Can anyone fix my a500 and get her back in business?

Adrian Browne · 12 September 2019, 02:11

Is there anyone here with the knowledge to bring my a500 back to full working order and make the case bright again etc? I tried cleaning the disk drive a few years ago. On someone's advice I took the disk drive out. Bad idea. I am not the person to fix computer hardware. The computer did power up though; probably still does. I guess I would need a new power pack sooner or later but the very old one works still...

I don't think anything major is wrong with it but what would I know, lol. Its my original amiga from 1990 and holds sentimental value. I could pay a little or trade some old amiga games instead. The scene took off in my absence; vampire boards, new and decent amiga games in development, inviyya etc.

I am eager to get back into the scene. I am in ireland but can post my miggy to the uk if need be.

solarmon · 12 September 2019, 08:12

Post some pictures of it - inside and out.

Explain what cleaning you have done on the disk drive.

First thing to do is inspect for any corrosion and damage. You may have a memory expansion with a battery that has leaked and has caused corrosion and damage.

reseat all the socket chips - use an appropriate tool. Whilst doing that clean the sockets and chips pins.

There are some excellent YouTube videos about fixing and restoring Amigas. I highly recommend the ones from Youtuber GadgetUK164.

There are also plenty of posts that can help you, and a plethora of very knowledgeable people, on this forum. Just search and/or ask - providing as much info and photos as possible.

Good luck!

Daedalus · 12 September 2019, 10:57

Where in Ireland are you? There are a few users in the Galway area who are involved in the computing museum there who might be able to help troubleshoot. They might not be able to solve any serious problems, but if it's just a bad floppy drive or cable they could diagnose that by trying a drive and cable from one of their Amigas.

Adrian Browne · 13 September 2019, 02:42

I used a disk drive cleaning disk with a special liquid. Did not work. I took the disk drive out of the computer. Lol, then I could not reconnect it. A brown filament came loose. Impossible to reattach. Lol. Maybe I should send it to amiga kit or something? I will pull it down tomorrow aand take pictures for ye.

Daedalus · 13 September 2019, 11:53

A brown filament? Sounds like part of the power cable... Yeah, a couple of photos would be good, but if it's as simple as a damaged cable, no need to send it anywhere - just get a replacement cable. Fitting the drive is pretty easy once you pay attention to how it should be connected.

Adrian Browne · 16 September 2019, 23:23

Photos of my Amiga- it needs some love at least- brown filament is gone.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AtSWKs9YNIzOs06D...MKw3k?e=BakmjE

solarmon · 17 September 2019, 00:02

Sorry, I still don't understand what this "brown filament" is - please can you explain in more detail, taking a close up photo of it.

CentralPerk · 18 September 2019, 15:30

You can order a replacement 4-pin power cable from Amigakit. Make sure you re-attach the ribbon data cable in the correct way as well.

Glen M · 18 September 2019, 15:36

If you're near Belfast I don't mind taking a look. I'm not expert but could help troubleshoot at least.

hooverphonique · 18 September 2019, 15:56

One of the pcb's on that floppy drive is at an angle - it's not supposed to be like that; what did you do to it?

Adrian Browne · 18 September 2019, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen M

If you're near Belfast I don't mind taking a look. I'm not expert but could help troubleshoot at least.

Well I am in Kerry but if you could help fix it if you have the skills I could send it to you. I think it was a thin semi transparent plastic that i broke before- its thrashed now. It should be an easy fix with the right tools.

The amiga will surely power up. it just needs some assembly, cleaning, a check-up - I am definitely not the guy to do it. I can part pay/ trade old games for any help. Thanks.

Adrian Browne · 18 September 2019, 16:36

With parcel motel i can post anywhere in the u.k cheaply. btw

solarmon · 18 September 2019, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by hooverphonique

One of the pcb's on that floppy drive is at an angle - it's not supposed to be like that; what did you do to it?

Yeah, looking at the blurry picture it seems like the pins between the rear and front boards are disconnected/broken - that might explain why it is not working.

Provide a better close up picture of that area.

solarmon · 18 September 2019, 18:32

Quote:

I think it was a thin semi transparent plastic

If this is meant to mean the ribbon cable for one of the read/write head, then that is a major problem!

DDNI · 19 September 2019, 10:33

Hi, Maybe source a new floppy drive? Not too expensive. Then bring your iffy drive to Amiga Ireland in January.

Adrian Browne · 24 September 2019, 23:50

To Amigakit it is then. I want to sort it and beef it up once its fixed. A few nice amiga games on the horizon.

