Real Annoying A1200 Video Problem...

[giZmo350]

Hey gang... I have a video problem with an A1200 Rev 1B mobo that's driving me crazy! It's fitted with an Indi AGA MKII (non)CR, Indi ACA 1232 Accelerator, and Subway USB. What happens is that when I fire up the unit I get a Indi Screen that is greatly reduced from the proper full screen size.



However, after workbench loads, the screen is displayed at the correct, full screen resolution.



This reduced Indi screen problem seems to negate apps from displaying correctly too - including WHDLoad games. Here's an app running that's reduced to the initial Indi screen size. When exit the app, workbench returns to the normal, proper size.



When I first got this unit all worked correctly for about 9 months or so, Then the Indi screen problem started showing up randomly. After a couple more months it would happen nearly every boot. Then I found that if the unit was on for about 6 hours and I rebooted the problem would go away. However, now, there is no getting around the problem. Also tried reloading the Indie config file many times (at first I thought the Indi was losing it's config - but no).

I then reseated/disconnected each non-essential part to no avail. Then I swapped out the ROMs for brand new ones. Then I recapped the mobo (today). Problem is still here!  ARRRRRGGGG! Anyone else seen this problem? @AmigaKit, you guys ever see this problem? Any input is appreciated! Machine is useless with this problem.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Obviously don't own an Indi AGA, but just a couple things off the bat:

- Do you have the same issues when using the native Amiga video output?
- Try running the system with everything but the Indi removed
- Is it a heat issue?  Try running with the case open and a fan blowing directly on it.  Any difference?
- Do you have any kind of ModePro utilities running that might be interfering with screensize?

[giZmo350]

Obviously don't own an Indi AGA, but just a couple things off the bat:

- Do you have the same issues when using the native Amiga video output?

Hmmm, can I connect my C2002 monitor to the A1200 video output with the Indi still installed and get a screen? Always wondered that...

- Try running the system with everything but the Indi removed

Already did that....

- Is it a heat issue?  Try running with the case open and a fan blowing directly on it.  Any difference?

Yes, seems to be a heat issue - the longer and warmer the maching got the more the problem went away.

- Do you have any kind of ModePro utilities running that might be interfering with screensize?

Nope.....

BTW, this is NOT the machine in my sig......

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Hmmm, can I connect my C2002 monitor to the A1200 video output with the Indi still installed and get a screen? Always wondered that...

With the Indi ECS you can do this.  If you run something bigger than what the monitor can display normally it just pushes it off the edges.  Here's an old photo of mine (before I got my Spectrum).

BTW, this is NOT the machine in my sig......

How many A1200's do you have???  :lol:

[giZmo350]

-Tested C2002 monitor with A500 w/RGB and ECS outputs - OK.

-Tested C2002 monitor with A1200 w/RGB and AGA outputs - simultaneously - NO RGB out put. Connected just the 2002 monitor - NO RGB output.

-Pulled the Indi AGA - NO RGB output.

I noticed that I may have damaged/lifted the top pad on C409 (upper left of mobo) I might not have RGB because of this but doubt it's related to the original problem as the Indi AGA output still works (with the same malfunction). I just can't check if I get the same problem with RGB.

How can I tell where that connection must go? Is there a trace diagram for A1200 mobos (REV1B)? How do you tell where those pads go if you lift one? :confused:

Awe, I bummed.

@Mike - 2 of em! Aslo, just saw your PM.... will get to checking your  goodies SOON!!!

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

If I'm reading right, it sounds like you have a damaged Mobo.   No RGB output even with Indi removed?  Honestly I'd try to get that fixed first, before moving on with any other troubleshooting.  

Can you test the 2nd Indi with your 1st A1200?

If 2nd Indi works with 1st A1200, you'll know the problem is with 2nd A1200 mobo.  If 2nd Indi has the same problem with 1st A1200, you'll know problem is with 2nd Indi.  That's like, what I do all day long, man.  Swap components until I find ones that work!  

[giZmo350]

Yea, I would do that 'cept A1200#1 has an Indi AGA MKI... A1200#2 has an Indi AGA MKII - totally different cable - I would have to rip the guts up in A1200#1 to get the cable out... Not good! Maybe it won't be so bad sticking A1200#2 Indi in A1200#1 since I can get #2's cable out without too much hassle. Got all that? :roflmao:

Hopefully, maybe someone else has seen this before... personally, I think it's the Indi MKII myself.

