looking for a couple used 500/2000 2.04 Roms

[kb0oyz]

Hi All,
I am looking for a couple used 500/2000 2.04 Roms
I bought the Magictek '060 a few years back and was never able to get it to boot up in any of MY A2000 series boxes/various MB revs, -latest 3.1 Rom (no other boards installed for testing)
...I had also heard it needed to be the last MB rev 6.3+ (which I have), and tested on earlier versions 4.1, - 6.3+ as well.

I tested it on several friends A2000's and it worked with my 128mb Ram that I planned to use in it. I went through countless emails back and forth then shipped it off to GVP/Steve Smith and he stated it worked fine for him on the test bench. Last I recall I saw it to start to boot in one of my A2000's on a 2.04 ROM (at least I saw the purple check mark Rom screen then it cycled), and I want to start there diagnosing the issues, and have it usable.

If you are aware of any known causes, issues / help docs to point me to that would be greatly appreciated as well.

I have lost a lot of sleep, hair and $$$ due to spending ~$1200 on this board now... LOL

Thanks Ralph

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

You mean Tekmagic?

When did you send it to GVP?  Recently?  Afaik they haven't been servicing boards in over a decade...

In any case, you shouldn't have any problem using it with a 6.x-series motherboard and the latest 3.1 ROM.  Using an '060 under 2.04/2.1 would be like using a Formula 1 race car on "Ron's Discount Retread Tires".  Don't do it, it *will* work under 3.1.  How do I know?  Because I own one, lol.  

If you suspect ROM issues, try with a new 3.1 chip first.  You can get a new one for under $20 USD:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=157

I'd try that, and start documenting everything you've tried.  I.e., does the A2000 boot normally with no accelerator installed, what exactly happens when you try to boot with the board installed, any battery damage, reseated all the custom chips (on the Amiga and on the GVP board), also it might be an issue of your PSU starting to fail and not putting out enough power.  Have you tested that?

This page has some additional info that may help you:  http://nishtek.com/Riese/GVPTekmagic68060.html

[SACC-guy]

don't forget the libs! the pointer 040 and 060 libs!

[amiadudeorwat]

Since he says that he is getting inconsistent boot on his friends machine, maybe it's good old SCSI issues?  Improper termination or a messed up SCSI configuration can cause lack of boot or random reboots.  
Is the active termination jumper on?  Try turning it off.
Also if he sent it in to GVP most likely they would have tested SCSI which means they probably had a properly terminated test drive in a known good configuration.

Since it's probably a second hand board and you haven't had it working properly go over every jumper setting.  

If you haven't done so, clean the slot connector of the Tekmagic board with some isopropyl alcohol.  Just go buy a $3 bottle of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol from the pharmacy and wet a paper tower or some cotton swabs and give the contacts a good rubbing.  I bet you'll get plenty of grime off of it.  
Cleaning the CPU socket is a little trickier, fold over a paper towel a few times till you get a semi-rigid edge, dip that in the alcohol and try to gently get it in the CPU slot for a few swipes.  If you're leaving shreds of paper towel in the slot, you'll need to remove those and you're doing it wrong.

Also start with one stick of RAM or two-if it requires pairs.  Then if you get that working add the rest.

[kb0oyz]

You mean Tekmagic?

When did you send it to GVP?  Recently?  Afaik they haven't been servicing boards in over a decade...

In any case, you shouldn't have any problem using it with a 6.x-series motherboard and the latest 3.1 ROM.  Using an '060 under 2.04/2.1 would be like using a Formula 1 race car on "Ron's Discount Retread Tires".  Don't do it, it *will* work under 3.1.  How do I know?  Because I own one, lol.  

If you suspect ROM issues, try with a new 3.1 chip first.  You can get a new one for under $20 USD:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=157

I'd try that, and start documenting everything you've tried.  I.e., does the A2000 boot normally with no accelerator installed, what exactly happens when you try to boot with the board installed, any battery damage, reseated all the custom chips (on the Amiga and on the GVP board), also it might be an issue of your PSU starting to fail and not putting out enough power.  Have you tested that?

