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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: wurzel on August 17, 2008, 11:04:15 PM
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Hi all,
I have an annoying problem that I can't resolve - I keep getting a complete lockup which means I have to re-boot :madashell:
I have quite a good system with plenty of RAM, but often, I'm doing something in IFX, IBrowse or PGS (which all use RAM) and the mouse & all keys just freeze. Sometimes, the machine will re-boot on it's own but if not, I have to do it. I can't pin it down to anything as it just comes out of the blue.
Any suggestions as to what might be happening?
Thanks
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It's impossible to say.
You'll need to try pinpoint the problem. Usually this means trying with as minimal SW setup as possible. If the lockups happen even there, then it might be a HW problem.
However, if the minimal SW setup appears to work, then you can bring back components / patches / etc one at a time until the lockups return. Then go back again to verify that this particular item causes the problem.
If it's a HW problem then similar methods can be used for the problem isolation, too. Strip down the system to as bare minimum as possible. See if that works. If it doesn't, then some of these core components is having trouble, and in this case the only solution is to swap in known good components and see if any of those cures the problem.
However, if the minimal setup works, you can now start adding the expansions, zorro cards etc until the problem reappears. Then go back to verify that this particular component causes the problem.
Unfortunately these methods are not bulletproof, as sometimes problems can arise from combination of SW and/or HW components.
It helps a lot if you can find some method of reproducing the problem easily (say in minutes rather than hours). If the problem is elusive one and there is no easy way to reproduce it, it might be close to impossible to reliably track it down.
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Piru summed it up very well there: if the evidence points on the hardware side of things you may want to look at your memory modules first.
I've had similar problems in PCs and faulty memory chips were the cause much of the time. I don't know if something like memtest exists on amiga, if you have a 486/early pentium relic lying somewhere you could test them there. Good luck!
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yeah pretty much what the last two dudes said :-)
however, i had irregular lockups on my A4000T and couldn't figure out what it was for ages, much frustration, and it was only when i removed the plugs from the AT type power connetor to the mainbooard, i found it have pretty much nearly burnt all the way through the crappy tongue connectors in the plug itself :-o
a new PSU sorted that out though...
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I should have said thanks earlier, but it's been a very frustrating time :madashell:
Anyway, it's not looking like a software problem because it happens with different applications. I can reproduce it each time in Pagestream, by loading a graphic. This is surprising, because I have loaded the same graphic in the past :-?
Unless it's the actual operating system, but using Snoopdos doesn't reveal any clues there.
So, I'm edging towards possibly faulty RAM. But, I don't have a PC to try it out on. Would Scout give any clues there? I don't really know what tolook for there, I'm not really a techie guy.
I'd be grateful for any help, it's very frustrating :pissed:
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1St of all : check the psu !!!!
A "+5v" giving you less than +4.88v will give you random problems...
if you have an A600/A1200, then try to power it by the Floppy connector with an AT or ATX psu (take HIGH care of the connector sense !!!!!!!!).
SMD Caps in these machine start to fail nowadays !!!
Even a +4.98v by the "normal" PSU connector only give +4.76v when it's arrive on the Floppy connector !! So guess how much arrive on the cpu and ram ...
So power it directly by there, but take care with the connector position !!!!!!!!
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CLS2086 wrote:
1St of all : check the psu !!!!
A "+5v" giving you less than +4.88v will give you random problems...
if you have an A600/A1200, then try to power it by the Floppy connector with an AT or ATX psu (take HIGH care of the connector sense !!!!!!!!).
SMD Caps in these machine start to fail nowadays !!!
Even a +4.98v by the "normal" PSU connector only give +4.76v when it's arrive on the Floppy connector !! So guess how much arrive on the cpu and ram ...
So power it directly by there, but take care with the connector position !!!!!!!!
Ok, I understand I have to check the PSU - but how?
I'm not an electrician so I don't know how to check +5v or not.
BTW I have a new 300w ATX supply going into the Mediator board .....
Thanks
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how to check the psu? give it a lick, or drool onto / suck the connecters :lol: no don't! :-D
get a digital multimeter. should be cheap enough. plug the black to the black, and the red to the red 5V line on the PSU connector. all being well, you should get very near 5Volts. anything under 4.5V could be a problem.
check your 12V line (yellow), and your -12V (blue) line too, just to be sure.
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@ darksun9210
Thanks, I will look out for one this weekend.