HELP! 386SX CBM
27 messages in this thread
OK guys I'm having serious trouble with my new cbm386sx/25 BB and I am
in real need of a little help, has anybody experienced any trouble in
getting the thing to run at all?.
About 99 times out of a hundred it just hangs after doing the memory
check. A couple of times it has carried on through and I have been able to
get DOS5 into a virtual drive. And it has once or twice booted up from
DriveC, but its driving me crazy at the moment. The fact that it has
worked once or twice suggests I have cabling in ok…..does'nt it?.
Its in a 2000 Rev 6 board with GVP HD, and PP&S 040 (although removing
either or both of these items makes no difference). It has Rev 1.0 Bios
and 36.85 and 36.83 Janus Library etc. Is there anything newer around?.
ANother point of interest the Amiga Janus install bombs out if unless the
040 is disabled altogether, kinda wierd.
Grateful for any info….feeling way out of my depth at the moment 🙁
Paul
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
Paul,
It sounds like it may need to be re-seated. All else aside, the
BridgeBoards are quite sensitive to how they physically sit in the slot.
They must be fully inserted into the slots at all points. It's quite easy
to get it only partially inserted into the rear connector, especially if
the metal bracket on the back of the unit catches on a lip on the A2000's
chassis that's under the slot openings in the back of the 2000. Not the
bottom lip of the opening itself, but further towards the bottom of the
2000's chassis is where they can get hung up.
The way I avoid that problem is to bend the bottom of the metal
bracket a bit away from the BB itself and then insert it. While this can
cause it to get caught in the opening in the back of hte Amiga…it's easy
to push inward with your finger to get it past that point…it allows the
bracket to miss the lip further towards the bottom of the 2000 and properly
seat.
When it's properly seated…the metal bracket will be flat on the
back of the Amiga where it screws down on the metal shelf (next to the
opening)…it won't be sitting above that shelf a bit.
Don
Don,
Thanks for the tips, I will recheck the board seating, its quite
easy as I have'nt put the lid back on yet!. For some reason the case of my
2000 has always had a curve in it which is also passed the the pcb,
obviously this won't help matters either.
Is the BB supposed to Beep every time when booting up (the Amiga), the
times that the BB seems to work the board will beep and DF0: will attempt
what sounds like a PC access ( it is configured to share df0).
I have had some success by writing a script that will RESETPC and
BINDDRIVERS as Nancy suggested, it sometimes appears to help if I do a
restore settings first but its difficult to tell which action is having
the effect.
Thanks again
Paul
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
I've yet to see a 386 board have a problem sovled by reseating…they are
not as sensitive to that ass the earlier models.
Sounds like you might have a bad memeory chip. Or a chip not meeting up to
speed rating. Try setting your ram up with a 1 wait state, in your setup
screen.
Dave
Elite MicroComputers – via Whap!
Part of hanging up might be due to a problem with the Enforcer. After you
open your window, you need to do a PCRESET and BINDDRIVERS. (You can
attach this to a script.) I got that here on CIS.) There is a new Enforcer
out. I'm not sure of it's on CIS; it's on another commercial system. You
must use it with care, though.
Re your drive: are you booting off a partition of your Amiga Drive? If so,
it should not be more than about 32 megabytes. Otherwise it may not work,
and if it does it will be S…L…O…W.
My solution was to put a separate controller and hd on the bb side. (But I
already had the drive – just needed to buy the controller.)
Nancy,
Yes Enforcer was making me worry a little, I used the original that
came with Janus, and I have tried the new(er) one over in AmigaTech but
whenever I run that one it gave all sorts of error message about not
finding files on the HD and Checksum Errors but when I check the HD for
errors etc its fine.
I am running a 25 meg partition so that bit should be ok, I have tried
your suggestion of PCReset and BINDDRIVERS and things have improved by
doing this but it can still take 20 attempts or so to get the thing
running, sometimes I give up. This does not inspire me with much
confidence, if I can get it to boot up properly and reliably then I too
will get myself a HD & Controller Plus a SVGA card ( any tips on SVGA
cards gratefully recieved, I am not sure what restrictions are imposed by
the Amiga. i.e can I make use of any graphics card such as the Farenheit
16 bit windows accelerator?) and hopefully an external 1.44 HD.
Do you know what versions of Janus etc are current?
