> I was recently given a dead PC. It is an HP Pavillion 900Mhz
> P3.  I have a similar model and swapped out the power supply
> block. The dead PC seems to work OK now. Is anyone familiar
> with these blocks ?  Would there be a fuse or should I just
> get a new used power supply ?

There are fuses- try replacing them before buying a new one.

>  Anybody have a good source for surplus power supplies ? I.E. cheap :)
> Are they pretty much standard or would I need a similar make
> and model ?

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT assume that your 
HP/Dell/Gateway/Compaq/eMachines/any other manufacturer
PC has a "standard" ATX power supply, nor that the board inside
will accept the use of same.  I've heard of (and seen) "ATX"
power supplies with a slightly different pinout on the same connector
and that could cause your PC to have a Very Bad Day.

Your best bet is to fire it up and very carefully check the voltages
on each line to make sure they match up with the nominal ATX
values.  Pinouts for ATX connectors are readily available on the
net.

Finally, checkout www.geeks.com.  Good place for cheap-ish
name brand (and non-name brand) computer parts.

Mike H.

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