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Where Do I Even Start?

So I bought a Performa 580CD on eBay recently.  It was in full working condition when it was shipped, but it was badly damaged during shipping (see attached photos).   The front of the case is completely broken away from the rear.  Looks like it was thrown from the back of a truck.  Currently seeking a refund.

Naturally, it no longer works.  When trying to power it on, nothing comes on--no power light on the front panel, no hard drive spinning up, no display, no sound.  No static on the CRT screen.  The only thing I think I hear is a faint sound for about half a second that sounds like an old CRT TV starting to come on, but quieter.

The CRT, which is supposed to be mounted to the front of the case, is completely broken free and basically hanging with only friction and the internal microphone wire keeping the front of the case from totally falling off and the CRT from falling out.

I don't actually see any obvious damage to the internal components, but something is obviously broken.  I don't know how to go about testing the boards or parts to see what's junk and what isn't.  I don't have access to a known good machine and I don't have any known good spare parts to use in troubleshooting.  I do have some of the typical benchtop test equipment (digital multimeter, LC meter, digital oscilloscope, regulated DC power supply, audio signal generator, isolation transformer).

I don't want to just toss it or break it down for parts.  I'd like to find a new case and then get it working again, but as I said I'm at a loss as far as troubleshooting goes, especially with the current damaged physical state of the machine.

Ideas?

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Tough to ship any spindler plastic macs anymore, especially with a cat installed.  I had my macintosh tv sent art face down in the box.  Came completly intact.  The man I got it from was a old tv guy from back in the day and had a clue.

 
That really sucks, I'm sorry.

I've learnt my lesson the hard way, and now before paying I ask for items to be packed very specifically to avoid damage as much as is possible.

Feel for you :(

 
If you can get a refund, see if you can convince the seller to let you keep the machine, and try to repair it.

You might disconnect the logic board and see if it does anything without the board attached.

IlikeTech

 
Tough to ship any spindler plastic macs anymore, especially with a cat installed.
I assume you meant CRT, else poor cat.
You can ship them, but the packing has to be extra specially good. If there is any wiggle room to move they will break, and you need lots of foam padding (that instafoam stuff would work too).

 
I think 'drone meant cat as in Cathode Ray Tube... but yeah, you wouldn't want to ship this puppy (I mean the iMac, not the cat who's obviously not a puppy), even though the quote on quote bed is from the Jobs era...

Shipping companies are really hopeless. I really feel bad for the both of you (you+the mac). Good luck with the restoration! I'm afraid I can't really help you, I don't know a thing about those LCs...

 
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Most companies used a metal shell to screw all the parts to and then used plastic as a cover. Apple decided to use plastic for structural support so you end up with broken bits when the plastic weaken with age and you decide to move the thing.

 
I don't blame the shipping companies or the product. I have had these machines come perfectly intact and utterly destroyed and it rests solely on how the seller packages it.

 
That's really awful! Sorry for the loss, if the crt won't come on it's possible that it's cracked... I would also check the analog board connector and make sure the logic board is fully seated. Even that logic board isn't very useful since they're so common. In this case, the seller should give you a full refund, if he does I would say don't give bad feedback but that's up to you.

One time I ordered a Color Classic and it came like that, I was really upset and sent a nasty email to the seller telling them I was going to send it back at their expense and they would be getting bad feedback, they gave me a full refund + 50 dollars towards another color classic, needless to say I gave good feedback... Another time I ordered a 550 and it arrived in a foam cooler and surrounded by trash, by it arrived intact so I didn't care... Anyways, please let us know how it turns out.

Regards,

Josh

 
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The old all-in-one's really don't ship well... Even the plastic on the Lisa is better than the plastic they used on those.. I've had my share of Mac TV's showing up the same way.. I gave up on buying all-in-one's if they require shipping.. Many as others have said have no clue how to pack them properly.. I have to say I've had two PM 5400 Black aio versions come from Hungary without damage.. and that is because they knew how to pack them! The old LC5XX style are a little trickier I think to package.. but I've never shipped one so I don't know. I have a local guy who does UPS/FedEx pack my stuff... I've never had a damaged item shipped by him.. These "shipping service chain stores" I find tend to hire untrained staff who have no idea how to pack properly.. It's depressing when it's damaged... it's not the point of getting your money back.. It's about getting the "rare" item you want undamaged. Refund all you want... but now you have to search all over again...

 
Ugh that sucks.

Two years ago I got a 550 in the original box that arrived smashed. even with the Styrofoam, the machines are susceptible to shattering. I eventually just waited till I could I find similar models locally, and ended up with a MacTV and 575. Just took a loooong time.

 
My one and only attempt to buy a LC5xx machine ended like this (it was also a Performa 580) so I feel your pain...I can't even find one locally.

 
I just bought a Flower Power that was packed really well (although not face down) and the grey plastic chassis smashed a bit. Outer case is good though.

 
Update:  I got a refund and I left positive feedback for the seller.  I'm convinced he wasn't at fault, and the fault was with Canada Post who didn't take good care of a package with "fragile" labels highly visible from every angle.  The kicker was when they sent me a questionnaire asking if I thought the package could have survived a three foot drop (as if that kind of thing was expected to be routine for them).

The seller is just as disappointed as I am.  It was his first computer and he was hoping a collector like me could give it a new lease on life.  I was going to put it in my "Retro Computer Lab" at work so my students could learn from a 500-series Mac just like I did in middle school.

 
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Not quite the end of the line. I would carefully remove it from its case, check the CRT for cracks, and examine every inch of the analog board for damage.

If not, see if you can get another case.

Wish you luck :)

 
I feel for you mate, Ive delt with the same thing happened to me too - its a gamble if it'll arrive safe or not, If worst case, if the Performa 580 components if you can get it working, I've got a front bezel (but not the rear part as it is damaged) but problem is - I am in Australia.

Cheers

AP

 
Well if it worked then, and not now, chances are the circuit board definitely got cracked, and/or the CRT itself got broken. 

If I were to ship one of these today, I would end up having to take it apart and ship the chassis separate from the plastics. This is assuming the plastic hasnt gotten as bad as the 5XXX series that in turning the screws, the whole standoffs just break apart into pieces. my 5300 has done that. 

 
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Well, I'm trying again.  I got a Performa 575 on eBay and I'm having it shipped out the day after labor day.  The seller is having it packaged by a company that specializes in packing things for shipping, who he regards very highly.  Apparently they've had a perfect track record with his fragile computer shipments.  Additionally I am paying a bit extra to have it double boxed.  It is going by UPS as the seller has reported having the best luck with them and horrible luck with USPS.

Does anyone here recommend any special packing directions?

 
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