diamondeyes33

It goes straight into the self test screen and doesn't get any further, if you scroll through the options and choose to run one of the tests it just locks up, then nothing works, when you try and reset it, it goes straight back into self test and you can scroll through the options again, and so it goes on...

Thanks for that I am going to e-mail the seller first before opening up the unit and see what he's prepared to do about it (not very hopeful!). If I don't get anywhere with him then I will certainly try what you have suggested. If after doing the above it still doesn't work can the RAM be replaced if I'm lucky enough to be able to find any??? I would open it first and reseat the chips. Rybags is right. 800xls have al socketed chips. Chances are, the shipping carrier just slammed it around a bit too much. You are talking about 20 year old chips in 20 year old sockets. THey work their way loose just from TYPING on the thing, eventualy. Also, 20 years worth of oxidization in the sockets. Chances are, all it needs is a good "reseating".. Just pop the cover off, and press down firmly on each chip until you here it "crackle" or "squeak".. This is worth doing before calling the seller and wasting a costly trip through the mail back to him, especialy if what youy want is for the 800XL to work. CHances are, its never been apart and had this done, and once the chips are reseated, it will never happen again (or not for another 20 years anyway).. Usually, if its the ram, it goes straight into the RAM portion of self-test. That sounds possibly like a bad conection at the system rom chip or basic rom chip. Hia, thanks for all your help. I have just reseated all the chips and closed the machine back up and it still does exactly the same any more suggestions (apart from throw it out) on what it could be or if it is salvageable. I would love to hear from anyone who has any more advice. Cheers Mandy

Thanks for that I am going to e-mail the seller first before opening up the unit and see what he's prepared to do about it (not very hopeful!). If I don't get anywhere with him then I will certainly try what you have suggested. If after doing the above it still doesn't work can the RAM be replaced if I'm lucky enough to be able to find any???

I used to have an Atari 800XL as a kid and still have loads of games so I recently purchased a "TESTED AND WORKING ATARI 800 XL" along with a boxed disc drive, tape deck and numerous games off ebay, however when I switch it on it goes straight into "Self Test" mode and when I try and press one of the silver buttons ie. start, select etc... it just crashes! Since my purchase I have seen that this seller has received 4 negative feedbacks, 3 of them for items sold and not working I have a feeling it's terminal Could anyone help me please, is it off to the computer graveyard or can this problem be resolved?

Atari has died and has been buried next the a few E.T. carts a long time ago. The company now carrying the name 'Atari' just dug up the rotten remains... But anyway, why do you really want to use a PAL machine in that previewer? Can't you just hook up an NTSC machine? I've never seen any of these things up, close and personal but isn't it just a huge game-selector in a nice package? Or does it has a menu/software for selecting the games? 1017761[/snapback] I thought as much re Atari but thought on the off chance someone there might possibly know. Yep you are right, it is just a games selector, it doesn't have any menu or software as everything is done via the number selector buttons which take you into the selected game immediatly, so I think it will work fine with US NTSC console providing DC input to console is the same voltage. As far as the 9VDC4A input on the previewer goes I used a 9VDC1A atari supply and it worked fine. I don't know how significant the amperage is I don't blame Jose for checking though, don't wanna stuff the unit up as unlikely to find another in the near future. Mandy

Hey Jose, Another idea is try and ask Marco! He bought one of the previewers a year or two ago, I know he's not in the states but he might know what is required, just a thought? I am certain 9VDC output voltage is exactly the same whether you're in the US or UK it is only the mains voltage that is different and the adapter will take care of that. Would anyone know at Atari if you were to email them and check? Cheers, Mandy

Hi Jose, I'm by no means an expert but as far as I know so long as you have a 9vDC output power adapter (mine was a 9VDC 1A Atari UK power adapter) it should be fine. The back of the previewer unit where you plug the adapter in states 9VDC 4A. I pressume the american atari adapter still outputs 9VDC even though the mains voltage is different, you must get the polarity right thats all??? So hopefully your US 2600 should be fine in it so long as it's powered by 9VDC adapter. Don't take this as gospel but I'm fairly sure I'm right What does anyone else think? I'm not sure if the NTSC cart's will work on it or if it only takes PAL carts, there is no graphical display provided by the unit itself, it only displays the actual graphics from the cartridge so I don't think it will affect anything??? I never tried it with anything other than PAL carts. Glad it arrived safely anyway Cheers, Mandy

You certainly were close, well done Glad it went to a genuine collector Thanks for all your interest everyone. Just got to ship the darn thing now Thanks, Mandy

Guess what, yuppicide has pulled out of the auction retracting his bid stating "Entered wrong amount" why has it taken him a week to realise this! Looks like YOK-dfa was right to be suspicious Quote: "But there are other reasons for that. If you check the bid history of that account (yuppaucs) you'll find this interesting bit: Apparently the seller bid $132.50 for a sealed 190 in 1 Nintendo game by Family Fun (for the NES) and then decided not to pay because "User was selling illegal video games! eBay removed my non-paying bidder strike!" And to quote Yuppicide "I've also not had any bid retractions. So, why is that "an interesting fact"?! I wasn't the one doing anything wrong. If Diamond wishes to cancel my bid I have no hard feelings towards him. If someone else wins the auction, good for them. That's a really nice item, and looks to be in really nice shape." Well you have now! Good look to whoever wins the auction, I hope you are more genuine than the above, I hope it makes it more affordable to those collectors who genuinley want the item and that they won't mess me about. Cheers Mandy