Yup, now I have to fix the RGB first. :furious: Well, meanwhile, back to the A2000 project!

[giZmo350]

Hmmm, I'm on a bigger role than Amtrack (sorry - joke as tasteless as Vegimite)! Popped the Indi MKII in the AT-A1200 (A1200#1) and it won't even boot! Just get a bunch of stripes on the LCD screen. Well, we all know that the stars can't be THAT far out of alignment! Reseated several times - nope. Popped the Indie AGA MKI back in - works fine. There's nothing in user-startup or startup-sequence referring to the Indi either. I also made sure that the monitor drivers that the Indi MKII would expect were there too. Back to the 'ole drawing board.... :hammer: Dang! Didn't I see Van Halen on stage... like on Fox News or somethin recently?

[som99]

Have you installed the config tool? This is fixed using the Indivision AGA config tool, just install the config tool and adjust, mine was the same on LOW res PAL modes before the config tool was out.

http://wiki.icomp.de/w/images/b/b3/IvAGAMK2_config_V1.2.lha

[giZmo350]

Have you installed the config tool? This is fixed using the Indivision AGA config tool, just install the config tool and adjust, mine was the same on LOW res PAL modes before the config tool was out.

http://wiki.icomp.de/w/images/b/b3/IvAGAMK2_config_V1.2.lha

 Thanks for the replies guys! @Som99, well, I've had the newest core and the V1.2 config tool installed for a long time. Have been using Retrofan's V2 config file and SuperPlus right along. I love Superplus's 800x600!   Now I've got even bigger trouble with this Indi! It's not in front of me but basically I cleared the flash then tried to reload Retro's config file. Now the only screen mode I can use is 1024x760 and it's all corrupt. I can't for the life of me remember how I got all that set up a couple of years ago - brain's turning to mush! LOL Do I need to reload the core software at this point or is that a one time deal? Or is there a way to just clear out it's config to see if that's the problem? Thing is, even after kind of mucking it all up, the initial Indi screen is still the reduced size. Arg... this A1200 might just traded along! Same as it's a beautiful snow white machine.

[giZmo350]

Hi peeps, sorry to keep bugging you about this problem, but would really appreciate maybe someone knowing the answer to this...

When looking at the first pic in the top post, you can see how the Indi initial screen is very small. Well. after turning on the Indi OSD (On Screen Display) permanently, I found that the detected screen is always NTSC - 800 x 600 - 60Hz - no matter what. Which would be about the correct size (the inner box) of the much larger area that the monitor is capable of. Thing is, no matter what I try in the V1.2 config tool, I can't change any setting to get the Indi initial screen to start at any higher resolution. Nothing will change the init screen, nada! So, I removed all the Indi flash files (left over from a couple of years ago) and downloaded again from Jens, V2.6 core, and reinstalled, and reflashed the Indi. Nothing changes at all except that now I know there is no config file in there at all. Reboot and still the same. Then I found that, because it always starts at NTSC, that if I change the WB overscan area to max (the only one that will allow a change with the Indi installed), that the initial (boot) Indi screen will stretch to the same size. This of course, does nothing more than create largers screens (+WB) after boot completes. In other words, NOT the answer. Funny how changing the WB overscan area for NTSC will change the config in the Indi though! And yes, I know that the config tool has it's own overscan config - and the drop down PRESETS config option for overscan in the config tool does nothing at all except change the config setting for whatever AMIGA mode resolution you select.

So my question is; Is there a setting in the Indi config tool to change the mode that the Indi starts up at? To something other than ALWAYS NTSC - 800 x 600 - 60Hz? If there is I simply can't figure it out or it simply doesn't work. Or, is the Indi supposed to auto-sense the physical monitor resolution on startup? Booting into early startup does nothing if I boot to PAL - the Indi just reverts back to NTSC. It would seem that there is just nothing I can configure to change this startup mode of the Indi. Here's a pic of the (sorry blurry) initial screen again - and as you can see, stretched from the first pic above and at NTSC - 800 x 600 - 60Hz. Anything? Anyone? Pleeeeze!