CLI Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Wanted to start my old 600 XL the other day :-) However, ran into problems... :-( Observations: * Power diode is ok=red * Screen on tv / monitor is black. No sound. * Holding down start button when powering on computer does not give buzzer sound. Nor does tape recorder start when return is pushed * If game cartridge is put into place screen turns red Background info, my 600 XL is extended to 64 k. Have checked motherboard, can not see any obvious problems. Have used 'Electronic spray' on memory connectors etc. Can someone help me with this, I really want to play Sea Dragon and Pole Position again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kjmann Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Wanted to start my old 600 XL the other day :-) However, ran into problems... :-( Observations: * Power diode is ok=red * Screen on tv / monitor is black. No sound. * Holding down start button when powering on computer does not give buzzer sound. Nor does tape recorder start when return is pushed * If game cartridge is put into place screen turns red Background info, my 600 XL is extended to 64 k. Have checked motherboard, can not see any obvious problems. Have used 'Electronic spray' on memory connectors etc. Can someone help me with this, I really want to play Sea Dragon and Pole Position again... Try re-seating the OS chip, Basic Chip and The PIA Chip (PIA Chip is the one with The Number 6520 on it in the lower right hand corner of the Board). If that Doesn't work then you could have a bad OS or Basic, Or even a Bad PIA Chip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLI Posted October 6, 2009 Author Share Posted October 6, 2009 Wanted to start my old 600 XL the other day :-) However, ran into problems... :-( Observations: * Power diode is ok=red * Screen on tv / monitor is black. No sound. * Holding down start button when powering on computer does not give buzzer sound. Nor does tape recorder start when return is pushed * If game cartridge is put into place screen turns red Background info, my 600 XL is extended to 64 k. Have checked motherboard, can not see any obvious problems. Have used 'Electronic spray' on memory connectors etc. Can someone help me with this, I really want to play Sea Dragon and Pole Position again... Try re-seating the OS chip, Basic Chip and The PIA Chip (PIA Chip is the one with The Number 6520 on it in the lower right hand corner of the Board). If that Doesn't work then you could have a bad OS or Basic, Or even a Bad PIA Chip. Just so that I make the right moves this evening, which one is the OS-chip and which one is the Basic chip? Thx! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kjmann Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 (edited) Wanted to start my old 600 XL the other day :-) However, ran into problems... :-( Observations: * Power diode is ok=red * Screen on tv / monitor is black. No sound. * Holding down start button when powering on computer does not give buzzer sound. Nor does tape recorder start when return is pushed * If game cartridge is put into place screen turns red Background info, my 600 XL is extended to 64 k. Have checked motherboard, can not see any obvious problems. Have used 'Electronic spray' on memory connectors etc. Can someone help me with this, I really want to play Sea Dragon and Pole Position again... Try re-seating the OS chip, Basic Chip and The PIA Chip (PIA Chip is the one with The Number 6520 on it in the lower right hand corner of the Board). If that Doesn't work then you could have a bad OS or Basic, Or even a Bad PIA Chip. Just so that I make the right moves this evening, which one is the OS-chip and which one is the Basic chip? Thx! The OS and the Basic Chip are the 2 chips in the upper right hand corner of the motherboard. Edited October 6, 2009 by kjmann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLI Posted October 6, 2009 Author Share Posted October 6, 2009 Wanted to start my old 600 XL the other day :-) However, ran into problems... :-( Observations: * Power diode is ok=red * Screen on tv / monitor is black. No sound. * Holding down start button when powering on computer does not give buzzer sound. Nor does tape recorder start when return is pushed * If game cartridge is put into place screen turns red Background info, my 600 XL is extended to 64 k. Have checked motherboard, can not see any obvious problems. Have used 'Electronic spray' on memory connectors etc. Can someone help me with this, I really want to play Sea Dragon and Pole Position again... Try re-seating the OS chip, Basic Chip and The PIA Chip (PIA Chip is the one with The Number 6520 on it in the lower right hand corner of the Board). If that Doesn't work then you could have a bad OS or Basic, Or even a Bad PIA Chip. Just so that I make the right moves this evening, which one is the OS-chip and which one is the Basic chip? Thx! The OS and the Basic Chip are the 2 chips in the upper right hand corner of the motherboard. Doesn't do the trick unfortunately :-( If I have a bad OS and/or Basic could I simply find another chip and replace it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 I had a similar problem with one of my 600XL computers. It turned out to be a bad PIA chip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kjmann Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Wanted to start my old 600 XL the other day :-) However, ran into problems... :-( Observations: * Power diode is ok=red * Screen on tv / monitor is black. No sound. * Holding down start button when powering on computer does not give buzzer sound. Nor does tape recorder start when return is pushed * If game cartridge is put into place screen turns red Background info, my 600 XL is extended to 64 k. Have checked motherboard, can not see any obvious problems. Have used 'Electronic spray' on memory connectors etc. Can someone help me with this, I really want to play Sea Dragon and Pole Position again... Try re-seating the OS chip, Basic Chip and The PIA Chip (PIA Chip is the one with The Number 6520 on it in the lower right hand corner of the Board). If that Doesn't work then you could have a bad OS or Basic, Or even a Bad PIA Chip. Just so that I make the right moves this evening, which one is the OS-chip and which one is the Basic chip? Thx! The OS and the Basic Chip are the 2 chips in the upper right hand corner of the motherboard. Doesn't do the trick