Paul
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
Paul,
A couple of things:
Be sure that you have turned on 'Shadow Ram' from the Janus Preferences
editor. Failure to do this results in a locked up bridgeboard–at least
it did for us.
Secondly, if you have a version 6 motherboard (not 6.1, 6.2 etc, but 6),
see your authorized Commodore dealer. There is a warranty replacement
available for this motherboard–even if you are outside of the one year
warranty.
-mark=
Mark,
Thanks very much for the tip about the motherboard, I had a lot of
problems when I installed the 040 which PP&S hinted might be the problem.
I definately have a Rev 6.0. The problem is now getting to speak to CBM UK
who are impossible to deal with or even talk to. Would you expect the
warranty policy to be the same here?.
I would be quite happy to purchase one if I could get one minus all the
removable chips etc and for a reasonable price.
Thanks again
Paul
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
Paul,
I have no idea what the policy is over on your side of the water–but I do
know that here in the United States Commodore will replace free of charge
any Amiga 2000 motherboard that is revision 6.0.
You know people love to beat the hell out of Commodore, let me tell you
some things that should warm your heart about this company that seems so
much out of touch.
Norfolk State University, now one of our customers, purchased Amiga 2000
systems a year and a half ago. They did not get these systems from
us–and at the time I worked at the university. Because of space
limitations these machines *sat* in the warehouse for well over a year,
never being out of the box. Finally a month ago the systems were opened,
out of the 20 Amiga systems purchased, one had a bad keyboard and another
had a bad motherboard.
Commodore *replaced* both the keyboard and the entire dead A2000 system
free of charge. There was no hassle, no second thoughts, they simply
fixed it.
The one thing I am thankful for, is Commodore has done something about
their image when it comes to service.
-mark=
Mark,
I am glad you feel that way about CBM in your country, and I know
that you cannot please all of the people all the time. I do not know what
policy CBM operate stateside but here CBM UK will not talk to anyone
answer any faxes unless you are a dealer, this of course would be fine if
the dealers were not all box shifting/games retailers.
Mid `92' I purchased the PP&S 040 at the London Show, I got it home to
find it trashed the HD via the 2091 (6.1 rom), I phoned PP&S and was told
to get hold of 6.6 roms. I then went about trying to track a dealer who
firstly understood what it was I needed and secondly was prepared to try
and get them for me, I gave up and tried CBM UK direct who would have
absolutely nothing to do with a CBM user in distress!. Eventually after
many expensive calls to PP&S in the U.S they tracked down a set for me and
sent them FOC. For PP&S I have nothing but praise, for CBM UK?…..well
they are just plain sad!.
I really hope that the turn around in customer service in the U.S that
you have noticed is going to happen here as well.
On a different subject altogether do you know if I can turn the 8 bit
slots of my 2000 to 16 bit?…. I want to fit SVGA/Serial/Parallel/HD
Card. I am having much more success with the BB now, with a restore
setting/ResetPC/BindDrivers/WaitState=1.
Paul
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
In all cases of the A2000 16-bit conversion is possible, but method is
different.
If you can SEE through the holes, your in luck…..just solder the 16-bit
port in
If you have solder pads where the holes should be…..SURPRISE! you need to
drill through the PC board between the middle of those pads. Problem #2 the
trace runs on the top of the board so you need to hardwire the connectors
or put eyelets through the board (plate through). Good luck, I was never
able to find them. Of couse you can also solder the connectors from the
top….not a job for the amatur. You would also need raised connector to do
this…or you will burn the heck of the bottom of the connector.
Dave
Elite MicroComputers – via Whap!
Dave,
I have always wondered why CBM put in the solder runs for 4 AT slots, but
left two of them XT. I was just looking at my board the other day (with
installing my EMC 486SLC) and my holes do have solder pads in them. I am
an Electronics Tech, but have done little circuit board soldering work and
am very leary about trying to install them myself. Of course, with the
multifunction card you are sending me, I probibly won't need them.
Dave,
Well today I feel lucky 🙂 I can see through the holes in my
motherboard. Thanks for the info..
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
Paul,
You need to find the right people and the right dealers in the UK. Do you
belong to ICPUG? If so, the leaders of your group can help you. If not,
you really need to join. I could probably help you find your nearest
regional group, but Pete Miles can do better than I can because he lives
over there, and he's a national officer in the group. Some of their
members are dealers, and they are VERY knowledgeable. One who comes to
mind is Brian Fowler, but Pete will have to tell you how to locate him. He
is extremely knowledgeable, and a fine person with whom to work. I have
met him several times, and have been most favorably impressed each time.
