I hope that I am using this forum correctly; if not could someone direct me elsewhere?

I was given a Singer 6268 computerized sewing machine with a lot of fancy stitches on it. The machine turns on and all the buttons seem to work, but the motor won't respond to the foot switch. There is air going through the hose on the foot switch(the foot switch seems primitively built for a computerized machine). Is there anybody out there that has one of these machines that can give me a clue of what might be wrong with it? It has worked some in the past, but this time it won't respond at all. I have heard that you can bypass the computer board attached to the foot switch(if that is what is wrong. . .), and hook the motor up to an electric foot switch. Any thoughts? Thanks!