Re: Problems with IBM service

[Michael Redmond <redmond@engr.wisc.edu>]

I use a parallel port connecting cable to go from computer to computer (at
least under Win95). It is generally known as the Laplink cable, and if you
don't have one, you can probably build it if you can find the right pin to
pin connections on the web. It would take two male DB25's and a 25 wire
cable to build.

This is much faster than serial computer to computer connections, so it is
generally the recommended method unless you absolutely must have
simultaneous access to your parallel port for printing. Your application may
not allow use of the parallel port. If that's the case, ignore the above.

Good luck...
Mike Redmond
------------------
At 11:09 AM 11/14/96 +1300, Chris Liljenstolpe wrote:
>Greetings,
>
>	I am looking (and I was just hoping that someone here would know who to
>vent on at IBM) for resolution for a problem with my thinkpad.  Here's a
>brief synopsis of my problem:
>
>1) Some months ago, my Thinkpad went in for easyserv repair (the power
>connector broke).  Before then my serial port on the back of the thinkpad
>worked.
>
>2) About a week before I left for Antarctica (where I am now) I discovered
>that my serial port was not working.  I could not use it for a direct
>connection to another machine, and I could not use it to talk to my digital
>camera.  It did pass an EasyStart diagnostic (without a cable attached).
>
>3) I called IBM service and was told by a pretty snotty young woman that
>what I was doing was not supported (i.e. using the serial port to talk to
>anything but a modem) and since EasyStart passed, it had to be a program or
>cable problem.  She would not listen to the dignositcs I did that seemed to
>point at the machine, etc - and closed my call for me :(
>
>4) I get down here to Antarctica, and use different target machines for the
>direct connection and it works with a compaq luggable, but not my Thinkpad
>(Procomm+ on both, same cable, etc.).  Also, another machine is able to
>download my camera, but my Thinkpad is not (again, same software, same cable).
>
>5) I call service again.  Good tech this time has me put a loopback cable
>on the serial port (the first tech never mentioned using a loopback - so I
>figured the EasyStart diagnostics did not deal with a cable loopback), and
>guess what - it passes without the loopback, but not with it.  He then says
>"just bring it into your local factory rep, or we can EasyService it."  At
>that point I blew up - IBM has a pretty good service network, but the
>nearest facility is Christchurch, New Zealand (about an 8 hour military air
>flight from here) and FedEx definately does not deliver to Antarctica.
>
>So now I am stuck - I have a broken laptop, which IBM refused to deal with
>before I left CONUS, and now I can not get it fixed until after I return to
>the states - sometime in March of 1997.  In the mean time I get to carry
>around two machines (the Thinkpad and a 30+ lb Compaq luggable) because the
>Thinkpad can not do something as simple as a direct connect serial
>connection to another computer.
>
>Needless to say - I am not really thrilled with IBM and am seriously
>considering not buying IBM the next time around.  I spent good money for
>support when I bought the IBM, and IBM has not delivered.  I would like to
>"discuss" this with someone at IBM who is not a worker drone.  Any
>suggestions on contacts within their service or PC Co. organization?
>
>	-=Chris
>
>
>
>--
>Chris Liljenstolpe, ASA - McMurdo Network Engineer
>Work 165/NOC, Tel X-2253, Pager #502     Res. 209/321, Tel X-2673
>mailto:cds@mcmurdo.gov                   mailto:cds@mcmsun5
>http://www.io.com/~cds/
>PGP Key 2047/37DDC209   E0 0F 16 97 33 16 F0 DD  41 B6 BC AF 20 31 AC FC
>
>
>