Funny Tech Fails!

[razark]

the battery was brand new, and the wires were working fine, because the plug kept fusing to the fuse, it just wasn't igniting the propellant.

Are you sure you inserted the ignitor all the way in? I remember having a problem like that. Turns out I didn't insert the ignitor far enough to actually reach the propellant.

In other news:

When messing with the live database, double check your where clause.

(8453 row(s) affected)

Oops? We have backups, right?

And:

I was working tech support for a server hosting company. We had recently moved to a new building, and they decided to test the backup power systems. Everything worked perfectly, as designed. Management didn't understand why we were complaining afterwards. The circuit our computers were plugged into stayed on, and we were still on the phones with the customers.

Somehow, they just couldn't comprehend why our monitors shutting off would affect our ability to help customers.

Edited October 22, 2015 by razark

[magnemoe]

Well back then I worked with pc repairs I managed to launch an capacitor into the roof.

First ATX power supply I run into, they was bleeding edge, it was also set to 110 volt so then I connected it to power I got an noise and nothing else.

Realizing my mistake I flipped the switch to 220 V and opened it up, it had a fuse, nice problem might be solved so i changed it, power up again and heard an sound like an tea kettle and ducked, a bang and the top of the capacitor hit the roof. Kind of lucky two ways, first that I ducked then that the exploding capacitor hide all sign of the wrong voltage who was our mistake so we got a new PSU from dealer.

At that place I also had an weird mystery who puzzles me 20 years later. Scanners back then used scsi to communicate so they needed an scsi card in an isa slot.

I got the PC plugged in card, connected scanner and installed the drivers. Scanner worked so I put the top of the case and put it to delivery to customer.

Next day customer comes back, scanner did not work, I started the computer and the scsi card was not found.

I opened the case and put the card in another slot, checked that it was well connected and tested that it worked, put the lid on the case and thought I should test the scanner too in case it was multiple fails. Now the scsi card was not found anymore.

Off with lid and card works, the standard lids on a pc back in 1995 was a U with top and sides over the back, front and motherboard plate. Few parts, easy to make and good structural strength but annoying to work with. compared to modern cases, 6 screws in the back to hold it in place.

Started testing, lid on but loose and no problem, I could even crew in 5 of the crews thigh but the last one disabled the card.

No it did not hit anything making an short, neither did it bend the case in any way, I could screw it halfway in with my fingers and the card stopped working. Switching to other slots did not help.

Customer got his pc with 5 screws only and was happy.

To this day this puzzles me, only explanation I might have is radio noise from the parts in the pc messing up but who did not changing slot have more impact.

It should do more with radio noise than 3 mm hole.

[Deadpangod3]

Are you sure you inserted the ignitor all the way in? I remember having a problem like that. Turns out I didn't insert the ignitor far enough to actually reach the propellant.

In other news:

When messing with the live database, double check your where clause.

(8453 row(s) affected)

Oops? We have backups, right?

And:

I was working tech support for a server hosting company. We had recently moved to a new building, and they decided to test the backup power systems. Everything worked perfectly, as designed. Management didn't understand why we were complaining afterwards. The circuit our computers were plugged into stayed on, and we were still on the phones with the customers.

Somehow, they just couldn't comprehend why our monitors shutting off would affect our ability to help customers.

yes, it was in all the way.

on topic:

the other day i dropped my school computer, it looked fine and all, until the screen turned on.

cracked, and only a portion of it properly working

[StrandedonEarth]

I was working at a call centre doing printer tech support. O e caller said they had replaced the toner cartridge and now it was just printing blank

Q: "Did you remove the protective strip first?"

A: "Umm... *click*"

[hugix]

Last weekend we had a DJ event in the venue I work at and in one of the areas in our venue a couple of young DJ's (14 - 17 years old) would play there and would do all the setting up (We were to busy with the main stage). I gave the kids everything they needed, subs, tops, amps, a monitor, a bulk load of cables of all kinds.

After about an hour they came to me, complaining our subs where way to weak. Turned out they didn't plug the signal via the amps I provided since "his DJ panel was active, therefore the speakers where active".

[CAKE99]

Sorry for the necro, but I have a new fail,

In April my father was standing a a small stone ledge (like the ones at some parks (at least in Australia, IDK about other countries)) playing a phone game called Ingress, he fell off, landed on his phone, the screen cracked.

BTW it was a Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

[Nuke]

most recent data loss fail was when i lost my videos folder during of all things a system backup. the ssd i had bought awhile back wasnt big enough to store all the files from my 1 terabyte mechanical hard drive. so it only had a partial set, my disc image archive (i had decided to stop using cd drives and virtualize my entire collection), and my videos (including some videos of lizzy when she was a kitten) all had to be stored elsewhere. fast forward to my last pc build, i had forgotten this. now i dont trust backup software, i like to do things manually. so when i went to back up my ssd to my 1t drive, i just formatted in instead of delete everything to save time. forgetting that my videos where on there. i had managed to make room for my disc images some time earlier, which i had realized were not that big (most were 700mb or less). but those kitten videos, gone, forever. tragic.

when i was on my first computer i did format my hard drive, lost all my descent mods and levels, all my high school code projects, and my then tiny mp3 archive. i think everyone does this at least once, its part of the learning process.

