A1200 with Wizard Magnum Ram8

[drfred]

Ok i've had a look around, and can't find anyone else with this problem :huh:

Up until last night everything was working fine, then this morning when i try to power up the A1200 i just get a black screen, and nothing much else.

I can hear the HD spin up, and do it's checks. and the power light comes on, but that's as far as it goes.

if i take out the magnum board it boots fine, with no errors, so i'm wondering if either the board is dead, or the power supply is on it's way out and can't kick out enough power to run everything?

Any ideas? don't want to get a new PSU or board to find out it's something else :confused:

[Robert17]

Hey drfred,

The connection between the A1200 motherboard and the expansion board might need a clean - use some isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush, clean both sides of the edge connector and inside the ram boards connector, then try again.

Hope it works!

Robert :-)

[drfred]

I'll give that a try, as finding a higher wattage power supply isn't easy (and will probably end up with me making one from a PC PSU)

[Robert17]

Are you using a standard A1200 Power supply, the lightweight on? If so it could be that, as it's only just goo enough for an unexpanded A1200. I Think you can get leads which adapt a standard 4pin Molex power plug to an A1200 type PSU Connector, might be Amigakit.

Hope you get it solved soon :-)

[drfred]

Yeah it's the standard power supply, had a feeling it might be that.

Think i've just been lucky with it working LOL!  I'll try and find a small PC power supply i can adapt.

Any idea what wattage PSU to use? don't want to use a massive 500w PSU if i can get away with a 100W one

[Rebel-CD32]

Does the board show up as working or faulty when you check the Expansion Board Diagnostic section of the Early Startup Menu by holding down the mouse buttons when you switch the Amiga on?

[drfred]

I get nothing, screen just stays black.  Guess i'm going to have to find a pc power supply i can use.

[Rebel-CD32]

Before you get another PSU, try taking the hard drive out and checking the Early Startup menu. That will prevent the computer from using too much electricity and should get the screen up at least. If the board is faulty it should tell you so. Also you can use a regular rubber erasor to clean the contacts on the expansion connector.

Also check if you can boot Workbench from a floppy disk, and check if there is extra RAM showing.

[drfred]

Right, well we have a new development.

I cleaned all the contacts, unplugged the HD and it booted fine.  Even managed to boot it with the HD back in there, but i have noticed that some times the power light is dim, or flashes between bright and dim when i first turn it on.

I've taken the power off the floppy drive in the hopes it'll make it more stable, but doesn't make a lot of difference.

Also the cover for the trapdoor seems to put pressure on the expansion board which stops it booting all together.  

All in all i think i've got a few problems LOL!