Amiga.org
Amiga.org specific forums => New User Introductions => Topic started by: Fester on March 16, 2006, 06:01:02 PM
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Hi there,
I've been festering around Amiga web sites for years, reading posts and thinking about purchasing a classic system...I used to own a A2000 back in the 1980s.
I have a non-responsive 1200 at home: The green light comes on, the hard drive spins a bit, but that's it. When I try to start it without the HD, the kickstart screen never shows up.
Question: I purchased a set of 3.1 ROMS for it. If I remove the old chips and install the new ones, is there any possibility that this will destroy the new ROMS? (I will be wearing an anti-static wrist band during this surgery.)
Thanks for your help/ideas.
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I wouldn't make any changes until you have sorted out the first problem, else you will get extremely confused.
How is your monitor connected ? More details please :-)
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Hi,
The board was in working order when I purchased it.
The monitor is an ordinary PC monitor. It's connected via a ... scandoubler flicker fixer? Well, it's a device made up of two small boards that sit on top of two chips on the 1200.
I found an image of what I am talking about here: http://www.scuzz.org.uk/amiga/a_scuzz_jan05/a_scuzz_feb12_06.jpg
This video arrangement seems responsive since the monitor shows the same background vertical lines that were also visible when the system worked.
I've already disassembled the entire machine in an attempt to towerize it into an Elbox D-Box. Although I was careful, I may have overlooked something. Perhaps the problem is more serious. I may have fried the board with static. That's one of my fears.
I may also have damaged it while trying to insert it into the D-Box. I had particular difficulty installing the FastATA 1200 MK-III from Elbox. Not only did this involve removing the ROM chips, but (I hate to reveal this) I also placed the original chips upside down on the FastATA board.
If nothing works, I'll look for another 1200 on eBay.
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Don't forget to buy a anti-static wristband and use it to built your D-box up.
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Believe me, I purchased one. I won't make that mistake twice. ha! :crazy:
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If you put the original ROMs back in upside down when installing the FastATA then it will most likely be them that are fried and once you replace them with new ROMs the Amiga will work again. Unless something else was also damaged at the same time.
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I really hope that's all that's dammaged. I have all the A1200 pieces and Elbox add-ons waiting for the new ROMS, ready to build into a D-Box. Oh well, there's always Amiga Forever, but since I started this D-Box project, I want to see it finished and working.
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It does sound like it may be worth trying the new ROMs then, but make sure you put them in the right way ;-)
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Unplug everything from that board except the scandoubler/flickerfixer and the keyboard. Put your original roms back in.
Then plug your amiga into a regular tv using the composite port (the yellow one).
It may not be the roms you see, it may be something else not quite connected right.
Most important, Dont Panic.
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Hi
Yeah when i first started off with 1200 upgrades i also came across many problems inc blown motherboards,power flyers and roms...So a lot of this was mistakes along the way and others not my fault.But yeah when you plug the roms in the wrong way they ususaly seem to go very hot within seconds.So chances are you might of just blown them because i also made that mistake..Just be careful with the powerflyer because they can be a right pain esp if you end up bending the pins on the board.Plus if you have a d-box aswell as the other upgrades you should still finish off your 1200 regardless if you have blown the motherboard as they are easy enough to find...
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Hi,
That's a good idea, but I've already tried it. Once I realized I could not get the machine working inside the d-box, I stripped it bare and plugged in the necessities only. Worked up from there as if debugging an app so to speak. My TV gave me a nice black screen just the same.
Panic is too much exercise. :-D
I will try the new set of ROMS as soon as they arrive. I'll also try a different motherboard if ROMS aren't the problem.
Amiga 1200s get quite a few bids on eBay. They're not cheap. I'll be exceptionally careful with the next one.
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Gav wrote:
Yeah when i first started off with 1200 upgrades i also came across many problems inc blown motherboards,power flyers and roms...
I'm delighted to learn that I'm not the only one frying circuitry. Makes me feel better. :-)
Gav wrote:
Just be careful with the powerflyer because they can be a right pain esp if you end up bending the pins on the board.
Yes, oh my goodness. Those pins are as fragile as snow flakes. There are tools to lift and place some types of chips but if you're not working in a computer factory, the best trick is to lift the chip at both ends at the same time. Anyway, that's what I find works best for me.
Gav wrote:
Plus if you have a d-box aswell as the other upgrades you should still finish off your 1200 regardless if you have blown the motherboard as they are easy enough to find...
Absolutely. It's one of those things I want to get done, just cuz...
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And the psu is in good working order?
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Tomas wrote:
And the psu is in good working order?
I have no idea. I don't know how to find out either. Is that something a lay man can test with rudimentary household tools? It would be nice to determine if the psu is still kicking...
Aside from PCs and an anti-static wrist band, the only remotely technical gadget I have in my house is a reverse osmosis water filter...Haven't used it since I dismantled the aquarium wall. :-)
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The pinouts on the A1200 power supply are:
Pin# Voltage
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1 +5V
2 Shield Ground
3 +12V
4 Signal Ground
5 -12V
if you unplug the power supply from the MB and test with a multi-meter you should get these readings.
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I have no idea. I don't know how to find out either. Is that something a lay man can test with rudimentary household tools? It would be nice to determine if the psu is still kicking...
You need a cheap voltage multimeter gadget and know which pins to test, which i sadly dont have the expertize to help you with. Here is a picture of one of these gadgets, which should not cost more than like $15 at max: http://shopping.redorbit.com/edmunds/images/cce711f0c2e19fc3c917f60401e91fda.jpg (http://shopping.redorbit.com/edmunds/images/cce711f0c2e19fc3c917f60401e91fda.jpg)
The easist way would be if you knew someone with a working psu that you can test with your amiga.
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Thanks guys for the pinout configuration and the multi-meter suggestion. I should have a meter handy now shouldn't I. I'll get one.
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Hi Fester,
This is a belated welcome. Hope you are progressing ok.
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redfox
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Redfox,
Thanks for the belated welcome!
I finally got my towerized 1200 working. Actually, I set the fried motherboard aside and purchased another one on eBay. The new purchase had older roms so I simply removed them and inserted the newer 3.1 roms I'd purchased.
At the moment, my Amiga 1200 sits inside an Elbox D-Box tower. I added a fast ATA 1200SX board, an Elbox Mediator and a CD drive.
I powered up the machine to a TV set. The machine runs ok and displays the initial Commodore check mark logo and disk drive animation. So I'm quite happy.
Now, I'll add a sound card, a usb card, a video card and a hard drive.
Fester
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You might want to try to transfer the scandoubler off the old board and onto the new one, if that's not the bit that was busted in the first place, that is.
It looks like scandoubler (and possibly a flicker-fixer as well) made by DCE. Those two little boards just press onto the chips on the motherboard so you may be able to gently lever them off.
It means you can play games meant for a TV res on a PC monitor.
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Hi rare_j,
Now that I've successfully added an Elbox Fast ATA 1200 SX and a Mediator board, I can no longer install the flicker fixer. Those chips are no longer accessible with the Fast ATA board installed. But that's ok since I will be able to add a Mediator enabled PCI Video card.
Fester