This page has some additional info that may help you:  http://nishtek.com/Riese/GVPTekmagic68060.html

I am in a VERY DETERMINED mode now and will soon have time once again to get back on this project...

RE: Olds-mike,
I have previously done everything you suggested, 3.1 Roms bought for both boards same time. (*see sub note please) it does boot with 68000 and Derringer 030 installed on 3.1 Rom & OS 3.9.

RE:Saccy-guy
I did install those libs (060) on the HDD boot partition as well, but maybe not the 040 libs?

My apologies, yes - it was over a decade ago, and sorry for the Magictek LOL
was not concentrating on what I originally typed .... I  did not proofread when typing...

... so I got ticked off at it and threw it in the closet..., I had bought it to build a souped up Video Toaster box for myself

Reasoning for the 2.04 Rom is to get it to a semi-functioning starting point to diagnose my way forward to full functioning, then apply 3.1 Rom...

1 of the friends machines used to test already had a Tekmagic '040 board properly setup and running, so I was able to power mine up in his box and test-ran mine for a couple hours, so I am not suspecting the accelerator board as much. Maybe more in the motherboard?

2  brand new boards 060 boards were purchased @ the same time, not second hand.
I bought the 2, sold 1 to a client (for all the labor in the contract I did, it actually paid for mine) ;-)

I have even done the accelerator issue checks as part of what Dave Haney has previously posted on the web, except checking the a signal startup (can't remember right now which one *S3/S1 or something like that??) that affects some accelerator boards starting.
If I can find those docs, I will try masking the related suggested pin off and see what happens.

I have of course cleaned the contacts, and FYI, whetting a business card with acetone/ Isopropyl Alcohol and sliding it carefully through the CPU socket 1x will clean the contacts, then the cardboard paper starts to deteriorate... of course clean any debris out it creates..
(a HAM Radio trick to clean CW (Morse) keyer contacts)
Dave Smith did find a solder short issue under the SCSI chip on the board I purchased, but I don't remember if he repaired it or just replaced the board (free - under warranty)...


Thanks
I do appreciate all the assistance here from everybody, -
20 heads are better than 1....
I REALLY want to get this board running, it is driving me crazy...


*FYI:
I am a Component Level Electronics Service Technician, (repair/design/hardware hacker)
I was also the last Support Tech @ PP&S before the fire,
was the RMAUG VP 10+years ago
now a jus a Windows Systems/Network Administrator & Engineer
(just for technical competency reference)
 
gotta get outta here now,
I have to replace both of my site Network CORES tomorrow night here at my call center... :-(

[paul1981]

Seems like people were using Cyberstorm libs, at least they were in 2004:

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6525

I know on my Apollo, the software came with a 'dummy' 68040.library and a real 68060.library (they both needed to be installed in Libs). But I don't use those, I use the MMULib package (no need for a 'dummy' library).

http://aminet.net/package/util/libs/MMULib

The TekMagic libs should be on your install disk though. If other people can get your card to work, then that sounds promising to me. Good luck.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

When I installed my Tekmagic '060 I already had a GVP '040 board installed and running with the '040 version of THoR's libs.  I swapped the boards and powered it on, it threw a flashing yellow error message something about needing the right '060 libs, or the dummy '040 lib (I forget what it said, exactly), but once I installed the '060 versions of the libs, datatypes, and '060-specific versions of the other utilities I run, all was back to normal.

TL;DR.  THoR's libraries should work fine for you.

Maybe I missed it, but to be specific - are you saying when you try to use the board your system doesn't power up at all (a hardware problem) or tries to power up, but gives errors (a software problem)?

Are you able to test the system with another board in the CPU slot?  Check continuity on the pins on the MB connector?

[arttu80]

also it might be an issue of your PSU starting to fail and not putting out enough power.  Have you tested that?

+1

[AllocVec]

If you are still looking for a working ROM, have a click:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/222287189231?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649