2020-06-13 Virtual Fixit Clinic

Virtual Fixit Clinic 555 with Repair Café Lund/Malmö Sweden 13 June 2020
The raw video for Virtual Fixit Clinic 555 2020-06-13 Lund/Malmö Sweden is here:
We saw:
  • From Cambridge Massachusetts US: external hard drive Seagate NA960X63 2015 Mac doesn't recognize when drive is attached. Drive makes clicking sound but doesn't connect.
  • From London UK: a laptop Acer Aspire ES 15 ES1-521-64BK 2016 A virus on the 17/02/2020 saying: All your files are encrypted. Find m3s9ei2em-readme.txt and follow instructions. I did some research, asked technicians, nothing and noone were really helpful (ie. technicians just could not be asked)
  • laptop Acer ES1-521-64BK 2009 or earlier around the 10/02/20, an event occured. It said All your files are encrypted. Find m3s9ei2em-readme.txt and follow instructions. I opened it. It was in bad english and threatening. I did not act upon it. So yes, all my files are encrypted until that date apart from those which were in the trash can. Internet is working and all new files since then are fine. 
  • How could I recover my files? Is it safe to put all my new files on a USB stick before the ZOOM meeting date? I now save my files on clouds etc... I would love to recover my photos. I asked a few people, however, everything they said was not convincing so I did not try.
  • From Belmont Massachusetts US: Deck dining chair 2017 The deck chair has metal tracks that hold the strong mesh fabric On which to sit. These are nice chairs in a table and chairs set. We’d like to repair the one chair where the fabric has come out of the metal track so we can use the full set of chairs. (see photos at: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/global-fixers/items-presented-discussion/NIUPID1Uhh0 )
  • From Lexington Massachusetts US: Round black plastic composter (on ground-not raised) 2013 Would like to know how and with what to make/cut a large opening in the bottom.  There are two halves, one has a large hole where the cover belongs but I turned it topside/hole down on the dirt/earth.  Want to do the same thing w/the other half but need to make a large opening first.  Holes on the sides would be a plus.
  • From Boulder Colorado US: Swiffer vacuum cleaner making rattling noise
  • From Malmö Sweden: Braun electric toothbrush not charging after mains power interruption
  • From Oakland California US: Insta-pot: replaced thermal fuse but how can I test it's working properly now?
  • From San Francisco, California US: Laptop System 76 (Rebranded Cleavo) Oryx Pro 2018 I would like to recover the Thunderbird mail folder for a failed Debian Installation. Yes, and I can't find the Thunderbird folders.
The Zoom chat is below.
Thanks again to everybody who participated!
See you at an upcoming virtual Fixit Clinic, -Peter
===================================
20:03:34 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : @pdq, look for a microphone button at the bottom of your screen (if using a computer)
20:04:30 From  pdq : Mark>  You mean the one that is muted?
20:04:35 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Eddie, I’m interested in learning more about your Shed project, would like to do something like that here in California (near San Francisco).
20:05:18 From  Sylviane : laptop breakout room
20:06:16 From  cc - Machine Whisper-Oakland,CA : My headset was one of the cheapest gaming head set for Best Buy but the feature that allows you to mute when the mic boom goes up doesn’t work on Macs but they are noise cancelling and work fairly well
20:06:21 From  Koen : how to get to laptop breakout room?
20:06:31 From  Peter Fixit Clinic Berkeley CA US : Jodie Cambridge Massachusetts US: (Jodie (cordless phone and headphones from previous VFC) is back with an) external hard drive Seagate NA960X63 2015 Mac doesn't recognize when drive is attached. Drive makes clicking sound but doesn't connect.
20:06:53 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : We will start breakout rooms after introductions
20:07:07 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : pdq- that’s for sending audio, are you having trouble hearing others? Try the “meeting” menu. Failing that, maybe you can quit Zoom and re-join the meeting, taking care to “join with audio” when you first start up the meeting.
20:09:14 From  pdq : Mark>  i can not hear anyone.   Incidentally you are not showing up in the legend of available people even though I see you up above.
20:10:36 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : pdq, check the volume setting on your computer, if that doesn’t work, try quitting zoom and coming back
20:11:04 From  Eddie Quinn (Ireland) : this has happened to me 3 times and each time iv opened it and recovered it.
