A1200 dying

alowe · 01 May 2009, 15:46

this started a few days ago. the A1200 would hardware crash (no guru). a keyboard reset wouldn't recover it. powering down and then powering up would fix the problem but for increasingly less amounts of time, e.g. first it would last for hours without dying, then minutes, then just seconds.

if i left it for a day it would last longer without crashing but would still happen increasingly to the point where i couldn't use it at all.

symptoms:
1) i noticed that the tv out signal would wonder around for a bit when powering up before settling on the correct frequency. this seemed to indicate that my poor A1200 was feeling a bit sick and was more likely to die

2) when it does die it is immediate, i.e. the screen goes black. once it did just hang for 10 seconds before going black. still no guru

what i've done:
removed my extra HD and accellerator to lower the power usage. no result. the PSU i have is a modern Amiga PSU and more powerful than the standard shipped Amiga PSUs.
removed all other unnecessary connectors. did have a serial cable to a PC. i know the wiring isn't dodgy (i.e. no powered lines from the PC going to the wrong pins) cause i wired it myself from here: http://www.nullmodem.com/NullModem.htm and after reading this guide: http://www.etheus.net/Amiga_Data_Cable know that i've done it right. i've managed to communicate fine with this cable. also, my A1200 was packed away for 6 years and the problem existed then (although it has only resurfaced recently after i started using it again). back then i never used or had used serial cables so i know it hasn't caused the existing problem

what to do?
so basically, since i'm buying a voltmeter anyway i figure there's no harm trying to fix my trusty A1200 (it's like a member of the family

is there some kind of guide or can someone give a few initial steps i can follow to track down the problem? it doesn't have to be in idiot speak since i can search the internet and learn more or ask further if i get stuck. i don't have much experience doing this though (apart from strong common sense and what little hardware i know from programming

coze · 01 May 2009, 16:01

I think you should try replacing your caps as the first step.

PowerPie5000 · 01 May 2009, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by coze

I think you should try replacing your caps as the first step.

I second that answer

.....also give it a close inspection around the caps and look for any signs of electrolyte leakage

(if you have not done so already!)

alowe · 01 May 2009, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerPie5000

I second that answer

.....also give it a close inspection around the caps and look for any signs of electrolyte leakage

(if you have not done so already!)

ok, maybe i'm a little bit more HW noob that i realised lol

what are caps and where are they?

also, did a search on electrolyte leakage and found this:
http://oldcomputers.net/pics/corrosion-bad.jpg

i'm guessing this is a very extream example but i can get an idea from that picture what the ealier signs of leakage would look like. i'll check for that once i know where to look

thanks

kipper2k · 01 May 2009, 17:00

Hi,

This should help you

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=44138

Amiga1992 · 01 May 2009, 18:05

Yeah sounds like capacitor failure to me...

twizzle · 01 May 2009, 21:11

amigakit have just replaced all 7 of my caps with the latest sd types

as there were signs of leakage, it took about 2hrs to do them
so now my mb is pretty bullet proof

alowe · 01 May 2009, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

Yeah sounds like capacitor failure to me...

is it possible to test if the caps are working/within tollerance while they are still on the board or do i have to remove them 1st?

can i test a capacitor using a standard voltmeter or do i need another piece of equipment?

if this whole thing costs more than £35 i'd be better off just buying a whole new A600 but it would still bug me if i didn't know what was wrong with the old one

Quote:

Originally Posted by twizzle

amigakit have just replaced all 7 of my caps with the latest sd types

how much did that cost? i can't find the service option

twizzle · 01 May 2009, 22:26

how much did that cost? i can't find the service option[/quote]

its not on his site yet,
as i took my tower to him, (no postage charge) it cost me £10.78p
so you will have add postage to that.
best to send mathew an email

coze · 02 May 2009, 00:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by alowe

buying a whole new A600

you should keep in mind that there are no 'whole new' amigas anymore. Anything you'll buy will be 10+ years old equipment and prone to similar failures. Your best bet is to stick to your board at hand which can be easily fixed.

alowe · 02 May 2009, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by twizzle

best to send mathew an email

done. maybe he can help me fix my A600 and A1200 probs at the same time. would also save on postage. you're lucky you can pop down directly. seems to be the best amiga repair base in the UK (that i've seen online)

Eclipse · 02 May 2009, 02:41

Why are you all telling him about A600 caps?

FOL · 02 May 2009, 02:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eclipse

Why are you all telling him about A600 caps?

EDIT:- Scratch that, dont want to rock the boat.

coze · 02 May 2009, 06:06

what's that supposed to mean ? A600 and A1200 both have electrolytic SMD caps, which are a common point of failure.

