S/H Cybervision 64/3d...please don't say it's DOA!!!!

[dandelion]

Hi all..

I write to you in a very worried state.

Bought a second hand Cybervision 64/3D which arrived well packaged along with the manual and installation disks. It took a bit of forcing but I managaed to insert it into the video slot of my Amiga 4000/040 this morning. First thing I did was to check the Expansion Boards option in the early startup which listed the board as working. Great I though, so continued to install the software (Cybergraphics v. 3). All went well, I told it I had an 040 processor and went with the defaults for the rest of the options.

However, on reset the machine crashed citing sys:devs/monitors/CVision64 as the source (Program Failed - Reboot/Suspend). I removed the offending item, rebooted back to a TV mode (only have a TV - it refuses to output to the PC monitor) and tried installing an update (a later CGfx 3 version). This gave exactly the same error. More worryingly I ran a board check program (came with the update disk, can't remember what it was called) and it outputted with a window saying "No graphics devices found"!!!! I have to say I am extremely worried. This has been an expensive return to the Amiga scene, and at the moment I have a dodgy-bustered A4K which will only talk to a TV. When I tried rebooting the machine with CGfx installed no monitor or anything was plugged into the cards output..but surely it wouldn't have crashed?!

I am very scared I have just wasted too much money on this card - and fear if I have it might be enough to push me away from the Amiga scene once more. I beg you all to deliver me positive news (i'm drunk by the way).

All my love,

Dandelion

[Acill]

. It took a bit of forcing but I managaed to insert it into the video slot of my Amiga 4000/040 this morning.

Uhhh.... I'm about 90% sure that card is not meant to go in the video slot. Its a ZIII board. I hope you didnt trash it, but take it out now and put it into an empty ZIII slot instead!!

[Glaucus]

Is the video slot the same as the Z3 slots? I mean, physically the same, I know the purpose is different. Hmmm...  It's been so long since I've opened up my A4000, can't remember what it even looks like!  :-)

Well, hopefully placing it in a Z3 slot will fix the problem.

 - Mike

[Ilwrath]

The CV64/3d is a two-piece card, if it has the ScanDoubler option.  The SD goes in the Video slot, and the CV64 plugs into the Z3.  There's no way to insert it wrong, provided you actually manage to insert the card without breaking anything.  (Which is a challenge, as the card is BARELY able to fit in the slots -- installation takes about an hour, and that is if you know exactly what you are doing!)

The software install is VERY dodgy on the CV 64/3d, as well.  I've never had an install go flawlessly.  If possible, what you may want to do is try to snoopdos the loading, and make sure nothing obvious is failing (improper version or missing file).  

Also, if you can, try loading the software on a bare workbench install (no patches or hacks) and see if you get better results.  

You might also want to try Picasso 96 instead of the CGx software.  Why not?  nothing to lose, and it might prove your hardware is ok.

Personally, I wouldn't be TOO worried if the software didn't work right on the first try.  It rarely does.  

[doctorq]

I know it's not actually the same card, but it's the same problem.

I had trouble getting my  CyberVisionPPC to give me any output, even though I did excactly as mentioned in the guide. I used CyberGraphX v4 for the installation of the gfx card, on my OS3.5. I rebooted and it said the same thing. Weird!

I then tried to copy all libraries from another boot partion, and suddenly all worked well. I decided to find out what caused this and went through all libraries one by one. What I actually did, was to delete 2-3 libraries and rebooted the computer and if the CyberVisionPPC gave me any output, I tried once more...

Because of Murphys law it was the last 3 libraries I layed my hands on, and I started at the bottom, so mayby you can guess which libraries made the problem; 64040.library, 68040new.library and 68060.library. My acc. board was 68060, so it was the 68060.library that was to old. So try installing the newest libraries after the installation of the CyberGraphX software, and if this fails try downloading the CyberGraphX update from Aminet.

I managed to install the board on a boot partion, only containing the contents of the Workbench3.0 disk, some CD software and that's it. CyberVisionPPC worked fine then, even though one guy said that I needed atleast OS3.5, and the installation would still be troublesome.

PS. But obviusly you need to insert the card in the correct slot, as somebody else mentioned.

Try it out, worked for me ;-)

[dandelion]

Hmm...ok, so i've taken the card out of the video slot (more blood, sweat and swearing) and put it in the next slot up (a much easier fit this time).

Next up I deleted the CVision64 monitor file that Cybergfx had left and installed the latest version of Picasso96 (all done at 15khz on a TV). Then, I switched off the Amiga, plugged my PC monitor into the Cybervision, and turned back on (the Amiga is still outputting to the TV at this stage so I can see what's going on). It managed to boot and go to a working workbench. As it rebooted the PC monitor crackled into life and it looked like the Cybervision was outputting something (a bluey black blank screen). Then *poof* - guru. 80000004. DAMN!

So then I removed the Picasso monitor file and place the CGfx one back. Trying to boot with this did as it did before...the same error (80000004), but not even getting to Workbench this time.

Aghhhhrrrr!!!

[lempkee]

ok here is a tip ,

everytime i tryed to install such an card in my amiga ...the system crashed on the "starting cgx" part , i put the card(s) back in the box and tryed p96 with a PIV instead and it worked fine, so i sold my cv64/3d(s) and seller reported they worked fine....

looks like my system didnt like that card , most noteably my software.

so i doubt your card is DOA! , crashed on the very same places as yours.

cheers  and good luck!

