Help with issue after installing booster

Help & information about the STE V1 series boosters.
Dan1975
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Help with issue after installing booster

Post by Dan1975 »

Hi.

I have just finished installing the booster to my STE but have a problem.
Everything seemed to go smoothly and the machine was working fine after the installation of the TOS Switcher but now when I switch on all I get is 40 vertical black bars that gradually get thinner by being erased by alternating red and yellow bars until I am left with a white screen and nothing else happens.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

Dan
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exxos
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Re: Help with issue after installing booster

Post by exxos »

so you fitted the booster and the problem started after fitting the ROM board ? or was it the other way around ?
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Dan1975
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Re: Help with issue after installing booster

Post by Dan1975 »

Fitted the TOS Switcher first and was all fine. Now I have fitted the booster and this issue is now occurring
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exxos
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Re: Help with issue after installing booster

Post by exxos »

You most likely have a bad solder joint or a damaged track on the motherboard, it is always the case.
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https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Dan1975
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Re: Help with issue after installing booster

Post by Dan1975 »

Ok will recheck it. Didn't know if maybe there was something specific that would cause it.

Cheers :)
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Help with issue after installing booster

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Is it a soldered in booster? If so you need to work back through all the solder joints and check for good continuity/shorts from every pin of the socket to the pins on the booster board through to the mainboard. Also check the the tracks and vias for physical damage.

Be aware that physically handling these boards can cause microscopic damage to tracks and vias you can't see that a beep test will show right up. This happened to me recently on my Mega4. I plugged something in and I lost 2 data lines in the 10 mm between the CPU socket and the next via along, but nothing visible.

If it's one that pushes into the CPU socket, then remove it and check for bent pins on the booster (this happened on mine.) and tweak all the springs in the PLCC socket, clean the contacts on the 68k and see if you are able to boot in the original configuration.
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Dan1975
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Re: Help with issue after installing booster

Post by Dan1975 »

Yeah is the soldered one. Have put on hold for now as can't see anything obvious and don't have the test equipment (or knowhow :oops:) to check properly :(
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exxos
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Re: Help with issue after installing booster

Post by exxos »

The only thing you can do is probably ask @Steve To repair it for you. Though fault finding could possibly be more expensive than buying a new motherboard and having Steve a new booster for you right from the start.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Steve
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Re: Help with issue after installing booster

Post by Steve »

Dan1975 wrote: Wed May 20, 2020 10:34 pm Yeah is the soldered one. Have put on hold for now as can't see anything obvious and don't have the test equipment (or knowhow :oops:) to check properly :(
I'm in the west midlands if you want me to have a look at it. PM me if you like.
Dan1975
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Re: Help with issue after installing booster

Post by Dan1975 »

Thank you. PM sent
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