Eclipse · 02 May 2009, 18:27

I know lol, I mean surely values and positions of the A1200 caps would be more useful than where and what the A600's are.
I do understand that the underlying problem is the same on both.

alowe · 03 May 2009, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eclipse

Why are you all telling him about A600 caps?

it's ok. the point about caps was understood. maybe cause i'm running two threads they got cross linked a bit. tis ok

anyway, i sent and email to amigakit with a short explanation of my A1200 dying and A600 IDE prob and asked if they would be happy fixing both. saves on postage and i can also get the kickstart upgraded at the same time. was tempted to travel down to England but decided that was a little bit OTT even for me

FOL · 03 May 2009, 00:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by alowe

it's ok. the point about caps was understood. maybe cause i'm running two threads they got cross linked a bit. tis ok

anyway, i sent and email to amigakit with a short explanation of my A1200 dying and A600 IDE prob and asked if they would be happy fixing both. saves on postage and i can also get the kickstart upgraded at the same time. was tempted to travel down to England but decided that was a little bit OTT even for me

Travel down to england? you mean Wales,

.

alowe · 03 May 2009, 00:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL

Travel down to england? you mean Wales,

.

oops, yeah sorry. Cardiff is in Wales isn't it. my humble apologies

been to Bristol which is just over the water but don't think i've ever been to wales

FOL · 03 May 2009, 00:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by alowe

oops, yeah sorry. Cardiff is in Wales isn't it. my humble apologies

been to Bristol which is just over the water but don't think i've ever been to wales

Roadtrip,

.

cosmicfrog · 03 May 2009, 23:14

Amiga RoadTrip now thats I film I`d like to watch

see all the crew at amigakit too

01 May 2009, 15:46	#1
alowe Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Edinburgh/Scotland Posts: 17	A1200 dying this started a few days ago. the A1200 would hardware crash (no guru). a keyboard reset wouldn't recover it. powering down and then powering up would fix the problem but for increasingly less amounts of time, e.g. first it would last for hours without dying, then minutes, then just seconds. if i left it for a day it would last longer without crashing but would still happen increasingly to the point where i couldn't use it at all. symptoms: 1) i noticed that the tv out signal would wonder around for a bit when powering up before settling on the correct frequency. this seemed to indicate that my poor A1200 was feeling a bit sick and was more likely to die 2) when it does die it is immediate, i.e. the screen goes black. once it did just hang for 10 seconds before going black. still no guru what i've done: removed my extra HD and accellerator to lower the power usage. no result. the PSU i have is a modern Amiga PSU and more powerful than the standard shipped Amiga PSUs. removed all other unnecessary connectors. did have a serial cable to a PC. i know the wiring isn't dodgy (i.e. no powered lines from the PC going to the wrong pins) cause i wired it myself from here: http://www.nullmodem.com/NullModem.htm and after reading this guide: http://www.etheus.net/Amiga_Data_Cable know that i've done it right. i've managed to communicate fine with this cable. also, my A1200 was packed away for 6 years and the problem existed then (although it has only resurfaced recently after i started using it again). back then i never used or had used serial cables so i know it hasn't caused the existing problem what to do? so basically, since i'm buying a voltmeter anyway i figure there's no harm trying to fix my trusty A1200 (it's like a member of the family is there some kind of guide or can someone give a few initial steps i can follow to track down the problem? it doesn't have to be in idiot speak since i can search the internet and learn more or ask further if i get stuck. i don't have much experience doing this though (apart from strong common sense and what little hardware i know from programming

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01 May 2009, 16:01	#2
coze hastala vista winny vista Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mt fuji Age: 46 Posts: 1,335	I think you should try replacing your caps as the first step.

01 May 2009, 17:00	#5
kipper2k Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Canada Posts: 4,323	Hi, This should help you http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=44138

01 May 2009, 18:05	#6
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	Yeah sounds like capacitor failure to me...

01 May 2009, 21:11	#7
twizzle Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: taunton.som.uk Age: 73 Posts: 681	amigakit have just replaced all 7 of my caps with the latest sd types as there were signs of leakage, it took about 2hrs to do them so now my mb is pretty bullet proof

01 May 2009, 22:26	#9
twizzle Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: taunton.som.uk Age: 73 Posts: 681	how much did that cost? i can't find the service option[/quote] its not on his site yet, as i took my tower to him, (no postage charge) it cost me £10.78p so you will have add postage to that. best to send mathew an email

02 May 2009, 02:41	#12
Eclipse Turpentine Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kent, United Kingdom Posts: 744	Why are you all telling him about A600 caps?

02 May 2009, 06:06	#14
coze hastala vista winny vista Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mt fuji Age: 46 Posts: 1,335	what's that supposed to mean ? A600 and A1200 both have electrolytic SMD caps, which are a common point of failure.

02 May 2009, 18:27	#15
Eclipse Turpentine Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kent, United Kingdom Posts: 744	I know lol, I mean surely values and positions of the A1200 caps would be more useful than where and what the A600's are. I do understand that the underlying problem is the same on both.

03 May 2009, 23:14	#20
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	Amiga RoadTrip now thats I film I`d like to watch see all the crew at amigakit too

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