I just bought an Amiga 4000 - what to do first???

[olegil]

@Elwood:

I think it was more a question of "what can I do with it that's fun and bad for me" (he did use smileys ;-) ) than a "how do I turn it on" ;-)

I would immediately order a Mediator and look into the CPU question (the CPU question is the one that goes "is this fast enough for me?" ;-) )

[MagicSN]

Hi!

Depends on what you want to do with your new
A4000, I'd say.

One of your first stops for software might be:

http://ftp.uni-paderborn.de

It is a Shareware/Freeware network where
you can find a lot of interesting software for
AmigaOS.

Was a system installation included on the harddrive
of the A4000 ? If yes, you might check what
OS version is installed, and if a TCP/IP Stack is
installed (if not you might wish to get one, so you
can access the internet from your Amiga). If
you also have Non-Amigas you might wish to integrate your Amiga into a Samba-Network with
the other computers (assuming your Amiga has
the hardware for this - a Network card or such).

What sort of Hardware was included with the system ? Especially: Was a Graphics Board
and/or PowerPC-Board included ? If it is
"yes" to both there might be a wider range
of software available

Steffen Haeuser

[Elwood]

You mean http://ftp.uni-paderborn.de/aminet/ I think....

[tony23]

If there is battery acid leaking on the board ,I think that you can use baking soda and a little water to scrub the white powdery stuff off with a toothbrush this should neutralize the acid,just make sure its clean and dry before plugging it back in. Electronic supply places will have something else to do this but it will cost $.and you'll probably never need it again at least not for a few years,baking sodas cheap and I don't think it'll harm your miggy.Oh ya,don't forget to blow all the dust out,and don't forget to look in the floppy drive and make sure that there's no fluff bunnies in there,if there is you'll have to take it apart to clean it out before you use it,as it could damage your disks. Good Luck Have Fun. oh one more thing protect your eyes when scubbing that stuff with the toothbrush, battery acid in the eyes is no fun. :-)

[ShadesOfGrey]

@Red_Eye

Instead of buying expensive netralizing agents, you might be better of finding a replacement battery.  I don't know where you are in the world, but you can usually find metal-hydride replacements for the nickle-cadmium you find in most big-box Amigas at a decent electronics supply house.  There are even some Amiga vendors who stock them, but they tend to have a steep mark-up.

[tony23]

I think its a given, that you'll replace a leaky battery. what I said was that if Acid is on the board. you have to clean it off or it will eat the layers on the PCB. KILLING your Amiga. Replace the Battery but make sure that any white powdery substsance is completly removed. Baking soda neutralizes Acid. :-)

[Rigger]

For what type of battey see my reply to the post

A4000 battery

[DanDude]

[color=FF0000]Do NOT use baking soda on any circuit board!!![/color][/b]   :-o

Isopropyl Alcohol safely neutralizes leaked battery acid on the circuit board.  Use 100% alcohol with a toothbrush and brush all affected areas.  Then use 50/50 alcohol/water mixture to rinse the board.

If any components are affected, they must be replaced.  If you do not know how to replace components on a circuit board, let a qualified technician do it for you.

Hmm...haven't I stressed this with someone else's battery-leaking problem?

[tony23]

Ok, I stand corrected .The baking soda idea came from someone I thought knowledgeable on the subject, as they have used it on numerous occations to salvage old boards . Seemed to work for them,but now that you mention it, Alcohol sounds like the correct solution. Sorry about the incorrect info. Though I don't think that baking soda would hurt anything its quite inert and as long as its all rinsed off clean what harm could it do? But you are correct and I'll go with the alcohol in the future.The main point I think that we're trying to make though is that the acid must be cleaned off 100% , or good bye miggy. Again sorry for any incorrect info. :-)

[clark]

Don't use baking soda to nutralize battery acid, period.

IIRC  "Battery Acid" is actually a base, and baking soda will do nothing.

clark

[Lando]

Will bacardi work?

100% alcohol it seems is pretty hard to get hold of - the woman in the off-license just looked at me like i was some kind of wino...

[carls]

@Lando
You're kidding, right? Isopropanol should be available at gas station and similar. It's not for drinking.

[Framiga]

IMHO all this thread is absolutely unuseful for this new user!

My A4000 battery, was replaced under warranty  (factory dafect), 3 months after i buyed my A4000/030.

Now are near 10 years, that the replaced battery (Varta) works without problems.

He is a new user . . .don't scare him :-)

Ciao

[carls]

@Framiga
What would be better - a thread that might seem scary but could save your Amiga's life, or a funny thread that might kill it? :-)

[Framiga]

by carls on 2003/8/15 1:20:52

@Framiga
What would be better - a thread that might seem scary but could save your Amiga's life, or a funny thread that might kill it?

we all don't know, the electronic aknowlegment that this guy has!

By the way, he hasn't post again after the first post!

Ciao

[Red_Eye]

Hahaha,
Yeah,
I was talking about software etc... but will check the battery.  

Took it to a computer shop but the guy was dumbfounded, so I need to find an amiga expert in Auckland, New Zealand to change the battery.

She boots up well

My boyfriend and I have always wanted an A4000 so I'm really excited about it

Thanks for all the interesting posts...

-red