Common 3/4 Bomb Reasons?

[Android8675]

Hey all, got my ebayed 1040STf hooked up and I'm getting 3 and occasionally 4 bombs at powerup, rarely I can make it to the desktop. Please tell me it's something easy to fix.

 

[Charlie_]

Hey all, got my ebayed 1040STf hooked up and I'm getting 3 and occasionally 4 bombs at powerup, rarely I can make it to the desktop. Please tell me it's something easy to fix.

 

Here is a list of the bomb codes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomb_(symbol)#Atari_ST_TOS

 

I would open it up, remove all the RF shielding Remove any socketed chip and plug it back in, nice and snug.

Make sure to use a proper PLCC extractor tool for the square ones. They are easily damaged if you don't have this tool and try to pry them out. You could even crack the socket.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=plcc+extractor&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=3488329600&ref=pd_sl_3kglljow5g_e

[English Invader]

My understanding is that the bombs are the ST equivalent of the Windows blue screen of death i.e. a sign that the OS has given up trying to perform a particular task and doesn't know what else to do. They often occur with minor things like defective disks or when you try to run another program when the previous one is still in the system memory, but they can be symptomatic of more serious issues.

[+CyranoJ]

3 Bombs = Address Error (Illegal address or odd address accessed)

4 Bombs = Illegal Instruction

 

I'd say you have faulty RAM. As it's not an STe, changing the RAM requires soldering. Good luck.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

I recommend that do what Official Ninja wrote, + checking power supply. Later needs at least voltage measuring equipment. Maybe to bring it to some electronic service where can check it with oscilloscope. Usually, in such old devices electrolytic capacitors are weakened.

In this case, bombs just mean unreliable work of some component(s).

[English Invader]

I'd say you have faulty RAM. As it's not an STe, changing the RAM requires soldering. Good luck.

 

Faulty RAM usually means you get a black screen with a white border on boot-up and nothing else. Also, STfm RAM can be upgraded without soldering if the motherboard has socketed MMU and video shifter chips with the help of a Marpet kit.

[+CyranoJ]

Yep, and for the price of a Marpet you may as well throw it out and buy an STe

 

 

Faulty RAM usually means you get a black screen with a white border on boot-up and nothing else. Also, STfm RAM can be upgraded without soldering if the motherboard has socketed MMU and video shifter chips with the help of a Marpet kit.

[Android8675]

Here is a list of the bomb codes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomb_(symbol)#Atari_ST_TOS

 

I would open it up, remove all the RF shielding Remove any socketed chip and plug it back in, nice and snug.

Make sure to use a proper PLCC extractor tool for the square ones. They are easily damaged if you don't have this tool and try to pry them out. You could even crack the socket.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=plcc+extractor&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=3488329600&ref=pd_sl_3kglljow5g_e

 

Gonna try that, I think I have a PLCC extractor somewhere.

 

My understanding is that the bombs are the ST equivalent of the Windows blue screen of death i.e. a sign that the OS has given up trying to perform a particular task and doesn't know what else to do. They often occur with minor things like defective disks or when you try to run another program when the previous one is still in the system memory, but they can be symptomatic of more serious issues.

 

Yes, I know that, trying to figure out the most common reason for the 3/4 bomb error codes. (Address/Instruction Error)

 

3 Bombs = Address Error (Illegal address or odd address accessed)

4 Bombs = Illegal Instruction

 

I'd say you have faulty RAM. As it's not an STe, changing the RAM requires soldering. Good luck.

 

Thanks dude, wanna do it for me, I'll pay ya... Kidding, I don't have any spare cash at the moment.

 

Yep, and for the price of a Marpet you may as well throw it out and buy an STe

 

 

Some tool got a 1040ste off ebay last night from me for $75. I was camping at the time, didn't really put a lot of effort into it. I should of put in a higher bid, ah well.

 

THanks for the responses people.