Amiga 4000 HELP!!!

[swoslover]

Hi

I just bought an Amiga 4000 and am having some problems with it.  I need some of a.org's expertise.  

First of all is it possible to upload pics into a message?

[Boot_WB]

Better off uploading them to a image hosting site such as tinypic, then linking to them (using the "chain" symbol on the message posting screen.

Regards


Rich

[swoslover]

http://tinypic.com" target="_blank">http://i29.tinypic.com/148zzwn.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">



http://tinypic.com" target="_blank">http://i32.tinypic.com/2ypjfpk.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">

http://tinypic.com" target="_blank">http://i29.tinypic.com/148zzwn.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">

Apologies this hasnt been done well and two pics are the same.

Its late, I am tired and frustrated lol.

[davideo]

@swoslover

So now we just need to know what problems you're having  :-?

Dave G  8-)

[swoslover]

lol sorry

Mainly does it look like everything is there that should be?

Secondly, the mouse doesnt appear to work, am I right in thinking I can just connect it the way i would my a1200?

Third, the keyboard seems not to work although can't be sure without the mouse working, although the caps lock light isnt going on - never a good sign.

The monitor also has a very loose connection the cables almost needs to be pushed together, emitting a blue spark before a connection is established.

It does look like the case has been opened a few times, there was only 1 screw left at the back.  I am worried that some things may have been ripped out.

[stefcep2]

blue sparks are never a good sign.  

Make sure the mouse is in mouse port, not the joystick port.

[mbrantley]

The key lock on the front of the case can be set to disable mouse and keyboard. This can probably be bypassed if you don't have the key, but somebody else can say for sure. I don't have my key, but my lock is "on."

[mbrantley]

Forgot to mention, it looks like everything is there in terms of a stock machine with a full load of memory on the motherboard. Is it the monitor cable that's faulty? What kind of monitor are you using?

[Nlandas]

swoslover wrote:
lol sorry

Mainly does it look like everything is there that should be?

Secondly, the mouse doesnt appear to work, am I right in thinking I can just connect it the way i would my a1200?

Third, the keyboard seems not to work although can't be sure without the mouse working, although the caps lock light isnt going on - never a good sign.

That could be as simple as the front keylock being turned to the disable position to lock the keyboard and mouse from working. First make sure that the cable that runs from the front faceplate to the motherboard is in place. If it is then the system might be locked. If you don't have the key then maybe someone could let you know if the pins need to be shorted or open.

The blue sparks are very bad, are you sure the monitor is an Amiga 15Khz capable monitor.

The pictures are kind of grainy. The motherboard ram looks fully populated. It looks like the processor card is in there. If the switch is in the right position the MB may be damaged.

[countzero]

Nlandas wrote:

The pictures are kind of grainy. The motherboard ram looks fully populated. It looks like the processor card is in there. If the switch is in the right position the MB may be damaged.

which prompts me to add ... I've bought four a4000 mobos off ebay in the past years and all were damaged. If someones selling their beloved a4000, there's usually something to it. The most common problem is the leaking caps. If you're lucky, and the acid has not eaten to the PCB, you can get it fixed.

[Matt_H]

The monitor also has a very loose connection the cables almost needs to be pushed together, emitting a blue spark before a connection is established.

Never mess with connections with the power on.

Number one rule. No exceptions. Ever.

[murple]

Yeah, blue sparks on the monitor port are pretty normal if you try connecting or disconnecting the cable while the Amiga is on. You can probably get away with it much of the time, but if you zap your video chips... that's bad, mmkay?

For the mouse, connect it to the port that says "MOUSE" not "GAME"... I think it's the one closer to the front of the computer.

It seems to have everything. You might want to look under the drive cables to make sure it has a CPU board. I'd be surprised if it were missing if this was sold as a complete system. Other than that it appears to have everything a basic A4000 should have... which doesn't mean it all works, just that it's physically present.

[davideo]

swoslover wrote:
lol sorry

Mainly does it look like everything is there that should be?

Secondly, the mouse doesnt appear to work, am I right in thinking I can just connect it the way i would my a1200?

Third, the keyboard seems not to work although can't be sure without the mouse working, although the caps lock light isnt going on - never a good sign.

The monitor also has a very loose connection the cables almost needs to be pushed together, emitting a blue spark before a connection is established.

It does look like the case has been opened a few times, there was only 1 screw left at the back.  I am worried that some things may have been ripped out.

The mouse port is the closest to the front of the 2 on the left hand side of the 4000D. The one nearest the back is the joystick port.

As was said before - never mess with connections while the power is on - an easy way to kill your Miggy.

Has there been battery leakage?

Have the caps gone?

Have you checked that the lead for the keylock is connected?

What is the sequence of the screen colours at start up?

Dave G  8-)

[swoslover]

I have tried the mouse in both ports, I am not such a computer novice lol.

I did wonder what the purpose of the key on the front with the padlock like symbols was, perhaps I need to change this when I get home.

The monitor lead itself has a cut almost like it has been lying under the monitor which has worn it away.  This is where the blue spark comes from and you have to hold both ends of the lead and push it together, I will invest in some tape as it seems to work ok when the conncection is secured.

Thanks for your help, it is only an a4000 68030 ec, however I felt it was the best way forward at 150 gbp inc postage.  Rather than upgrading a 1200.

[swoslover]

Update.

Well tonight I managed to have the monitor on for a period of time it is still faulty but if the cable stays in the right place it stays on!!

Neither the mouse (nor the keyboard seem to work.  Everything else is ok.  However it is very frustrating as I wanted to try hired guns and it needs to be loaded through WB

Thankfully the ports seem to be ok as the mouse will right click just not scroll.

If anyone knows how I can