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Dragon 32 Blank Screen Fault
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2020 1:16 am
by axeman
Hi,
I have a D32 which just displays a blank green screen. I've checked the +-5, 12 voltages which are all ok on the ram ,cpu, sam and various other places so I think the voltages are ok.
I've also swapped all the socketed chips into a working dragon and they all work ok.
Anyone got any ideas or troubleshooting tips?
Please excuse the colour on my TV as its been in a war with the ground and didn't fair to well.
Thanks in advance
Re: Dragon 32 Blank Screen Fault
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2020 11:33 pm
by robcfg
If you also swapped the rom chips, it may be that some ram chips are faulty.
Re: Dragon 32 Blank Screen Fault
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 2:00 pm
by unumlapis
This little
YouTube video might come handy if you're into checking the memory.
Re: Dragon 32 Blank Screen Fault
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 4:49 pm
by axeman
Latest update to this issue is that I ended up not socketing and replacing the Ram as I thought I would first try socketing the right most ROM chip as some have said it is a major cause of such symptoms but that didn't help and the ROM was fine. I did however have a major breakthrough with getting this to work as when I touched the 14.218Mhz crystal (x2) I got a cursor to appear sometimes and then by gently pressing the crystal between finger and thumb I could get the machine to boot!!
It is very hit and miss (bit like holding up an antenna while standing on one leg sort of thing) but it is a big clue.
I've tried swapping the crystal but still the same so I'm going to do some testing of components connected to and around the crystal
Re: Dragon 32 Blank Screen Fault
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 9:08 pm
by axeman
Turns out touching the crystal to get it to boot wasn't a clue but it did allow me to test the keyboard.
I could only get key h,x,8,0 to work so this was a big clue. Traced the fault to the PIA 6821 IC26. Removed it and socketed then tested in a working machine and got the same fault, no boot up and blank green screen.
Replaced with a good pia and finally it works !!!!!
Thanks guys for all your help.
Another Dragon Lives....
Re: Dragon 32 Blank Screen Fault
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:07 pm
by robcfg
Great stuff!