CD32 black screen on some CDs (not a lens problem)

[Rochabian]

Hi,

I recently have downloaded some Amigajay's isos and i have some problem running them on one of my three CD32 (a rev4 board ). Other games, even burned ones works fine, audio cd's too, but some CDs gives me black screen or the loading led just goes off and nothing more happen ( the CD's is still spinning)

First i've replaced the lens with a spare one but the problem is the same.

I've done a cross test of the entire lens system by using another CD32 motherboard (rev4.1) and it reads the CDs well, all is good

But went i put the lens system back on the rev4 board, the problem mentionned above appears....

Very strange....

Can bad caps do such symptom as the rev4 board was not recapped ?

Can the Akiko chip be bad just for some CD's ?

I've washed the motherboard wich was very dirt but it's the same

Thanks

[jotd]

maybe give some details of CDs which work and CDs which doesn't ? that may help understand what the issue can be.

[Rochabian]

Ok jotd

From all the Amigajay's CDs so far, those that doesn't work on my rev4 motherboard but works on rev4.1 motherboard with the same cd unit are :

2 Decades of Amiga Games
Ultimate Lemmings Collection
50 Games CD32
Point & Click Collection CD32

I've more than 125 burned CD that works well (always same BRAND), but those 4 cd's doesn't show the menu :

Black screen with loading LED off and cd spinning with no sound
Or mouse pointer on the top left corner with led off and cd spinning with no sound

I've done tests with or without my SX32 and same results

It's strange because it seems to be some of the most recent CD, but some like HOMEBREW & HACKS works....

I've tried to seek into startup-sequence but i can't find any difference so i assume it's a hardware problem but i don't know what could be guilty....

If you ask why i don't use the rev4.1 board to resolve my problem, it is because the board has bad sound and needs to be recapped.......

I don't know what are the differences between rev 4 & rev4.1....

[jotd]

the CDs themselves won't boot at all? or some games? does the menu show? the boot is a standard OS routine so it should always work.

[Rochabian]

@Amigay

Yes i've seen that, that's why i think it's an hardware problem

@JOTD

The CDs boot, load a bit ( the loading led is lit and flashes ), but after 10-20 seconds :

Black screen with loading LED off and cd spinning with no sound
Or mouse pointer on the top left corner with loading led off and cd spinning with no sound

-> I don"t see the menu or sound. It seems to stop loading before that.


Is there a way to do a memory test, sysinfo doesn't see any problem ?

[jotd]

yes, could be a memory problem. There are a lot of memory test programs on aminet. You have to create a bootup disk just for that.

When you changed the lens, did you de-solder the blob of solder like shown in Akira excellent tutorial?

I could perform some tests (got 2 CD32 machines & a terrible fire board, convenient to perform all kinds of tests), but you'd have to send it to Toulouse BTW I changed the laser on both machines, and it worked much better, except that one machine has now issues, probably because of the motor now... The board is OK.

[Rochabian]

Thanks for you offer JOTD

I'll try to test intensively the memory with programs found on Aminet first, as i'm able to do it

BTW, if i found some memory problem, are you able to do a repair ?

I previously send my SX32 to Hese for repair because the battery has leaked and he has done a fantastic job on it, but he's in finland or sweden i don't remember

It would be easier for me to have someone who wants and be able to do this in France.

I'll let you know about my memory tests

Thanks

EDIT: I've put the old lens back as there was no difference with the new. I keep it for when I really need it, and yes, i've de-solder the blob with help of Akira tutorial

[Rochabian]

I've done memory test with 3 different tools from aminet and none of them has found memory error.....

So finally i think it's time to recap all my CD32 boards......

Thanks for your help

[jotd]

i've de-solder the blob with help of Akira tutorial

Then you have the same set of skills as me I'm not going to help further with the electronics. I could have helped by testing games that I know the insides of (loading, memory) to diagnose the problem. Also plugging a TF328 can make a good test too.

Recapping can't do much harm.

[Rochabian]

I think recapping is the first thing to do

I've tested my burned CD with Agony game under WinUAE -> OK
I've tested the CD with rev4 board, Agony game hangs.
I've tried to copy the "Agony" folder from the CD on my HDD with my SX32 -> Copy failed
I've tried to copy the "Agony" folder from the CD on my HDD with my SX32 and board rev4.1 copy is OK with the same CD drive

So it's caps or AKIKO ( wich has DMA from CD drive )

I think i'll send all my CD32 boards (4) to hese for revision, as now there isn't one wich works correctly .