A1200 1D.4 not booting with CF/HDD
 

Just got another A1200 but this time rev 1D.4 of the board (with A1200 UK sticker on the board). For some reason, it had removed a resistor from the composite output. Also when I will go to the early-boot menu it shows that runs as NTSC, not PAL (though that A1200 UK will be PAL). But the biggest issue so far is that with connected CF/HDD I'm not able to get it up and running.

It will not even allow booting to the early-boot menu. I will hear only one click of the floppy and the screen goes to black.

Any thoughts on what can it be? Problems with not having enough power on the board as the floppy clicks only once? Problems with the Kickstart as will not pass IDE detection (or fail there)? Anything else? :help

Are you using composite or RGB output to the screen

Now RGB

Have you tried the three finger salute after a cold power on with failure to boot?

Hold CRTL-AMIGA-AMIGA for at least three seconds. You should see the Power LED dim & come back up again, IDE LED should flash when then booting.

Also, some CF cards are not compatible with Amiga.

Guessing the Amiga boots okay from floppy if no CF installed?

Is it still the same with RGB ? have you recapped the board ? do you get any ouput to the screen at all? you mention the early startup menu, so you can get that up on the screen ?

Correct - if CF card (or HDD) not installed it will boot fine. CF (and HDD) are fully functional because I have pulled from my working A1200

I will check that "the tree finger" for a longer time and let you know.

Yes - it is when connected to RGB. That board, based on the previous owner, was recapped by the original owner before selling it to him. That resistor on the composite out was removed at the same time as well.

The output is fine only when CF card/HDD is disconnected. I will boot to the Kickstart screen or whatever is on a floppy.

So I will say either your IDE cable is bad or the CF/HDD card so you need to try other ones to eliminate those

Those things were eliminated as CF card (adapter and cable) works fine on another A1200. Same with HDD

Sounds like boards been modified to run as NTSC. If you found one component missing, I would look for more. Maybe something is missing thats causing IDE issue.

Good point.

I'm not familiar much with A1200 PCB and the passive components there.

Not sure that some components were removed from here:

http://eab.abime.net/attachment.php?...1&d=1668011352

and if that resistor suppose to be there:
http://eab.abime.net/attachment.php?...1&d=1668011441

Well looking at pic, its an NTSC board.
It has an NTSC modulator, so doubt its a PAL convertion.
Those components are supposed to be missing.


May sound silly, tried reseating Kickstart ROMS?
I have had many a time, where HDD wont boot. Ended up reseating ROMS and they tend to work.
Another thing I have come across is dirty IDE pins. Try and give them a clean.

Its also an AmigaTech board, check to see if it has Floppy wire on bottom of board, across floppy header.

Have you a logic probe? as you can check that the the `GAYLE` chip is generating the IDE signal on pin 13

I have. I will look for the documentation where is that pin #13

Just count from pin 1 to 13, left to right , or Google the GAYLE chip

It does the wire:

http://eab.abime.net/attachment.php?...1&d=1668019144

Also, it looks like some work was done on the oscillator, modulator, and some resistors on the bottom side:

http://eab.abime.net/attachment.php?...1&d=1668019039

http://eab.abime.net/attachment.php?...1&d=1668019214

http://eab.abime.net/attachment.php?...1&d=1668019236

Well you defo will not get anything out of the Composite video as parts are missing from the circuit !

That sounds like I'm screwed with that board... Which exactly? Fixable or do ReAmiga transplating from that board?

That is why it was not working at the first point. No clue why composite was like that. For me, it looks like a bad PAL to NTSC mod. But still not getting what is causing IDE problems.

Like I said just check the IDE signal is generated on pin 13 on Gayle on boot up