Is my 800XL really dead? Black screen on boot.

[sfbilly]

Hi all, I just dug out my 800XL from junior high -- it was in a box for twenty years. I was writing assembler when I was 13, yikes! Good thing I dropped *that* habit.

 

OK So, I plugged it in and flipped the thing on, and the LED power light comes on, but nothing else happens. I tried the RF out and a monitor cable w/composite, too. Neither produces a signal that my TV can find. It does seem like *something* is happening, because I do get a quick flash of grey or black at first power on, but it's almost imperceptible. Just black nothingness and then "No Signal" warning from my TV. I tried typing to see if it's just dead video, but I didn't hear the old clicking that BASIC would send through the speakers, either. So it seems pretty dead.

 

I pulled the motherboard out (first time I ever opened it up!) and there is no discernible rust, no cockroach carcasses, etc. Seems like it's in fine shape. And this is a Rev D board with absolutely no socketed chips, so there's nothing to re-seat.

 

Is there anything I can do to diagnose the problem? Should I just get a new board?

 

Thanks all!

Billy

[sup8pdct]

First thing I would do is to is to check the power supply is suppling 5V when the consol is switched on. Try with out the keyboard connected. (reset could be held for some reason). If still nothing then more work is required. Maybe ask some close to you from this list to have a look.

 

James

 

I pulled the motherboard out (first time I ever opened it up!) and there is no discernible rust, no cockroach carcasses, etc. Seems like it's in fine shape. And this is a Rev D board with absolutely no socketed chips, so there's nothing to re-seat.

 

Is there anything I can do to diagnose the problem? Should I just get a new board?

[sfbilly]

Oh, the power supply is brand new and working OK.

 

First thing I would do is to is to check the power supply is suppling 5V when the consol is switched on. Try with out the keyboard connected. (reset could be held for some reason). If still nothing then more work is required. Maybe ask some close to you from this list to have a look.

 

James

 

I pulled the motherboard out (first time I ever opened it up!) and there is no discernible rust, no cockroach carcasses, etc. Seems like it's in fine shape. And this is a Rev D board with absolutely no socketed chips, so there's nothing to re-seat.

 

Is there anything I can do to diagnose the problem? Should I just get a new board?

[Rybags]

You could see if it boots a disk or cassette.

But, I'd put a +1 to either the external PSU being a dud, or something in the internal power circuit.

 

ed - actually, a quick thing to try.

 

Test (multimeter) that there's no broken wires in the power plug. Mine had one loose for a couple of years, and it finally came off a few months ago.

Edited March 10, 2009 by Rybags

[atariksi]

Hi all, I just dug out my 800XL from junior high -- it was in a box for twenty years. I was writing assembler when I was 13, yikes! Good thing I dropped *that* habit.

...

Ahm, it's NOT a good thing to drop *that* habit if you are a programmer especially on Atari. In fact, my assembly programming on Atari helped me pick up Amiga and PC assembly quickly.

 

>I pulled the motherboard out (first time I ever opened it up!) and there is no discernible rust, no cockroach carcasses, etc. Seems like it's in fine shape. And this is a Rev D board with absolutely no socketed chips, so there's nothing to re-seat.

 

Ahm, that's bad if there's no socketed chips. Now, you can't pull some chips out and try new ones. Better to get older motherboard which has socketed chips.

 

>Is there anything I can do to diagnose the problem? Should I just get a new board?

 

Ahm, you did diagnose the problem-- you dropped a good habit to get into and your Atari dropped you.

 

I had an Atari left uncared for in wet basement but only ROM chip went bad, but it was socketed so easy to replace with 27256 EPROM or EEPROM.