A1200 + Blizzard 030 problem

dante2685 · 10 November 2019, 11:19

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?

-Acid- · 10 November 2019, 12:20

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

dante2685 · 10 November 2019, 23:06

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.

Marchie · 10 November 2019, 23:39

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.

dodke · 12 November 2019, 10:50

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.

lord of time · 12 November 2019, 11:46

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

crazyc · 12 November 2019, 15:00

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.

dante2685 · 12 November 2019, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyc

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?

dante2685 · 12 November 2019, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by lord of time

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

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.

crazyc · 12 November 2019, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by dante2685

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

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....

dante2685 · 13 November 2019, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyc

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

Kin Hell · 16 November 2019, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by dante2685

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?

Which version of Blizzard 030 is it please?

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

dante2685 · 17 November 2019, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kin Hell

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.

Kin Hell · 23 November 2019, 14:10

Need hi res pic's....

blade002 · 23 November 2019, 14:29

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?

fc.studio · 02 December 2019, 12:56

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.

dante2685 · 14 January 2020, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by blade002

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?

Don't have any spare ones.

dante2685 · 14 January 2020, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by fc.studio

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.

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.

meynaf · 15 January 2020, 08:11

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.

dante2685 · 17 January 2020, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by meynaf

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?

10 November 2019, 11:19	#1
dante2685 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: city Posts: 13	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?

02 December 2019, 12:56	#16
fc.studio Cat lover Join Date: May 2004 Location: Italy Age: 54 Posts: 804	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. Last edited by fc.studio; 02 December 2019 at 13:05.

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10 November 2019, 12:20	#2
-Acid- Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Shields Posts: 812	Clean the contacts of the main board and 030 and try again.

10 November 2019, 23:06	#3
dante2685 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: city Posts: 13	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.

10 November 2019, 23:39	#4
Marchie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Sydney / London Posts: 589	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.

12 November 2019, 10:50	#5
dodke Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: London / UK Posts: 112	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.

12 November 2019, 11:46	#6
lord of time Banned Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: wolverhampton Posts: 153	sounds PSU related to me... my guess is a funky 5v line but I am no expert, still cant hurt to check PSU.

12 November 2019, 15:00	#7
crazyc Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Gravesend - UK Posts: 927	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.

23 November 2019, 14:10	#14
Kin Hell 0ld0r Git Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 1,570	Need hi res pic's....

23 November 2019, 14:29	#15
blade002 Zone Friend Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Age: 50 Posts: 2,616	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?

15 January 2020, 08:11	#19
meynaf son of 68k Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lyon / France Age: 51 Posts: 5,323	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.

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