Expert: Gregory Donner - 10/12/2006

Question
It seems I misspoke yesterday. The problem appears to be quite different than I explained it. Here's where I'm at now:The screen color is not green as I said it was. I was using an RF adapter with the A520 yesterday, and apparently the RF adapter is not working, as the screen is actually black when I use AV cables with the 520. I get no video whatsoever. However, what I have found is that when I insert a floppy disk, the green floppy light comes on, and you can hear the floppy making noise, as ifto read the disk. 5-10 seconds after the floppy starts spinning, the red power light comes on. It stays like this for a minute or two, then the red power light goes off for a couple of seconds, then back on again for a couple of seconds, then back off again, this time staying off. The floppy light, however, remains on.

Do you still suspect the Kickstart or the Agnus, or could the problem be something else? Thanks very much for all your help!
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Followup To

Question -
I have replaced both the Kickstart ROM and the Agnus chip and now the power light does not come on at all. However, the Caps Lock key lights up red, so I know that there is power going to the system. Also, instead of green, the screen is now black. Should I still be concerned with the Kickstart and the Agnus, or is there something else I should look at now?
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Followup To

Question -
I just purchased an A500 from EBay. I recevied said system today, and have it plugged into my televison via the A520 modulator. when I turn the power on, the power light on the system flashes red, and the screen is a solid green. any idea what the problem could be? I suspect either the Kickstart ROM or the Agnus chip, but I'm not sure, as it's been some time since I last owned an Amiga, and as such I'm not as well versed as I used to be with Amiga's.

Answer -
Hi Gary,

Your guess as to what may be wrong with your Amiga 500 is correct--it sounds like either faulty Chip RAM or the Agnus chip (you may want to check to ensure the Agnus is fully seated in its socket).

A full explanation of the Amiga's startup colors can be found at the following Newtek page:

http://www.newtek.com/support/tech/faqs/amiga/vtf/system/colors.htm

The only source of hardware repair for Amigas I know of is Software Hut in Pennyslvania (though it's been a long time since I've interacted with them, so I don't know where they still stand on that):

http://www.softhut.com

I hope this helps! If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Regards,

Greg

Answer -
Hi Gary,

Seeing as the power light does not come on at all, I'm not sure what the source of the problem is. :( I don't know what step to take next, other than looking at eBay once again. The cost of paying someone to troubleshoot your hardware problem, although possible, may well be more than the cost of another Amiga 500 from eBay.

The biggest problem with Amiga hardware and software is--in my opinion--largely its age; all of it is at least 12 years old (1994), some 20 years old (1986). Both floppy disks and main hardware itself is suffering from age if not from use over so many years. If you do decide to buy another Amiga 500 from eBay, ensure that you're buying from someone with excellent feedback, and ask them about return policies in the event that it doesn't work on arrival.

I hope this helps,

Greg

Answer
Hi Gary,

Without the video working (and giving you a colored screen diagnosis as to what's wrong) it's hard to know where the fault is. I doubt the problem is with the Kickstart chip, seeing as the system is intact enough to check the floppy drive for a diskette (and apparently attempt loading it). It could be several things, but it appears it's serious enough that it would need a tech person to resolve it. I say this, because the behavior of the power LED is unlike any problem I've heard of--it's definitely not a "guru meditation error"--which is characterized by an on/off blinking, followed by staying on afterwards. The fact that the power LED actually goes *off* is what bothers me.

In the short-term you could try finding a working RF adapter, and see what the video is doing/hopefully telling you, but in the long-term, I still think it's going to be cheaper to just buy another Amiga 500.

I hope this helps!

Greg