VXL30 trouble
20 messages in this thread
Help! I bought a VXL-30 for my old (rev 5) A500, and the guru visits me every
20 min, then 10, then 5, then I have to turn it off for a while. I followed the
enclosed directions, culminating in me disconecting all periferal devices (to
include my A501 card). Still having the same problem! I thought I might have an
overheating problem, so I tried operating with the top cover off – the system
still locked up, the guru still came. My paranioa even drove me so far as to
re-install my 1.3 rom (I am operating with WB1.3 & KS2.0) Please help me before
I go insane.
Thanx,
Garry Nelson
Are you using the original 500 power supply? You may not be getting
enough juice. If you have access to a Bigfoot, try that…
JDSoftware
Jonathan Schmidt – On AutoPilot from CompuServe Land
OK, will try…. Thanx for the feedback.
You might check if the power supply voltages are still being
maintained with the greater load- the CBM power supply is adjustable.
(It is usually the +5 V. if I remember correctly.)
//
-Karl \X/ Amiga and Autopilot: The *only* way to fly!
How do I adjust the power supply?
thanx, Garry
ps. I shouldn't be overloading it – I disconnected all power-dependent devices.
Just the turbo board alone (with memory) can cause a voltage drop
that's enough to cause problems. Do you have a digital VOM? The
easiest way is to measure the +5 V on the turbo board (I am assuming
that the VXL-30 IS a turbo board). The board should have test pads
or pins to check this, but presummably Microbotics can advise you on
where they are. The CBM power supply has a pot that allows the
voltage level to be adjusted. S plastic screwdriver is nice here.
Since you have to do this with (1) the computer open, (2) the power
supply case off, and (3) the power on, it is easy to cause some
fairly exciting problems. Arcs, clouds of smoke, hair standing on
end, things like that. I suggest that you try the computer with a
different power supply first and see what happens. If it IS related
to the power available, THEN see if you can adjust the original power
supply enough to compensate. You might want to see if you can find a
friendly tech to do this. You WILL want to talk to Microbotics
first.
Karl –
Not only do I not know any frinedly techs on this island (Oahu), but now I have
"hair-raising" advice to ponder… seriously, barring sloppy hand-eye
coordination, is there a possibility of overload in the wrong places if I
adjust the power supply myself? Of course, this is all hypothetical – I'm
either going to get a Bigfoot or a 2000 next month. (Seems the easiest solution
to this problem.) Thanx for the info.
– Garry
ps. Not only do I not have a VOM (Voltage meter, right?), I'm afraid if I
borrow one from a friend and screw up the board, not only will I not get a
refund (and have to deal with the subsequent verbal abuse from my bitchy wife).
but the guy at Microbiotics who's been helping me will crucify me! Anyway,
where would I hook up the VOM leads?
-Garry
Garry-
Sorry to hear about the bitchy wife.
Isn't it nice that computers can be fixed and/or sold.
Flying AutoPilot——-Everett—-Portland, Oregon
Everett – Yes! and you sound like a salesman:)
-Garry
There should be some pads or pins on the turbo board where the power comes
in. With luck, they are marked. The real danger is that you will be
fooling around with metal objects in a live computer, so a slip could be
bad for you both.
//
-Karl \X/ Amiga and Autopilot: The *only* way to fly!
I think the cheapest way to fix this problem is to get an A2000.
-Garry
I can't deny that they are really cheap right now. I have two, and I
loooove them.
//
-Karl \X/ Amiga and Autopilot: The *only* way to fly!
I'm wondering… would it make more sense to buy an A4000/030 and start over,
buy an A2000 and get stuff a lot cheaper? (Thoughts such as these make my wife
groan:) What do you think?
-Garry
Depends on your budget. A 2000 is still a very useful machine. If money were no
object, I'd buy a 4000 (but not a 4000/30: too slow for the money). –Redmond
Well… I wish I could convince my wife to let me have the dough for
the 040 version. I think I can squeeze her for the 030. You'd really
take an A2000 over an A4000/030? I'm looking a couple of years down
the road here… Say, any word from the techs yet? Until I can
convince the ol' lady to give up the moola, I'm still stuck with a 20
minute computer and pipe dreams:)
Well, *I* would get the '030, given the money. A nice machine, and
it sure won't seem slow after even an accelerated 500. You just
can't go nuts with a 256 color workbench. It ought to have a lot
longer lifespan than the 2000s, which are out of production. And
that Zorro III buss is nice. The 2000s I have are pretty good
machines, but you keep reading about the features of your software
that are only enabled with AGA. It would be nice to HAVE those
features rather than just drooling over them.
//
-Karl \X/ Amiga and Autopilot: The *only* way to fly!
Garry: give me the serial number of your VXL; tell me what else is on your
system (particularly external floppies). Are you running your VXL chips at
their rated speed (not overclocking)? Do you have wide RAM on your VXL? We'll
get you running once we diagnose what's really happening. Regards, –Redmond
[MicroBotics]
Redmond: SN# v-315795-R200, without FPU, FPU clock, or 32 wide RAM. I
have disconnected the external floppy and tried operating without the
modem and A590 hooked up, same result in all configurations. I
haven't messed with the clock on the board or my motherboard. I've
also tried switching my 1.3 and 2.0 ROMs, again to no avail. There
are only 2 shops here in Hawaii that sell Amiga stuff, and they don't
have the Bigfoot PS – looks like I'll have to mail order. -Garry
ps – haven't received my Amiga World yet – how much are the 8 meg 32
bit RAM boards going for?
I noticed you said you "switched" ROMs. Do you have some sort of ROM
tower installed? Don't splurge on that power supply yet; let's see if
we can diagnose what is actually happening. Describe in detail,
starting from scratch, what problem you see; when you see it; and if
you get a guru, exactly what guru are you getting. You might want to
put it all in a mail message to me and I'll pass it on to the techs
and see what they say. –Redmond