Manager's box wouldn't fire up. It's a Gateway, about 3 years old. Pulled the lid off, metered the power cord (it was okay) and saw a "test switch" on the side of the power supply, plugged it in, pushed the switch, LED no glowy.
The PS in this particular Gateway was a long, thin affair, thick as a micro-atx PS, an inch narrower, and about a foot long, with the inside end at a 60degree incline with a case-fan-looking blower attached to it. Interesting. Went to the local comp parts place, found a micro-atx PS, checked the dimensions, the pin-outs, the ratings, and it would work splendidly, save the fact that it wouldn't fit in the case.
Had a decision to make--go back to the office, tell 'em they'll need to go through Gateway to get a proper PS that would actually fit, and listen to the new manager grouse and whinge (even more!) all day until it was fixed, or do some creative engineering and probably save a bunch of dough and downtime for the company, also promoting peace in the office at the same time, which now comes at a premium, re: new manager.
Net result: her computer is now back in its vertical base, case fitted properly, and there's an expansion slot cover missing, as the shiny new power supply is sitting on the floor behind the computer with all the wires running in through the slot.
I am still shaking my head at the goofylookingness of it all, but it works. I likened it to strapping a car battery to the outside of a fender, all hooked up and running.
Anyone else ever hack a case like that? Or am I the only stupid one? |
