A500 Issues

[CapCom]

I wanted to archive all my Amiga floppies to the PC and so ordered a null serial modem cable from Microcenter.  Cable arrived, but when I went to power on my Amiga it doesn't work (all I had plugged in was the mouse and monitor).

When I turn the power supply on I get the caps lock key lighting up, then shutting off and a kick noise from the floppy drive.  I don't get any LED lights and I don't get any video (unless my monitor isn't set properly, though I tried a bunch of different combinations, so if the monitor is working, it's just a gray screen).

If I put a boot disk into the drive, it clicks, but doesn't sound like it's loading the disk.

I can turn the caps lock on and off, but that's about it.

I suspected I might have plugged in the power supply while it was on, so I opened up the case to see if anything looked damaged.  Everything looked ok as far as I can tell (but then again, I don't have any repair documentation) so about all I did was took compressed air to clean off the board and the floppy drive.

What's it sound like the problem is, and a I better off just buying a new one off eBay?

Figures because the system was working properly just a couple months ago before it got put back in storage...

[CapCom]

Yeah, the monitor is plugged into the RGB port.  I tested the RCA inputs on the monitor and it works properly, so if there's something wrong with the monitor, it's the RGB.  So no, it doesn't look like there are any error messages on the screen unless that port isn't working.

It sounds like the drive starts to spin a disk that's in there, but only for a half second.

[CapCom]

Checked the back, and didn't see any bent pins.

Powered it on without the monitor and same thing - caps lock turns on for a half second, shuts off, and there's the kick sound that I normally get.  

If there is a floppy in the drive, it will start to spin, again, for just a half second, but then quits.

The null serial cable was a specific brand reccomended by Amiga Forver.  I didn't attempt to hook up the cable until I tested the computer first, and since it's not working (d'oh!) I haven't plugged in the cable.

The caps lock key does not flash - it just turns on when the power goes on, and then shuts off.

[CapCom]

Hmm.

Well, when I opened up the system, I checked to make sure there were no visible burn spots, but I haven't tried the sniffer test.  I suppose I could also try that with the case off.

Everything looked plugged in properly...  

The only chip I recognized was a RAM expansion module, which is at the front right, below the floppy.  I think I've got another RAM expansion module (it's in a metal case) I could try, but I'm not too enthusiastic about it because it was stored in a plastic bag for about 10 years (at least I know a bit better than that now...).  I did not try reseating the RAM module, but I certainly could.

There is what looks like another expansion port on the left side of the board, but I never had anything that would plug into there.

I did not unplug the keyboard.

I unplugged the cables going into the floppy drive when I cleaned it (didn't disconnect the cables from the board).

Unfortunately I don't know what a CIA chip is so I don't know what I'm looking for...

[CapCom]

WHEW!

I think it's fixed now (at least it's running...).

I unplugged the keyboard and then replugged it (confused for a moment though that I might have gotten the cable reversed...(black is on the left side, right?)

Powered it on and the good old Amiga start screen is back.  Workbench ran fine.

Not entirely sure what the problem was, but that seemed to fix it.

Now I don't remember properly, but is the power light supposed to be red or green?  Mine's showing red with a green drive light.

Thanks a bunch to you both for the real quick feedback and troubleshooting help!

Now I'll just have to see how that null modem cable works...

[CapCom]

I tried unplugging the RAM expansion and then plugging it back in and powering it up again first.  Will an empty CMOS sometimes give this error?  It's possible the clock is wrong.

[CapCom]

Yeah, it's running great.  I was able to get the COM set up properly through Amiga Explorer (but it has the slight drawback of only being able to copy small files).  I've got AE on an Amiga floppy now (good thing it'll format anything...) so I know the connection works.

*hugs Amiga*

I'll have to play around with ADF.  I honestly hadn't heard about it, but it doesn't look that bad.

Hopefully I'll have a lot of free time soon (yeah right...) so I can start copying all my floppies.  There's a lot of software I was never able to run because it requires more RAM and a hard drive.  I'm also curious as to how these MODs sound.

Thanks again, and hopefully I won't have any more problems...