Things Ruined By Kids

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 01/19/2015 at 23:46 • Filed to: None

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Two weeks ago, one of my 9-year-olds was standing at the computer table, watching a video, and wearing headphones. My 12-year-old was sitting next to him, and they got into an argument over some ridiculously trivial thing, and the argument escalated. The 9-y-o tried to run away, with the headphones still attached to his head — and the iMac — and he pulled the computer off the table. It landed face down on the carpeted floor (concrete slab underneath). I set it back up, and turned it on. The HD would spin up, the startup chime would sound, but the screen never turned on.

So I took it to a local repair shop. They charge $49 to diagnose the problem. If I choose to have it repaired, I pay for the repair less the diagnostic fee. If I choose not to have them repair it, I pay the $49 and get my computer back. So today, they told me that the logic board is broken. The guy said that after it starts up, it goes through "a series of checks" and if something isn't right it turns off. That's why I get the HD spin and chime, but no video. Sounds plausible. But what do I know? They want $250 for a "new" logic board and $129 for labor to install it. And I have to assume that the logic board is the only thing that's broken. Hell, for all I know, it could be a loose ribbon cable, and they're bilking me for a replacement part. Or I could pay for the logic board replacement only for them to find that there's more wrong with it. There's no way for me to know. So I figure I've got a few options:

Have them repair it. That would be $379, more than I paid for it second hand from my dad. Taking into consideration the cost of the RAM upgrade I did, I would basically be paying for the machine twice.

Repair it myself. Logic boards for this computer can be had for half (or less than half) what the repair shop is charging me. But I have no experience whatsoever with this sort of thing. I have a neighbor who is an EE, and he might be able to help.

Pay the $50 and get a second opinion. But that would likely incur another bench charge.

Pay the $50 and go looking for a similar machine on Craigslist, or elsewhere, that hasn't been broken (to the best of my knowledge). A cursory glance at Craigslist shows that I'll probably pay about the same amount as I would to have mine repaired. But I can take the RAM out of the broken iMac and put it in the other one.

Pay the $50 and write the machine off. That would be best for my boys, because then they only owe me $25 each instead of $190 each. The iMac, a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , is getting a little long in the tooth. And the money would be better spent on brakes for my VW.

I'm leaning towards No. 5.

What do y'all think?

TheHondaBro > ttyymmnn 01/19/2015 at 23:51

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It could be the logic board motherboard has indeed fractured. They have a large amount of surface area in relation to their structural integrity. Is it your only computer?

Also, I'm curious as to what type of super-human headphones have enough strength as to not come off the wearer's head, but to drag a heavy iMac with it.

Flat Six > ttyymmnn 01/19/2015 at 23:53

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Tough one. Problem is the logic board might not be the only problem. Maybe you fix that and the screen is discolored in an annoying way. If you have other computers in the house I would do 5 or 4. I have 2 kids and feel your pain.

TheHondaBro > Flat Six 01/19/2015 at 23:54

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When I was little, I drew all over my dad's work computer with crayons. Aah, youth.

Nibby > ttyymmnn 01/19/2015 at 23:55

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2007 iMac? Don't bother spending any money on it.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > ttyymmnn 01/19/2015 at 23:55

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If you have another computer, number 5. If not, can you salvage data from the HD? If so, pay the bench fee and then transfer the data onto a new HD (in a new computer). If it doesn't turn on and you don't want to pay the repair fees, can't salvage information and you don't want to deal with it anymore, let them know you don't want it and they can keep it. A little shifty maybe, but they'd get a free broken computer.

Agrajag > ttyymmnn 01/19/2015 at 23:57

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Two weeks ago, one of my 9-year-olds was standing at the computer table, watching a video, and wearing headphones. My 12-year-old was sitting next to him

I got this far and remembered your post about them asking about two girls one cup, and thought "Dear God, NO!" Then I was like "Phew. It's only a broken computer."

ttyymmnn > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/19/2015 at 23:58

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It's not the only computer in the house. I have my own, and this was one of theirs. We still have an older Mini and a PC. So it's not like they were going to have nothing to use. But it still sucks; it was a good machine.

ttyymmnn > Nibby 01/19/2015 at 23:59

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I beginning to agree with that assessment.

ttyymmnn > Flat Six 01/20/2015 at 00:00

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It was not the only computer in the house. I have mine, and they had theirs. But there's still an older Mini and a PC they can use. So they're not exactly offline forever.

Sam > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:01

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I'd say 5. It'll teach them a valuable lesson about repercussions for their actions. Just make it clear that you aren't mad, they just need to pay for the damage.

Plus, it sounds like you could use a new computer anyways. You could probably sell it on Craigslist or eBay for at least a little bit.

ttyymmnn > TheHondaBro 01/20/2015 at 00:02

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Not the only computer.

