchased it from on ebay.

As to the issues... It could be just about anything. You may try taking out the mobo and going over it with a HIGH POWER magnifying glass to make sure that the Klingons didn't invade and cause a short between something. I've seen this happen. The chance increase the more the CF-28 is played around with. It sounds like the seller didn't have a clue what to do or didn't have the time to put it all back together. Your next choice would be to return it... But I know that after putting in this much time you would just rather have a roking mobo.

Check the switch connections too. They can do some funky things!

 

Ok the ebay auction numnber is: 190276903683 and the seller user ID is: anymetal

Heres where I am with it now. I took everything apart again and I dont see anything loose or shorted out or anything. I'm focusing in on the actual power switch. I noticed that when I tap right above the power switch next to the power LED light it makes it turn on and off. Bob, in response to when its doing this, I am able to power it up and it will sometimes stay on for 10+ minutes, othertimes it will only stay on a few minutes, it will turn off completely on its own without being touched and then it will turn itself back on randomly. I only notced that tapping on the power switch will agervate it and make it turn on/off. I took the acutal switch apart but I looks pretty solid, I dont see any bad connections, the wires that plug into the board look like they may have been pinched at one point but theres no raw wiring exposed. The little switch mechanisim looks ok and the spring is tight. I have a key core power switch off an MK1 toughbook, is that compatible with an MK2 to do a swap?

 

YES... Do the swap... I probably have a few switches around here too if you need one.

Someone else had an issue like this and it was because the switch wire was pinched between something and it kept randomly shutting down/restarting.... DEFINITELY check your switch and wires...

 

Probably the contact point between the two wire, It means its too close to each other thats why a simple vibration made it contact to each other. Check that area before you do the swap.


ohlip

 

To me it sounds like a power switch problem too
After you get it changed out report back to us so we can all learn from this too..

 

On the power switch there are two wire soldered to each corresponding terminal and when you turn the switch down it made contact to each other and thats what I am talking about to my first post. Check that.

ohlip

 

I have pinched the switch wires before
Its easy to do on the cf-28




Alex

 

Ok so uptate....
I took apart both power switches the original one I was using and the parts one off an MK1. LOL long sotry short the MK1 with the lock core fell apart when I took it out and it has more plates and pieces than the old one. I couldn't figure out how to put it pack together so I removed the little plastic switch on the striker plate and swapped that onto the MK2 switch. and so far so good. Im keeping my fingers crossed. Overall I suspect it was the area in the wire that got "pinched" that was causing the problem. There was no raw wire exposed but it must have caused a short. Every time the wire was jiggled it would make contact with the metal casing of the HD Caddy. There was a little burn mark on the outside of the caddy that looks like an arc point, and it was in the same area as where the switch wire rests. Ill keep using it while I install SP3 and stuff and see if it starts doing it again. Ill keep everyone posted

 

One down more to go.

ohlip

 

I've been burned a few times too on auctions like the one you bid and won where they say it is for sale for "Parts or Repair".... Usually they mean for PARTS!

I bought a 1Ghz Mobo from a guy on ebay one time that did the same thing... Except there were crushed parts and, for some reason, someone had spray painted the board. There were also blown fuses, etc. When I asked the guy about it he said, "Well it said AS-IS and I said it was for parts only!" THEN he gave me the only negative feedback I ever received. I told him that just by looking at it you could tell it was NO GOOD... I asked for my money back and he immediately left me negative feedback.... Before I left ANY for him! Now that is a true ******* in every sense of the word!

Glad you got it up and running so far... We'll keep our fingers crossed!

 

What really REALLY pisses me off is people who send PCB assemblies, RAM modules, system boards, etc. WITHOUT any sort of anti-static protection and/or without and sort of real packaging inside whatever outer package/carton/etc. is used.

I have a bunch of 128 MB Sun 501-3136 modules here sent to me just before christmas which were wrapped up in nothing but thick cardboard cut from a large box, and the modules were all rubbing together. Lots of SMD capacitors have been broken off and I'm going to throw the entire bundle of modules into the bin as it's too risky to try and re-use them. Fortunately the cost was low, so it's not a significant loss. If I was still running my now-closed Sun surplus business at the intensity I was a few years ago, I'd have been hopping mad at getting sent improperly packed used parts!

But interestingly, the person in the UK who sent me the CF28 GPS engine didn't use anti-static packing either! Just a normal zip-lock plastic bag around the GPS engine PCB. At least it was well-packed inside a solid carton with two-layer 'ribbed' foam to keep it in place.

Craig.

 

I don't see any negative feedback from you. You should leave some.

 

I emailed the seller who is out of town right now. Im trying to work something out to get a partial refund before I leave negative feedback. So far the unit is still working ok after I fixed the switch

 

New update on this.....swapping the switch totally fixed the unit. I was able to turn this scam into a hell of a deal. I got in touch with the seller and I told them what happened and that I fixed it and Im not going to return it because its fixed now and I would be out the shipping. They offered to try and work out a partial refund for me and promised to contact me tomorrow. I still would not reccomend buying from that seller tho, but I guess now I wont be able to complain since I only paid $85 for it and they're going to refund some of it back lol

 

I must be too easy going
I have bought parts units and have had issues and in the listing is says as-is
So I just let it go
One of the problems is the return shipping issue, as for some reason the normal procedure is that the buyer at his cost has to pay shipping back to the seller
That’s an issue for me as a Canadian buyer that has paid duties/brokerage fees etc
I usually find a use out of the parts anyways
I just am extra cautious, especially on higher value items

The occasional deal that I find, more than makes up for the rare problems


Alex

 

So final update on this situation. I was able to fix everything on this unit using parts from another 28. The seller finally helped me out and I ended up getting free shipping and a 30% refund. All in all the seller was pretty helpful and wanted to make things right, but I'd still be a little cautious about buying from them again due to it not matching the description. Oh well I got a heck of a deal.