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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Claw22000 on March 24, 2011, 12:14:29 AM

Title: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 24, 2011, 12:14:29 AM
I have tried all the stick I have and with all the mem configurations and none of them add fast memory.  It seems that if I don't have extra memory running a CWB and WNDLoad isn't going to happen.  Please help

Thanks
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Matt_H on March 24, 2011, 12:41:05 AM
Disable switch on the back?

:)
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 24, 2011, 12:56:48 AM
Quote from: Matt_H;624157
Disable switch on the back?

:)


That seems to completely disable the SX1.  It boots like a normal SX1 like that and waits for a CD
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 24, 2011, 01:10:53 AM
So sad I spent the last week of free time building a 30GigHD with ClassicWB all the KGload packs my WHDLoad Reg and several other addons no Mem means no go.  I have 230k after WB loads and I can't do a thing

Please help
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: fishy_fiz on March 24, 2011, 01:23:31 AM
Have you tried different memory modules and/or playing with the 4/8 meg switch on the sx-1 ?
While I quite enjoyed my sx-1 when I had it I must admit it was quite temporamental. When it worked it worked nicely, but as soon as I changed something hardware wise it'd give me lots of grief.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 24, 2011, 01:26:30 AM
Quote from: fishy_fiz;624168
Have you tried different memory modules and/or playing with the 4/8 meg switch on the sx-1 ?
While I quite enjoyed my sx-1 when I had it I must admit it was quite temporamental. When it worked it worked nicely, but as soon as I changed something hardware wise it'd give me lots of grief.


I have tryed all the memory modules I have all switching the 1 and 2 jumpers to all 4 different ways to see what happens.  Do you think its a problem with the hard drive I'm using?
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: fishy_fiz on March 24, 2011, 01:41:20 AM
Ah sorry, I somehow missed you mentioning you'd tried all the sticks you have. As for the harddrive, I cant imagine its a problem if the system boots from it. Maybe try booting from a floppy though maybe, if just to eliminate that possibility.
By the way, what do you have running that leaves you with less than 300KB chip ram after boot?
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 24, 2011, 02:53:20 AM
Quote from: fishy_fiz;624175
Ah sorry, I somehow missed you mentioning you'd tried all the sticks you have. As for the harddrive, I cant imagine its a problem if the system boots from it. Maybe try booting from a floppy though maybe, if just to eliminate that possibility.
By the way, what do you have running that leaves you with less than 300KB chip ram after boot?


ClassicWB V26.  I used the Full install which comes with all the programs extra icons and what not.  Not to sure whats all in memory.  I know that to use a large HD I do have to loadmodule scsi.device

I really dont know alot about ClassicWB other than its nice to have all the programs preinstalled for you.

I can boot a game from the floppy that runs just fine (lemmings).  But thats not with CWB running.

dont know what else to do I have to give up on it for tonight
will be back on it tomorrow at around 3.  Hope theres a list of things to try on here :D
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: fishy_fiz on March 24, 2011, 03:49:48 AM
I actually meant a Workbench disk (or similar) when I suggested booting from floppy. Something that will be able to tell you available ram.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 24, 2011, 03:52:42 AM
Quote from: fishy_fiz;624205
I actually meant a Workbench disk (or similar) when I suggested booting from floppy. Something that will be able to tell you available ram.


how do you find availible ram in a normal WB boot disk?
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: fishy_fiz on March 24, 2011, 04:04:48 AM
Quote from: Claw22000;624206
how do you find availible ram in a normal WB boot disk?


It'll show you in the Workbench bar at top of screen. Alternatively you could open a shell and type "avail".
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: fishy_fiz on March 24, 2011, 04:06:40 AM
It could, as suggested elsewhere, be a power problem. Try removing the harddrive (larger than 7-8ish gig drives often need extra power) before you test with a Workbench floppy disc.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 24, 2011, 11:47:27 PM
Quote from: fishy_fiz;624210
It could, as suggested elsewhere, be a power problem. Try removing the harddrive (larger than 7-8ish gig drives often need extra power) before you test with a Workbench floppy disc.