20:11:05 From  chris in berkeley CA : if fridge doesn't work try freezer
20:12:13 From  Eddie Quinn (Ireland) : am I muted?
20:13:23 From  cc - Machine Whisper-Oakland,CA : Funny… the freezer trick also works with a home whipped cream dispenser that gets over-charged/over-filled…which will allows you to reduce the pressure to depress the trigger.
20:14:14 From  Gregg San Diego : https://hddscan.com/
20:14:29 From  chris in berkeley CA : no you're not muted Eddie but your vid is not on. look for the little red mic at the lower left of your thumbnail
20:17:11 From  cc - Machine Whisper-Oakland,CA : Running to the bathroom
20:17:54 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Jodie: Disk Utility is in the Utilities folder that’s in the Applications folder. Also, if you end up with Disk Warrior, avoid doing any testing, which can push an ailing drive over the edge. Try repair/disk first aid in Disk Utility first.
20:17:59 From  Bill  Cary, NC : nothing will work if the drive is clicking when you plug it in because it is attempting to do its power on self test. Nothing will happen until it succeeds. It will not connects to anything so no interface change of software will help.
20:18:02 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : If you had specific tips for Jodie, if you could recap in chat :)
20:18:20 From  Peter Fixit Clinic Berkeley CA US : Sylviane From London UK: a laptop Acer Aspire ES 15 ES1-521-64BK 2016 A virus on the 17/02/2020 saying: All your files are encrypted. Find m3s9ei2em-readme.txt and follow instructions. I did some research, asked technicians, nothing and noone were really helpful (ie. technicians just could not be asked)
20:18:55 From  Peter Fixit Clinic Berkeley CA US : How could I recover my files? Is it safe to put all my new files on a USB stick before the ZOOM meeting date? I now save my files on clouds etc... I would love to recover my photos. I asked a few people, however, everything they said was not convincing so I did not try.
20:19:06 From  Jessika, S. Sweden   to   Jessica Hausman(Privately) : Hi Jessica, I have you next on my list, just so you are ready! :)
20:20:02 From  fixit : Well I can't figure out how to get audio working so I am limited to chat.  I guess chat is it for today.
20:20:11 From  Wayne A Seltzer : Anyone have experience with malware decryption?
20:20:31 From  J C-T : Thank you so much everyone!
20:21:06 From  J C-T : I am going to have to leave the meeting but I look forward to trying all the tips.
20:22:12 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : Thanks for joining Jodie!
20:22:15 From  Doug - Wellesley, MA : I had a Seagate 1TB (but full-size) that developed a clicking sound. I tried all the mentioned methods but eventually, the most drastic action was for me to open up the  hard drive itself. Thdrive itself and found a stuck arm. VERY CAREFULLY i freed the arm (push it back out towards the edge) and put it back togehter. The drive worked for an hour or so, enough to downloard the data. . But don't expect to use the drive after that - because dusts may have fallen on the plattens. THen it crashed again. That's the absolute last resort.
20:22:44 From  chris in berkeley CA : @Bill Cary, can you type the specific search term into Chat for Sylviane?
20:23:55 From  Bill  Cary, NC : No, without searching for it. I didn't save the links
20:24:32 From  iPhone : pull out the hard drive from the case, and use a hard drive case that will isolate the controller from the internal drive
20:24:33 From  Doug - Wellesley, MA : But opening up the drive enclosure and put a SATA-USB adapter on the drive to see if it can be read is what i would do after the refrigerator..
20:27:02 From  Dave West [REPAIR CAFE Schenectady NY] : spline roller tool
20:28:57 From  David and Mary Singer [REPAIR CAFE Schenectady NY] : Or perhaps you can just squeeze the side rails together.
20:30:08 From  chris in berkeley CA : it seems like the wire is too small to stay in the track. either the wire got smaller or the track widened. how did eithr of those happen. seems more likely that the track spread out somehow. would need to squeeze sides of track together, then withdraw the rod from tunnel inside fabric. tuck fab into channel, with tension on fab relieved somehow, then slide rod bad into fab while it is trapped in channel. then reassemble frame of chair to tension fabric
20:30:43 From  Bill  Cary, NC : no glue won't help. either the spline has deteriorated or the groove opened up. No vise grips won't work. 