[Framiga]

@dandelion

mhhh! deleting the CVision monitor is not enoug!

You must delete ALL the CGX related libraries before installing P96.

Unistall CGX3 ALL, and install P96.

Ciao

PS-by the way . . .i doesn't understood where you have installed the CV643D the first time!!!!

[dandelion]

Okay. So, I backed up my Sys: partition to Work:, reformatted in and gave it a fresh install of Workbench 3.0. Then I reinstalled the Cybergraphics v3 software with the default options and the monitor scan rate of 31kHz.

Rebooted - crashed (exactly the same place, exactly the same error).

Then I tried updating Setpatch (Amiga International beta off Aminet).

Rebooted - crashed (as before).

I tried removing the CVision3D driver from Devs/Monitors and loading it manually...which again gave me the identical error. I tried running Snoopdos to see when it was failing. Basically it just goes and fetches the 31kHz monitor file in sys:/prefs/presets/monitors and dies. I tried removing that 31khz file which results in a requester asking what display type I want (VGA 31kHz, PAL, NTSC, Cancel). Each of those buttons crashes the machine with the same error.

Then I tried Picasso96 again on the fresh install and the same error again.

There's nothing else installed in the Amiga 4000 - I pulled out my SCSI card and it's made no difference.

I'm running out of ideas

[Ilwrath]

By the way... What ROM are you running in the Amiga??  It seems to like 3.1 ROMS much better than 3.0 ROMS, from what I've heard....   (I never tried 3.0)

Throw a snoopdos command way early in your startup and see if anything is failing.  As doctorq mentioned, the CyberGraphX software is infamous for copying wrong versions of software or libraries, or copying them to the wrong places!!  

Also, FRAmiga brings up a good point, in that stray libraries left over from an aborted CGx install will cause you many problems.  (I've lived this one first-hand, as well.)  

As for card installation, if you have the ScanDoubler module, there is only one slot you can  plug the card into... If you don't, I don't think it matters which slot you plug the card into -- they're all Z3.  The "video slot" takes the place of an ISA slot in the standard A4000.  In other words, it's in-line with the Zorro slot, not above or below it.  I think whoever mentioned the wrong slots forgot what the inside of an A4000D looks like.  ;-)

[Matt_H]

What's your Buster rev?

What version of CGX are you using? I'm using the latest version of 4 and haven't had any trouble. Also be sure that you're installing the right version (Z2/Z3) of the driver.

Failing that, try another slot? This is a strange problem...

[Framiga]

@dandelion

sorry but i'm still have a scary doubt:

WHERE (in which slot) have you installed the board the first time?

A4000D has only 1 videoslot alligned with the ZIII one and it is the first near the mobo.

So . . .has your CV643d the Scandoubler module? (the little board connected with the CV board with a small flat cable)?

If yes, try to remove the Scandoubler and remove the flat cable also. Test the CV64 without the SD.

Remember to remove the CGX related library before installing P96. (ie cgxvideo and cgxsystem)

I'm not 100% sure but SD needs a driver also.

Ciao

PS- i've take a look in the CV3D install disk.
I've noticed that there are different monitor for ZII and ZIII.systems.

[Ilwrath]

The A4000D (this IS an A4000D, right?) is laid out like so....

(This is looking in the machine from the left side, the Zorro riser is vertical.)

------- ISA -------     ------------- Zorro 3 ------------------
------- ISA -------     ------------- Zorro 3 ------------------
------- ISA -------     ------------- Zorro 3 ------------------
--- A4k Vid --         ------------- Zorro 3 ------------------

The back of the machine would be the left-hand side.  

I just don't see how you can insert anything wrong here.  Unless you force the ScanDoubler into an ISA slot(?)

I don't know if the driver for the Z2 system will crash a Z3, or not.  It might just work, but slower.  

And, of course... I should have noticed you mentioned something about a Buster... what version ARE you running?  And do you have any reason to believe it may be bad?  Also... What rev 3640 card are you running?  

[Ilwrath]

Whoa.... The BB software took out my spacing.  The Zorro 3 slots should all four be lined up.  The A4k video is a little smaller than an ISA, but then there is some blank space until the Z3 starts in it's proper location.
ASCII art is a lost form.  ;-)

[dandelion]

Ok..so a little update. After the advice to remove ALL the Cybergraphics stuff I had a bit more luck. Following that I reinstalled Picasso96 and rebooted.

Huh! It didn't crash. I tentatively moved my mouse - still ok. Dared to open up Screenmode - lots of nice new modes to play with! Chose one (16 bit 800x600), Saved, the TV went blank grey and the monitor showed a crisp, large Workbench. I allowed myself to let out a whoop of joy and then the computer crashed. Software Failure 80000004.

I was still reasonably pleased though because it seemed like a bit step forward. I started again, this time I made sure that I loaded Picasso96Mode and attached the settings file to the graphics card (went to the menu Attach to Card and told it to disable all the drivers outside of the hardware capability of the Cybervision. At least, I think that was what I was doing). Then, after saving that and resetting I tried again. This time the PC monitor displayed half an Amiga workbench before it obviously again crashed.

It is also flakey in standard PAL modes. I was able to run the Debug program and it gave a full report of the card so it seems to be operating ok which is a relief.

Now, is it the software or my Amiga 4000 which is the problem? Hopefully it is still a software issue but I do have Buster 09 (surface mounted!!!). Someone mentioned Cybergfx 4. I'm more than happy to buy it if I can be sure it'll work. Are there any time delay demos you can try?