I am desperately in need of help with refurbishing an Amiga 500.

[Nuisance22]

OK, have found a revelation. I am able to play certain games absolutely fine via Joystick port 2. Still no luck with Joystick port 1. So the RAM problem is obviously due to lack of it running at 512k and the port 1 doesn't affect 1 player gaming but is obviously still a minor problem at this point. Any suggestions at this point?

Thank you all again for being so helpful, it is honestly more than appreciated.

Mike.

[ajk]

Many games only use the game port (port 2) so you wouldn't need to keep unplugging the mouse all the time. The first port is usually only used for joysticks in two player games and such.

For the mouse issue... is it possible you have an Amiga/Atari mouse with the switch in the Atari position? That would cause all movement to be very glitchy.

[shaf]

There is a Fusible Resistor beside the Joystick ports on some A500 models, it is a light blue colour and can be blown easily if it's blown there is no power to Pin 7 of CN1 (Mouse/Joystick 1 connector). I think it's labeled R401. (That's Power to Pin 7 of the connector)
It was only on Later A500 motherboards not the earlier releases.

[scuzzb494]

OK, have found a revelation. I am able to play certain games absolutely fine via Joystick port 2. Still no luck with Joystick port 1. So the RAM problem is obviously due to lack of it running at 512k and the port 1 doesn't affect 1 player gaming but is obviously still a minor problem at this point. Any suggestions at this point?

Thank you all again for being so helpful, it is honestly more than appreciated.

Mike.

Sounds like all is generally fine. Did you say you had tried the computer with a mouse. Put this in port 1. I wouldn`t mess with anything just yet.

The Amiga OS is 1.3 from the boot screen. I am also assuming the machine boots fine. Once you have confirmed that you have the mouse connected and the machine booted we can check a few other things. Dont mess with anything.. please. The error here is always to go for the hardware when infact it is likely to be .... wait for it... user error. Sorry for that. Opening the machine up, inserting joysticks etc, checking cables and wires just confuses matters.

[Tenacious]

You probably know this, but, a joystick (if plugged into port 1) wont control the workbench pointer like a functional mouse would.  The fact that port 2 works with a joystick is a good sign for the ports.

Mice (mouses) are notoriously unreliable.  The original Amiga mouse has a ball that turns 2 shafts (x and y axis).  Cleaning doesn't always work.  Try removing the ball and turning the shafts with your finger, this is easier if you disassemble the mouse.  If this works, a new mouse is the way to go.

[marcfrick2112]

I agree with Tenacious, mice (mouses?) can be ornery creatures.... Always keep one or 2 'backup' mice

Always check the 'silly, simple' stuff before doing anything major to your miggy....

I've had decent luck 'refurbishing' Amiga mice, full disassembly, cleaning/degreasing, and using graphite on the pivots of the X/Y sharts... sadly I couldn't save a cool 3-button mouse...

[zipper]

My mouse problems were 99% connected to broken wires, just next to mouse housing or plug.

[Nuisance22]

Many games only use the game port (port 2) so you wouldn't need to keep unplugging the mouse all the time. The first port is usually only used for joysticks in two player games and such.

For the mouse issue... is it possible you have an Amiga/Atari mouse with the switch in the Atari position? That would cause all movement to be very glitchy.

Your a genius!!! The mouse has an Atari/Amiga switch on the bottom. I didn't even realise when cleaning the bloody thing out, lol. It works perfectly now and all it took was less than 2 seconds.

Thank you all so much for your advice and help.

I get the privilege of going through every game I got with it now to see what runs with what RAM. I doubt I will upgrade anything on this due to a tight budget, but I may be back with a list of games I will be looking to sell that aren't compatible if anyone is interested? I'll start an entirely new thread for that one this time, and I'll make sure don't duplicate it, lol.

Thanks again.

Mike.

[Nuisance22]

Spoke to soon....My floppy drive has completely stopped reading Disks, Sods Law

[rkauer]

A 512kb RAM expansion that goes on the trapdoor usually is sold for peanuts! Prefer one without that pesky metal shield that is only useful to hide the leaking barrel battery!