20:31:07 From  chris in berkeley CA : + 1 Bill
20:31:49 From  chris in berkeley CA : i meant BACK into channel
20:33:17 From  Randal : I have no audio so chat is it for today.
20:33:46 From  Sylviane : There is a sewing machine repair worshop online on the 27th of June 11pm
20:34:58 From  Peter Fixit Clinic Berkeley CA US : Angela From Lexington Massachusetts US: Round black plastic composter (on ground-not raised) 2013 Would like to know how and with what to make/cut a large opening in the bottom.  There are two halves, one has a large hole where the cover belongs but I turned it topside/hole down on the dirt/earth.  Want to do the same thing w/the other half but need to make a large opening first.  Holes on the sides would be a plus.
20:35:35 From  Jessika, S. Sweden   to   Pat in Boulder, Colorado, USA(Privately) : it looks like we might have time for your vacuum is you are ready to present - ?
20:35:59 From  Peter Fixit Clinic Berkeley CA US : Jigsaw? Drill a hole first?
20:36:16 From  Wayne A Seltzer : Bio Orb rolling composter:
20:36:19 From  Narayan Tallapaka : How thick is the material on the lid?
20:36:50 From  chris in berkeley CA : could you drill multiple 3" holes with a hole saw on a drill
20:37:52 From  Narayan Tallapaka : Signal has gone AWOL
20:37:59 From  chris in berkeley CA : pitchfork?
20:38:09 From  Jessica Hausman: For Jessica Hausman's deck chair breakout session, as I was taking off the chair pieces, I did notice that there is a crack in the underside/bottom of the metal track that the fabric goes into
20:38:59 From  Angela Schatz : Sorry, I'm back!  On my laptop this time.
20:39:10 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Angela- If you simply drill a series of holes in the bottom, not too many so you don’t weaken the bottom, the worms can crawl in through any holes that is bigger than 1/4”
20:39:32 From  Jacob : i'm not on the list but i'd like to if i can get this damn charger open :P
20:39:54 From  Narayan Tallapaka : A charger? For what device, if I may ask?
20:40:08 From  Jacob : toothbrush charger
20:40:17 From  Jacob : glued together
20:40:25 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : I didn’t sign up to be a fixee, but I have a question about an Instant pot like device.
20:40:53 From  chris in berkeley CA : @ Jessika looks like we have Jacob & Marc too
20:41:04 From  Narayan Tallapaka : So Jacob, what's the issue with the charger
20:41:19 From  chris in berkeley CA : Pat sounds like there is a metallic object stuck in the fan
20:41:21 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : ok, we can do Jacob then Marc
20:42:01 From  chris in berkeley CA : Pat can you start it up and demonstrate the noise for us
20:42:24 From  Randal : Not sure how to announce myself, but trying to recover Thunderbird folders from a Debian Linux installation that has failed.  I have the login prompt, but it no longer logs in.
20:42:33 From  Randal : I have no audio, and can't hear anyone.
20:43:43 From  chris in berkeley CA : Jacob have you checked output voltage of the charger
20:44:03 From  cc - Machine Whisper-Oakland,CA : Im still here but my video is going to be muted…but I am listen and ready when any sewing machines show up.
20:44:09 From  Angela Schatz : Thank you for the suggestion of just drilling holes (1/4" or larger) so as not to weaken the bottom.  My mother wanted to prevent water from pooling on the bottom but holes should take care of that.  I'll get to work now!  Thank you all for the amazing forum and help!!!
20:44:19 From  chris in berkeley CA : 220v is about right
20:44:40 From  Wayne A Seltzer : To enable us to hear the vacuum cleaner noise:
Zoom audio settings... Advanced … check "Show in-meeting option to "Enable Original Sound"
Disable Suppress background noise (both of them)
Close
Upper left "Turn on Original Sound"
20:44:45 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Sounds like a power surge. Does he have a multi meter?
20:44:50 From  chris in berkeley CA : okay angela glad we couild help
20:45:00 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : Thank you for joining Angela! 
20:45:06 From  Angela Schatz : :-)
20:45:22 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Angela- great! Happy we could help.
