I have a turbo color slab that I've been trying to get working on and off (mostly off...) for the past couple of years.
I've got no video output from it, despite using a sync-on-green capable viewsonic LCD. I also picked up a sync-on-green to VGA converter, no video with it either.
When connected to the soundbox and powered up via the keyboard, should the system make a startup chime/bong? Because this one doesn't.
There is no chime like you would get on say a mac. If you have sound checking enabled in the ROM (it isn't by default i think) then you'll get a quick beep from the sound box. There is an LED on the logic board. Does it flash any pattern when you try to start it up?
--
Brian
It blinks red once, then goes dark. If I pull all of the RAM, it blinks 5 times in a repeating pattern.
I've re-capped the motherboard and the soundbox.
Here are the blink codes:
LED Blink Codes (LED on the logic board if system can not boot to ROM)
1,2 ROM CRC check failures
3 Bad VRAM
4 Bad NVRAM (The NVRAM store in the clock chip)
5 No usable DRAM
Quote from: "NextJules"It blinks red once, then goes dark. If I pull all of the RAM, it blinks 5 times in a repeating pattern.
I've re-capped the motherboard and the soundbox.
Is the monitor Y cable centered at the cpu , it'll power up if centered at monitor but no video . I've done it before Best regards Rob
I give. I think this thing's beaten me.
The bottom of the "Y" is connected to the nextstation.
The soundbox hangs off one side of the Y and the LCD with sun/vga adapter, gender changer and sync-on-green adapter hangs off the other side.
I've pulled the battery and let it sit overnight - no difference in results. The battery tests good.
I've tested PSU voltages and they test good.
No signs of life other than the LED lighting up on power up (then it goes off). If I pull ram, I get bad RAM blink code. No video output.
I'm out of ideas. I can check stuff on the mobo if anyone can point me to likely things to test.
So a few suggestions:
1) Does the hard drive ever spin up? This would indicate the the system is booting but you aren't getting video. The Color uses a high refresh rate that some monitors can't handle even with sync on green.
2) You could try booting with a serial console. Because you can't see the ROM you won't be able to enable console booting. Regardless if the station is trying to boot you will get an '@' symbol right after the ROM finishes. This would tell you that it is trying to boot at least.
3) You could try reflowing the ROM chip socket. I've seen problems here before. Be sure to remove the battery. If you have access to a programmer then you could try a new ROM chip as well. I recently blew a chip and had A single LED flash and then nothing. I replaced the chip and was back in business.
If none of this works, then you would need to begin checking the logic board using the schematic in the file archive. Depending on how you value your time I think Rob has turbo color motherboards tested and for sale.
--
Brian
Quote from: "NextJules"I give. I think this thing's beaten me.
The bottom of the "Y" is connected to the nextstation.
The soundbox hangs off one side of the Y and the LCD with sun/vga adapter, gender changer and sync-on-green adapter hangs off the other side.
I've pulled the battery and let it sit overnight - no difference in results. The battery tests good.
I've tested PSU voltages and they test good.
No signs of life other than the LED lighting up on power up (then it goes off). If I pull ram, I get bad RAM blink code. No video output.
I sell replacement turbo color motherboards for $99.95 and new old stock color motherboards for $40 shipping priority mail is $17.90 us , international is $51 Best regards Rob
I'm out of ideas. I can check stuff on the mobo if anyone can point me to likely things to test.