Re: 2 Bomb bus error

On Feb 5, 2:15 am, just tired thats all <olddead...@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:20:28 GMT, samf <sf0...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
phantomm_1 wrote:
From what you are describing and with a advanced upgrade like the CT60,
it could be more than one thing causing the problem. Especially with a dead
or malfunctioning
CT60.
The first thing that came to mind was a problem with the DMA and or a
modification to it.

I've installed a few upgrades in Falcons before, however not a CT60. Most
have some sort of
modification to the DMA.

Check for a loose wire, cold soldering joint or break in the area especially
if it has been modified.

Of course, I could be wrong, but I've seen alot of problems come from this
area in the past.

Sending the Falcon to experts like you mention is always a good idea.

But it could be something easy to fix as well, if ya know alittle about the
Falcon motherboard
and can solder abit.

<Atarinut...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:d5fa8f23-785c-4b80-99b2-04f5b676e648@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Feb 4, 3:01 am, just tired thats all <olddead...@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
On Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:48:19 GMT, samf <sf0...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
It's almost to the pint where I can't use my floppy drive. Almost every
c2-3 minutes from starting to use the floppy, I get the two bombs.
Geez, I'm just trying to get the HDD setup.
Drive problem or mainboard prob?
Briefly glanced at all your post. Is the bus speed std? What video
mode are you using? TC mode puts quite a load on the bus and can cause
funny things to occur if the clock patch isn't right (properly done,
whatever) or your running much over 20 on the main board.

Here is a (very) loose test. Try working in mono or 16 color and see
if DMA gets any better.

Best to list all internal hardware and modifications, everyone has
it's own caveats.

samf? You've been around for a while, right?

Mike
Hi Mike,

Yes, I have been around for quite awhile. Mostly I read new posts,
occasionally submitting posts either to questions or new ideas, and of
course when I need help.

My weakness is in the fact that I am pretty much strictly a user of my
Atari Falcon, as opposed to someone productive such as the software
and hardware developers. :(

Anyhow, my Falcon is a C-Lab Falcon with a fitted CT60, and installed
a tower case. The CT60 died, I think, so I've turned it off as it
were. I repartitioned my drive, but due to the constant bus error
problem, I'm having a heck of a time trying to install/copy files from
the floppy to the hdd. Keep in mind however, that I've not used my
Falcon for over a year, cause I thought we were moving, and we didn't,
but the Falcon stayed put away and I just pulled it out last weekend.

I think what I'll end up having to do is send the CT60 to Rodolphe so
he can fix it, then send my motherboard to Best Electronics so they
can fix that....it also is having sound probs....one channel is very
broken up.

Thanks for your reply Mike, and have a great day! :)

The problem was/is the hdd connector on the motherboard. It's a 2.5' to
3.5' adapter, and it's a bit loose. So, if it happens to lead a little
to the otherside, that's when I get the bus errors everytime I try to do
anything operation from floppy to hdd. Once I finally realized what the
prob was, I was able to install Magic without a problem.

So now I'm thinking I'm going to have to send my CT60 to Rodolphe so he
can fix it.

Man, I sure wish there was some outfit here in the US who could do
it...would save me alot on roundtrip shipping!! :)

Thanks and have a geat day!

Everyone has posted good ideas. I have a CT060, but as I've said for
the last several years, it's still in the box! Just not enough time
now.

I'm pretty sure the CT060 handles the clock patch mod, so it's likely
your machine does not have one if a CT was fitted. Don't know if when
the CT is off, the Falcon goes back to using the COMBEL for bus
timing. If so, and there is no DMA patch, it will act just like your
stating. Everything from bombs on the screen, white dots on the
monitor display, HDD troubles, floppy troubles, and sound troubles.
I'd have to dig through some documentation to verify what I'm saying.
From what I recall, the CT060 was basically drop in, as long as you
didn't speed up the bus, and as long as your machine was working well
before the upgrade.
The other thing I just thought about is if the blitter isn't disabled
with the CT turned off, and your still using the alternate ram, all
hell will break loose. NVDI will disable the blitter, and HD Driver,
once installed, will handle the FRB.
If you have the funds, I'm sure if you can locate Alex of ATY computer
fame, he would still do the work. Guy is a whiz. He use to be in
Oakland I think, but was robbed some years ago and moved (still in the
Bay area) to a safer area.
You might also give Steve at Wizztronics a call. He may not want to
mess with the CT, but bet he would still do the buffer mod. Getting
your Falcon in good workiing condition is the first step before
installing the CT.
Sorry if I'm repeating things you already know about. I've got three
or four Falcons laying about, and after any length of time not being
used I just kind of go through a check list o fall past trouble until
I'm happy they work in standard configuration before soldering stuff
on top of them :)

Mike

The main problem I'm having now is definitely the hdd header on the
motherboard. It (specifically, where the hdd cable sets) kind of
wobbles so, if I move it over a bit one way....the hdd and floppy get
recognized. If I move it over a smidgen the other way....I can write
from the floppy to the hdd without the 2 bomb bus error!!

Yeah, think I'll contact Wizztronics (they're way closer that anybody
else) and see if the can take care of that, and the sound too, if they
can. I just hope they know enough to NOT desolder the CT60 wires!!
I'll for sure ask them if they are at least familiar with it!

Anywho, thanks a bunch for all your input guys!!!
And have a great day too!!
.

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