Well, the headphones did break in the process. They were relatively new, and "purchased" by the other 9-year-old at Dave and Busters just a few days earlier. So while the headphones did stay on his head, long enough to drag the heavy computer off the table, the headphones did break at the in-cord volume control. I wish they had broken before the computer came down.

Nibby > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:03

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It's almost 8 years old. It served its purpose. You can get the same model for less than $200 on eBay, so it really isn't worth fixing either.

XJDano > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:03

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Ours just stopped, but cost $60 to get it out, it's the HD, $400 I think it's from '08

Is now sitting in basement, waiting, not sure what for

ttyymmnn > Sam 01/20/2015 at 00:03

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I sure as hell was mad when it happened. Now I'm just sad. And I think they get it. Especially if it doesn't get replaced. Also, not the only computer in the house. It was "theirs", and I have mine. I put it in quotes because, ultimately, they're all mine. I just let them use them.

TheHondaBro > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:09

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Then I'd suggest, since it's an eight-year-old computer, scrap it. There's a suggestion in one of the comments to buy your children HP Stream 11s rather than paying to repair the iMac. That seems like a valid suggestion to me.

Sam > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:09

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In that case, I'd say #5, sell the broken computer, and buy them a new (used) one for Christmas next year, maybe. Be prepared to put up with a lot of whining.

ttyymmnn > Sam 01/20/2015 at 00:11

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Oh, I'm prepared. I don't think it's set in yet that the iMac isn't going to reappear or be replaced. It's just gone. I may see if my neighbor is game to tackle fixing it. I'll get the cheapest board I can find and pay the labor in beer.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:11

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I feel you. It sucks when entropy happens.

Scorpio GTX1 > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:12

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Yeah, fuck it. That computer isn't worth the amount of money you would pay to repair it. As long as the hard drive works, you have everything that's important.

ttyymmnn > TheHondaBro 01/20/2015 at 00:13

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I'm still a Mac-ophile. And they've still got two other computers to use. But this was the nicest of the lot, and they fought over it. It will sink in when it's not repaired or replaced.

Sam > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:15

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Yeah, it probably shouldn't be that hard to fix. Of course, I only deal in PC, not Mac.

ttyymmnn > Scorpio GTX1 01/20/2015 at 00:23

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Important to my boys, not me. Just a lot of game progress. Oh well. But I should still be able to retrieve it data somehow. AFAIK, the HD is still working. I might pay the repair guys to xfer it for me.

ttyymmnn > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/20/2015 at 00:23

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I've been on the entropy train for the last 12 years.

Tohru > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:26

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I don't see an option for corporal punishment.

ttyymmnn > Tohru 01/20/2015 at 00:27

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Well, it's not like they did something wrong even though they knew it was wrong. This was more a case of boys being boys with unintended or unforeseen circumstances. But the thought had crossed my mind.

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 00:46

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1. It's always the logic board

2. Just call it a mother board already apple!

ttyymmnn > HammerheadFistpunch 01/20/2015 at 00:47

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Sounds logical.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Tohru 01/20/2015 at 01:15

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Funny you brought that up - a few months ago, my nephews nearly destroyed my PS3 (the fatboy version with true backwards compatibility) and the moment I wanted to go spank the two boys (well, I guess in Vietnamese families, you could spank your relative's children), I saw my dad with his lighter being so dangerously close to one of my Honda 919's fuel lines. He said, "the moment you even think about spanking them, two things will be splattered red (aka, he lights and both him and my bike goes up in flames.)" And he was looking pissed too.

Because I kind of care for my family and I have a soft spot for my only ride (as well as the fact that I do not want to explain to the cops how a hideous accident occured), I nervously placed the paddle board down.

I just can't discipline my family's kids sometimes, because I know that old coot will be right next to the one thing I cherish the most.

Scorpio GTX1 > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 01:22

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It should be easy enough to do yourself if you want to save some cash.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Int…

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 01:22

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All aboard!

Tohru > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 01/20/2015 at 01:39

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Your dad's being way unreasonable. Like, just reading that made me both pissed off and instantly intensely dislike him.

Also, what if the little undisciplined hellions destroy your motorcycle?

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Tohru 01/20/2015 at 01:45

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You mean PS3, not motorcycle. They're not powerful enough to push a 919cc standard.

Well, I kind of see why because I always keep disciplining them at even the simplest mistakes - I guess I do have a bit of an irritated personality.

MINISQL > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 02:00

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Chances are the HD is bad, especially if the computer was running when it fell. Personally, I'd opt for number 5. Maybe there is an option 6, leaving the computer there at the shop. But then you lose all your personal data.

