New User with a Falcon problem.

[3dokid]

I have a couple of Falcon's. One is a thing of beauty, one is turning into a bit of a pig.

On boot the screen is completely white. RGB mode, VGA, etc., all the same.

Now, I'm not really sure what I'm doing, so I've checked and replaced RAM, upgraded TOS to 4.0.4, reseated the socketed chips and bought a diagnostic cart. At one point I suspected the NVRAM and tried to reset it via the magic keypress or a boot floppy. However, the floppy, either a traditional FDD or HxC floppy never initiate or tries to load.

So, it still has a white screen. (imagine the usual Atari ST/Falcon white screen that appears just before the Atari Logo shows up!)

The diagnostic card reports, when I run the Short Blitter test:

"EA Address Error" Address error. Tried to read an instruction from an odd address or read or write
word or long word at an odd address. Usually, this error is preceded by a bus error or bad instruction fetch. (this didn't help)

Testing Blitter
EA Address Error Access Address: 01FFA8 Program Counter: FA3F08
EA Address Error Access Address: 01FFB2 Program Counter: FA3F08

Note: By default, the blitter seems set to off. Is this right?

Using the EXXOS Falcon Diagnostic Card:

"D" Diagnostic Field Service Menu --> "E" Examine/Modify System -->"C" system controls

E = Blitter Disabled(?)

Any insight would be greatly received.

[exxos]

The blitter can't be turned off on the Falcon. If thats showing as a fault, then it suggested to me the combel may be faulty (think the combel includes the blitter but not 100% sure)

[3dokid]

Thank you. A Google search suggests the Combel does contain the Blitter. The Combel does not strike me as a chip that is easily replaced. :lol:

What do you think is the best course of action?

Combel.jpg

[exxos]

What do you think is the best course of action?

Unless someone else has any better ideas, I guess you need to send your board off to someone who can replace it for you.

[3dokid]

Are there any recommendations for people that do this kind of work?

I really appreciate the help by the way. :)

[exxos]

You don't mention where in the world you are, but in the UK I use this company. http://ekey-solutions.com/index.html

[3dokid]

I'm in the UK, too. Cambridge. :) (Although originally from Burton Upon Trent)

[exxos]

I'm in the UK, too. Cambridge. :) (Although originally from Burton Upon Trent)

Used to work in Burton, wetmore road , Rank Leisure Machine services.

[3dokid]

I know Wetmore road and remember Rank Leisure Machine services. I went to Burton Tech College back in 1987, worked for 'Swad' Council and was born in Barton Under Needwood. Small world :D

[exxos]

I know Wetmore road and remember Rank Leisure Machine services. I went to Burton Tech College back in 1987, worked for 'Swad' Council and was born in Barton Under Needwood. Small world :D

Yeah, I was one of the last years at burton Itec. Yeah after me it shut down :( be around 1994 I think.