Problem at boot time
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 2:28 am
Hi,
I currently have 3 QL systems, 1 Q68, 1 SGC + Aurora and 1 original QL + GC.
The Q68 works perfectly
However, the other two are giving me troubles but only when booting:
The Gold Card System problem is the following: When I power up the computer, it boots as it should i.e. first memory test -> Minerva logo -> second memory test -> Minerva logo + Gold Card Version number (2.49) and the computer is waiting for the F1/F2 button to be pressed. So far so good. However, the pressing F1 or F2 does nothing 19 times out of 20. I have to reset try again, reset try again, unplug try again etc until finally it works. From that moment the computer works reliably even for days. But if I have the bad idea to push reset the problem reappears.
Now I know the problem is related to the GoldCard for two reasons. First if I remove the GoldCard the computer will boot without problem every time running on its 68008. 680008 + expanderRAM also work fine. Also, this is my second GoldCard, the one I had before was working well with the same computer. In fact the problem started when I got this new GoldCard. But at first I had just to reset 2 or 3 times before the computer would boot. It has gone worst over the years and now it will bot roughly 1 out 20 attempts.
The SuperGoldCard problem is different. It always boots correctly to the flashing cursor. But when I try to load SMSQ/E the computer will freeze just after the screen goes black i.e. before the SGC version and other copyright notices appears on the now SMSQ/E driven screen. If I try again, the same thing will happen.
To solve the problem, I need to let the computer run for about 1/2 hour at the flashing SBasic cursor before trying to load SMSQ/E. It looks like the computer needs to get "hot" for the problem to disappear. Again, once I'm able to boot SMSQ/E, the computer is reliable. For me this looks like a bad contact somewhere (memory ?). So I dismantle every thing and have unplugged every cables (Aurora, Qubid, both HD, floppies, keyboard, serial connectors) put every thing back together, pushed all IC firmly in their sockets, but the problem is still there.
BTW I said the problem is when loading SMSQ/E but in reality the computer freezes as soon as I load anything big enough. For example, if I stay with the minerva OS, it will freeze somewhere during the rest of my boot process when enough extensions have been loaded. However if I stays at the command prompt level, playing with SuperBasic and without loading anything too big, it is fine. This is why I think this one is a memory problem.
Anyway ask me questions if my problems description is not clear. I will try to explain better. Those are not BIG problems as I can still use both computers but I must admit that after so many years, I look forward to a solution! And with the impressive quantity and quality of knowledgable individuals on this forum maybe I stand a chance to solve either or both problems!
I am not an electronic expert. Not by a long shoot. I have absolutely no idea what to do. However I am good enough to be able to monitor signal lines with my oscilloscope if given VERY precise instructions.
Thank you,
François
I currently have 3 QL systems, 1 Q68, 1 SGC + Aurora and 1 original QL + GC.
The Q68 works perfectly
However, the other two are giving me troubles but only when booting:
The Gold Card System problem is the following: When I power up the computer, it boots as it should i.e. first memory test -> Minerva logo -> second memory test -> Minerva logo + Gold Card Version number (2.49) and the computer is waiting for the F1/F2 button to be pressed. So far so good. However, the pressing F1 or F2 does nothing 19 times out of 20. I have to reset try again, reset try again, unplug try again etc until finally it works. From that moment the computer works reliably even for days. But if I have the bad idea to push reset the problem reappears.
Now I know the problem is related to the GoldCard for two reasons. First if I remove the GoldCard the computer will boot without problem every time running on its 68008. 680008 + expanderRAM also work fine. Also, this is my second GoldCard, the one I had before was working well with the same computer. In fact the problem started when I got this new GoldCard. But at first I had just to reset 2 or 3 times before the computer would boot. It has gone worst over the years and now it will bot roughly 1 out 20 attempts.
The SuperGoldCard problem is different. It always boots correctly to the flashing cursor. But when I try to load SMSQ/E the computer will freeze just after the screen goes black i.e. before the SGC version and other copyright notices appears on the now SMSQ/E driven screen. If I try again, the same thing will happen.
To solve the problem, I need to let the computer run for about 1/2 hour at the flashing SBasic cursor before trying to load SMSQ/E. It looks like the computer needs to get "hot" for the problem to disappear. Again, once I'm able to boot SMSQ/E, the computer is reliable. For me this looks like a bad contact somewhere (memory ?). So I dismantle every thing and have unplugged every cables (Aurora, Qubid, both HD, floppies, keyboard, serial connectors) put every thing back together, pushed all IC firmly in their sockets, but the problem is still there.
BTW I said the problem is when loading SMSQ/E but in reality the computer freezes as soon as I load anything big enough. For example, if I stay with the minerva OS, it will freeze somewhere during the rest of my boot process when enough extensions have been loaded. However if I stays at the command prompt level, playing with SuperBasic and without loading anything too big, it is fine. This is why I think this one is a memory problem.
Anyway ask me questions if my problems description is not clear. I will try to explain better. Those are not BIG problems as I can still use both computers but I must admit that after so many years, I look forward to a solution! And with the impressive quantity and quality of knowledgable individuals on this forum maybe I stand a chance to solve either or both problems!
I am not an electronic expert. Not by a long shoot. I have absolutely no idea what to do. However I am good enough to be able to monitor signal lines with my oscilloscope if given VERY precise instructions.
Thank you,
François