Re: Cassette loading problem - "Error - No data found"

On Dec 22, 2:47 am, "winston19842...@xxxxxxxxx"
<winston19842...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Dec 22, 12:56 am, Trevor <trevor...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:



On Dec 22, 12:32 am, "winston19842...@xxxxxxxxx"

<winston19842...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Dec 21, 10:53 pm, Trevor <trevor...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Dec 21, 4:49 pm, winston19842005 <bjjlya...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On 12/21/09 1:41 PM, in article
865f8774-2371-43cf-8716-65c6f53cf...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Trevor"

<trevor...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I finally got a round to testing the Tunnels of Doom game for the TI/
99 4A I got my brother for Christmas, but when I go to load the game
I'm getting the message: Error - No data found.  I put the cartridge
in, get to the main menu screen, select cassette, then it says to
rewind tape and hit enter.  After doing so, it says press play and hit
enter.  After doing that, the cassette starts to play and after 10
seconds or so it gives me the error message.  If I turn up the volume
on the cassette player(a TI cassette player/recorder) I can hear some
weird noises that almost sound like a dial-up modem.  I've tried ten
times or so and it gives the same error every time.  I also tried the
other side of the tape but continue to get the same error.  I have
only the white and red plugs connected to the tape recorder, black
plug disconnected.  Any ideas how to get this thing to load the game?

The error message means the TI cannot hear it. If you get "Error detected in
data" it would mean it was too loud (causing distortion) or there was a
drop-out spot on the tape - which you should be able to hear.

If it is a TI cassette player, there are markings on the knobs - and you
should set the knobs (both volume and tone) to the markings so that they are
on the outside edge. Also, I hope you are hearing the tones through your TV
set or monitor, you should not hear them from the player - otherwise check
your connections. The red lead is not important at this stage, that is for
record. Black goes into the remote lead, not really necessary, but it could
help.

I usually play the cassette until I hear the leading tone, stop it (or pause
it), then instruct it to load from cassette, all the way to the "Press Play
then enter", hit enter here, then unpause or press play.

I've tried again and again, adjusted tone and volume settings many
times(and tried at least 10 times with the tone and volume set per
your instructions).  Every time it's giving me the same error.  I'm
definitely not hearing the noise from the tape player, it's coming
through the tv speakers. I've tried it with just the white wire
plugged in the recorder, and with the white and red-no change. I tried
2 different cords from the tape to the TI(one came with the tape
recorder, other with the computer), I've tried eliminating any
interference that may be screwing with the signal.  Still nothing!
I'm pretty sure it's not the tape, as the tape is new.  Is there a
possibility the jack where I plug the tape recorder(back of console,
next to power plug) to the TI is bad?  I'll keep playing around with
it in the meantime.  Any other ideas?

I suppose there is a chance, but the fact that you are hearing it
through the tv speaker is a good sign. But this is a "pass-through"
the sound chip, and if your TMS9901 chip is bad, then the TI may not
"hear" it.

Have you tried saving a small program to another cassette tape (using
the red plug) and then having it check it? This is an option when
saving to CS1.

Also try it at full blast. You should get "Error reading data" instead
of "No Data Found". Do you have another player? Turn the tone knob all
the way up. Play with these controls without it connected and make
sure it gets loud and the tone control changes the pitch.

I actually got it to work on another non-TI cassette player!  I
noticed when i put a music cassette in my non-TI casette player it
played fine, but when i put it in the TI cassette player, it had a
loud buzzing sound that drowned out the music.  I figured that might
be the reason the program wasn't getting through.  So I tried my non-
TI cassette deck with the volume up, and after a number of
unsuccessful attempts, I actually got it to work!  I guess my next
question then is: can I fix the TI cassette player to work properly?
Any ideas what would have caused the problem with the cassette
player?  I bought it 'new', it really looks as though it had never
been used.  I tried cleaning the head with a q-tip and isopropyl
alcohol, but it didn't seem to make any difference.  Thanks for all
your help, there aren't many places I can find info on this stuff.

Can't help with the cassette player... I had a TI cassette player that
I used for only a year, brand new, before it stopped working - and
another new in box where all the keys froze after just a couple of
uses.

I bought a new player from Walmart a couple years ago, and they still
had them a couple months ago. You don't need a TI brand, it wasn't
special, just a re-badged GE Data recorder. Which the one I had (GE)
had a light on it to correspond to the sound. You might see a little
plug on the top of yours where the LED should've been. That is what
mine had.

Glad to know it worked. Enjoy that game, it is terrific. And Merry
Christmas or Happy Holidays, take your pick!

Thanks for the info, I'll look into one of the recorders you
mentioned. I still have one last problem though, this one specific to
Tunnels of Doom. I figure I could start another thread, but I thought
I'd ask you first. I can get the game to start now, and it will begin
a game of Pennies and Prizes. I can't get it to play Quest for the
King though. Is one game on one side of the tape, and the other game
on the other side? I just can't seem to figure it out. Thanks for
all your help, and have a Merry Christmas!

Trevor
.

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