BlizzardPPC - flash dead! (any help?)

[tomekm]

I`ve got a Blizzy which did me following from time to time: Whe I poweron the ami, it ca. once a week started without recognizing Blizzard. Amiga seen only 040 and no fast, and no autoconfig entry. But after did Flash-update (which took about 10 minutes), and reboot, everything was working fine (for next few days...). But suddently it crashed, but worse happened: I am getting red screen on boot, and machine resets repetadely. I can not even get to bootmenu.

Does anyoune have any solution for it? It would be good if I could just bootup machine, but it`s not possible. The flash chip (AMD 29f040 - revenge or what?) is soldered directly to Blizzard so it is not easy to replace it... Please help!

[PulsatingQuasar]

E-mail Jean-Jacques Boulet of the Amiga Repair Center in France.

He is the best person that can help with BlizzardPPC and CyberstormPPC. If he can't find a solution then nobody can.

DCE could do more but they are idiots. If they were any sort of good company they would give another company the possibilty to change BlizzardPPC to rev2 when they stopped support for the BlizzardPPC. This would then offcourse be the Amiga Repair Center in France because he is very good with Amiga hardware.

[poweramiga2002]

have you tried to boot comp with blizzard disconected ?

[Framiga]

weird :-(

so . . try to clean the BPPC edge connector and check if its danaged or so.

The same for the SIMM.

About the Flash IC, its unuseful to replace it.

It must be FULLLY rewritten not only updated :-(

[StormLord]

I had the same problems with my blizzppc@175 some years ago but after tickling with it like clean and replace with smaller simms,edge conector I managed to start my amiga with the blizzardppc *BUT* without the bvision connected and pressing the key 2 to dissable the blizzard when the computer started.
When I started my amiga without pressing the key 2 I had the similar problem (RED screen powerled flashing).
after cleaning connectors and get your BV off try to start your amiga with key 2 pressed and simultanaously pressing both mouse buttons to get you to the early startup menu.
If you manage that, then you will be able to flash the card again with the /switch FORCE.
But beware it will take ages for the flash to complete with 020 and problematic flash, but finaly you will have a properly working blizzard again!!
I found that without proper extra cooling to the flash chip it gets corrupted often.
If you cann't solve it the best is amiga france but beware it will cost.
If I can help you more ( I'm burned by these hardwares and have MUCH experiece) PM me .

[tomekm]

ok:

-my amiga works without blizzy. (works even with Apollo1240)
-I`ve already cleaned all connectors i`ve found
-I have no BVision
-I tried to boot with "2" pressed, but did not succeeded (blank screen), but I`ll try again.
-thanks to StormLord.
-if everything fails, I`ll try to contact ARC France, as I already did with Elbox (they said they may try, but no promises).
-i`ll put a small radiator onto flash ROM


StormLord: to verify: if i disable Blizzy ROM ("2"), the 040 propably will stay on (i think it`s connected directly to mobo registers), so no 020 will be used for flashing, but I know, the flashing process without FastRAM is reaaaaaaaaly slow...

On my blizzy it stayed on when there was my previous problem (flash corrupted and no blizzy found in system, but system worked...). there was only 040 visible from all the blizzard.


I`ll thank you when I manage to repair Blizzy myself...

(if ARC France repair, I`ll thank you too;)

[bloodline]

Be warned that when you boot holding the "2", the Blizz is totally disabled, and the POST will take ages, so wait for a bit.

[Karlos]

bloodline wrote:
Be warned that when you boot holding the "2", the Blizz is totally disabled, and the POST will take ages, so wait for a bit.

Don't ever use this if you use a PC keyboard on an EZ-Key style interface. Re-enabling the flash requires that you hold the keyboard reset for 10 seconds or so. The problem with the interface is that it only asserts the /KBRESET line for about a second or so - more than long enough to reset the system but not long enough to re-enable the card.

I found that out the hard way and had to attach a real A1200 keyboard back to the motherboard in order to do re-activate the card. A better solution (that I never got around to) would be to wire up the reset button to the test pads on the  motherboard that assert the /KBRESET

[neofree]

Anyone got links for this Amgia Repair Center in France?  I've got a BPPC that needs repair..

[PulsatingQuasar]

[color=FF0000]Amiga Repair Center[/color]

There you go. He is also good for upgrading your BlizzardPPC with a 68040 to a 68060. He upgraded 2 BlizzardPPC with a 68060 for me and they work great.

Great guy. Your one and only choice for BlizzardPPC and CyberstormPPC.

[neofree]

Thanks! I've e-mailed him. BTW, how much did the upgrades to 68060 cost?

[x56h34]

He quoted 150EUR when I asked, about a month ago.

[neofree]

Does that include 68060 or do I have to supply my own?

[x56h34]

It includes the 68060, socket for it, all the necessary parts, labor, and flashing of the firmware. I'm not sure if it includes shipping as well.

[neofree]

This is great news! Thanks!