Re: 486 Build Troubles
Posted on 2021-10-11, 19:48
Check your memory. And the jumpers. May we learn the make and model of the card? Also, get a POST diagnostic card. It's only 5-10$ and it pays off big time.
Re: What would you guys recommend to use for my situation?
Posted on 2021-10-01, 07:50
Not really my field of expertise as I don't have any Roland devices, but have you perhaps stubmbled upon LGR's MIDI Mountain videos or Tech Tangents's 486 build video? They both have a "multi-device" solution and you could pick up a tip or two from them.
Re: Saving a PowerVR card
Posted on 2021-10-01, 07:47
I'd check for lifted pins on that chip. They might not seem like they would be lifted, but they could. You could try sliding in a thin piece of paper under the legs to check that. Otherwise as users above - straighten out the pins while exercising extra care. And don't be worried about your …
Re: Packard Bell Master CD - Skipping the hardware check.
Posted on 2021-08-20, 13:19
To be honest it's been a while since I last dabbled in this and would need to refresh my memory, what did what etc. I'll burn the UK Master CD and check it myself, then let ya know what it did. Come next weekend I'll sit down to it when I come home from holidays, then we can do a Discord or just …
Re: Packard Bell Master CD - Skipping the hardware check.
Posted on 2021-08-17, 06:42
Bumping an older thread in hopes anyone can help here: I have a PB Multimedia with a PB 640 motherboard, issue is that I don't have the original CD Drive. Seems to have original sound card etc and for the purposes of at least restoring I removed any upgrades like my Voodoo 1 and the extra RAM ( …
Re: ESS sound card with 2MB wavetable chip - work in progress
Posted on 2021-08-08, 11:57
1. Yeah, those BTC cards without wavetable parts are relatively common, definitely more common than those without it. I currently two or three in my possession and had several chances to buy more. I'll keep an eye on them and try to grab one. That's odd - the only "empty" type of boards I've ever …
Re: Got an old Computer - can I rescue it?
Posted on 2021-08-08, 11:34
I've also heard about rust converter, however never thought of using it on acid leaks. Some folks also use PCB etchant to clean the board off of oxidation/corrosion. Personally I wouldn't try that and rather scrape the rest off with a fiberglass pen or an X-Acto knife. OP, perhaps someone more …
Re: Got an old Computer - can I rescue it?
Posted on 2021-08-07, 03:13
Those traces don't look too bad honestly - you should be able to restore the connection using just solder. If not, a piece of wire will easily stick to such wide traces. You might want to take a look what's under that quartz - btw, are you able to make out the writing and see what MHz is it?
Re: Got an old Computer - can I rescue it?
Posted on 2021-08-06, 02:28
Very true. It looks like an easy project (find trace solder joints, solder a wire to them) but it's quite difficult when the damage is extensive. Soldering a multi layer PCB is not a beginner's task and removing chips&connectors require proper tools. I'd just buy a working socket 3 board with a …
Re: Boards with NiCad batteries (sad times)
Posted on 2021-08-06, 02:19
Wire up a breadboard for the existing battery so that you can put some tape on the bottom side and safely put it somewhere in the case. Check this: http://minuszerodegrees.net/battery/cmos/vintage_motherboard_batteries.htm It's also an informative source. You should have little problem figuring out …
Re: ESS sound card with 2MB wavetable chip - work in progress
Posted on 2021-08-05, 19:27
Count me interested. I've just grabbed a ES981P card in a bad state, since it's going to be a bit of a Frankenstein once I fix it I'd be interested in testing stuff out if you need a volunteer. Mine's identical PCB-wise, with slight differences - the BTC logo is nowhere to be found, the 1853/1855/ …
Re: Got an old Computer - can I rescue it?
Posted on 2021-08-05, 19:20
dura-zell, a cool trick to help with removing corrosion is using the magic eraser rubber - you'll destroy it in the proces but its slightly abrasive qualities will work wonders on the more corroded "pits" that may be left behind. One ThinkPad motherboard I worked on in the past that had some …
Re: Boards with NiCad batteries (sad times)
Posted on 2021-08-05, 15:24
That's most definitely a Soyo board - they always had those "Energy Star" stickers on them. Q.C sticker with "SY" sticker confirms that thesis as a SOYO board that I have also contains such sticker. I'd be quick to say it's a SOYO SY-025G2 or similar 025 series board - but I'd definitely try to look …
Re: Boards with NiCad batteries (sad times)
Posted on 2021-08-05, 13:51
Cleaning is only one part of the process - as above said, you still have to assess and mitigate the damage caused. The board from pic #1 has one of the traces going from the keyboard port completely green - good work on fixing that. From my also limited experience, standard Sn60Pb40 solder is just …
Re: Got an old Computer - can I rescue it?
Posted on 2021-08-05, 13:39
The towel paper method, as dionb described above, works wonders for expansion slots, like that greenish ISA slot you have there. The traces look definitely as if the soldermask is eaten, could be even more. Traces like to corrode the most just before vias/holes - since the soldermask doesn't cover a …
Re: Testing the waters with a 486 - MS-4145 board repair
Posted on 2020-08-26, 13:21
Update, sort of. Didn't have enough time to work on the board - y'know, life gets in the way. Kinda shifted my focus on the project; hardly think that I'm going to use it for a build due to increasing concerns for the stability if I get this thing repaired. For now, all that matters is getting it to …
Re: Testing the waters with a 486 - MS-4145 board repair
Posted on 2020-05-22, 14:40
For that section it might work, for the stuff around your memory slots, not that much. It looks like you need to remove at least one more memory slot because the fluid went under. Mhm, I'm only thinking about the chip and resistor row as they're closely related. The rest I can do with some simple …
Re: Testing the waters with a 486 - MS-4145 board repair
Posted on 2020-05-22, 10:26
Well, got more stuff desoldered. The old, oxidized solder was SUCH a hassle... IMG_4157.JPG Luckily (or not) only 5 pads came off of the resistors - I expected more. The rest is happily nestled in place. There's a lot more damage to the traces, though - most of the LPT header's vias have no …
Re: Packard Bell Master CD - Skipping the hardware check.
Posted on 2020-05-20, 22:20
Hi, The image is downloaded and I’ve got Winimage. Would like to test it on vmware what are the steps? Thanks! You're gonna wanna convert the file to something like VHD or VHDX, and then just set it as the image for your VM. I haven't played with VM that much but I've heard that "raw" images often …
Re: Testing the waters with a 486 - MS-4145 board repair
Posted on 2020-05-15, 07:55
74HCT is also a possible replacement for 74F series; 74HC, not so much. Well... it really is black magic to me; only thing I can do is compare the ratings and they indeed seem almost identical, except the 74HCT04 has slower timing and slightly different H/L output voltage. I hope it doesn't pose …
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