Okay, so this is kinda stretching the analogy, I know!

     Well, so, if you saw a brand new looking DVD player in a dumpster, would you, (yes, you!) reach in and grab it?

     I did. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  When I saw the thing, it stood out because it was clean, intact; flawless!  (And we didn't have one....) So, I took it home. 

     For all I knew, it would still work.  Plugged it in and no controls worked, but the "standby" light was blinking.  Hmm.  Tucked myself in front of the computer to...research the make & model. 

     Voila`!  Clicked on Fixya-dot-com.  Not only did I learn this was a chronic problem with this particular player; not only did they describe the problem; but they actually gave instructions how to fix it! 

Blasted if *I* knew the difference between the little part & a tugboat.  After a little bit more time with Google, I was ready to perform my first transplant.

     First, I looked through my small collection of dissected electronic thingamabobs, and found a similar one in a (uh, formerly,) desk phone. Yep, it was the same volts, mu's, ratings. Even color! Cranked up the huge hog soldering iron, removed the offending failed capacitor from the DVD body. Next, removed the transplant organ--er, part, from the phone. Used a small electronics' size soldering iron, and after a backbreaking....ok, OKAY! maybe 50 whole seconds--the transplant was a lovely success.    

"True Tales From The Dumpster" continues 

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