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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: CRL on January 14, 2009, 04:30:40 AM

Title: How dead is my A4000?**solved**
Post by: CRL on January 14, 2009, 04:30:40 AM: Hi All-
edit-
The mouse I shocked was an old GoldenImage optical mouse (the kind that requires an optical grid mousepad). I got to thinking maybe I zaped the electronics in the mouse, so I unpluged it and the A4000 booted right up. Last night when I asked for help I was relly feeling low, today I could tap-dance down the hall. Running old hardware is way too exciting.
CRL
edit- last night I wrote the below-
I was about to show off my A4000 to a kid who had never heard of such a thing when I reached for the mouse and the screen went blank. CTRL+Amiga+Amiga had no effect, turn it off and on gave me a power light and a few seconds of hard drive rattling and then a "no signal" warning from my LCD monitor and no further action.

I maybe remember a slight static shock when I picked up the mouse, but I could be making that part up.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Time to give up on the hardware route and start using my Amiga Forever instead?

Any advice like " Oh yes, happens all the time, just reset the frammis under the left lower widgit and you'll be alright again" would be very, very, welcome.

CRL
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: countzero on January 14, 2009, 04:51:25 AM: I had a similar A4000 die on me with mouse problems, it was leaking caps. your A4000 is probably a goner. you should have replaced those caps when you had the chance.
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: CRL on January 14, 2009, 05:07:38 AM: countzero-
OK- do you mean power supply caps? I had a look at them a few months ago and they were like new to see. Would I get a clue about this if I tested the voltage output?
CRL
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: Sandman on January 14, 2009, 05:17:04 AM: So lemme get this right.....

Leaking caps bad, very bad ... and when they finally go 'kaputt' they'll take the mobo with'em?

Would just replacing the offending caps correct the issue after the fact or do other bad things like burnt traces, etc. result?

Everytime time I pop on my 4000's I get nervous. Is this just something ELSE to worry about on these beasts? :lol:

Thanks,
Tim
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: rkauer on January 14, 2009, 05:47:11 AM: Just swap those little hell pawns and the leaky NiCd battery for a new NiMH and check the power supply voltages from time to time.

Also check if the HD is not validating...
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: countzero on January 14, 2009, 06:25:49 AM: it might also be something simple like loose contact on the accelerator board.
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: spirantho on January 14, 2009, 09:20:17 AM: Most likely just a capacitor, which is an easy fix... but you'll need to know which end of a soldering iron to hold, or get someone who's done it before to fix it.

Either way it's just ill, not dead. First thing though is to check connections to the CPU board and stuff like that, might be that simple.
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: da9000 on January 14, 2009, 06:49:41 PM: @Sandman + CRL,

countzero is referring to the motherboard SMD (surface mount devices) capacitors. They're little shiny silver cans. They are electrolytic and they leak, and yes they will corrode traces readily!

You might want to check here for more on the subject:

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=38302

I have some good links on my posts in my photo gallery posting:
http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=2354

And some more photos:
http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=2353
http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=2355
http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=2356
http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=2357
http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=2358

I highly urge you get this job done, else you *will* get damage on your A4k mobo.
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: A4000_Mad on January 14, 2009, 07:42:56 PM: Those are great pix da9000 :pint:
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: PulsatingQuasar on January 14, 2009, 08:06:16 PM: Changed mine with some normal capacitors.

http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=2846=12

I resurrected a dead Amiga 4000 motherboard a while ago by replacing the capacitors. 1 was so badly corroded it broke of the motherboard with the littlest pressure leaving the feet on the motherboard.
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: da9000 on January 14, 2009, 10:53:28 PM: @A4000_Mad:

thank you sir! Glad you enjoyed them. I wish I had a better camera and some more talent to get some even better ones ;-)

@Pulsating:

That's a nice clean job you did there.

The main reason I chose tantalums instead of yet more electrolytics is that they'll eventually leak or fail again, while tantalums should last a whole lot longer. Hopefully I'll be able to use my 'migys when I'm 100! :-D
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: A4000_Mad on January 14, 2009, 11:27:17 PM: Quote

da9000 wrote:

Hopefully I'll be able to use my 'migys when I'm 100! :-D

Yes, you'll be able to use them to keep the lid of your coffin shut :-D
Title: Re: How dead is my A4000?
Post by: da9000 on January 20, 2009, 01:01:37 AM: LOL!

Haven't you heard of cryogenic sleep??? :-)

Plus, it'll be so cold (due to the cryogenics) that I'll be able to overclock them even more!!!!!! MUHAHAHA :-D