The cable in this forum posting (the Gen2 cable) has been deprecated and is no longer being offered. The contents of this post are here strictly for historical purposes.Want to connect a VGA monitor to your HP MediaSmart server/Acer easyStore computer? Check out the new and improved Gen3 cable!.
I am running a small and humble cable building service to all my HP MediaSmart Server comrades who wish to have a VGA and/or PS2 Keyboard/Mouse and/or Serial cable and would rather buy (and not build) a cable.
Why should you buy a cable?-- You want to play with the BIOS settings or re-flash your BIOS
-- You want to boot from a USB stick to install another OS (Linux, Windows Server 2008, OpenSolaris)
-- You are a software/kernel/addons developer
-- You want to tinker but not risk shorting your MediaSmart Server
-- You don't have the time to build your own cable
-- You don't want to buy expensive tools for a one time project
-- You want the ability to troubleshoot any bootup problems without running a recovery that will destroy existing data
-- Buying is cheaper than building!
Price:-- $60.00 USD for the VGA Assembly
[DISCONTINUED. See the Gen3 cable instead.]-- $70.00 USD for the VGA + PS2 Keyboard + PS2 Mouse Assembly
[DISCONTINUED. See the Gen3 cable instead.]-- $90.00 USD for the VGA + PS2 Keyboard + PS2 Mouse + Serial Assembly (The Complete Set)
[DISCONTINUED. See the Gen3 cable instead.]-- Texas residents must add 8.25% sales tax to their order.
Shipping:-- $5.00 USD via regular mail to USA (3-7 business day delivery time, no insurance, no tracking number)
-- $8.00 USD via registered mail to USA - lower 48 states (3 business day delivery time, insured with tracking number)
-- $5.00 USD via regular mail to Canada (5-15 business day delivery time, no insurance, no tracking number)
-- $32.00 USD via registered mail to Canada (4-8 business day delivery time, insured with tracking number)
-- $32.00 USD via registered mail to Europe (4-8 business day delivery time, insured with tracking number)
-- $32.00 USD via registered mail to all other places.
Note: I do not do non-registered mail overseas.
Non-registered mail means that your cable is not insured and not tracked during shipping.
Registered mail means that your cable is insured and tracked during shipping. No P.O. Box shipping please (this is not my wishes, but the courier's wishes).
About International Shipments:
Typically items that are under one pound (16 ounces) and less than $100 in value are not charged duties and taxes. However, it is at the discretion of the customs officer who handles that particular package on that particular day. You (the buyer) are responsible to pay any duties or taxes that your country decides to charge (if any). If this is your first International order, please take the time to review your country's import laws and taxes before making the order (so there are no surprises). Some countries in Europe may charge approximately £10-£25 to import the cable. Please check with your country's import laws to determine the exact fees (if any). There may be shipping delays if the VAT fees are not paid.
Non-registered shipments to Canada (via United States Postal Service) does not require a customs form for items that are less than one pound (16 ounces) and less than $100 in value. However, you get no tracking and no responsibility for lost packages. If a cable is lost via non-registered mail, I will not ship a replacement cable. You pay less but take more risks.
In the unlikely event that your cable is lost in shipment, customers who ordered their cable via registered mail will get a replacement cable immediately.
Notes:-- The cable assembly consists of a printed circuit board (PCB) inside an enclosure with a 26 terminal pass-through cable.
-- Cable is 18 inches (45.72 centimeters) long and 0.5 inches (2.54 centimeters) thick.
-- The cable assembly ships 1-3 business days after payment is cleared.
-- All shipments are made from Austin, Texas, USA.
-- Payment is made via PayPal (
http://www.paypal.com).
-- You will be doing business with a company called
VOV Technology.
-- Be sure you have read and understood the "Known Issues" section (below) before placing an order.
-- All sales are final. Items that arrive defective are replaced if reported within seven days of arrival. Customer pays the shipping for returned products. Replacement assembly is shipped when returned assembly is received (undamaged)--no cross shipping.
Hardware Compatibility:-- The HP MediaSmart Server EX-470 and EX-475
-- The HP MediaSmart Server EX-485 and EX-487 *
-- The Acer Aspire easyStore H340 *
-- (The HP MediaSmart Server EX-490 and EX-495 is
NOT OFFICIALLY supported yet.)
-- (The HP StorageWorks X510 DataVault is NOT OFFICIALLY supported yet.)
If you are interested, email me** at "mss_cable_service<at>vovtech<dot>com" with:[The Gen2 cable is discontinued in favor of the Gen3 cable.] 1. The cable specifications (VGA only or VGA + PS2 Keyboard + PS2 Mouse or VGA + PS2 Keyboard + PS2 Mouse + Serial) and price (as stated above).
2. Your first and last name
3. The address where the cable should be shipped***
4. Your shipping preference (registered or non-registered mail). Note: If you are interested in a faster delivery option, let me know and I will quote you a price.
5. Your phone number (registered mail requires the destination phone number)
6. (OPTIONAL) Let me know your Windows Home Server box (i.e HP EX-485, Acer H340, other) to receive a free jumper (while supplies last).
7. (OPTIONAL) Tell me something funny/interesting about yourself that puts a face to this cable.
[The Gen2 cable is discontinued in favor of the Gen3 cable.] * Requires a jumper to unlock the the PS2 keyboard and PS2 mouse capabilities. Instructions can be found
here and
here.
** If you already have a PayPal account, please send your cable request from the email address bound to your PayPal account.
*** Your shipping address must match your PayPal address (for security reasons and to qualify for PayPal's buyer/seller protection program). Your cable will, by default, ship to the address specified at the PayPal transaction.
Upon receiving your request, you will receive a PayPal invoice from VOV Technology. Your cable will ship one to two business days after your payment has cleared. You will receive an email alert that will confirm shipment (along with tracking info if applicable).
Why should you buy a cable from me?I have been building the cable adapters for this community since May of 2007 and I have had many happy customers. Plus, you are doing business with an official company (VOV Technology).
Thanks and happy MSS tweaking!
Charles