There may be others nearer you. Please ask Pete Miles to help you find a
good dealer. Pete is on here nearly every day.
Betty
(And do look up your nearest ICPUG group. Sounds like you could use a good
user group.)
Betty,
No I don't belong to ICPUG, although I have thought about it many
times. I think the nearest to me is in fact Pete Miles which unfortunately
would be about a 5-6 hour round trip for me. I will speak to Pete about
ICPUG, if they have any sort of BBS set up I would be quite happy to be a
`modem' member.
I am sure there are good knowledgable dealers here, the problem seems to
be finding one, living in the far South West doesn't help much :-).
To be honest when trying to locate roms for the 2091, I was never sure
whether the dealers just didn't want to help or they just did'nt want the
hassle of dealing with CBMUK ;-).
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
Paul,
Try Ambi at Micro Anvika (071 636 2547). Tell him I sent you. I have
always found him to be most helpful and he has some friends at cbmuk. You
have to be a bit patient trying to get through to him as they have a very
busy shop.
Andrew.
Andrew,
Thanks for name and number I will keep that and treasure it. Dont
suppose you can help me with getting an SVGA card to run with the BB can
you….I sort of remember that you were about the first person on here to
get hold of a 386 BB.
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
Hi Paul,
Whats the problem, I'll help if I can.
Andrew.
Paul,
See my message to Betty with Brian Fowlers phone number.
Oh, and you are nothing like a 5-6hr round trip from me, or were you
thinking of using a push bike 🙂
Pete from Dorset in Englands West Country – via Whap!
Pete,
I thought you lived somewhere near Bournmouth??…..it used to take
me about 3.5 hours to get there from Plymouth, I did manage it once in
under 2.5 at 7 am on Christmas Day, I know Im not a Master Navigator but
which route did you take?. If I can find a length of road that isnt full
of trucks `n' tractors my Cosworth `Pushbike' can go at a fair old rate
;-).
Can you send me whatever I need to join ICPUG (inc the fee if you like
;-), do you have a BBS set up?. If you can I will send you my Address by
CMail.
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
Hi PAul,
I'm at Charmouth 15 miles east of Honiton on the A35. Just come straight up
the M5 and turn off onto the A30, down the Honiton by-pass and look for the
Dorchester A35 signs. On to Axminster and another 5 miles. There is a short
dual carriageway 3 miles east of Axminster from there you go through a
short cutting and start dropping down hill towards the village. Turn off
right from the bypass and then immediately left into the village. We are at
the bottom of the hill on the right.
I reckon its about 74 miles fprm Plymouth and the quickest I've done the
Station to home is 1hr 20mins…but we don't talk about that 🙂
The yearly fee for ICPUG is #20 but I don't have any membership forms. Drop
a line to Jack Cohen, Flat 5 Solar Court, etchingham Park Rd, Finsbury,
London N3 2DZ and he will send you the stuff.
If you get a chance come along to one of our meetings, the next is Sunday
Feb 14th.
Pete from Dorset in Englands West Country – via Whap!
I feel sure Peter can tell you how to locate the nearest dealer and the
nearest user group. I think you would find them VERY helpful. Quite a few
of them are here right now, having just finished DevCon. They are awfully
nice people.
Betty
Yes we are awfully nice, by gosh yes….:-)
Pete from Dorset in Englands West Country – via Whap!
Yup I am 🙂
I have contacted Paul via Cis and invited him for a club visit but as he
lives in Plymouth (if memory serves me right) it's along way to come, about
75 miles say 1.75 hours each way.
Paul you can contact Brian Fowler on Crediton (0632) 5400. As Betty says he
is very clued up indeed, in fact he is one clever git 🙂 but don't tell
him I said so 🙂
Pete from Dorset in Englands West Country – via Whap!
Thanks, Pete. I can always count on you to help out with places for ICPUG
meetings and UK dealers, etc. It helps!
We've had a great time here at DevCon, though David Annal has caught a cold
and has not enjoyed the meeting as much as he might otherwise. Sorry you
could not join us.
Betty
Mark,
I heard that there was a replacement motherboard policy for Rev 4.3
A2000s. Is there any truth to this or is it too late?
Chris
I have not heard this, I will check with our service manager.
-mark=