Mega STE, explosive boot
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fenarinarsa
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:03 pm
Mega STE, explosive boot
I had a bad surprise when I booted up my Mega STE this evening...
I tried to remove and replace the SIMMs and it booted, but an hour later it started to crash again.
In addition a few weeks ago I plugged it on a broadcast-grade HD CRT monitor and noticed that the video signal was not stable - it was perfect on my other regular STE. It was kind of "weavy" horizontally.
My guess is I need at least to do a full PSU recap but my experience in soldering counts in only a few hours. Any suggestions? I'm not really sure I can do a correct job even if the guide looks to be really well done.
That and I hope it's not something worse.
Any advice is welcome
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I tried to remove and replace the SIMMs and it booted, but an hour later it started to crash again.
In addition a few weeks ago I plugged it on a broadcast-grade HD CRT monitor and noticed that the video signal was not stable - it was perfect on my other regular STE. It was kind of "weavy" horizontally.
My guess is I need at least to do a full PSU recap but my experience in soldering counts in only a few hours. Any suggestions? I'm not really sure I can do a correct job even if the guide looks to be really well done.
That and I hope it's not something worse.
Any advice is welcome
Re: Mega STE, explosive boot
Recap of PSU is good thing, but it seems rather that you have some bad contacts. So, should do usual PLCC chip removing and cleaning contacts, checking connectors.
There is 2 kind of people: one thinking about moving to Mars after here becomes too bad, the others thinking about how to keep this planet habitable.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Mega STE, explosive boot
If you can get some Isopropyl Alcohol wipes, or just the fluid, then that will help clean any contacts up, but a re-cap may be something you should consider anyway.
If it's taking an hour to crash, it may be heat related. Not sure what fans the MSTEs have, worth checking they're running ok if it has them.
If it's taking an hour to crash, it may be heat related. Not sure what fans the MSTEs have, worth checking they're running ok if it has them.
Collector of old Atari things:
800XL + Ape Warp mod, 2x 1010 cassette, 1050 + Happy mod, 65XE (128k) & XC12, SIO2SD, 2600jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Atari 520ST (1Meg) + Gotek, 1040STFM + Vortex ATOnce + Gotek, 1040STF long button floppy, 4160 STE with Gotek and ROM switcher, 4160STE with 32Mhz booster, ROM switcher and CosmosEx, not to mention various bare ST boards for testing including a PAK 68/2
Plus the rest..
Amiga stuff, Mac stuff, Sinclair stuff etc...
www.electronicnothingness.co.uk
800XL + Ape Warp mod, 2x 1010 cassette, 1050 + Happy mod, 65XE (128k) & XC12, SIO2SD, 2600jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Atari 520ST (1Meg) + Gotek, 1040STFM + Vortex ATOnce + Gotek, 1040STF long button floppy, 4160 STE with Gotek and ROM switcher, 4160STE with 32Mhz booster, ROM switcher and CosmosEx, not to mention various bare ST boards for testing including a PAK 68/2
Plus the rest..
Amiga stuff, Mac stuff, Sinclair stuff etc...
www.electronicnothingness.co.uk
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stephen_usher
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- Location: Oxford, UK.
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Re: Mega STE, explosive boot
Just like all but the very earliest TTs, they have just the PSU fan.rubber_jonnie wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:13 pmIf it's taking an hour to crash, it may be heat related. Not sure what fans the MSTEs have, worth checking they're running ok if it has them.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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fenarinarsa
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:03 pm
Re: Mega STE, explosive boot
It's not heat-related, I just tried to power it on again after one full day of no use and it crashed on boot.
I will start by cleaning contacts as Petari said, actually someone else gave me the exact same advice today.
I will start by cleaning contacts as Petari said, actually someone else gave me the exact same advice today.
Re: Mega STE, explosive boot
Actually I think the earliest TTs had two fans, the later models only had the PSU fan.stephen_usher wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:09 pmJust like all but the very earliest TTs, they have just the PSU fan.rubber_jonnie wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:13 pmIf it's taking an hour to crash, it may be heat related. Not sure what fans the MSTEs have, worth checking they're running ok if it has them.
Falcon ct60e 060 - 256mb ram - phantom bus and dsp accel // Atari TT - Thunder and Storm IDE 64mb ram - Lightning VME - USB LAN - Ati Mach64 2mb // Atari STM 4160 - 4MB ram - 16Mhz exxos 1.5 booster - Ultrasatan
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stephen_usher
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- Location: Oxford, UK.
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Re: Mega STE, explosive boot
Indeed, that's what I said.Steve wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2018 3:07 amActually I think the earliest TTs had two fans, the later models only had the PSU fan.stephen_usher wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:09 pm
Just like all but the very earliest TTs, they have just the PSU fan.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Re: Mega STE, explosive boot
Haha I missed the `but`
Falcon ct60e 060 - 256mb ram - phantom bus and dsp accel // Atari TT - Thunder and Storm IDE 64mb ram - Lightning VME - USB LAN - Ati Mach64 2mb // Atari STM 4160 - 4MB ram - 16Mhz exxos 1.5 booster - Ultrasatan
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Mega STE, explosive boot
Yep, definitely not a heat problem then. Contacts is a good place to start, may be worth getting a magnifying glass out and having a close look at caps, just in case.fenarinarsa wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2018 1:08 amIt's not heat-related, I just tried to power it on again after one full day of no use and it crashed on boot.
I will start by cleaning contacts as Petari said, actually someone else gave me the exact same advice today.
If cleaning the contacts, have you considered a SIMM swap to see if that makes a difference?
Collector of old Atari things:
800XL + Ape Warp mod, 2x 1010 cassette, 1050 + Happy mod, 65XE (128k) & XC12, SIO2SD, 2600jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Atari 520ST (1Meg) + Gotek, 1040STFM + Vortex ATOnce + Gotek, 1040STF long button floppy, 4160 STE with Gotek and ROM switcher, 4160STE with 32Mhz booster, ROM switcher and CosmosEx, not to mention various bare ST boards for testing including a PAK 68/2
Plus the rest..
Amiga stuff, Mac stuff, Sinclair stuff etc...
www.electronicnothingness.co.uk
800XL + Ape Warp mod, 2x 1010 cassette, 1050 + Happy mod, 65XE (128k) & XC12, SIO2SD, 2600jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Atari 520ST (1Meg) + Gotek, 1040STFM + Vortex ATOnce + Gotek, 1040STF long button floppy, 4160 STE with Gotek and ROM switcher, 4160STE with 32Mhz booster, ROM switcher and CosmosEx, not to mention various bare ST boards for testing including a PAK 68/2
Plus the rest..
Amiga stuff, Mac stuff, Sinclair stuff etc...
www.electronicnothingness.co.uk