 

most recent non computer failure was fairly recent, ive been designing my own r/c hovercraft from the ground up, using parts on hand and a 3d printer. one of my prime directives is to do so without buying anything, using only the crap in my parts bins that i had accumulated over the years. so after designing, printing and testing the main impeller fan, bolting it to a brushless motor, sticking it in a box (fitted with skirt consisting of tape and plastic) and getting a successful air cushion, it was time to think about forward propulsion and steering. i have this really nice 3d printed ducted fan with almost enough thrust to hover, it just happens to have a big nacelle on it preventing the installation of a rudder. to make things more difficult, i dont have a two way speed controller, so i can only thrust forward.

i rummage through boxes trying to find something i can use. i find an old busted tail assembly for an rc helicopter. the system can pitch the blades in either direction, but its designed with belt drive in mind, and i dont know how to set that up. it has no blades, and the blade mounts are broken, but the hub, bearings, and all the variable pitch gear is intact. so i start salvaging, i find 3mm precision rods, gears (despite being salvaged from 2 different things, mesh just fine), and a motor. i am not satisfied with the motor, so i open it up and re-wind the coils with some thicker wire. i test it and while it runs hot (15 amps hot, but motor controller can handle 18) it works. i then design the whole assembly and spent all day printing it. i break it down into 5 parts, 2 blades, which mount into the metal hub, an axle bearing housing and servo bracket, a motor bracket (i want it separate in case i need to adjust its height with washers or layers of card stock or whatever to ensure good gear meshing). i also design a fan cage, but dont print it because the damn thing needs to work before i worry about not loosing fingers. here are the failutes in order.

first thing the mounting point for the lever that changes the blade pitch hits the bering housing, i redesign in software, but ultimately fix it with a file, avoiding a reprint.

servo bracket is too small and i cant get the servo in it. more filing ensues, i finally get the servo in there and then realize ive put it in backwards, and filing was not needed. derp.

i found out i didnt measure the distance between the blade pivot and the screwhole for the linkage accurately enough, so i dont get the blade pitch i had intended, i can either reprint the blades or print new linkages to fix it (the latter is easier).

the motor bracket i designed doesn't fit the motor, turns out i didnt account for the full motor diameter, only the lip at the buisness end of the motor. i worry i may have to redo the whole design, but ultimately print a working solution (thanks to that removable motor mount i had designed earlier).

i get the unit assembled and realize that nothing prevents the axle from sliding in the berings, screwing up the variable pitch system. fix this by pressing a second pair of berings into the slots intended to install the first set into their sockets, this worked well. i also try my metal working skills and turn a small aluminum end stop from the undercarriage of a long destroyed rc spitfore foamy into another endstop with a slightly wider hole. i drill it out to 3mm, chuck it up in my drill ans use it as a lathe to taper one end, found a couple washers, and it keeps it from sliding out just fine.

and the final fail. motor burns out. i guess its fragile commutator and brush assembly cant handle 15 amps. oops. anyone who knows enough to re wind a motor should know that. derp. so now i need to find a whole new motor, and not rewind it (or at least use slightly thinner wire this time) and print yet another motor mount. 4th times the charm.

 

also this nekro thread.

Edited June 4, 2016 by Nuke

[Nuke]

On 10/22/2015 at 7:17 AM, StrandedonEarth said:

I was working at a call centre doing printer tech support. O e caller said they had replaced the toner cartridge and now it was just printing blank

Q: "Did you remove the protective strip first?"

A: "Umm... *click*"

one of my major pet peves are people who fail to remove those protective vinyl cling films from their tech products. its packing material, get rid of it. especially the ones that are printed for marketing reasons. most of the time they are unaware thats what its for or that you can even peel it off in the first place (sometimes its so well pressed down clear and bubble free that i dont notice it for weeks). whats even worse is when they try to justify its existance.

"durr... but it protects the finish"

what good is the finish if you cant see it through the couldy clingfilm!

"dun te duh.. but i want people to know my tv is 1080i"

your cable box only delivers standard def! it doesnt even have an hd capable output! also 1080p is better.

Edited June 4, 2016 by Nuke

[StrandedonEarth]

And then there is this poor little guy...

"Um, can someone slip a slice of cheese in here please?"

[p1t1o]

On 6/4/2016 at 7:05 PM, StrandedonEarth said:

And then there is this poor little guy...

"Um, can someone slip a slice of cheese in here please?"

Oh mate! You were ninja'd like 6 months ago! *edit* - by yourself no less!!

On that note, I am always supremely grateful to those peolpe that say "necro" because it always saves me from responding to posts from ages ago!

My contribution:

 

MY girlfriend drops her iphone and shatters the screen, it costs something like £100 to fix, luckily her work paid for it.

A month later, she drops it again, screen shatters again.

And here's me with my humble non-iphone with the metal case all dinted from multiple drops and not a scratch on the screen.

Did I mention that she always has her phone in a protective sleeve and I never do?

 

The mains switch for my computer sits comfortably next to my toes when Im using it, no stranger to that particular folly.

 

Lovely new set of speakers I bought I while back (http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-Soundsticks-III-Multimedia/dp/B0042F3K9W), had them in the kitchen/living room. 

One day, we discover a leaky pipe in the bathroom. Go downstairs to find that there is only a tiny drip coming through in one place. It just happens to be directly over the nicely funnel-shaped subwoofer. (This was actually a near-miss as they did fail, but after drying them out, they still worked, phew!)

Edited June 6, 2016 by p1t1o
Heh!

[maranble14]

This isn't exactly a technology failure per se, but it is related. Anybody else ever make the mistake of talking to someone in person while trying to type something and end up typing what they were saying? Happens to me on the reg, and I always feel like a dumbass for it haha.

[Aperture Science Employee]

I tried using Apple maps for navigation

 

I found Dublin's new international airport, Airfield.