Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: adz on August 24, 2003, 04:08:57 PM
-
Hi
Recently, whenever I push the joystick button on the joystick connected to port 2, my whole system freezes. System specs are as follows;
A2000HD
3MB RAM (1MB Chip, 2MB Fast)
A2091 SCSI Controller w/50MB Quantum HDD
Int FDD
1.3 - 2.0 Kickstart Switch (happens with either)
I havn't used the system in a long time, and I have a feeling that one of the custom chips may not be contacting correctly. Can I do the drop fix on this thing to eliminate this possibility, or am I heading down the wrong path. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Adz
-
Hello, Welcome to Amiga.org
Why not disconnect the HDD and try to run it from a floppy? You wouldn't want to "drop fix" it with a HDD inside :-o
-
Hi Adz,
I too have an Amiga 2000HD professional computer. I know that the Amiga 2000HD is a much better computer then those TOY Amigas (500, 600, and 1200). Answer to your problem: Did you check the battery area on the motherboard for corrosion or discoloration? If you have not yet removed the battery, you should do so. Also, one of the 8520 ICs may be bad. I can ship you a new pair of these chips for only $20.00 plus shipping. Does this problem occur with all your games? Also, get yourself a WICO Bat-Handle joystick from eBay. WICO made the best joysticks. They usually last for over 5 years of heavy use (mine did).
-
I wouldn't drop it. I would suggest opening it up and pressing down on all the socketed chips. My 2000 once had a similar problem. One of the 8520 (CIA) chips was flakey. Since there are 2 of those chips, you can swap them and see if you get a different wierd problem.
-
Hi all
Thanks for all your tips. I have already tried pressing down on all the chips, no luck. Sadly, it has been about 10 years since I last used an Amiga, and all my knowledge of their hardware has gone by the wayside. Would I be able to strip an A500 for the 8520 chips? Thanks.
-
YES !
The Amiga 2000 and 500 both use the same 8520s.
-
Oddly enough, I am now noticing that I occasionally get a green screen if I try and reset the system with the keyboard when it has crashed, from memory, that indicates bad ram. I hope this isn't the beginning of the end for my A2000.
-
I sell NEW 256k X 4 DRAMs for the Amiga 2000 Revision 6.x motherboards for only $16.00 for 1 meg (that's 8 DRAMs). You will also have to pay for the shipping.
-
I've just gotten home and had a look at the battery, and it is slightly corroded along with mild discoloration of the board. The damn thing doesn't want to come out. When I do get it out, I was going to hit the area with some CRC, unless of course you guys suggest something else. One other thing, those 8520 IC's don't wanna come out easy either, just have to keep working. At least I hafe something to do now.
-
Well I got my battery out with a pair of pliers... perhaps revision 4.4 has a different holder....
Socketed chips are darn hard to gert out by hand, you can however get special pairs of tong sort of things that go under it and clamp in...
-
The damn thing doesn't want to come out.
Well I got my battery out with a pair of pliers...
Mine was soldered in :-o ??
-
I actually have an EEPROM puller, but its really tight, and I don't want to damage anything, I guess I'll just have to take my time, damn inpatience. As for the battery, it is actually corroded in. What would you guys suggest for cleaning up the board?
-
Clean that area of the motherboard with 99% Isopropyl Alcohol on a 100% cotton pad. You must first carefully remove the battery with a soldering iron, solder-sucker and solder wick. There are usually 3 legs that have to be un-soldered. Because of the large ground plain around the battery area you must set the temperature of the soldering iron between 650 to 800 degrees F. [color=FF0033]DO NOT USE A PAIR OF PLIERS TO PULL THE BATTERY OFF![/color] adz, I hope this helps you :-D
-
Thank you everyone for all your advice, sadly my level of skill isn't that high when it comes to the Amiga :-(, at least I have now got a little project to keep me occupied.
Regards
Adam
-
Hi Adam,
In rare cases an improperly seated "Agnus" chip
can also cause the green screen. I would check
the fit of "Agnus" and also the socket for
possible cracks/etc.
-D-
-
Agnus is firm and secure, me thinks the fact that it green screens after it has lock up, may be something to do with the dodgy 8520 causing mem errors, just a guess, because that is the only time it green screens. Unless dodgy memory is causing the joystick buttong freeze in the first place. Who knows, gonna take me a while to figure this one out I think. :-)
-
Has that Joystick remained connected ALL the time you've experienced trouble? Joysticks can suffer from shorts - the AUTOFIRE Button can be the cause of much grief if it left in the active position!
Is your keyboard plug in good order, and fully home? Is the mouse in good working condition? Look for the simpliest causes FIRST!
-
Keyboard is fine, and the problem happens with any device that is plugged into port two. Aside from the joystick bug and the dodgy battery, the system is fine. Should never have left it in the cupboard in the first place. Live and learn.
-
.... green screen on reboot usually means dodgy chip ram. but its only the diags, and it could have corrupted the chip registers in the crash. had the same sort of problems with my old A4000 desktop and heat/power problems. now there are no bits of wire snippings sorting the -5V line to one of the data lines? not good.
chip rams not running v.hot?
all the solder points on the joystick port are ok?
but i'd suggest what one of the other guys said, blame the joystick first!
other than that, dunno what really, but good luck sorting it out!
-
Hi again, I'm going to pick up an A500 this weekend, I'll try swapping the 8250's and see what happens. Does anybody know of any decent RAM/hardware testers that I can download, that will work with WB 2.1? Also, does anybody know the maximum size HDD that will work with the A2091 controller, cause I have an old 2GB SCSI drive lying around somewhere. Thanks again for all your help, to be honest I cannot believe how helpful everybody has been.
-
Hi all
This was my second post on A.org and I just thought I'd let you all know that I finally got round to fixing my A2000HD, replaced both CIA's and de-solderd the battery, system works 100%.
Hey this post even has some of DoomMasters early posts in it, I think that was the first mention of "professional", anyway, thanks all. :-) :-) :-)
-
Glad to see another problem solved!!
Have fun,
McTrinsic
-
Hi adz,
Hey this post even has some of DoomMasters early posts in it, I think that was the first mention of "professional"
Who is this "DoomMaster" person that everyone keeps talking about?!
-
@DoomMaster
Who is this "DoomMaster" person that everyone keeps talking about?!
Get help man.
-
Hi TheA1200Guy,
The great AssMaster makes the world famous arkanoid levels!! You DO NOT know what you are talking about! You're a sick fuck! SHUT THE #### UP PUNK!! You need to get help!! Professional sychological help is the best kind of help. Preferably that which comes from your own country. Who's this "DoomMaster"? Oh, you must be getting me confused with somebody else! :roll:
-
iamaboringperson wrote:
world famous arkanoid levels!!
:roflmao: