S/H Cybervision 64/3d...please don't say it's DOA!!!!

[dandelion]

Hi all..

I write to you in a very worried state.

Bought a second hand Cybervision 64/3D which arrived well packaged along with the manual and installation disks. It took a bit of forcing but I managaed to insert it into the video slot of my Amiga 4000/040 this morning. First thing I did was to check the Expansion Boards option in the early startup which listed the board as working. Great I though, so continued to install the software (Cybergraphics v. 3). All went well, I told it I had an 040 processor and went with the defaults for the rest of the options.

However, on reset the machine crashed citing sys:devs/monitors/CVision64 as the source (Program Failed - Reboot/Suspend). I removed the offending item, rebooted back to a TV mode (only have a TV - it refuses to output to the PC monitor) and tried installing an update (a later CGfx 3 version). This gave exactly the same error. More worryingly I ran a board check program (came with the update disk, can't remember what it was called) and it outputted with a window saying "No graphics devices found"!!!! I have to say I am extremely worried. This has been an expensive return to the Amiga scene, and at the moment I have a dodgy-bustered A4K which will only talk to a TV. When I tried rebooting the machine with CGfx installed no monitor or anything was plugged into the cards output..but surely it wouldn't have crashed?!

I am very scared I have just wasted too much money on this card - and fear if I have it might be enough to push me away from the Amiga scene once more. I beg you all to deliver me positive news (i'm drunk by the way).

All my love,

Dandelion

[dandelion]

Hmm...ok, so i've taken the card out of the video slot (more blood, sweat and swearing) and put it in the next slot up (a much easier fit this time).

Next up I deleted the CVision64 monitor file that Cybergfx had left and installed the latest version of Picasso96 (all done at 15khz on a TV). Then, I switched off the Amiga, plugged my PC monitor into the Cybervision, and turned back on (the Amiga is still outputting to the TV at this stage so I can see what's going on). It managed to boot and go to a working workbench. As it rebooted the PC monitor crackled into life and it looked like the Cybervision was outputting something (a bluey black blank screen). Then *poof* - guru. 80000004. DAMN!

So then I removed the Picasso monitor file and place the CGfx one back. Trying to boot with this did as it did before...the same error (80000004), but not even getting to Workbench this time.

Aghhhhrrrr!!!

[dandelion]

Okay. So, I backed up my Sys: partition to Work:, reformatted in and gave it a fresh install of Workbench 3.0. Then I reinstalled the Cybergraphics v3 software with the default options and the monitor scan rate of 31kHz.

Rebooted - crashed (exactly the same place, exactly the same error).

Then I tried updating Setpatch (Amiga International beta off Aminet).

Rebooted - crashed (as before).

I tried removing the CVision3D driver from Devs/Monitors and loading it manually...which again gave me the identical error. I tried running Snoopdos to see when it was failing. Basically it just goes and fetches the 31kHz monitor file in sys:/prefs/presets/monitors and dies. I tried removing that 31khz file which results in a requester asking what display type I want (VGA 31kHz, PAL, NTSC, Cancel). Each of those buttons crashes the machine with the same error.

Then I tried Picasso96 again on the fresh install and the same error again.

There's nothing else installed in the Amiga 4000 - I pulled out my SCSI card and it's made no difference.

I'm running out of ideas

[dandelion]

Ok..so a little update. After the advice to remove ALL the Cybergraphics stuff I had a bit more luck. Following that I reinstalled Picasso96 and rebooted.

Huh! It didn't crash. I tentatively moved my mouse - still ok. Dared to open up Screenmode - lots of nice new modes to play with! Chose one (16 bit 800x600), Saved, the TV went blank grey and the monitor showed a crisp, large Workbench. I allowed myself to let out a whoop of joy and then the computer crashed. Software Failure 80000004.

I was still reasonably pleased though because it seemed like a bit step forward. I started again, this time I made sure that I loaded Picasso96Mode and attached the settings file to the graphics card (went to the menu Attach to Card and told it to disable all the drivers outside of the hardware capability of the Cybervision. At least, I think that was what I was doing). Then, after saving that and resetting I tried again. This time the PC monitor displayed half an Amiga workbench before it obviously again crashed.

It is also flakey in standard PAL modes. I was able to run the Debug program and it gave a full report of the card so it seems to be operating ok which is a relief.

Now, is it the software or my Amiga 4000 which is the problem? Hopefully it is still a software issue but I do have Buster 09 (surface mounted!!!). Someone mentioned Cybergfx 4. I'm more than happy to buy it if I can be sure it'll work. Are there any time delay demos you can try?

[dandelion]

Unfortunately no other big box Amigas, no. I know that the rev. 9 buster is a problem with DMA but I didn't think this would effect the Cybervision.
This is becoming a bit of a bind

[dandelion]

As for the scandoubler question - no, there's no scandoubler installed.

I can't think of many other reasons which would keep this from failing other than the buster revision. It heartens me that other people have had the problem (the Argentian chap's desription sounds identical). I think i'll just have to pull it out and stick it in a cupboard. I might be able to source another a4000 in the future which HOPEFULLY won't have the dodgy buster and then I can get back to having some fun.

In fact, I might aswell stick the Amiga in the cupboard  as I can only use with a scart TV which isn't much fun.

Before giving up entirely I might try the zorro 2 thing, see if that makes a different.

Anyway, thanks for everyones help.

[dandelion]

I have the 3640 accelerator card (the standard 25mhz 040 card).

Thanks for the url - the CV64/3D faq states...

" Q: Does the CV3D have a jummper for setting the card in Z2 mode when it is
   Installed in a Z3 machine?
A: No. " - which means one less thing to try.

The faq also says that although a lot of people have had no problems with a cv64/3d and a rev9 buster, others have found it rather flakey. I'm starting to accept i'm just one of the unlucky ones.