4 ms·

The fun part is that there is def a disconnect between the dev team and hardware itself (or help desk). To resolve the issue, you only needed to short two jumpe

The fun part is that there is def a disconnect between the dev team and hardware itself (or help desk). To resolve the issue, you only needed to short two jumpers on the motherboard to get it to turn on. If it was a NON-ACPI hardware, then the hardware switch was wired into the power supply itself, which, then again you could've undone the cable and connect the circuit to boot the computer.

PowerfulWizard 7y ago
Yeah I used a computer for years with no case, to turn it on all you have to do is briefly short 2 pins on the front panel connector. Although once inside a case it can be pretty awkward to access.
- walshemj 7y ago
  This is how you start a pc today when you are diy building it. The first stage is testing that the MB will boot to bios outside the case
  - PowerfulWizard 7y ago
    hmm not a bad idea, I've never done it, I always assemble inside the case. And then after the loud beeping sound, check around to find which connectors I've missed.
bdcravens 7y ago
Back when I had some Bitcoin GPU rigs (2011), my setup used 2 wires connecting those jumpers to a cheap push button switch.
hawkesnest 7y ago
I would imagine that a build machine for Office 97 would be of the pre-ATX days and have the switch wired directly to the power supply. Like a clicker-style pen, those power buttons were often push-on-push-off, and occasionally the mechanism would break. Jamming something, like a screwdriver, into the power switch hole would be a completely acceptable thing to do for a one-off. It probably took a little time for the initial panic to wear off and allow the folks doing the build to realize it was a simple matter. The thought "we may not be able to" is a bit of a reach. At worst they could swap power supplies or whatnot.
- mrguyorama 7y ago
  Doesn't that mean the switch was working with mains electricity though? In general, I'd recommend against sticking a screwdriver into anything 120v AC
  - Kirby64 7y ago
    Extremely unlikely. It was probably 12V. Just like the switches today are 12V and you can 'power on' an ATX power supply by jumpering 2 wires on the main 20/24-pin ATX cable.
    - cesarb 7y ago
      No, pre-ATX power supplies did have their main and only power switch on the 120V AC side. And when the power switch was on the front of the case, the wires going to that switch carried the full 120V AC voltage and current. Turning on the power supply by shorting a pin to the ground (it's not 12V, it's 5V, pulled up to the always-on 5V stand-by rail by the power supply) is an ATX novelty.
      - T-hawk 7y ago
        Can confirm. I shocked myself a few times by bumping into the terminal of the 120V AC wire at the power switch on the front of a case. As long as it's plugged in to the wall, one side of that switch is hot even when the PC is off.
      - rootsudo 7y ago
        You can manually make it always on by just cutting the switch and splicing the wires together. That's probably what fixed the button - jamming a screwdriver pushed the switch/contacts together.

PowerfulWizard 7y ago

Yeah I used a computer for years with no case, to turn it on all you have to do is briefly short 2 pins on the front panel connector. Although once inside a case it can be pretty awkward to access.

walshemj 7y ago
This is how you start a pc today when you are diy building it. The first stage is testing that the MB will boot to bios outside the case
- PowerfulWizard 7y ago
  hmm not a bad idea, I've never done it, I always assemble inside the case. And then after the loud beeping sound, check around to find which connectors I've missed.

bdcravens 7y ago

Back when I had some Bitcoin GPU rigs (2011), my setup used 2 wires connecting those jumpers to a cheap push button switch.

hawkesnest 7y ago

I would imagine that a build machine for Office 97 would be of the pre-ATX days and have the switch wired directly to the power supply. Like a clicker-style pen, those power buttons were often push-on-push-off, and occasionally the mechanism would break. Jamming something, like a screwdriver, into the power switch hole would be a completely acceptable thing to do for a one-off. It probably took a little time for the initial panic to wear off and allow the folks doing the build to realize it was a simple matter. The thought "we may not be able to" is a bit of a reach. At worst they could swap power supplies or whatnot.

mrguyorama 7y ago
Doesn't that mean the switch was working with mains electricity though? In general, I'd recommend against sticking a screwdriver into anything 120v AC
- Kirby64 7y ago
  Extremely unlikely. It was probably 12V. Just like the switches today are 12V and you can 'power on' an ATX power supply by jumpering 2 wires on the main 20/24-pin ATX cable.
  - cesarb 7y ago
    No, pre-ATX power supplies did have their main and only power switch on the 120V AC side. And when the power switch was on the front of the case, the wires going to that switch carried the full 120V AC voltage and current. Turning on the power supply by shorting a pin to the ground (it's not 12V, it's 5V, pulled up to the always-on 5V stand-by rail by the power supply) is an ATX novelty.
    - T-hawk 7y ago
      Can confirm. I shocked myself a few times by bumping into the terminal of the 120V AC wire at the power switch on the front of a case. As long as it's plugged in to the wall, one side of that switch is hot even when the PC is off.
    - rootsudo 7y ago
      You can manually make it always on by just cutting the switch and splicing the wires together. That's probably what fixed the button - jamming a screwdriver pushed the switch/contacts together.