A1200 + Blizzard 030 problem
 

Hello guys!

I have the problem with my longtime-not-launched Amiga. It is Amiga 1200 with Blizzard 030 (don't remember which model exactly) + 16megs of fast ram installed.
The issue is that when I start up the computer with Blizzard connected the hard drives do not start their work and I get black screen or sometimes red screen. While the card is connected and I push a bit the video socket the hard drives start, but nevertheless I still get black or red screen with no boot to Workbench.

If I disconnect Blizzard from the mainboard the computer boots normally.

Can you please help me with diagonosis of the problem and how to fix it? Is my Blizzard dead or there is some other issue?

Clean the contacts of the main board and 030 and try again.

Contacts seem to be ok as the card was taken out and placed in a several times. The thing that worries me is that video output as pushing it a bit starts the hard drives though no workbench boot is done, just a red screen.

Both the Blizzard and the hard drives (if they're actual drives, not CF cards) draw significant amounts of power, so it could be that your power supply is dying, maybe try another PSU (if you have one) or disconnect the hard drives and see if the system boots with just the Blizzard but no HDD.

If you reinserted the card try pulling it out by 1 or 2 mm afterwards. I've had to do that with my 1230 IV.

sounds PSU related to me... my guess is a funky 5v line but I am no expert, still cant hurt to check PSU.

Do you still have the upper shield on the motherboard?
If so, just make sure the little folded down bit is not touching the card at all.

Can you please specify what shield you have on mind? How does it look like or where is it located?

Yeah I thought the same at first, but unfortunately do not have any original PSU for Amiga for replacement and gonna need to adjust some of PC's PSU to check it out.

Oh just the metal upper shield over the motherboard. There is a vertical lip that is over the connector for the accelerator and it should be fine but you would not believe how often just bending that back solves issues....

I forgot to mention, as I thought it's not that important, but my Amiga is in Infinity tower, so I do not reckon any metal shield to be there :)

Which version of Blizzard 030 is it please?

Take a photo of front & back of card & post here. ;)

I didn't have opportunity to take a photo as the card is not at my house, but it is MkIV version of Blizzard 030.

Need hi res pic's....

I have the same card and my A1200 was resetting over and over until I bought a new PSU. It fixed the problem :) have you tried different Ram modules?

If you have installed an old 2,5" hard drive I suggest you to replace it using a cheap IDE adapter/compact flash combination. My A1200 has a 2GB compact flash as hard drive + Blizzard 1230 IV / 32 MB + PSU 3,0A (! low output) and it works great.

Don't have any spare ones.

Yes these are old hdd's but they work fine without Blizzard and also PSU has been checked with voltmeter and it is also fine.

The PSU may be fine but just too weak for the config.
Booting with Blizzard but no HDD would tell more. You may also try to unplug all floppy drives and see if it makes the situation better.

So suddenly it became too weak?