Cd-rom on A4000 don't work before machine has been running a while

[tormedhammaren]

The A4000 must have the right temperature before it works. I know that because if I turn it of when it's hot, and turn it right on again, it works from the start. It takes about 5-15 minutes depending on the room temperature. I didn't experience this problem before about one year ago.

Does anyone know how I can fix this problem? What could cause it?

[jeffimix]

Now I can't say I know for certain, but I'd tell you that it sounds as if maybe the CD-ROM drive's electric motor needs warming up. Otherwise, perhaps the laser isn't getting the correct electricity from a cold part.

[tormedhammaren]

Interesting. If it is on the Cd-rom side (not on the Amiga side) that sounds probable.

I should note that before it starts working, it makes some spin ups, but fails. And when it's recognising the cd, at first, it's very slow (maybe 1x). It is 4x.

[darksun9210]

to be honest, get a new CD drive. if its an IDE job, they're only, what pocket change these days?

if its not the CD drive, and the machine is an A4000 desktop, bear in mind that the IDE connector is on a part of the mainboard that is relatively unsopported. meaning that after a lot of wear, you may bend the mainboard to a point where a trace to the IDE socket breaks microscopicly, and only with a bit of heat does the metal expand and make a good connection. could also be the case for a dry solder joint on the underside of the IDE socket.

had this issue with my ol' A4000/030 and analogic out of the kindness of their own hearts charged me 80 quid for the mainboard fix, (and 120 quid for a new A4000 keyboard!)

anyway, first suggestion is get a new IDE drive, preferably a 32 speed. so you don't have to wait 10 seconds for a 52 speed to spin up or put up with it sounding like a jet plane taking off. :-)

[lempkee]

did u open the cdrom and take out the sheilding or something? , anyway if its 4x..., damn i would like to just give u a new one :=)

anyway remeber that u can use almost "ANY" cdrom/cdrw theese days on the amiga (IDE or scsi)
new 52x burners with 52x read (aopen/phillips etc)  for like 60 usd MAX!, they work fine as i have both an aopen 52x and a phillips 48x (IDE)
and as a side note....
i have a FAST ATA controller and i burn in 4x/8x/16/32 with no problem and some stuff i can burn in higher speeds but only if its a premade iso (ie in 40x speed etc)

just a tip , i hope u will get your prob solved, let us know what cdrom type it is and if its scsi or ide .

cheers

[Framiga]

by tormedhammaren on 2003/9/1 6:53:54

The A4000 must have the right temperature before it works. I know that because if I turn it of when it's hot, and turn it right on again, it works from the start. It takes about 5-15 minutes depending on the room temperature. I didn't experience this problem before about one year ago.

Does anyone know how I can fix this problem? What could cause it?

I've had a similar problem with my A4Kd, before towerizing it in a PowerTower4000.

I think that the problem was in the 10 years old PSU.

Try anyway, to remove all the socketed boards (CPU, SIMMs etc) and the 2 Kick ROMs then reinsert it again.

Often the time and the temperature, render the joint unstable.

Ciao

PS- however the old CD-ROM could be the cause of the failure also. (and its FlatCable)


 

[PiR]

Hi

I have simmilar problem with A1200!
I guess when chips gets to the working temperature they reduce the power consumption, so everything starts working properly.
I guess your problem can be because:
1. PSU - try to power up the CD from separate PSU on cold machine to test it.
2. Control signals from MoBo are to weak. I don't know how to test it or what to do about it.

I have 2 PSU (original and 200W), both having the same problem (even when I use both - one for MoBo and the other for drives). I have Blizzard 60/50 603/200 and BVision. And I can really feel BVision consuming Power. ;-)
Anyway, when machine is cold it freezes uppon starting up randomly (mostly during GFX operations). After it reaches the right temerature (10-15 min) I can start doing something.

Good luck
PiR

[DanDude]

Do you have a spare power supply unit for your 4000?

Do you have another CDROM unit you can test in your 4000?

Do you have a voltmeter and know how to use it?  If so, set your voltmeter to DC Volts and test the voltage between yellow and blue wires.  Use the red test probe to the yellow wire and the black probe to the blue wire where yellow should read +5V and blue is your system ground (0V).  If you get less than 4.85V,  you need to replace the PSU.

If you know for sure that the PSU is fine, replace the CDROM.  If that powers up no problem, then your CDROM is near retirement.  Better off having it replaced.  You can also try that CDROM in another computer and see if that fails.

Hope this helps...
 :-)

[tormedhammaren]

My Cd-rom is a Creative "QUAD SPEED" ide Cd-rom (connected to internal ide ofA4000). I don't use it much - got ethernet/adsl. But it's always cool to fix tings.

@lempkee:
No, I haven't removed any shielding. :-) I would really want me one of those FastATAs...


@DanDude:
Yes, I have an multimeter and I will test the voltage between the wires. Thanks for the tip. But since the Cd-rom works fine after some time, I think the malfunction is in the Cd-rom, not in the machine.

[duesi]

I think its probably the CD-ROM that is defective
(creative cd-roms are crap anyway)

[tormedhammaren]

I've pulled out the CD-ROM. The hd wouldn't spin up some nights ago. I think that my psu is beginning to be a bit old and don't deliver enough amps to my IDE units and/or the CD-ROM was to hungry (maybe it didn't like the conclusion about it, and decided to freak out...). Anyway, I only need a CD-ROM when I'm installing new software, and I can always mount a network CD-ROM over samba.

Thanks for the help. Case closed ;-)