[mamorim01]

mamorim: Yes, the guy is located in Tuscon Arizona. Just bublewrap and nothing else as padding in the box. Even the keyboard has a shattered key...

I am working with the power-jumper as i write. I am lazy and don't want to disassemble the computer to install/remove the jumper (I'm suspecting it will be nececary to do this later on as well) so I'm installing a wire going out the back of the computer so i can "jump" it without removing anything but the power plug.

Yeah, definitely the same genius taking care of the shipping and handling, what a shame. That means there is still one O2 out there about to reach an unsuspecting fellow. Utter shame as that third one was also in good shape. :( 

File a claim and get your money back, I am sure eBay will side with you. I posted lots of pics and described the unboxing and they did not hesitate.

Will look forward to seeing progress in bringing yours back to life.

EDIT: Do as JacquesT suggests and try reseating the DIMM modules also, this can be done fairly easily. If the parcel took much abuse they may have gotten loose from the sockets.

[Intuition]

Stellar repair work! What is the tape you have inside? With the criss cross fabric? That would have been quite useful when I put mine back together.

[mamorim01]

Stellar repair work! What is the tape you have inside? With the criss cross fabric? That would have been quite useful when I put mine back together.

Thanks!

That is nylon mesh or netting, it is commonly used as an insect barrier, but it has many other uses. You buy it in sheets or rolls and cut it to the desired shape. If you use an epoxy type adhesive on top of it, it sets really strong and bonds together with the plastic. It also serves as scaffolding to create some sort of surface upon which to rest the pieces, giving shape, etc. Really useful stuff.

[amatecha]

Stuff like this is why I used to sometimes literally record a video of me opening a package for the first time, when I suspected it was not packed sufficiently and might be damaged. Irrefutable proof of shipper mistake so the seller can't try to claim I damaged it myself or etc.

[BackPlaner]

I think that's the same guy who has or had a desk side Challenge unit for sale as well on eBay.

[Jacques]

Does any of yours have this?

One of my O2 motherboards has this, completely normal. It's just a trace fix applied in the factory.

Edit - I can't see your CPU on the board, I assume you have one installed otherwise it really won't boot

[mamorim01]

Stuff like this is why I used to sometimes literally record a video of me opening a package for the first time, when I suspected it was not packed sufficiently and might be damaged.  Irrefutable proof of shipper mistake so the seller can't try to claim I damaged it myself or etc.

I too take pictures of the unboxing when receiving sensitive equipment. Most of what I buy online is vintage computer gear so I have a very thick skin, most of the units come with scratches, bumps, leaky batteries or dead RTC chips and you have to learn to deal with these things. Still, this type of shipping damage is simply inexcusable in my opinion.

I think that's the same guy who has or had a desk side Challenge unit for sale as well on eBay.

Found the Challenge still on sale, it does not seem to be the same seller but it might be the same outfit using two different accounts, it would not be the first time. They both seem to sell the same kind of surplus stuff from government auctions and the like, and they are based in the same city.

[mamorim01]

Finished repairing the cover earlier today, the putty worked wonders. It is not the exact same finish, but it does the job. The rear part of the computer took the blunt of the damage so the finish is somewhat poor (pictures do not properly show this due to poor lighting conditions). The biggest issue is however the brittleness of the plastic in the rear/bottom plate. It is shockingly fragile to the point where small pieces are still falling simply by handling the computer around.

Lost operation to the CD-ROM eject button but I will manage through IRIX, no other way around it I am afraid. The original CD reader was also damaged so I replaced it with an SD-M1401 DVD reader, so far it has allowed me to install IRIX just fine. Not an exact replacement in my case, adjustments were necessary to the cover, among other places. I also have a PSU cover in the mail to finish the cosmetics.

[Irinikus]

WoW! Great job!

[Jacques]

Just amazing considering what it looked like!