The IGS PGM thread

[colinmac]

Bit gutted today - my DDP2 cart seems to be fritzed.. just get a screen of patterns when the board boots.

If I remove the cart - the motherboard boots fine, but even reseating the cart a few times results in the same screen of pattern rather than a boot up.

Any suggestions? (It's almost one of my favourite games )

[pulstar]

Have you tried any other carts? Mine did that and it was the motherboard that was at fault and not the cart, so might be worth eliminating the MB if possible.

[emphatic]

Try flipping the small switch on the mobo and hold it for about 30 secs while powered off to clear the NVRAM.

[colinmac]

I'll clear the NVram .. but I don't have any other carts to try...

So even with a duff mobo, the bare mobo booted to diagnostics screens with music intro etc ?

[pulstar]

Sometimes. I've read other people had the block problem with a cart inserted but it would boot up fine without, same as mine did. I sold it on not so long after that because I had a spare mono so it could have been something simple like dirty contacts or the cart not making a proper connection or whatever but I didn't investigate it too much.

[Paulie]

**** knows what it could be if cleaning the contacts and clearing the NVram doesn't work.

but I don't have any other carts to try...

I could mail you one of my carts so at least you'd know if it's your cart or mobo that's faulty

[Johnnychaos]

I have one cart that always boots up as a patterned mess, but turn it off and then straight back on and it kicks into life.

[colinmac]

MM. I don't think it's dirty contacts - it's now been out and cleaned (and contacts are gold plated by the looks of em) about 30 times. Exactly the same result when I try a cart.

@Paulie - I'd appreciate that greatly if you could - scout's honour I'll get it straight back to you, but at least I'd know what I have to replace... Happy to cover your postage / courier costs if you let me know and how to pay.

PM you my address?

[RMRM]

Just to let you know that i had the exact same problem and it was the mobo, not the carts.

[colinmac]

Noted - was it repairable, or did you just look for a replacement ?

[Paulie]

No need to cover postage, glad to be able to help Just drop me your address mate.

[crunchywasp]

[DaveyD]

Does the motherboard have any corrosion from battery leakage?

[colinmac]

Not that I could see - first thing I wondered too - but I'll remove the casings tonight and thoroughly check the PCB tracks etc.

[colinmac]

My handy contact across the road has effected a repair (yahoo!) of the board.

It needed cleaned of gunk from the battery - and I also notice he has added a link on the underside of the PCB. I wasn't here when he handed it back in - but I'll ask him what/why the link was for when I see him next.

Good news though, I tested it with DDP2 and all is good (I love this game, so shoot me )

Paulie, I'll get your cart back in the next few days, ta!

[Paulie]

Glad you got it sorted buddy!

Haha, I like Beestorm too

No rush with returning the cart, if you fancy playing it a bit then go for it.

[swisstoni]

So do these motherboards work fine without a battery? Am I okay to just carefully snip the battery off with some cutters or is it recommended to unsolder?

[Paulie]

Yes they are fine without the battery, minus saving settings and high scores. I desoldered one of mine and have never got around to replacing it with a new one. Don't quote me but assume you can just snip the legs off neatly and leave it like that but I'd desolder it.

[colinmac]

Man.

Having got it back - which is great, of course - and now I'm over the drama about the actual hardware...

I'm grouchy now cos I've lost all my hiscores haha.

Deffo not great, but good by my standards. Guess I'll be starting again

Col.

[Moonwalker]

Hi guys, I got myself a PGM with Beestorm and one of the Knights of Valor games. Also have a Demon Front PCB.

There are sooo many KOV games, are they all their own games or just remixes like Met Slug 2 - X. Which ones are worth to get?

Thanks for the help.