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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

1914.0. "WCS memory problem on A1000." by GENRAL::WARDELL () Mon Nov 28 1988 12:25

    Need technical assistance!
    
    I have an Amiga 1000 and have just started to experience some type
    of memory problem.  I believe it is in the WCS area.  The symptoms
    are;  
    
    1)  Doesn't recognize a double click on the mouse to open any
        gadgets.  (I can open using the pulldown WB menu however)
    2)  After loading KS 1.2 and prior to the the Workbench requestor
        the screen flashes anywhere from 1 to 6 times.
    3)  The system date comes up anywhere from 1978 to 1995. When I'm
        in CLI and do the DATE command I get a different date on each
        request.
    4)  Some programs that use the mouse run erratically.  Joystick
        programs are OK, although I get system crashes occasionally
        on some games.
    
    At first I thought it was some type of virus, however I used some
    fresh copies of KS and WB and got the same results.  I beleive it
    is only in the WCS and only effects whatever information is loaded
    into a specific memory location from the KS disk.  Programs that
    don't use the mouse and boot without WB run fine.
    
    Does anyone know of a utility program that checks memory and that will
    isolate defective memory locations?  There's only one Amiga dealer
    in town and I hate to take the unit in and have it sit for several
    week.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1914.1No WCS TestsELUDOM::RMEYERSRandy MeyersMon Nov 28 1988 18:1616
Re: .0

Unfortunately, if your problem is the WCS, there aren't any memory tests
that I know of.  After Kickstart is read into the 1000, the system
electronically write protects the Kickstart memory.  So the PD memory
diagnostics floating around could only be adapted to test the memory
with great difficulty.

>    2)  After loading KS 1.2 and prior to the the Workbench requestor
>        the screen flashes anywhere from 1 to 6 times.

What colors do the screen flash?  The color of the screen flashes is a
diagnostic.

Actually, given the time problems, you might be losing a support chip
of some kind.
1914.2WCS Checksum?ANT::SMCAFEESteve McAfeeMon Nov 28 1988 19:2413
    
    Re: .0

    When you warm reboot (CTRL-RightA-LeftA) does the system request
    KickStart once again?
    
    I've heard that when you warm reboot the WCS gets checksummed and
    if this fails it will request KS.  Does anyone know if this is true?
    I would be interested in finding out also.  I'm still getting thrown
    back to Kickstart intermittently when I reboot and I'm not sure
    whether it is a software or hardware problem.

    - steve m
1914.3More symptoms.GENRAL::WARDELLMon Nov 28 1988 21:5217
    More symptoms.
    
    The screen flashes in gray tones after KS.  On a warm reboot it
    does the same thing before it loads WB.  The flashes are always
    the same, gray - black - gray - light gray and they sometimes repeat
    up to six times.
    
    I tried a program called "The Music Studio" (I'm into MIDI).  It
    normally has a music intro, but it didn't work.  Also, once loaded,
    it would not generate any tones or pass MIDI data to my snyth. 
    I have some other programs with music, e.g Ferrari Formula 1, Superstar
    Ice Hockey, and they work fine.
    
    I was informed there is more than 1 Amiga dealer in town (actually 3)
    and that the newest one does good service work.  Sounds like I may
    be improving their cash flow.
1914.4Hmm.RAVEN1::EVERHARTTue Nov 29 1988 11:019
    Sounds to me like it has the same problem that several people have
    had with the chip that controls the serial port.  (Don't remember
    the number)  Most found that this was in actuality caused by a bad
    wire coming from the power supply.  I think some of the other symptoms
    include one of the signals on the Serial port being stuck high.
    You can test this to see if this chip is indeed related.
    
     - Chris
1914.5For what it's worth...UBEAUT::DAWSONStephen DawsonTue Nov 29 1988 18:0316
    
    re: .4
    
    I had a problem with my serial port due to the power supply. The
    symptom was the Tx line on the serial port staying high all the
    time, caused by the -12V line in the power supply being shorted
    to earth where the cable exits the power supply box on my A500.
    (By the way, the chip is a 1488)
    
    At no time did I have problems with flashing screens during startup
    or anything else like that. The serial port wouldn't transmit, and
    that was it. 

    So, I'd say that your problem sounds a little more serious...

    Stephen.
1914.6WJG::GUINEAUWed Nov 30 1988 08:079
My problem was first I couldn't recieve (bad chip) then later I couldn't
transmit (the other chip was bad). So I now have new 1488 and 1489 chips in my
A500 :-?

I attributed this to my foolish "hot swapping" of cables between various
RS232 devices.

John
1914.7Diagnosis by DealerGENRAL::WARDELLThu Dec 01 1988 10:294
    I took the CPU to the local dealer for service yesterday.  Their
    estimate of the problem was a chip failure in the circuit that supports
    the mouse and some other unrelated activities.  The chip is a 8520?
    and lists for about $25.  I'll know more Friday when I pick it up.
1914.8Hmm Again...RAVEN1::EVERHARTThu Dec 01 1988 10:335
    That would make sense because of the timing registers on it, but
    still....I don't know how it could affect the WCS.
    
     - Chris