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Booster V4sm problem

Help & information about the STE V1 series boosters.
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exxos
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by exxos »

You still haven't answered the previous questions viewtopic.php?p=137001#p137001

Also the 1712 shifter is know to cause problems also.
zfrenchy
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by zfrenchy »

exxos wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 11:49 pm You still haven't answered the previous questions viewtopic.php?p=137001#p137001

Also the 1712 shifter is know to cause problems also.
Not sure what specific question are you talking about, but here is my answers:
- yes U406 is the right 74F257
- yes the wire was re-routed above the PCB board, and following the black wire path in the installation tuto
- yes the reset capacitor got an increase value (piggy back C100 10MF with 22MF)
- the issue happen only while in 32Mhz mode, 8 Mhz mode has no issue booting

I received the DMA-Fix little board (thank you), should I install it ?
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exxos
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by exxos »

You can try it but I've never known it to cause not booting.. Possibe yes..

Does 32MHz start after pressing the reset switch?

Have you tried without the ROM wire?

Changed RP100 is 1.2k?
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by rubber_jonnie »

zfrenchy wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 10:19 pm I replaced the memory with this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/146732336055

and run the wire exactly as the tuto said

But still have issue with the booting
Just a small admin note, with ebay listings it's better to just get a screen shot and post that rather than a link to a listing which could dissappear at some point.

As for your issue a white screen is usually an indicator of a ROM issue. Have you also upgraded the ROM? If so you should make sure it's seated and the booster connection is good.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by zfrenchy »

exxos wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 5:49 am You can try it but I've never known it to cause not booting.. Possibe yes..

Does 32MHz start after pressing the reset switch?

Have you tried without the ROM wire?

Changed RP100 is 1.2k?
No, the 32Mhz mode do not start when reset
yes, P100 is 1.2k
zfrenchy
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by zfrenchy »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 8:28 am
zfrenchy wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 10:19 pm I replaced the memory with this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/146732336055

and run the wire exactly as the tuto said

But still have issue with the booting
Just a small admin note, with ebay listings it's better to just get a screen shot and post that rather than a link to a listing which could dissappear at some point.

As for your issue a white screen is usually an indicator of a ROM issue. Have you also upgraded the ROM? If so you should make sure it's seated and the booster connection is good.
yes, I have the FastROM Dual TOS from Exxos installed
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by zfrenchy »

I made 3 videos posted on youtube

https://youtu.be/SGjm2KsJk6s
Booting the STE at 9:18am: no issue
hard reset: no booting, black screen
OFF/ON: no booting, black screen

10 minutes later ...

https://youtu.be/Tuv-apnZ0hs
Booting at 9:30am: no issue
hard reset: no issue
soft reset: no issue
OFF/ON: no issue

10 minutes later ...

https://youtu.be/vir1co3xlWk
Booting at 9:43am: no issue
hard reset: no issue
OFF/ON: no booting, black screen
OFF, 8Mhz mode, ON: no issue
OFF, 32Mhz mode, ON: no booting, black screen
hard reset: no booting, black screen
soft reset: no booting, black screen
OFF, 8Mhz mode, ON: no issue

I don't understand ?!
May be a faulty capacitor ? I did recapped all of it.
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by exxos »

I only know of shifter problems on the STE. The 1712 have issues, the original doesn't. So thats my only suggestion to try swapping the shifter for the original as its less problematic. Normally the video goes nuts first, later RAM issues. That's all I can suggest as I have not seen or documented any other faults on the STE yet.
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by zfrenchy »

I will install the DMA Fix board, and see ...
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Re: Booster V4sm problem

Post by zfrenchy »

I installed the DMA-Fix board, same issue, black screen sometime on 32Mhz mode, never on 8Mhz mode.

Then I removed the DMA-Fix board ...

Now I still have the same black screen issue on 32Mhz mode PLUS The TOS logo and RAM test never show up, whatever mode I am one or the way to reset the STE.

I don't care about the Atari logo and memory test not showing, make the boot faster, everything is working, so far in 8Mhz mode.

I removed the Boost board to check any issue with the PGA pin, nothing obvious there, did the same with the DualTOS board, nothing.
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