If it isn't tested, assume broken beyond repair.

SgtBowhack · Post by **SgtBowhack** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 3:53 am

Yesterday I bought a PC Engine with CD-ROM2 unit and the interface unit from a store in Osaka. It was 1000 yen for the set (about US$10) so I thought "Hmmm... might be worth it."
Well, it wasn't.
Luckily I bought two PC Engines (one guaranteed to work for another 1000) or I'd be really pissed. The PC Engine in that set doesn't work. At all. If you plug it in and turn it on NOTHING happens. I spent a few hours opening it up, to try and short the power switch to see if it's just the switch being silly. Nope. This thing is DEAD.
Next, the CD-ROM. Plugging in a roughly correct power supply, it turned on and basically told me it was trying to load. So I open that up (and I thank NEC for using Philips screws on the CD-ROM, probably because they foresaw problems with them). The ribbon cable connecting the drive to the mainboard is broken. It's one of those REALLY tiny cables too. If I can figure out a way to get it un-plasticized, I might be able to fix it, but I think it's probably pretty hopeless.
In short, even if it's an amazing deal, if it doesn't work, it's not worth buying.

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:09 am

Uh. SDorry to hear that

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:40 am

maybe it's a bad voltage regulator or something. Look on the board where the power first comes in and look at whatever you can. If it doesn't even flicker on the screen, it may not be a bad chip. I don't know much at all about a PC Engine, but here is one of my rules of broken items:

SpongeBuell's 746th law of repair wrote:The less it does when turned on, the easier it should be to fix, as it is likely a power problem, not a IC type of problem.

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:45 am

My law of repair is sell on ebay as maybe an easy fix

SgtBowhack · Post by **SgtBowhack** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 3:56 pm

The PC Engine is a tricky piece of crap and I'm not sure it's worth trying to repair. I've already destroyed the case just getting it open (probably would've ended up being the parts for my first portable if I had gotten it to work). The only IC that I can see being the voltage regulator is soldered to the board (the whole IC, not just the pins) and while I could probably pry it up with my soldering iron and a screwdriver, probably not worth it. Anyway, don't trust stores in Osaka when they say "untested"

makuraken · Post by **makuraken** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:21 pm

Which is why I say ``God bless AKIHABARA!`` Or small used shops and such. Loads of sweet stuff there and if it doesnt work, take it back!
But I am sorry to hear that...
Hey SgtBowhack, do you have PSone screen by chance?

xxxeagle · Post by **xxxeagle** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:26 pm

hey i just searched pc engine on google is this a pc engine portable by chance.
heres a translator

xxxeagle · Post by **xxxeagle** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:33 pm

just read the description further down the page yes it is a pc engine portable thats neat i never saw that before actually i never really looked at the pcengine that much ever.

SgtBowhack · Post by **SgtBowhack** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 1:12 am

There was also the PC Engine GT which came out in America as TurboExpress. It was a true PC Engine portable (not just a regular PCE with a screen like that one).
makuraken: No, I don't have a PSone screen. Sorry. Also, I can't take it back. I got it from Denden Town (the Osaka version of Akihabara). And they sold it telling me it was untested so I *cannot* take it back! I bought it knowing full well that it could bit me in the rear if it didn't work.

Fate smiled on me today though

I got two Famikonyarous complete and new for 980 apiece - no tax even! Woohoo! They're the older ones with the pirate Mario and DK built-in. Who doesn't want to play Rescue Kuck? (yes, that really is what they changed the name of Donkey Kong too... which made me go "What the kuck?" when I saw it)