Well tried removing the drive and running it with just the floppy.  Same problem. No Fast Mem :C

Theres mention of a disk in the Paravision Manual wonder if I'm not installing a certain peice of software or driver or something any help appreciated thanks
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: fishy_fiz on March 25, 2011, 02:43:42 AM
Quote from: Claw22000;624422
Well tried removing the drive and running it with just the floppy.  Same problem. No Fast Mem :C

Theres mention of a disk in the Paravision Manual wonder if I'm not installing a certain peice of software or driver or something any help appreciated thanks


I never used any sort of disk with my sx-1 and it still detected extra ram fine. Hate to say it (and I could be wrong), but it doesnt look good for you. While my sx-1 was temperamental when it worked it worked fine.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 25, 2011, 02:47:17 AM
Quote from: fishy_fiz;624447
I never used any sort of disk with my sx-1 and it still detected extra ram fine. Hate to say it (and I could be wrong), but it doesnt look good for you. While my sx-1 was temperamental when it worked it worked fine.


Any one know of a good place to see if it can be repaired?  Everything else on it works was just hoping I was doing something wrong.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Cammy on March 25, 2011, 04:24:16 AM
It might be time to bump this thread and see if anyone can think of more North American Amiga repairers: http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53964

I'll add them to the list in the first post if anyone can think of any others in the world.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 25, 2011, 04:51:13 AM
Quote from: Cammy;624476
It might be time to bump this thread and see if anyone can think of more North American Amiga repairers: http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53964

I'll add them to the list in the first post if anyone can think of any others in the world.


So one guy in the whole us, and hes gone till years end *sigh* guess im screwed.  id try fixing it myself but dont know whereto start? socker
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: fishy_fiz on March 25, 2011, 05:48:12 AM
For now I guess you could try something lighter for you OS. There's no reason you shouldnt be able to have 1.7-1.8meg free after an os3.1 install, even with extras included. Should be enough to play a decent chunk of Whdload games. Not ideal obviously, but its something at least for the moment.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: MozzerFan on March 25, 2011, 06:02:00 AM
Quote from: Claw22000;624422
Well tried removing the drive and running it with just the floppy. Same problem. No Fast Mem :C
 
Theres mention of a disk in the Paravision Manual wonder if I'm not installing a certain peice of software or driver or something any help appreciated thanks

Maybe a bit of a silly question, but since you've only talked about setting jumpers 1 & 2 I thought about asking this:
Have you set jumper 3 to OFF? When set to ON it disables autoconfig/fastram.
 
You can find the test-disk of the SX-1 at amiga hardware database.
It contains a utility to test the memory.
http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/sx1#s_sx1
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 25, 2011, 11:00:25 AM
Quote from: MozzerFan;624487
Maybe a bit of a silly question, but since you've only talked about setting jumpers 1 & 2 I thought about asking this:
Have you set jumper 3 to OFF? When set to ON it disables autoconfig/fastram.
 
You can find the test-disk of the SX-1 at amiga hardware database.
It contains a utility to test the memory.
http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/sx1#s_sx1


yes I have tried jumper 3 both ways.  I have the disk now just need to get it on there.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: zipper on March 25, 2011, 11:22:14 AM
What about contact problems in the interfacing connector - remember seeing some h/w needing some tilt to work with CD32 w/o  problems.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Braddo on March 25, 2011, 11:32:27 AM
Quote from: Claw22000;624481
id try fixing it myself but dont know whereto start? socker
Start by downloading the datasheet for the RAM IC's on one of your SIMM's and using a logic probe to ensure all necessary signals are present and doing what they should be.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 25, 2011, 01:23:11 PM
Quote from: zipper;624518
What about contact problems in the interfacing connector - remember seeing some h/w needing some tilt to work with CD32 w/o  problems.


