AmiTek A1200 8 Mb Problem

[beefheartvliet]

Hi,
I wonder if you are able to help me. I recently got an A1200 off freecycle. I know I've neglected it for all of this time. but now am now close to do what I want to do other than..
I just got the card in the title off ebay.
Here are the problems that I'm having with it.
I sometimes get a red Diagnistic screen come up reporting
a fault with the expansion card. somtimes it wil load up and other times take several reboots to start. There are more problems if I get into workbench. It's only reporting about 1.5mb of other mem instead of 8
and mostly the mouse pointer freezes and that's followed by a black screen and a guru message. I know I'm being a little vague and perhaps should have written the error messages down and or taken a picture.
With that in mind, that's the type of errors I'm getting. And it works fine without the expansion card. other than the fact I can't run much with WHDLoad....
This card has a battery. I have nothing to test it with, and may well be dead. How important is it?
I read on another post that it might help if I clean the connectors on the motherboard with alcahol. so I'm going to try that. I just wondered is it a common problem. I want to use pro tracker or octamed and will need that 8MB for sure. It's just a real hassle to have to send it back,. and even more annoying if it was just me being a total noob
I'd appreciate any help here
Cheers

[cpiac64]

verify jumper for 4 and 8 mega, change the simm if you have another

[meega]

Originally Posted by beefheartvliet

This card has a battery. I have nothing to test it with, and may well be dead. How important is it?

All the battery does is keep the clock running when the machine is powered off. You can remove it, it just means you need to set the time/date after powering on (if you want it to be right).

[Zetr0]

@beefheartvliet

Welcome to EAB, theres plenty of mischief to get upto around here =)

to help with your problem can you take some pictures of your 8MB adapter =)

[beefheartvliet]

Thanks fo your help so far. I had a feeling that that battery just held date and time, but just wanted to make sure that it wasn't responsible for more than that. And I'm unsure about the Jumper settings. But hopefully these pictures of the card will help. I don't have another Simm to try in it.
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2280/dsci0125sy.jpg

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9974/dsci0126.jpg

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/6778/dsci0129n.jpg


Once again thank folks. I'm off to work now. Back later this afternoon.

[beefheartvliet]

And remind me to use thumbnails next time ;-) sorry EAB

[Loedown]

I can see the problem, or more to the point I can't.

Focus dear boy and flat surfaces.

[cpiac64]

lk1 lk2 and lk3 need doc
sure lk2 not on 8mega

[meega]

Originally Posted by beefheartvliet

And remind me to use thumbnails next time ;-) sorry EAB

[Zetr0]

@

heres what you need

For 8MB
LK1: set as 8/2Mb
LK2: set as 8/4Mb (currently set as 2/1MB)
LK3: set as 2MB

because your adapter has been set for 2MB (not 8MB) - once workbench loads you will only see about 1.5MB as workbench has used the previous 512KB.

so what you need -

Memory configuration Header Settings

1MB

LK1: [pins 1-2] 4/1MB
LK2: [pins 2-3] 2/1MB
LK3: [pins 1-2] 2MB

2MB

LK1: [pins 2-3] 8/2MB
LK2: [pins 2-3] 2/1MB
LK3: [pins 1-2] 2MB

4MB

LK1: [pins 1-2] 4/1MB
LK2: [pins 1-2] 8/4MB
LK3: [pins 1-2] 2MB

8MB

LK1: [pins 2-3] 8/2MB
LK2: [pins 1-2] 8/4MB
LK3: [pins 2-3] 8MB

Thanks for the hi-res hardware pr0n =)

[beefheartvliet]

Hi,
Thanks for all of the help so far.
Here is what's been happening. I changed the jumpers to that of 8MB, and workbench loaded and it showed up with 8MB. so I thought "Jesus on E's here we go" I know, I want to do loads more with my Amiga, but that for me would let me know that it working. So Everytime I tried and load that or a game off my CF Card I get a Mostly a yellow boxed guru message about software error 001 000F. nothing would load. That was followed by countless freezing up and a Just red screen at one point.
it has also started up with the red expansion card diagnostic screen and it states it as being defective. I then click OK to continue and then it shows as no Other Mem showing. but after a few more reboots it shows the extra ram but still as above when i try and load something. with freezing etc.
Right I'm going to make a cup of tea and then try it as 4MB. and see if I get any joy that way. I'm not giving up on this. No way. But I will without a question of doubt be calling on you to help me resolve this.
Thanks in advance :-)

[Zetr0]

@beefy

Its quite likely the top RF-Cover to botherboard is grounding the adapter.

