problem: "turn off before inserting cartridge.." screen shows regardless

[happyfunball]

due to an offhand comment, I had a friend send me his old colecovision for basically the cost of shipping. I got it all hooked up and all I get is the screen telling me to turn off the machine before inserting a cartridge or expansion module.

 

if I have one inserted or not, this is the only screen I get. I tried turning it off and on a number of times, resetting it, and he shipped it with to cables and power bricks and I tried both.

 

I searched on this forum a bit to see if there was a simple solution but didn't see anything that addressed this issue specifically.

 

do I have a junk system or is it something that can be fixed? I'm not afraid of a little soldering if it comes to that.

[Manoau2002]

The Colecovision automatically goes to that screen if no Cartridge is inserted or it can't read the Cartridge inserted. How many Cartridges have you tried? If its only one or two your Cartridges may be dirty or warn out. If you've tried several Cartridges and still are having no luck I would clean the cartridge slot with an electronics grade alcohol.

[fiddlepaddle]

I would also suspect you need to clean the game slot and the cartridge contacts. First use 91% rubbing alcohol on a q-tip on the cartridge. Soak a thin lint-free cloth folded over an old credit card and insert/remove several times into the console game slot to clean it. Can also use Caig Deoxit for better results. Let it dry before turning it on.

[happyfunball]

I tried 5 different carts so I'm going to assume the contacts are corroded or dirty then. I'll try cleaning all the contacts first. thanks for the quick replies.

where is the best place to get deoxit or electronics grade rubbing alcohol? can it be had easily at some local shop or is it better to just order online?

[fiddlepaddle]

91% alcohol is available at many drug stores, including Wal-mart. Deoxit CAN be found at some electronic stores (maybe Radio Shack, Microcenter, Fry's Electronics), or online.

[happyfunball]

I don't have high hopes for radio shack these days. microcenter is an hour's drive. Fry's is a LOOOONNGG way from here. sounds like alcohol it is. hopefully it does the trick

[Yurkie]

Alcohol is not going to be enough if the cartrdge slot is not reading any carts. The abrasion of inserting and removing a cart a dozen or so times would be way more effective. If it is the cart slot and not something else, there is likely a bent/broken contact pin.

 

You might try inserting the cart turning the power on and then pushing the reset button.

[happyfunball]

just scrubbed everything down with alcohol, including all the contacts on the carts. and at this point I've inserted carts into it at least a dozen times.

also tried the reset button as well.

I ordered some deoxit online, should be here in a couple days.

 

I guess I need to get in there with some light and see if a pin is borked.

[happyfunball]

welp, I went in with a headlight and a loupe, and all the pins look pretty good to me, none look twisted or bent.

so, is there a next thing to try?

[Kiwi]

I thought about this problem today at work. I recalled whenever I forget to put 'const before byte' for a table that holds the pattern in my game project, I get that screen. Without the const, the table get put into RAM and usually those table are bigger than 1KB of RAM.

 

Anyway, I believe your Colecovision 1KB of RAM is dead. That could be a cause for cartridge not to boot. My original thought was that the cartridge may not be inserted all the way in. That happened with me when I put in Quest for the Golden Chalice for the first time. Reseating the cartridge solved that issue.

[nanochess]

If the Colecovision message appears right then we can be sure that RAM and VRAM are working just fine and you have a Colecovision working at 90%

 

The problem is obviously in cartridge port, Kiwi has suggested right that probably cartridge isn't correctly inserted. Myself was afraid to insert too strong the cartridge after getting my Colecovision for the first time.

 

First thing to do (after cleaning with lots of alcohol) is to look cartridge connector trying to see something not uniform in contacts.

 

The next thing to do would be to get the Colecovision schematic and use a multimeter to check connections between motherboard and cartridge connector. There could be a scratch in Colecovision PCB.

Edited December 17, 2013 by nanochess

[happyfunball]

I can try reseating them harder, that seems like a quick thing to check. I thought I was inserting pretty firmly but who knows.

I looked at the cartridge connector with a strong light and a jewelers loupe and it looked pretty uniform so I don't think the slot itself is the issue.

[happyfunball]

well, I've messed around with this and I don't think there is anything more I can do to this. is it cheaper to have some one repair it or should I just go get another one that works?

[nanochess]

well, I've messed around with this and I don't think there is anything more I can do to this. is it cheaper to have some one repair it or should I just go get another one that works?

 

Get another one, sometimes you can get one for $30 from ebay.

 

Or you can send it to Yurkie for repairing, I believe he is located in Ohio.

[fiddlepaddle]

Send a PM to Yurkie about your problem... he might be able to fix it, he's not too far from you.