RE: B19545092 - errors on system, weird poo <- Update -- MIDRANGE-L

Well, my "future father in law"'s system is back up and running and I
don't know the status on the second system but I doubt it will be down
for long.  Here is my current crisis related to this.  Right now the
local IBM techs are saying all the time they have spent out there and
parts they have ordered are now billable and not covered under warenty
since I was in the system.  I have a real problem with that

1:  My howto install instructions I pulled strait from the repair
manual.  Their counterpoint is it's a repair manual not a howto install
manual.  Well, that's BS.  My Chilton's car manual tells me how to put
in a new alternator but its still a repair manual.  Can someone tell me
which book I can find that in / where on the I series website? (Model
9402-400)

2:  They some how have imagined stickers on this machine that say do not
open.  Well, no such stickers exist.  No where does it say if you open
this, you are SOL.

3:  Two of the techs Ive worked with are like Frikk and Frakk.  They
pull the CPU card w/o grounding themselves and then pass it to another
guy who is DEFINATLY not grounded.  They eave the machine in piles and
in shambles scattered on the floor.  Oh, they didn't even bring a 7mm
socket to work on the damn thing and had to use mine (I figure if they
try to bill me or my agents for their work, I bill them for the use of
my socket - the two may be equal).

4:  Another system in Arizona went down with the same friggen error.  Is
it a crazy thought that the company that will stay nameless could have
sent out some kind of firmware upgrade that says no to ethernet cards?

All these IBM AS400s ive worked on are all leased and all have warrentys
on them.  However, other user upgradable parts have been available, but
I dunno what they are off the top of my head.  I was told by the
company's helpdesk that if that part goes out, its not covered, but if
the mainboard, etc. goes out - that's still covered, even with the user
added part.  How the frigg is this any different then an Ethernet card.
??

This may end up keeping me out of these systems for good / making me go
brankrupt.  They are saying that the Mainboard and cpu cards are gonna
cost a few thousand dollars.  My retailer where I bought the ethernet
cards from says the going rate for CPU cards and mainboards isnt more
then a few hundred.  (shameless plug - Peak Systems in Colorado -
1-800-397-3776, ext 01 for greg, no I don't work for them but I sure do
like the guy)

Oh what a headache!
-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
[mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com] On Behalf Of Vernon Hamberg
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 9:03 AM
To: midrange-l@midrange.com
Subject: RE: B19545092 - errors on system, weird poo


I agree. The fact that you had the manual is in your favor. IBM says
"You can do it" and gives you instructions on how.

At 08:52 AM 3/26/02 -0600, you wrote:
>Don't throw in the towel just yet.... I'm sure most of us on this list
>have taken a few good lumps over the years.
>
>The AS400 is a complicated box, and it takes time to become familiar
>with it.  You got stuck on a project that a lot of as400 veterans might

>not want to tackle.  In 17 years on IBM midrange, I've never once had
>to pull a card or install a hardware feature.  Not because I didn't
>think I could do it, but because the companies I worked for felt that
>IBM (or their BP) was better equipped to handle these issues.  When
>something breaks or get screwed up, they've got the resources and
>experience needed to fix it.  Less stress on everyone involved,
>especially you and the company you work for.
>
>Stick with it.  I'd be interested to know how this comes out.  Good
>luck.....
>
>Eric DeLong
>Sally Beauty Company
>MIS-Sr. Programmer/Analyst
>940-898-7863 or ext. 1863
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Rosewood [mailto:rosewood@chat.ru]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 6:53 AM
>To: midrange-l@midrange.com
>Subject: RE: B19545092 - errors on system, weird poo
>
>
>Well, after these two have blown up in my face, I have lost all
>confidence in myself to do AS400 work.
>
>What the company (which again, im reluctant to give out, but I may have

>already so oh well) has allowed an IBM business partner in CA to send
>out network cards and walk through the installs.
>
>Im gonna poo in my pants if I hear in an hour that oh, cause I did it
>that its not warrenty covered.  Then, I might just shoot myself.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
>[mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com] On Behalf Of Andy
>Nolen-Parkhouse
>Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 6:39 AM
>To: midrange-l@midrange.com
>Subject: RE: B19545092 - errors on system, weird poo
>
>
>Rosewood,
>
>I would agree with Evan's recommendation below.  User-installable
>features are a relatively new concept in the AS/400 line, and
>definitely came after the 9402-400 series.  Most business users will
>have a service contract with either IBM or a third-party contractor for

>hardware maintenance.  I'm sure there are folks out there who have been

>throwing cards around for years, but I think they are a minority.
>
>Many IBM-business partners do not do hardware maintenance and would
>suggest that you contract with someone else.  They generally would be
>able to make the arrangements for IBM hardware maintenance.
>
>Good luck with your future father-in-law.
>
>Regards,
>Andy Nolen-Parkhouse
>
> > I would make getting the help of a business partner or IBM a
> > priority.
>I'm
> > sure someone else will correct me if what I say is wrong, but what
> > you
>are
> > doing sounds to me like it could land you with a dead and/or data
> > challenged machine requiring _very_ expensive repairs and/or
> > recovery procedures and no recourse to IBM: it sounds like what you
> > are doing
>would
> > invalidate any warranty that might or might not exist to provide any

> > replacement equipment or help.
> >
> > I am sure the cost of a business partners assistance has to be less
>than
> > the possible cost of a screwed machine and loss of business. I do
> > work
>for
> > a business partner so I may be biased.
>
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