I would suggest that you open your amiga, remove the top RF shield (you dont need this anyway) and then connected everything back up.

This should solve this BAD adapter (red) screen.

[beefheartvliet]

Thanks Zetr0 I'll give it a try. it made no difference on 4MB anyway.

[beefheartvliet]

I have removed the RF cover, and the same thing is happening sad to say. I tried with all 3 configurations of RAM setting.
Is it fair to say that either the card or the RAM is faulty? Should I send it back and look to find another expansion card?

[Zetr0]

@beefy,

1. Keyboard Ribbon.

Okay that can be trickey if you dont know, but if you inspect the white connector you will notice that the top part is infact a sleeve. if you gently pull up the outer sleeve (only a little bit) you can then thread the keyboard ribbon into the slot - once thats in and home at the bottom you push the sleeve back down.

This adds tension to the ribbon as it pushes it to the contacts.


2. 8MB Adpter.

Okay if you are still getting these errors then it could well be one of three things, so lets take them in order.

1. PAL chips
You will notice on the underside that there are some chips in the sockets, - make sure that these are secured properly by pushing on them firmly.

Now test.


2. Memory SIMM

It might be advantagous to try several sticks as some might not be able to be used by this adapter.

if you need some more stick of ram hit me up on a PM I have a shed load (litterally) of them so I can send you a couple for just postage.


3. Socket inspection

It would be best to inspect the plastic connector of the adapter - if its cracked or fractured - then this could be the problem - as the socket tries to make a retention with the slot, this can open up the crack or fracture - reducing contact with the internal pins.

Take some close ups of the socket (both sides) if you are unsure.

Hope that helps.

[beefheartvliet]

Thanks Zetr0, I have sent you a PM

[beefheartvliet]

One of my mates little did I know, had a bag of 8MB Simms and a Simm tester. He tested my 8MB Simm And the display didn't report it as 8MB. so it's fair to say that the stick is faulty. However, I tried some of his 8mb Simms. some would result in the miggy not starting at all (most prob not compatible). but other sticks would at least let workbench load. but I am still getting problems with starting a game or demo and WHDload not even start and then get a yellow guru message . Assuming it's not gone I can see another 8MB expansion on amibay. I'm just wondering is it worth spending money on another 8mb expansion board if I'm still going to have issues.
I think what I'm tring to get at is, what else is likely to be wrong with my machine?
I have made sure the Kickstart Roms are firmly in place.
I made sure all the chips on the expansion board are firmly in place.
I know the installation of workbench is ok, as it at least able to load some games that don't require extra memory without the expansion card in. and even if not, whdload would at least go through it's register screen and then tell you about why it can't load the game/demo for the needs of shadow mem etc. but with the expansion card in, it dosn't get as far as that. just the yellow box mostly.
Any suggestions are greatfully recieved.
all I can think is that the card itself is faultly

[Zetr0]

@beefy

Sorry for the delay buddy but I sent out the Sticks on Satuday - should get them in the next couple of days.

I sent

1x 4MB single sided
1x 4MB double sided
2x 8MB double sided

should have you covered, these work fine in my apollo and falcon =)

[beefheartvliet]

Cheers Zetr0, I'll give them a try and see how I get on. Hopefully I will get some joy ;-) I'm not one to give up. I'll PM you about covering the postage. Thanks for your help so far.

[ChrisUnionNJ]

Also check the metal lip were the card connects I had to bend mine out of the way solved my problems with a DKB mongoose 50 and also put the trap door back on before testing those type of cards like to move some..

Chris