[net.micro.pc] Repair Problems

anderson%Rand-Unix@sri-unix.UUCP (03/07/84)

From:  anderson@Rand-Unix (Robert_Anderson)

After running my two-year-old IBM PC about 6 hrs. a day, 5 days a week
with no problems (except expected ones in the 3rd party Daisywheel
printer) I suddenly had some component on my motherboard (don't know
which) go, requiring a $400 replacement (it would be $800 without turn
in of my old motherboard), followed several weeks later by a short in
the flyback transformer in my IBM monochrome display (Computerworld
says its unrepairable, because it would have to be sent back to IBM,
and would cost as much as a new one).  I haven't been hit by lightning
lately, or anything else that would have caused this rash of problems.
I conclude that some of the components have a lifetime of about 2
years.

What I conclude from this is that it might pay to get some sort of
service agreement on your PC after a year or so, to handle the big stuff
when it hits;  what seems rock solid now won't last foever.

By the way, does anyone know if the flyback transformer in an IBM
monochrome display is a common electronic part that can be procured
at an electronics outlet?

Bob Anderson