nvic wrote:
In regards to the VCR with the malfunctioning display: what display
are you referring to? the clock display on the front or the on-screen
(menus, Status messages, timer prog setup, etc.)? let me know, maybe i
can help...

Thanks. I originally said 'on board' to distinguish it from 'on screen;'
but that unit has now been determined to have survived unscathed, after a
second round of 'disconnect/reconnect' to the AC supply.

Upon that second round of diagnosis, I've discovered the issue with the
phones to be a result of a damaged outboard caller ID unit. It was
connected to only one line, but took both down. Disco'ing it fixed that
problem...scratch another device. I opened up the cel charger today--a
switching type. The resistor in series with the AC line is charred beyond
recognition and both diodes immediately past that are shorted...didn't go
any further. I'll keep the housing (nifty little unit with flip-down AC
prongs) and the stupid Sony/Ericsonn proprietary plug.....

The fax machine is the major loss. I detailed the aquisition of this here a
couple years ago. Again: an HP 3200m which I purchased at auction, with a
corrupt bios. It's showing a '79: Service Error' with the second line of
the lcd reading a cryptic 'download_modem.O'(verload?). I'll research that
to see if reflashing the BIOS might cure, but I'm not optimistic. The thing
about these units is that if one section dies *nothing* works. Now I'm out
a scanner/printer along with the fax. I learned that lesson a few years
ago, and will never purchase such (new) again; but this one was such a good
deal and has paid for itself already. Of course replacement cost might be
many times my initial investment of around $65.....

jak