unfortunately :-( If I have a bad OS and/or Basic could I simply find another chip and replace it? Try replacing the PIA first. then the OS. Then Basic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariksi Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Wanted to start my old 600 XL the other day :-) However, ran into problems... :-( Observations: * Power diode is ok=red * Screen on tv / monitor is black. No sound. * Holding down start button when powering on computer does not give buzzer sound. Nor does tape recorder start when return is pushed * If game cartridge is put into place screen turns red Background info, my 600 XL is extended to 64 k. Have checked motherboard, can not see any obvious problems. Have used 'Electronic spray' on memory connectors etc. Can someone help me with this, I really want to play Sea Dragon and Pole Position again... Try re-seating the OS chip, Basic Chip and The PIA Chip (PIA Chip is the one with The Number 6520 on it in the lower right hand corner of the Board). If that Doesn't work then you could have a bad OS or Basic, Or even a Bad PIA Chip. Just so that I make the right moves this evening, which one is the OS-chip and which one is the Basic chip? Thx! The OS and the Basic Chip are the 2 chips in the upper right hand corner of the motherboard. Doesn't do the trick unfortunately :-( If I have a bad OS and/or Basic could I simply find another chip and replace it? If you have a (broken) Atari 5200, you can try swapping 6502 or other chips (ANTIC/GTIA/POKEY) from there. OS chips are hard to get-- perhaps write some simple program in a 27128 EPROM and pop it in. Machine should boot fine without BASIC ROM inserted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 new PIA and XEGS OS chips are available here, but there is a $20 minimum order iirc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Almost Rice Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 The 600xl usually came with the ingot power supply. Those PS go bad and can take the computer with it. I would check the voltage of the PS first for 5V power before digging around the insides of the computer. I had a ingot PS that output over 7V. I was lucky it did not fry the computer it was hooked up to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fog Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I was looking for a service manual for the 800 xl also.. duno where to post.. I bought an 800xl off ebay, the RF is humming.. and it won't do the start / option thing to load tapes.. and the tape deck an xc12 doesn't work.. it hums when you hit play on the tape.. it'll go into the diagnostics, but hhmm dunno where to start.. just not happy with this ebay *cough* , I hate misleading sellers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiassofT Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I was looking for a service manual for the 800 xl also.. duno where to post.. Have a look at this thread (and look for the postings about the FSM and Sam's Computerfacts): http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/127483-atari-os-and-hardware-manuals-get-them-here so long, Hias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fog Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 it's a nice read, thanks Hias.. I just wondered why it amplified the buzz noise when a tape deck was in.. the keyboard ribbon cable.. I notice one of the silver bits wasn't right at the end.. wonder if that would cause the start / option (on boot) to load games problem.. I mean I can get to the basic problem, but can't boot a game..hhmm I guess I will have to TOTALLY take it apart thanks anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiassofT Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I just wondered why it amplified the buzz noise when a tape deck was in.. It could be anything, maybe the tape deck is broken? the keyboard ribbon cable.. I notice one of the silver bits wasn't right at the end.. wonder if that would cause the start / option (on boot) to load games problem.. I mean I can get to the basic problem, but can't boot a game..hhmm Yes, this is highly probable. These ribbon cables tend to break quite often and then some keys don't work anymore. Easiest way to check if the keys are working properly is to enter the Selftest (type "BYE" in BASIC) and start the keyboard test. so long, Hias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLI Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 Hello, I have now replaced the PIA, OS and Basic chip. Do I need to say that I got disappointed... Still not working, same behaviour as initially. Anybody that can give me some advice how to move forward??? /Prepare to qualify Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Check the RAM... I'd guess it's probably not a faulty chip, more likely a bad connection somewhere. So this machine has 64K internal ... IIRC that also involves some extra wiring inside the machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLI Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 See attached pictures of PCB with 64 k modification. It used to work... Note small wire in U18. Can it any other problem than RAM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Well, if you can't get this particular expansion module working again, keep in mind that it would be very easy to replace it with a pair of 64k x 8 RAM chips (the same ones the XEGS uses); two chips and about three wires can bring your machine up to a full 64K without any kind of daughterboard at all. You will have to "undo" your present upgrade and restore your machine to a stock configuration first, but it doesn't look like that would be too much work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariksi Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 I was looking for a service manual for the 800 xl also.. duno where to post.. Have a look at this thread (and look for the postings about the FSM and Sam's Computerfacts): http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/127483-atari-os-and-hardware-manuals-get-them-here so long, Hias I didn't see any link for 800XL field service manual there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 800XL FSM added to that thread. Don't know if it'll be any help, fairly sure there was never any "official" intention for the 600XL to have 64K internally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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