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Every IBM PC Problem at Once - Nightmare 5160 Repair

Tech Tangents

80,931 views

The IBM PC and XT systems are very simple and the birth of the x86 platform we still use today. But so many things about them are easy to have issues with, especially when you get your first one. This computer is one a family member of mine got recently and I offered to help them with it when it didn't work because without experience and other parts it can be impossible to even begin debugging issues with these.

Little did I know, they bought basically the worst possible "first" system you could have that was somehow still complete.

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20 Comments

@DouglasWalrath 1 year ago

"oh it's probably the power supply" it turns out to be literally everything except the power supply

@johntheexplainer 1 year ago

Tech Tangents 2050: “I’m just going to check the tantalums on this vintage XT… wait a minute - this is a surface-mount part!”

@jelyfzh 1 year ago

"In and out. 20 minute adventure."

@sadmac356 1 year ago

I was expecting to end up with an "XT of Theseus" situation but…the WILDLY MISCONFIGURED FLOPPY DRIVE

@StevenIngram 1 year ago

Its crazy that, ultimately there was very little that was physically wrong with this computer. It was mostly just fucked up. HAHAHA

@TastyBusiness 1 year ago

This is the sort of thing I would have done without realizing it as a child. I ruined a rotary phone that way once...

@ora2j251 1 year ago

That's wild. Either the guy who messed with it really was motivated, or it was done on purpose.

@LatitudeSky 1 year ago

This XT feels like it was "played with" by someone not familar with the pitfalls of XT. Like cables that can be plugged in two different ways and the user has to pay attention. The "reversible" power connectors are one. But the absurdly wrong floppy cables are another. With modern PCs, most cables only plug in one way, because we figured out that was a good idea. But maybe the person who did this just didn't know what they were doing. Shocking!

@TommyCrosby 1 year ago

Reminds me when we had exams in computer repair school and they would give you a purposefully broken computer and you had to find every problems they did to it. That would make total sense here.
Also, you passed the exam, congrats!

@TheChikyChiky 1 year ago

Gives me "Ran when parked" vibes.

@tarstarkusz 1 year ago

I worked briefly with the general public. You would amazed at the stupid things people do. One time, some guy I serviced had completely disassembled and reassembled his computer. He referred to the cables as the belts. I knew I was in for a long time of troubleshooting.

@pogostix6097 1 year ago

Either someone had NO IDEA what they were doing... or they decided to troll whoever bought it before they sold it.

@4444kermit 1 year ago (edited)

Hello. 40 Plus years ago, I was you. I believe I still have hard copies of the manuals (paper) from the era. What you did not have was available on the good old BBS's of the time. The internet was not really a thing. Chip creep was. Memories of frustration is finally soothed watching you while having a drink or two. Seen it, been there and done it. Thank You and as Alice said; "Welcome to my nightmare". :)

@tehFoxx0rz 1 year ago

This felt exactly like watching some kind of job interview aptitude test, or even a TV gameshow lmao.

@Jesselovespinball 1 year ago

It amazes me that the drive being connected wrong didn’t burn it up . Whoever did that originally was very lucky they didn’t connect the line power into the logic . Wild ride , tested all your skills and shows how much easier repairs are when you have known good to compare to !

@EvilTurkeySlices 1 year ago

One thing that I've learnt is to NEVER expect a repair to be easy, because then it definitely won't be.

@ristopoho824 1 year ago

On one hand. You got a dang lot of frustration with this one. On the other. This video is a golden resource for anyone troubleshooting 5160s. A good assortment of problems. And the methodical way you troubleshoot them is easy to understand and follow.

@soupwizard 1 year ago

26:53 that chat: "Pray to Boca Raton" 😂

@frugalprepper 1 year ago

That computer is called an I need a upgrade computer. I belonged to a business that wouldn't upgrade the user till it was broken. The user did it or made friends with the computer guy who did it for them to make it broken so they could get a new computer.

@kepakpl 1 year ago

It looks like some Polish tv show called Usterka when the producers make awful and rare faults on devices and then they called technicians to House with hidden cameras and actors (instructed to not help technicians and playing dumb). I remember once they swapped 75 Ohm barrel connector with 50 Ohm one (in sattelite tv installation) or put parrell cable to AT motherboard backwards.