A2000 Rebuild Problems.

[mchaggis]

Hi all,

I have an Amiga 2000, in the following config.

2 * A2091 SCSI cards both with 2MB RAM.
1 * A2058 RAM Board.
1* Lyra KB adapter.

I am experiencing the following problems with the A2000.

1. The machine resets intermittantly during use, sometimes not even when i'm using the keyboard or anywhere near it. Is the old machine haunted? Or possibly shorting out?

2. The A2058 will not show up on the list of devices, any hints?

3. The FDD's generate seemingly random read/writer errors; unreadble block xxx and somesuch. Is there a problem with all three drives, not likely DF0 is brand new from Amigakit.

I was going to redress the intermittant reboot problem by stripping and reseating everything, including physical motherboard mountings. Any other suggestions?

Is there known problems with the IDE (read equiv) controller on A2000's that I should look at?

Should I get a priest in to exorcise the old A2000? Who knows what happened to the previous owner???

Maybe the PSU is stuffed?

Any suggestions appreciated. As once it's stable I'm going to order a Buddha controller.

Cheers!

[mchaggis]

The RTC has already been removed by the previous ghost.

[mchaggis]

Nope, he was just an old Scotsman.

[mchaggis]

Hi,

The 'new' DFO drive from Amigakit was with the machine when I bought it; hadn't been installed by the previous owner, but was definately new/unused. So not being the direct purchaser from AmigaKit, it's not really there problem.

Interestingly enough, the external 1011 works alot more reliably than either of the internal drives. Does this offer any more clues?

Yes I am interested in some v7 ROMs for the A2091, and am only using two A2091's to increase the amount of available RAM, i don't intend to run both cards with drives on them.

Your v7 ROM's will come in handy, as I'm using a SCSI-III 10GB drive; and the A2091 miss reported it's size, but the machine isn't stable enough at the moment to give it a thorough test.

The Buddha was on the shopping list, because it allows me to attach IDE devices, including a CF card to replace the machanical HDD. I use a CF in my A1200; it's a very nice solution.

[mchaggis]

I've had a closer look at one of the A2091's.

It uses the following two ROM chips:
- 3900722-02V6.6

So that doesn't explain why the 10GB drive was mis-reported; or *must* it be the v7 ROMS?

[mchaggis]

I'm just using standard PC floppy disks with the hole tapped up; this used to work fine ages ago?

[mchaggis]

The A2058 has no socketed RAM at all; only the board mounted stuff.

J1 and J2 are both closed.

[mchaggis]

Interesting that you say not to mix disks between the drives. I'll reformat my disks using my A1200, copy across fresh ADF's and try reinstall WB3.1. We'll see if that solves my read / write errors.

[mchaggis]

Zorro socket 1, seems bodgy. The A2058 is not recognised in it, but is recognised in socket 2. Although the RAM isn't shown in either socket, strange...

Both jumpers are on.

After some further fiddling with the A2058, there was oxydation on the jumpers and fully inserting the card causes problems, don't stick it all the way in!

When the machine starts up, I get a red Diagnositc screen with the following:

Board  Manufacturer  Product  Status
  1         514         10      Defective

From ShowConfig:
CBM A2052/58/10.RAM I 590/2091.RAM : Prod=514/10($202/$A) (@$200000 2meg Mem)

WorkBench does not report the RAM, although I can now see the card in ShowConfig, no closer to being able to use it though!

[mchaggis]

I use ADFBlizter on an A1200 to write out the ADF images.

After reading your ealier post, I have reformatted the erroring disks again using the A1200. I selected a full format, FFS and a Trashcan.

After writting out the new ADF's the disks seem to be behaving themselves; and I'll refrain from switch them between the PC converted AmigaKit drive and the 1011.

[mchaggis]

OK, I'll pick up some solvent one day after work, might need to wait until the weekend though.

I'll DL SysInfo and see how that goes; but I bet it will be no better until the socket and board is cleaned up.

The battery has previously been removed, and it had started to leak; looks like it was caught early though, as there isn't much damage to either side of the PCB.

[mchaggis]

This is the contac tcleaner most readily available; and it's sold near work

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/499a81f808e4deb8273fc0a87e01071f/Product/View/N1072

Will it do?

The A2000 is a Rev6.2

[mchaggis]

SysInfo recognises the presence of the A2058, even reports the right amount of RAM. Although WorkBench still doesn't see the RAM.

BUT when I press the "Memory" button,, SysInfo only reports the basic 1Meg. The RAM must somehow be being disabled due to the red diagnostic screen on startup.

TransADF lite and efficient, ADFBLitzer offered a GUI though...less typing, might stick with the ADFBlitzer.

[mchaggis]

Hi I've stripped and removed every chip on the A2000; cleaned the socket and chip with the spray solvent and reassembled.

The A2058, still doesn't work; looks like I've got a dud! It's now been tried in every slot with all other cards removed.

I'll go look for the A2058 disk, and see if I can just ignore to red error screen on start up.

I'm also using ROM 3.1 v40.063