Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[beanflying]

Has anyone successfully sent Microsoft a bill for lost time and productivity due to their failed product 

About to do a clean install as that is all that is left untried - data backed up, software and plugins written down. Now for several more hours pain 

[Cerebus]

Not much 6mm nuts out there, really! In the main series 6mm corresponds to M3.5, which is listed as obsolescent in most documents.

No risk of M3.5 being regarded as obsolescent in the UK - at least in slot headed screws. I can count 30 in this room alone, it's the standard size for electrical faceplate retaining screws in the UK (presumably replacing a pre-metric ¹/₈" standard).

[tggzzz]

Yes it is indeed. I spend a huge amount of time reading service manuals and stuff on it so that's a good point. Don't fancy fishing out Apple prices this time though as I want to wind my finances down a bit now and don't have a ton of space for a large desktop machine / display on the bench really.

Rethink time... wonder if I should just grab a shit desktop and put up with the thing. I don't really use it away from the bench. If I'm out on contract or something I tend to take the thinkpad out as I don't care if I lose or break that as it cost bugger all

HP 6236B makes a nice monitor stand anyway 

For limited stuff, I have a £30 small Dell (~half a shoebox in size) on a shelf by my workbench. I added a £1 LCD display and a bent metal support that fits under the antistatic mat, so that it occupies zero bench space.

For reading manuals I can also use my Hudl, the one decent thing I've got from Tesco. 10" full HD display (yes, I can replicate my workstation monitor on it!) and very little added crapware. When the screen cracked I had to replace it with a red screen, so it is now a visually unique frankenHudl.

[bd139]

Hudl! I know Tesco IT guys (they're only up the road from me). I would run away.

Has anyone successfully sent Microsoft a bill for lost time and productivity due to their failed product 

About to do a clean install as that is all that is left untried - data backed up, software and plugins written down. Now for several more hours pain 

Yes I know a large Microsoft partner consultancy who dragged them through court after extensive data loss caused by a problem in Windows Server 2003 that cost them nearly £300k in lost business. What did they get? Fuck all. Turns out Microsoft roll out the lawyers and they have really expensive ones who drink in the same bars as the other legal professionals. Cash changes hands behind the scenes, lawyers say not to proceed any further, case goes away. Best thing to do is slowly shitpost all over the Internet and you're well on the way there. Sign up for a medium.com blog, post "windows broke all my shit" then post it on Hacker News.

Also if it's Windows 10, set your windows update to "semi annual channel". That will get rid of all of the barely tested hooky builds.

[beanflying]

Re partitioned hard drive squeky clean windoze 10 without Cortana and 'would you like us too help ourselves to your information' BS 

Now onto just adding back the actual software needed to run it 

[med6753]

All my data is backed up to Google Cloud at least once a week. (I do it manually rather than automatic). Plus I have multiple back ups on site.

Once a month I run a clone of all 3 computers on external hard drives using Macrium Reflect. The hard drives are then taken off line until another clone is run. It has saved my behind more than once.   

[bd139]

It's nice to hear of proper backups. It gives me some faith in the human race

Apparently my Tek 2235 resistors are out for delivery. Hopefully arrive before lunch time so I can spend some time inside it then. Desperately want to get the repair queue down a bit in size.

Now have the job of sourcing three HP knob inserts for my 6236B. Those are buggers to find. 

[med6753]

It's nice to hear of proper backups. It gives me some faith in the human race

Apparently my Tek 2235 resistors are out for delivery. Hopefully arrive before lunch time so I can spend some time inside it then. Desperately want to get the repair queue down a bit in size.

Now have the job of sourcing three HP knob inserts for my 6236B. Those are buggers to find. 

The only bugger in my back up scheme is that my clones are also on site. If I have a fire or water damage I'm screwed as far as OS and programs are concerned but my personal data would be in the cloud.

Make sure you post pix if you finally get the 2235 sorted out. 

Edit...in a day or two I should have a progress report (pix) of my bench renovation.

[bd139]

That's a good backup procedure though. If your house burns down you have bigger problems to deal with than reinstalling windows

2235 thread is here. Will link once installed but worth following if you are interested: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-2235-repair-thread/

[med6753]

That's right, I forgot you had a separate thread going for the 2235. 

[beanflying]

Only thing wrong with cloud for me is monthly download limits currently at 200Gb. So separate external HDD's swapped from the house to the shack in case one goes kaput  for any reason with backups on them. I used to have a NAS way back when but Netgear screwed that when they didn't carry it forward into windoze 7, still tempted to get a modern one again.

Fusion 360 and addons done, Libre Office done and Chroming not on the Edge. Heading toward 11pm so time to Port this PC and head to bed 

[TiN]

Bought a thermometer probe for a cost more than a decent benchtop DMM... Heelpp... 

[bd139]

Is this a new breed here after the volt nuts and time nuts?  Temperature nuts? 

[beanflying]

Bought a thermometer probe for a cost more than a decent benchtop DMM... Heelpp... 

You now need a triple point calibration cell 

[TiN]

Triple point of argon and zinc too, please.
I hope doctor is on the way...

[Zucca]

Bought a thermometer probe for a cost more than a decent benchtop DMM... Heelpp... 

And you don't tell us which thermometer is? This make me more addicted to this thread... You are not help to cure my TEA. I thank you for that. 

[mnementh]

I would be very wary. Not shown powered up and probes not shown as well. Probes for these are hard wired.

This is the little one where they connect inside the storage pouch, right? Adorable, but not very durable... 

When our mechanics started hollering, I pulled the Friedrich (Technical reference) on them and send them off to buy tools.