20:45:53 From  chris in berkeley CA : are you sure there is no metal to metal contact
20:46:19 From  Peter Fixit Clinic Berkeley CA US : @chris no it’s inductive I own that brand
20:46:23 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Sounds like he’ll have to open up the case to get a meter on it.
20:46:29 From  chris in berkeley CA : @ Jessika how is the Swedish model working for pandemic suppression?
20:47:32 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : depends on what you metrics are and where in Sweden. Here in the south we have been remarkably slow in spread.. Stockholm is another story...
20:47:32 From  chris in berkeley CA : if you want to break into it you may have to saw the charger open then glue it shut after fixing, with hot melt glue
20:47:51 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Is it likely to have a fuse inside that would blow with a power surge?
20:50:19 From  chris in berkeley CA : Jacob is saying it doesn't light up when on charger, does not sound like it's the battery. could break into handle to check battery but i would wait to do that til after checking base
20:50:47 From  chris in berkeley CA : good suggestion Jessika
20:51:18 From  chris in berkeley CA : @Francis's Ipad, interesting diagnostic method
20:51:43 From  chris in berkeley CA : HAS TO BE AM, not FM radio
20:52:32 From  chris in berkeley CA : those damn artificial backgrounds are NOT helpful for Fixit
20:53:15 From  Bill  Cary, NC : re the toothbrush, it will produce a hum on an am radio
20:53:17 From  Sylviane : What is it?
20:53:50 From  Bill  Cary, NC : for ref I just did it with mine
20:54:24 From  Sylviane : Please can someone tell me what it is?
20:54:26 From  chris in berkeley CA : those fuses tend to blow for no reason. if you want to check operating temp you can get a kitchen thermometer with a probe on a wire, install the probe temporarily and close up the case. you  may need to drill a small hole in case for probe wire
20:55:09 From  Sylviane : ah it s a cooker!
20:55:34 From  Jacob : didn't seem to have any effect on the radio
20:55:49 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : Break out rooms: 
1. Jessica's deckchair
2. Sylviane's laptop
3. Randal: Thunderbird mail folder for a failed Debian Installation
4. Marc cooker
20:56:00 From  chris in berkeley CA : @Jessika, do you have AM radio recievers in Europe
20:56:09 From  Wayne A Seltzer : Wayne: Jessica's deckchair
20:56:09 From  Tom Johnson : Tom Johnson will go into marks cooker room
20:56:27 From  Diane : Diane at Jessica's chair
20:56:29 From  Ray Pfau from Bolton MA USA : Mark's cooker
20:56:31 From  Michael Nies, Berkeley : Sylvia's deck chair, please.
20:56:34 From  Eddie Quinn (Ireland)   to   Jessika, S. Sweden(Privately) : laptop
20:56:39 From  Bill  Cary, NC : randal
20:56:42 From  Bob Walker : bob walker to chair please
20:56:57 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : toothbrush too
20:57:00 From  John P - Newton, MA : john p to toothbrush
20:57:04 From  Jacob : i'll maybe just come into the local repair cafe tomorrow instead, i don't need the breakout room :)
20:57:15 From  John P - Newton, MA : ah fair :)
20:57:29 From  Jessica Hausman : hi Wane A Seltzer, I don't know how to go to a breakout room
20:57:33 From  Dave West [REPAIR CAFE Schenectady NY] : chair 
20:57:39 From  John P - Newton, MA : I can try the laptop then
20:57:43 From  Pat in Boulder, Colorado, USA : I'll be signing off now. Thanks for a good café.
20:57:49 From  Michael Nies, Berkeley : Deck chair 
20:58:14 From  Doug - Wellesley, MA : to Randall
20:58:29 From  chris in berkeley CA : @ Jessika,  you can put me in the Thunderbird folder room but just as an observer since i hope to learn something about it and don'
20:58:43 From  chris in berkeley CA : t  think i can contribute
20:59:10 From  chris in berkeley CA : sorry that's Randal
20:59:36 From  Diane : Diane to deck chair
21:01:27 From  chris in berkeley CA : i nominate John to be our Zoom coach. can we have a Zoom seminar some time?
21:01:27 From  Rajesh : i would like to go into harddisk / computer room. 