StoneCold > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 02:29

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Nothing on a computer is ever hard to replace. It's just like building with Legos. The problem with swapping the motherboard is that you're taking EVERYTHING apart to fix it, so you'd have to document how you took it apart to fix it back up.

thebigbossyboss > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 07:17

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Leaning towards #5 myself. If you need the money for brakes, that's fine, but if you take that money and put it towards a new computer you can probably get something better.

Here's something to make you feel better: When my brother was about 17 he "broke" the living room carpet by having a party and spilling salsa all over the white carpet. Cost to rip out carpet and repair: +/- c$2K.

My brother didn't have many Saturdays that summer.

OPPOsaurus WRX > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 08:30

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get the neighbor to help. a six-pack only costs like $8.

ttyymmnn > thebigbossyboss 01/20/2015 at 08:48

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I had a party once when my parents were out of town. They came home the day after the party, and I was up all night cleaning. I missed the puke in their bathroom (I never used it, why would anybody else?) and I missed the beer that was spilled in the harpsichord that was built from a kit by my dad's friend. To say my dad was pissed is an understatement. He's not a violent man, but the time he spent sitting on the back porch staring out into space was telling. I don't recall the repair to the harpsichord being all that expensive. But I had to go to my dad's friend's house, knock on the door, and tell him what happened all by myself.

ttyymmnn > StoneCold 01/20/2015 at 08:48

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That's what's got me concerned. However, I'll be dollars to donuts that there's a YouTube video out there that walks you through step by step.

ttyymmnn > MINISQL 01/20/2015 at 08:49

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No, I'll get it back. I want to get my RAM out of it. And when I go back, I'll take an external HD and see how much they'll charge me to get my data out, provided the HD is still good.

thebigbossyboss > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 08:55

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Reminds me slightly of when I had to call my dad "Yeah, I crashed your car into a truck"...great.

My brother never learned man. Just before this had happened, my parents were away, and he was working night shift, and me afternoon shift. So I come home from work at 9pm, get in the house, paintings all crooked. I straighten then and think "man I really have to piss".....go into the washroom there he is passed out drunk between the toilet and the tub. Go downstairs to what was then my room find a friend of my brothers in my bed, with bread crumbs everywhere. Kid ate a whole goddamn loaf of bread IN MY BED.
One also puked in a sink that doesn't work.

Make that kid clean up the puke, the whole downstairs in a flipping disaster, closet doors are off their hinges. Drive all the drunk kids home. Get home, and brother goes "help me clean up the house" me "no, I'm going to bed because at 5am I have to drive you to work, this is not my problem"

Kid gets up at 3, to clean it all up. I can't even imagine the will power it took to manage that.

Now in fairness, I have done a lot of stupid things due to alcohol including throwing up onto a lap top (good one) but at least I did it at my own house!!

DisplacementForDayz, ironically lusts after a Honda Grom > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 09:01

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Number 5 is an excellent idea.

ttyymmnn > thebigbossyboss 01/20/2015 at 09:34

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I give your brother credit for getting up and doing the cleaning. In spite of his drunken behavior, that shows a good sense of responsibility.

thebigbossyboss > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 09:40

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Or at least a healthy fear of my father. :) Ah well, as you already well know the short run monetary inconveniences are outweighed by all the rest of the experience hahaha. Hopefully someday I'll know first hand. :P

Shiyal > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 09:42

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no. 5. and show them how to fix brakes.

Mattbob > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 11:57

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I'd go with option 2 or 5. If it makes the POST (power on self test) beep, then it posted fine. Ask your neighbor to look a tit if he is the hobbiest kind. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_…

Mattbob > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 12:02

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you can transfer it yourself. Just get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc…

$20 and you will have the tool for future use. There are cheaper versions out there, this one was the first I found.

ttyymmnn > Mattbob 01/20/2015 at 12:31

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Thanks for the info. My plan right now is to get it home and see if I can get it to start up in Target Mode so I can transfer the data myself. The repair shop wanted $120 to do the transfer for me (!!!!). At the moment, I'm going with No. 5, and will see if I can fix it myself later.

ttyymmnn > Mattbob 01/20/2015 at 12:33

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This looks very promising. So, you just remove the drive and plug it in to this? It provides the necessary power to make it go?

Mattbob > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 12:38

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yeah, it comes with a power adapter. It basically makes your HDD into an external drive without an enclosure.

Aaron Paul: Oppo's Resident Fake British Actor > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 13:44

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Personally, I'd go with number five. I'm sure your kids probably would, too, if they had a choice of how much they had to pay...

ttyymmnn > Aaron Paul: Oppo's Resident Fake British Actor 01/20/2015 at 13:45

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I've already chosen option 5. I'll get the computer back, and see if I can get the data off it. In the future, I may tackle the board replacement myself. My EE neighbor said he'd advise me on the repair. I'll learn something about computer repair, and the board that I buy will be much cheaper. The question, though, is whether or not a replacement board will have the CPU on it. That I don't know. But I'll find out.