as tilt your mean the socket and the board.  or the board and the main board?  I was thinking about takeing out my miltimeter and testing the connections underneeth to the socket it self.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 27, 2011, 04:11:36 AM
Well I have made a little progress here home someone can fill in the gaps.  I was testing with a multimeter a little more and found that Jumper 3 Tests as if its Jumped even when it isn't.  If any one knows where I can find schematics for the SX-1 or know what I could do to stop this short thats happening let me know

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

Claw
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Franko on March 27, 2011, 04:18:00 AM
Using a multimeter to read jumper pins on any circuit board is not a reliable way to test them as depending on what the pins are actually for and connected to on the board it will in most cases give you a false reading as you will most likely be reading other components on the board that are in line with those pins (ie: part of the circuit)... :(
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 27, 2011, 04:26:20 AM
Quote from: Franko;624948
Using a multimeter to read jumper pins on any circuit board is not a reliable way to test them as depending on what the pins are actually for and connected to on the board it will in most cases give you a false reading as you will most likely be reading other components on the board that are in line with those pins (ie: part of the circuit)... :(


Well I have tested the pins when its off and the curcit is open and when the power is on its closed.  After a period of time its open again but its after it had decided to not allow there to be fast memory :C
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 27, 2011, 06:53:43 AM
Update I made the Memtesting disk which should be able to see it even when its Jumper 3 is jumped.  Still no go :C  I know it does access that slot since some ram chips EDO and ones that pan out to be larger than 16 meg make the screen go green.  Raymond told me that means memory error.  Which is good since it should do that.  Now I just need to find out what the hell to do.  Wish I had a working SX-1 to see if its the board or the sticks.

Any one with an SX1 want to come visit MN and geek out to amiga gear for a wile.

:D
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 27, 2011, 05:22:18 PM
Well I was kindly gifted about 300 or so ram chips to try in here and I have had some that green screen some that just don't work some that make it act really weird.  Most do nothing.  I was finally able to get the memory testing thing and was able to see the jumper 3 most likely isn't the problem. :C  Is this thing just super picky on ram or what.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: fishy_fiz on March 27, 2011, 05:28:06 PM
I never found it particularly picky, although I dont think EDO or ECC RAM works with it.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on March 27, 2011, 05:33:30 PM
Quote from: fishy_fiz;625084
I never found it particularly picky, although I dont think EDO or ECC RAM works with it.


The majority of these ram chips to say what they are. :(  just going to have to keep trying every one.  What I'm donig now is trying each one with 1 setting on the jumpers then do the next setting and test them all again and so on and so forth.  If any one has some ram the know works in an SX-1 I would be glad to buy it off them.  PLEASE HELP!
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on April 02, 2011, 01:02:10 AM
unfortunatly I have had almost no help on this so I guess I have no choice but to just keep an eye out for a possible replacement or send it for repair.  I don't know whats wrong but I have tried every stick of ram I have (over 300)  none work with any setting.  Thanks to Nathan for the ram chips.  Everything else works though.  So if any one is well experenced making a WHDload machien that works with only the 2MB base ram let me know.  Problem I seem to have is even in Max mode on CWB (Hold MB1 durring boot) I still end up with only 1 mb free. :(

is it even worth trying to WHDload this?

Thanks for everyone who helps.
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: smerf on April 02, 2011, 03:03:52 AM
Hi,

Don't know if you have the manual, but this site right here has one plus a disk for setup I guess.

http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/sx1

Hope it helps, and remember avoid Karlos at all costs

smerf
Title: Re: Help CD32/SX1 wont see Fast Mem.
Post by: Claw22000 on April 02, 2011, 04:20:56 AM
Quote from: smerf;626779
Hi,

Don't know if you have the manual, but this site right here has one plus a disk for setup I guess.

http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/sx1

Hope it helps, and remember avoid Karlos at all costs

smerf


The disk only has a memory tester and a harddrive setup utility.  I checked that out already.  Still looking for info on a WHDload 2MB any ideas?