21:01:47 From  chris in berkeley CA : i mean a Users Tutorial
21:02:11 From  John P - Newton, MA : hahah seriously, its only because I have to help half the staff in my office at Harvard get sorted out :)
21:02:29 From  Randal : Doug>  Whats up?
21:03:21 From  Randal : Doug>  I have no audio, and can not hear anyone.  I tried signing off, and siging in several times but to no avail.
21:03:30 From  Wayne A Seltzer : Wayne: Jessica's deckchair
21:03:32 From  Jessica Hausman   to   Jessika, S. Sweden(Privately) : sorry I didn't see the workout room
21:04:17 From  Doug - Wellesley, MA   to   Jessika, S. Sweden(Privately) : Going to Randal's
21:04:24 From  Jessica Hausman   to   Jessika, S. Sweden(Privately) : I don't see the pop up
21:05:32 From  Narayan Tallapaka : That's a Boeing 737
21:09:54 From  Diane : Diane still have not gotten a deck chair pop up
21:25:33 From  cc - Machine Whisper-Oakland,CA : Heading out… got to go back to work
21:29:08 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : Thanks for joining us CC!
21:29:26 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : I’m back. Pot seems to be working as it should
21:29:42 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : How did the deck chair go?
21:33:06 From  chris in berkeley CA : you're doing great Jessika
21:33:13 From  Fixit Clinic Berkeley CA US : The two frame sides are welded together luckily Jessica has long clamps handy
21:33:55 From  chris in berkeley CA : can we get a summary of each repair, do we have time
21:34:48 From  chris in berkeley CA : okay but when yu take the clamps off, will the chair frame spring back to where it belongs
21:36:06 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : I wanna go into the deck chair room
21:36:25 From  chris in berkeley CA : +1 Jessika, you could sew a spiral along the edge to hold it in place
21:36:26 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : mains screen deck chair free for all! ;-)
21:37:10 From  chris in berkeley CA : what happened with Marc's cooker
21:38:04 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Cooker seems to be working and holding a temp. Tom’s theory is that it went over temp (from being too dry?), and that the temp controller is okay.
21:39:12 From  iPhone   to   Jessika, S. Sweden(Privately) : great!
21:40:49 From  Ray Pfau from Bolton MA USA : We will be holding a virtual repair café in Massachusetts next Sat from 12 noon to 2 pm EDT (-4 UTC). Here is a link to more info and the signup links: http://www.boltonlocal.org/initiatives/repair-cafe
21:40:55 From  chris in berkeley CA : I wouldn't worry about thermal cutoff. you can buy replacements pretty cheap on A__z_
21:41:41 From  chris in berkeley CA : just make sure you get the right temp
21:42:17 From  chris in berkeley CA : +1 peter, YES
21:42:36 From  chris in berkeley CA : make sure chair is reparable
21:43:11 From  chris in berkeley CA : +1 Jessika
21:46:11 From  Wayne A Seltzer : How to Replace Fabric on a Patio Sling Chair
21:47:13 From  Peter Mui : I finally found Steve’s frame stretching video:
21:48:36 From  Jessika, S. Sweden : Last call for this survey about repair drivers and barriers research: https://bit.ly/3d5pxC9 
21:49:11 From  chris in berkeley CA : thank you Jessika, thank you Peter
21:49:17 From  Rajesh : give the link to google groups.
21:49:18 From  John P - Newton, MA : THanks all!
21:49:18 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Jessica one more- try lubricating the groove with water to make the fabric slip more easily
21:49:27 From  Sylviane : tHANKS A LOT jOHN
21:49:39 From  John P - Newton, MA : come back next week and we can keep at it Sylviane
21:49:41 From  Wayne A Seltzer : And soap in the sling chair groove.
21:49:55 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Thanks, Jessika, nice job moderating, as usual.
21:51:08 From  Rajesh : Could you share the google group Info?
21:51:17 From  Marc SF Bay Area, California : Bye all, thanks!
21:51:53 From  Sylviane : Thanks everyone. I had a great time
21:52:13 From  Rajesh : Thank You all, I learned something new Today.
21:52:18 From  Rajesh : I've*
21:55:12 From  Howard - Minnesota : Bye all.... Thanks for having me.