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trying to wire an arcade button to the power button on my pc
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RandyT:

--- Quote from: katuuuz on December 16, 2010, 10:03:20 pm ---You're exactly right.  As stated before, the other end of the "control panel" ribbon runs up the front and goes up and behind the metal wall blocking me from accessing it.  I've searched the net rampid looking for a guide to gain access to this portion of the case, but have come up with nothing but that useless article about the alleged magic power on.  there has to be a way to get in there without a damn hacksaw doesn't there?

--- End quote ---

It went on.  It must come off ;)

Look for screwheads, or plastic latches from the inside of the case. If you don't see screws (or pop rivets), it's probably just snapped together.  If it's riveted, you can drill them out, but it won't go back together easily.  If it's snapped, carefully poke around the edges with a thin screwdriver and see if you make any headway.

If you really get frustrated, you can try the old "jumper the power on line on the power supply connector" trick.  Pin 14 on the power supply connector is a green wire that is labeled "PS ON" in this diagram.  Usually, when that green wire is grounded to one of the adjacent black wires, the system powers up.  If yours does this without any issues, you could use any on/off SPST non-momentary switch and bypass the front panel altogether.
katuuuz:

--- Quote from: RandyT on December 16, 2010, 11:09:10 pm ---Look for screwheads, or plastic latches from the inside of the case. If you don't see screws (or pop rivets), it's probably just snapped together.  If it's riveted, you can drill them out, but it won't go back together easily.  If it's snapped, carefully poke around the edges with a thin screwdriver and see if you make any headway.

If you really get frustrated, you can try the old "jumper the power on line on the power supply connector" trick.  Pin 14 on the power supply connector is a green wire that is labeled "PS ON" in this diagram.  Usually, when that green wire is grounded to one of the adjacent black wires, the system powers up.  If yours does this without any issues, you could use any on/off SPST non-momentary switch and bypass the front panel altogether.



--- End quote ---
You mean like a throw switch?  I would definitely fallback on that idea.  My double dragon cabinet has one mounted on top of it.  How risky of an route is that?  Is it bad for the PS?  I've seen tons of PS supply issues on this specific model. 

I also don't want to give up on this mystery board just yet.  I've got a personal vendetta now.  I had already looked for screws, all I came up with was the screw holding the pivital case sides together which would merely let me seperate the two.  I do see rivits, and they are in some weirdly angled places.  Why does this mystery board have to be restricted from the OP like this?
BobA:
Careful prying and snapping of plastic front panel parts will probably get you access to the back of the front panel.  From what I have seen of your daughter board it connects to both the front panel and your motherboard.  Underneath that plastic that you push to turn on the computer has to be a simple switch of some sort.  It is alot easier to solder to a switch or get at its connectors than cutting into the ribbon cable so get out the heavy duty snippers and maybe even a hacksaw blade to work on the plastic.   A dremel would be great now.
katuuuz:
To avoid a bloody mess, I think I'm going to try my hand at a hammer and chisel after work tonight.  Won't be in until about 7pm EST, and hopefully soon after I will have a picture of a faceless 4600c for all to see.
katuuuz:
Dudes, I have conquered. 

Wish I had the sense to realize there had to be a switch, I could have saved a few nights...

Anyway, upon further inspection of the plastic casing, I noticed (2) 10x Torx screws attatching the metal casing to the outer plastic shell.  Ripped out my 10x Torx and removed them.  For revenge purposes, I Hulk Hoganed the plastic shell off, snapping about 3 plastic clips that, too, were securing the outer shell to the metal box.  So pic 1 is what my PC looks like now.  I'm hoping I can just put it in the cabinet as is, gonna need some feedback on that.

Anyhow, I easily unscrewed the single philips head attatching the power switch/led board to the front of the metal casing.  As you can see in pic 2, the little red microswitch is indeed attached to this tiny board (Randy, be sure to drink to that). 

Pic 3 is the underside of the board, 4 pins highlighted in red that are under the switch.  I'm pretty sure I'll be soldering to this back side of the little board, but I would feel comfortable if someone could clarify that.  (Also, I'm pretty sure I need to only solder 2 wires, so my guess is I'll need my DMM for finding out which of these 4 pins to solder to?) 

Anyway, thanks for your help gentlemen.  If you are drinking, sip your beers as you look at these photos and just know that someone Dell didn't want accesing this board effing did.  And I broke their stupid clips in doing so.
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