exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

Is the diag cart plug and play? My atari ste boots up fine without it plugged in but if I try it again the screen stays white and the cart feels red hot to the touch only after 10-20sec.

I assume my jumpers are set right for the ste, just wondering if there is a step I am missing. Do i need to boot from a floppy or is the software on the device?

Cart is plugged in with chips face down I assume this is right from looking around online.

Seems you have plugged it in upside down. I don't know if the cart will survive that.

exxos wrote: 17 Apr 2024 09:47 Seems you have plugged it in upside down. I don't know if the cart will survive that.

I tried it both ways same result unfortunatly I guess there is nothing else I can try.

You might have blown the motherboard fuse as well.. But 99% of the time it's bad contacts on the cartridge port. You need to wipe IPA on the cartridge connector, insert it several times, wipe with IPA again and repeat until it works. Those cartridge connectors are 40 years old now..

exxos wrote: 17 Apr 2024 10:04 You might have blown the motherboard fuse as well.. But 99% of the time it's bad contacts on the cartridge port. You need to wipe IPA on the cartridge connector, insert it several times, wipe with IPA again and repeat until it works. Those cartridge connectors are 40 years old now..

I am wondering if it is dirty connectors will try some ipa. So this board is chips up?

If you plug it in 'chips down' it'll definitely damage it. I don't know whether it's the ROM or something else on the board.

Steve wrote: 17 Apr 2024 11:46 If you plug it in 'chips down' it'll definitely damage it. I don't know whether it's the ROM or something else on the board.

Fair enough I have probably broken it. Didnt work either side up but the atari boots without it plugged in. Should really state which side up it goes as a lot of these cards go chip down from what I see. Is there a floppy based tool to run some diagnostics I am just wanting to test ram and keyboard really.

You can test RAM with this tool: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=28

For the keyboard I am not sure. You could load a text editor like QED and just type.

Groppo91 wrote: 17 Apr 2024 12:07

Steve wrote: 17 Apr 2024 11:46 If you plug it in 'chips down' it'll definitely damage it. I don't know whether it's the ROM or something else on the board.

Fair enough I have probably broken it. Didnt work either side up but the atari boots without it plugged in. Should really state which side up it goes as a lot of these cards go chip down from what I see. Is there a floppy based tool to run some diagnostics I am just wanting to test ram and keyboard really.

It's a bit late now, but it is a general convention that carts are chips up with the ST, I have several different diag carts and they all follow this convention.

It's the same for all the other carts I've used too, and matches the mainboard - chips up.

I'd suggest maybe the ROM is now fried, but it's probably worth cleaning the cartridge port and edge connector to see if it helps, possibly use some DeOxit or Electrolube contact cleaner to see if it helps.

I know it's a pain, but always ask if you're not sure, there are no stupid questions and nobody here will give you a hard time for not being sure, we've all been unsure about things from time to time, and no doubt we'll all have uncertainties in the future.