QUOTE "So, why is that "an interesting fact"?! I wasn't the one doing anything wrong. If Diamond wishes to cancel my bid I have no hard feelings towards him. If someone else wins the auction, good for them. That's a really nice item, and looks to be in really nice shape." Firstly I'm not a he I'm a she Comments not my sentiments and I'm not considering any bid retractions at this point in time. So long as the buyer pays up thats all that matters!

This item has now been removed. 1 up for ebay lol

Leeds is about 200 miles from Edinburgh and London it's central to both. Train fares can be obtained from London to Leeds on certain days for as little as £5.00 but sometimes much more expensive! Could you fly to Manchester, that's much closer? Alternatively you could borrow Rick's jet ski Mandy

It's not that I don't trust them or worry about not getting paid I have contacted them both and I can see from the forum that they are both well trusted buyers, I just want everything to be ok and for it to arrive in one piece and I don't want to feel responsible if anything goes wrong with the shipping hence my reluctance to organise it. I have never sold anything over the internet for this amount of money before so naturally I worry about everything going smoothly. I'm sure things can be sorted out one way or another Try this item if you are interested Rick, I found it on ebay. Item number: 4604440483 lol

Is it within e-bay rules Mmmm....... Whatever next!

I'm interested in this machine but he will not ship it, I do not know anybody in England. Don't know what to do???? 999468[/snapback] Is Rick gonna swim over there and pick it up 999599[/snapback] As it says in my ebay listing I am willing to ship if buyer sorts out a courier from their end, lets me know how they want it packing and understands that they will be completely responsible for it once it leaves my house. Due to the amount of money it's worth and rarity I am so worried it could get damaged and it's near on impossible to replace if anything goes wrong. I got a rough estimate from UPS to ship and their web site said for 10-15kg's and insurance of £1000.00 pounds it would be £140.00 (If I did it right) I don't know what value it should really be insured for? If it wasn't so heavy and such an awkward shape it wouldn't be a problem and I would happily sort everything out for the buyer myself! I understand a lot of the interested collectors are abroad and hope this helps Cheers Mandy

It takes all the different cart's that I have including Atari, Parker, Imagic, Spectravision and intellivision. They all fit in the unit ok with the cover over them and all have good clearance. I have not tried any other manufacturers cart's. Mandy

Hi All, Thought you might be interested in an item I'm selling on e-bay. Item number: 8251386274 Mandy

Hi just to let you know this item is now on ebay Item number: 8251386274 Good Luck Mandy

Yep it is a very neat unit! The only thing is it takes a while to fit the console inside as you have to remove 4 screws, 2 at the back and 2 in the bottom of joystick holder, you remove the whole grey plastic section and then the 2600 console sits inside a pre moulded base. There is a cable which attaches from the unit into the left joystick port in the 2600, this then has 2 outputs on the back of the unit, 1 for paddles and 1 for left joystick. The right joystick cable goes through the back of the unit and straight into the 2600 right joystick port. Your normal atari power cable goes into the back of the unit and an additional power feed from the unit goes into the power input on the 2600. Finally a ribbon from the unit with a cartridge attachment goes into the cartridge slot on the console, screw it back up and insert some cartridges and your ready to go! Not something that can be done in a hurry but well worth the effort. Thanks for your comment, Mandy

FOUND IT! Try this link http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?a...album&album=105 Mandy

Hi, thank you all for your interest. I put my pictures in the gallery yesterday and now I can't find them either , they weren't entered under a specific group as I couldn't find anywhere to do that? (I'm new to this!) The album is called Parker Bros Shop Demo Unit. Please can someone tell me what I have done wrong and how to correct it. Thanks Mandy

Yep, have thought about putting it on ebay as I have an account, would like to have some idea of value first though. The only problem is it weighs a ton! So shipping would be a problem, the base is made of thick chipboard hence the weight.

I take it by that you mean it might be quite valuable!

Hi, Has anyone come across a Parker Bros Shop Demo Unit made by Oakley Young Associates of Leicester, England before? I have been clearing out the loft and have found one that we bought in the 80's, it is in near mint condition, I hooked it up to the tv yesterday and it works great! It holds 24 cartridges in a lockable compartment and the old 6 switch 2600 fits inside the unit. It has an LED display which shows the cartridge number selected and a variable timer to set the length of play time, this can be over-ridden if nec. I have posted some pictures in the gallery for anyone who is interested. Could anyone tell me any more about it, like whether it's rare or if they were mass produced (I don't think they were as I have trawled the internet and forums and have not come accross one yet)? Cheers