12 September 2019, 02:11	#1
Adrian Browne Jackie Chan Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ireland Age: 46 Posts: 985	Can anyone fix my a500 and get her back in business? Is there anyone here with the knowledge to bring my a500 back to full working order and make the case bright again etc? I tried cleaning the disk drive a few years ago. On someone's advice I took the disk drive out. Bad idea. I am not the person to fix computer hardware. The computer did power up though; probably still does. I guess I would need a new power pack sooner or later but the very old one works still... I don't think anything major is wrong with it but what would I know, lol. Its my original amiga from 1990 and holds sentimental value. I could pay a little or trade some old amiga games instead. The scene took off in my absence; vampire boards, new and decent amiga games in development, inviyya etc. I am eager to get back into the scene. I am in ireland but can post my miggy to the uk if need be.

16 September 2019, 23:23	#6
Adrian Browne Jackie Chan Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ireland Age: 46 Posts: 985	Photos of my Amiga- it needs some love at least- brown filament is gone. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AtSWKs9YNIzOs06D...MKw3k?e=BakmjE Last edited by Adrian Browne; 30 November 2020 at 15:29.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
A500+ Slow Boot After Fix	RiotRetroGaming	support.Hardware	3	13 December 2017 10:10
Best flicker fix for A500+ > 1084S Monitor	Starglider 2	support.Hardware	28	26 May 2016 21:56
Strange A500 behaviour - fix attempt	Bibitvi	support.Hardware	1	27 January 2016 16:05
Bringing it back to life... A500	Rick Dangerous	Nostalgia & memories	6	09 March 2015 21:51
Ok ---Im ready to be transported back.back.back to the 90s. Check out what Ive got.	nc88keyz	Amiga scene	9	12 January 2008 22:58

12 September 2019, 08:12	#2
solarmon Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: UK Posts: 1,715	Post some pictures of it - inside and out. Explain what cleaning you have done on the disk drive. First thing to do is inspect for any corrosion and damage. You may have a memory expansion with a battery that has leaked and has caused corrosion and damage. reseat all the socket chips - use an appropriate tool. Whilst doing that clean the sockets and chips pins. There are some excellent YouTube videos about fixing and restoring Amigas. I highly recommend the ones from Youtuber GadgetUK164. There are also plenty of posts that can help you, and a plethora of very knowledgeable people, on this forum. Just search and/or ask - providing as much info and photos as possible. Good luck!

12 September 2019, 10:57	#3
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	Where in Ireland are you? There are a few users in the Galway area who are involved in the computing museum there who might be able to help troubleshoot. They might not be able to solve any serious problems, but if it's just a bad floppy drive or cable they could diagnose that by trying a drive and cable from one of their Amigas.

13 September 2019, 02:42	#4
Adrian Browne Jackie Chan Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ireland Age: 46 Posts: 985	I used a disk drive cleaning disk with a special liquid. Did not work. I took the disk drive out of the computer. Lol, then I could not reconnect it. A brown filament came loose. Impossible to reattach. Lol. Maybe I should send it to amiga kit or something? I will pull it down tomorrow aand take pictures for ye.

13 September 2019, 11:53	#5
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	A brown filament? Sounds like part of the power cable... Yeah, a couple of photos would be good, but if it's as simple as a damaged cable, no need to send it anywhere - just get a replacement cable. Fitting the drive is pretty easy once you pay attention to how it should be connected.

17 September 2019, 00:02	#7
solarmon Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: UK Posts: 1,715	Sorry, I still don't understand what this "brown filament" is - please can you explain in more detail, taking a close up photo of it.

18 September 2019, 15:30	#8
CentralPerk Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Argentina Posts: 23	You can order a replacement 4-pin power cable from Amigakit. Make sure you re-attach the ribbon data cable in the correct way as well.

18 September 2019, 15:36	#9
Glen M Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Belfast Posts: 750	If you're near Belfast I don't mind taking a look. I'm not expert but could help troubleshoot at least.

18 September 2019, 15:56	#10
hooverphonique ex. demoscener "Bigmama" Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Fyn / Denmark Posts: 1,624	One of the pcb's on that floppy drive is at an angle - it's not supposed to be like that; what did you do to it?

18 September 2019, 16:36	#12
Adrian Browne Jackie Chan Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ireland Age: 46 Posts: 985	With parcel motel i can post anywhere in the u.k cheaply. btw

19 September 2019, 10:33	#15
DDNI Targ Explorer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 5,431	Hi, Maybe source a new floppy drive? Not too expensive. Then bring your iffy drive to Amiga Ireland in January.

24 September 2019, 23:50	#16
Adrian Browne Jackie Chan Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ireland Age: 46 Posts: 985	To Amigakit it is then. I want to sort it and beef it up once its fixed. A few nice amiga games on the horizon.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)