Debugging hardware

I honestly dont know why I ever agree to fix other people's computers (note that I say this every time). Every time you open up a machine that someone else gives you there is no telling what sort of wierd strange obscure crap that will come up while you are reparing it.

I have swapped power supplies, video cards, memory, etc, to get this thing going again. I'm a step away from just returning it as it was saying sorry.



I'm just self destructive I guess, staying up until two AM trying to fix stuff. Every single time I tell myself, dont fix residential stuff, there's just no margin in it. in that way of thinking I should send cheap guys computers $40, since I talked them out of a bench fee the last time I brought a computer to them. The bench fee is completely deserved, they should keep it in a fund for psychiatric counseling.

I must just be getting spoiled with all the lovely Dell Optiplex 170L's I run at work. Bless Dell and their ultra reliable Optiplex line. I wouldnt be able to run all the machines that I do if I hadnt made sure that all the systems at work were purchased at the same time, and with the same 3 year warranty.