You're going to have to explain that one.   I'm off to Düsseldorf next week and walking into a situation where *cough* technical German idioms (even if said in English) might be only too useful.

Pretty sure he means that he pulled out the Friedrich Technical Reference on fastener satandards and showed them what they SHOULD be prepared to deal with.

Has anyone successfully sent Microsoft a bill for lost time and productivity due to their failed product 

About to do a clean install as that is all that is left untried - data backed up, software and plugins written down. Now for several more hours pain 

Yes, at least 3 times. Never got so much as a peep back from Redmond, however. If they dared to even entertain such claims, they'd be bankrupt so fast it would reverse time. Just imagine how many billable hours if you JUST counted the productivity wasted waiting for Winbloze to reboot because something in M$ Orifice made it blarf its guts all over a bluescreen. 

11th Commandment - Thou shalt back it up, lest I break mine foot off in thy arse.

Fuck MAXIM 41.

Re partitioned hard drive squeky clean windoze 10 without Cortana and 'would you like us too help ourselves to your information' BS 

Now onto just adding back the actual software needed to run it 

Now, if you don't know about it already, you'll want to disable the stupipid Microsoft Accounts naggery bunk in Group Policies (GPEdit.msc), by setting Local Security Policy>Computer Configuration>Windoze Settings>Security Settings>Local Policies>Security Options>Accounts: Block Microsoft Accounts policy object to Users Can't add Microsoft Accounts

Yiou'll also want to change the Computer Configuration>Admin Templates>Windoze Components>App Runtime>Allow Microsoft Accounts to be Optional setting to Enabled so that M$ Store Apps that don't ABSOLUTELY NEED your Microsoft Account to run stop demanding it.

Cheers!

Is this a new breed here after the volt nuts and time nuts?  Temperature nuts? 

I dunno, but it seems Neomys Sapiens, Cerebus and I have all just tripped over the Fastener Satandard Nuttery treeroot together... now whether we all tumble down the general Specification Application Nuttery mountainside into the  Bottomless Well of Documentation OCD is entirely up to Ifni's favor, or lack thereof... 

mnem
Mmmmm... Can I marry this cup of coffee? Or at least keep it somewhere as a mistress, for the occasional conjugal visit?

[Neomys Sapiens]

When our mechanics started hollering, I pulled the Friedrich (Technical reference) on them and send them off to buy tools.

You're going to have to explain that one.

I'm off to Düsseldorf next week and walking into a situation where *cough* technical German idioms (even if said in English) might be only too useful.

As mnementh said:
It is the Great-grandfather of of technical reference tables in Germany.
For example: https://www.amazon.de/Friedrich-Tabellenbuch-Metall-Maschinentechnik-Metalltechnik/dp/3427510336

[mnementh]

[RANDOM MODE]

Attached are the technical reference materials I've felt were important enough to keep on my desktop over the last few years... 

I also have a copy of The Art of War, The Theory of Everything and the Ultimate HHGtTG handy to help keep things in perspective. 

[/RANDOM MODE]

mnem
fnord and a half.

[bd139]

Had a few minutes so got into the exploding Apple charger.

 



There's a hole in my bucket, err IC.

No suicide capacitors. Amazing the noise that IC going pop made.

[mnementh]

I'd still blame some electrolytic cap, though. Well past the usual infant mortality phase for semis. Hopefully, the smart chip is in the cable and you can just apply DCV to the other end until replacement arrives.

mnem
*Currently feeling sublevel*

[bd139]

Yeah brain is in the business end of the cable. Unfortunately I don't have a supply with enough grunt (4.25A @ 20V) to run it. New supply arriving tomorrow so not a big deal.

[neo]

I had hoped so to liberate myself from this strife which has befallen me since before the hamfests. I got a job, actual gainful employment, and was on the verge of financial stability when tragedy struck.  The motor carriage which has conveyed me from hither to yon was struck down in its prime by fickle fate. Fortune can only frown on my efforts for it has dealt me the most miserable hand, a crack developed on the carriage's core. Delivered from the bosom of TEAly salvation to the ravenous claws of murphy himself i find myself now employed though with no enlightenment anywhere in my immediate future. Woe is me!

Radiator took a shit which cracked block for those who care. In a less wordy way of saying it; I got a job to finance TEA and now and no vehicle, meaning my budget is so full of holes i might as well call it swiss and eat it on my sandwich.

[Specmaster]

mnem
Mmmmm... Can I marry this cup of coffee? Or at least keep it somewhere as a mistress, for the occasional conjugal visit?

What do you mean...occasional visit, you lead us to believe that you and cups of coffee are joined at the hip and are in fact essential to keeping the dwagon functioning correctly, least his fire is extinguished   

[bd139]

I had hoped so to liberate myself from this strife which has befallen me since before the hamfests. I got a job, actual gainful employment, and was on the verge of financial stability when tragedy struck.  The motor carriage which has conveyed me from hither to yon was struck down in its prime by fickle fate. Fortune can only frown on my efforts for it has dealt me the most miserable hand, a crack developed on the carriage's core. Delivered from the bosom of TEAly salvation to the ravenous claws of murphy himself i find myself now employed though with no enlightenment anywhere in my immediate future. Woe is me!

Radiator took a shit which cracked block for those who care. In a less wordy way of saying it; I got a job to finance TEA and now and no vehicle, meaning my budget is so full of holes i might as well call it swiss and eat it on my sandwich.

It wasn’t made by Fiat was it?

Been through this already this year as well. Cars are a pain.