Repair guides

[DStriemer]

The, "all about cleaning" thread gave me an idea: Why on a site devoted to videogames,(which inevitably breakdown or have problems), is there no "DP official" or "DPunofficial" Guide to fixing "X system". I am in no way saying the administators or moderators are in any way responsible for this. I just figured that a site which has been around for a while and has a large community has not come together within its "TRIBES" to create their own "DPofficial/DPunofficial" guide to fixing "X system"

I think this is really as simple as people who already have the interest in fixing their favourite system compiling the "official data" on their chosen system from the company as well as putting in their real world knowledge and expertise(Which seems to become way more important as a system "dies" and get old and cranky. Then putting it together into a new realworld repair manual that actually tells the average joe with a little electrical skill and steady hands how to fix his darn machine no matter what is wrong with it and how old the parts are.

I believe most of the work is already done if you have a copy of your favourite systems repair manual. All you have to do is create an official thread to collect "experiences" in repairing. Then add it in to a "cutdown" version of the official company repair manual. Once that is done create a locked thread, or a downloadable document with the actual manual.

I realize this whole T&R section of the site is for this reason.....but to be able to pull up one whole locked post/or downloadable document with a COMPLETE manual(that actually helps you) and links to pictures on how to fix your fave machine would be kickass. It would save a lot of questions/posts/and frustration. It would definately cut down on a lot of the "help me with a NES 72 pin connector problem" type threads. LOL

Anyway, if I'm on crack I expect no real response to this. If anybody thinks I actually got a good idea either respond or try to round your wagons with your "TRIBE" members and get something going. I for one would love to be involved with an intellivision one. Even though I have to date only fixed two of them. :embarrassed:

That's the end of this book....who knows I may need more energy for another one. :)

[omnedon]

Well, I've always simply searched forums like this one (manually and using the 'search' function), and have had good results.

When I started getting into Neo Geo modding, I literally read the entire Tech support forum over there, and I learned a LOT. This being a forum, properly used, the knowledge base is there. It's just not popped into chapters. That may seem less convenient, but when you consider the knowledge base is alive and growing, it may be the best way for it to evolve.

Many system FAQ's already list common failures and remedies. Even some of the more complex fixes I've done to the ColecoVision, are pulled directly from that systems FAQ.

That said, IMO, the knowledge base here is more current, and addresses some isses that some older FAQ's call 'unfixable'. If a FAQ was written 10 years ago, when replacing the system was easy, sometimes they didn't go that far in repair efforts. Now, some of the systems are downright scarce. Like I said, it's a living thing, this information. Old 'truths' get blown away, fixes get replaced with better methods. I pushed hard to get Joe to give us a little corner. I am very pleased that we have it, and I consider our tech forum as among the best on the internet, signal to noise ratio wise. Searching here, does not yield a lot of chaff.


Eventually, the archived knowledge in this forum could be used to make some sort of tome, but at present, I still think that's a bit ambitious. But I'm not stopping anyone. :)

[DStriemer]

On the other hand, sometimes an organized work can bring out more criticism and ideas from people who otherwise stay quiet.