Atari XE game system
I recently bought an Atari XE game system. When I turn it on it goes right into self test. The result of the self-test is that the ROM 'slot' on the left is green (good) but the ROM 'slot' on the right is bad (red). All of the 48 RAM blocks show up as good. I get this same result every time I turn it on or reset it. I have tried starting the computer while holding 'Select' and the exact same thing happens. I am confident the power supply is good. I am actually using a 5V power supply for an Atari 800XL I have and it works for the XL just fine. I took the motherboard out of the case and can see no obvious damage (I am not an electronics or computer person by training however). I tried numerous games and none worked except one (see next paragraph). I know the games are good because they work on my XL. The one game that does work is Star Raiders. I saw something online about how this has some special testing (?) component but I do not understand the implication of this. I have the keyboard piece and it seems to work as I can use it to do various things when playing Star Raiders. But pressing the 'Help' button on the keyboard during the self test does nothing. I've left the computer on for maybe 15 minutes as it repeatedly goes through the self test and some of the chips get warm but not particularly hot. Can anyone help me get this to boot correctly and play other games? Thanks, David K
Oh man Atari 8bit stuff is cool AM I RIGHT friends!??!
Can anyone help me get this to boot correctly and play other games?
On the carts... try using something like deoxit on a qtip to wipe the contacts on a cart. While it's wet with deoxit, insert and remove it from the cart slot. It might just be that it's not making good contact so the games aren't executing properly. A pencil eraser might clean the cart side. Rubbing alcohol on a qtip is another thing but dunno if that would leave a coating. Deoxit is my go-to. It's a tid bit expensive and use it around open air or a fan. I have never owned an XE game system, but maybe it doesn't have a ROM BASIC for when there is no game. If one game works that is a pretty good sign. I had a huge pile of carts from a thrift store haul maaany years ago and pretty much none of them worked until I cleaned all of the contacts. Note, original atari carts require the insertion of two screwdrivers or similar to open the door and access the circuit board. I would try not to open the carts since that harms the label. - Ethan
99% isopropyl will leave little residue of consequence. I get it from Amazon. On Wed, Aug 19, 2020 at 12:59 PM Ethan O'Toole via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Oh man Atari 8bit stuff is cool AM I RIGHT friends!??!
Can anyone help me get this to boot correctly and play other games?
On the carts... try using something like deoxit on a qtip to wipe the
contacts on a cart. While it's wet with deoxit, insert and remove it from
the cart slot. It might just be that it's not making good contact so the
games aren't executing properly.
A pencil eraser might clean the cart side. Rubbing alcohol on a qtip is
another thing but dunno if that would leave a coating. Deoxit is my go-to.
It's a tid bit expensive and use it around open air or a fan.
I have never owned an XE game system, but maybe it doesn't have a ROM
BASIC for when there is no game. If one game works that is a pretty
good sign.
I had a huge pile of carts from a thrift store haul maaany years ago and
pretty much none of them worked until I cleaned all of the contacts.
Note, original atari carts require the insertion of two screwdrivers or
similar to open the door and access the circuit board. I would try not to
open the carts since that harms the label.
- Ethan
Well, I haven’t had many problems with Atari - yet. I have had a lot of problems with Sega Genesis cartridges and Nintendo cartridges. Cleaning is always a must with these cartridges anyway and I have used (last resort) CLR on a Q-tip to clean off any corrosion that may be on the Contacts. Be very careful Not to overuse it, it will take off the plating if left on too long. The hardest part about using the pencil eraser is that there may not be enough room to get at the proper angle on the contacts. Then you need to take apart the cartridge. My 3 cents By the way, CRC makes a very good cleaner. (QD electric contact cleaner) It is for electrical connections and is usually found in the automotive section of Lowe’s, Home Depot or even Harbor freight. Ranging from six dollars to nine dollars a can it is a very good cleaner does not harm plastic and it takes all kinds of crud off of electrical circuit boards, contacts and wiring, it works very very well. And is much cheaper than Chemtronics Electrosolve. Add 1 more cent. Mike R. Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.
On Aug 19, 2020, at 1:09 PM, Ethan O'Toole via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Oh man Atari 8bit stuff is cool AM I RIGHT friends!??!
Can anyone help me get this to boot correctly and play other games?
On the carts... try using something like deoxit on a qtip to wipe the contacts on a cart. While it's wet with deoxit, insert and remove it from the cart slot. It might just be that it's not making good contact so the games aren't executing properly.
A pencil eraser might clean the cart side. Rubbing alcohol on a qtip is another thing but dunno if that would leave a coating. Deoxit is my go-to. It's a tid bit expensive and use it around open air or a fan.
I have never owned an XE game system, but maybe it doesn't have a ROM BASIC for when there is no game. If one game works that is a pretty good sign.
I had a huge pile of carts from a thrift store haul maaany years ago and pretty much none of them worked until I cleaned all of the contacts.
Note, original atari carts require the insertion of two screwdrivers or similar to open the door and access the circuit board. I would try not to open the carts since that harms the label.
- Ethan
participants (4)
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David K -
Dean Notarnicola -
Ethan O'Toole -
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