Atari Mega STe 2.06 crashes when pressing ALT

[qq1975b]

Hi,

Once the thread about "Mega STe only boots in monochrome" is solved (and I don't know how because I couldn't start in colour mode and after trying some times, 4 days, it worked ) now the thread beared to another problem. That's why I prefer opening a new thread about it. Thanks to all Atari-Forum members that helped me

This is the new challenge :

I have an Atari Mega STe (4MB, 105 MB HD, 1.44 HD FD) that I recently adquired. It came with TOS 2.05 GER.

When I tried to start from a bootable disk (games) by pressing ALT to skip booting from HD, it went to GEM screen with A: and B: units but didn't start the game.
Then I upgraded to TOS 2.06 UK and when I press ALT, the system crashes and shows me 4 bombs. It crashes with or without disk in the disk drive. Just press ALT for a few seconds and crashes.
Uninstalled the Hard Drive and without pressing anything it boots from the HD FD well (but I didn't succeed in loading a game...all went to a flying bee or black screen with music . Is this normal in 2.06 TOS?)

@Zogging Hell (thank you for your interest!!!!) pointed to be caused by the HD FD (I have one and switch 7 is ON)... then I made some researches and I found the following (http://atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 8&start=25):

I have been looking about HD FD in Mega STe and I found that maybe is more complicated than I expected...
First I have to check if with in DD FD mode it crashes too. If it crashes...there is a different problem than the HD FD.
If it doesn't crash I should make a decision...or I stay in DD mode or go for the HD mode. First one is easy...the second one...As I read (can someone correct me if I am wrong, please?):
1.- See which kind of HD FD I have.
2.- Look on the right hand side of the mainboard and search for a socketed chip and if there is an old controller installed there is written "WD1772" onto it. If there is C303096-001 or C302434-001 written onto it I already have an AJAX chip. Is there any difference between this two AJAX chips?
3.- There seems that is another needed mod (http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/10 ... ge__st__25) :

Please check if there is a connection between pin32 of U7 (MC68000) to pin19 of UA02 (PAL20L8). If not you have to solder a little wire between those two pins.

Then check if you have TIBPAL C301901-002 (the same UA02 as above) installed. If you have an old C301901-001 you have to replace that chip. Otherwise HD will NEVER work. Please check Best Electronics if they have this PAL.

I don't understand this part

I don't have any chip installed in UA02 because I don't have a coprocessor...(but I will ) . Which one do I have to install (I mean in the UA02)?? Is it necessary to do those solderings? I understood that C301901-002 is the one I have to plug in the UA02 socket...is it correct?

That's all...any ideas???

Thank you!!!

[Official Ninja]

Sounds like bad floppys.

Can you format a disk so that it is blank and then boot with that disk, holding ALT?
It should just boot to GEM desktop with A and B icons,but if it works, it is what is on the floppy disks that are causing the crash. Or of course the floppy disks just being bad.

[qq1975b]

I will try. But, for the tests I made...with or without disk in disk drive, when I press ALT, crashes.

[qq1975b]

I have looked to the motherboard and I saw that it has the correct AJAX Disk controller, the correct PAL chip and switch 7 is ON too. But, disk in it or without disk, when I press ALT it crashes.

Any help on this????

thank you.

[DarkLord]

I'll be honest with you - that doesn't make a bit of sense to me why its
doing that....

I hope someone else can step up and help you.

[MrMaddog]

If worse comes to worse, use DC_BOOT to load game disks from the desktop. I used that when I had a HD with my STe...ok, I didn't know about using the ALT key at the time.

[ralcool]

Maybe this will help?

http://www.cafepress.com/atari_st_bombs

Just who thought to go and make those...

, but seriously)....

4 bombs, Illegal Instruction. Hmm.

Seems odd, I should check your other thread... but do you have only the one set of 2.06 ROMs to try?

Have you tried removing and reseating the ROMs to be sure everything is contacting correctly.? There are 64pins looking for a good connection in an old pair of sockets.

It is puzzling... Do we know if those roms are ok?.. Have they been tested or used in another machine?

Some ideas for yer.

ST.

[Shredder11]

Maybe this will help?

http://www.cafepress.com/atari_st_bombs

Just who thought to go and make those...

, but seriously)....

4 bombs, Illegal Instruction. Hmm.

I suppose our American friends would say, "they're da bomb!"

[qq1975b]

Mmmm...I tried with the 2.05 German TOS that it came with. When I press ALT no crash, it skips hard disk and goes to GEM with Disk A and Disk B only, without autobooting from floppy disk.

Maybe when we make our own EEPROMS I would be able to solve this

[1024MAK]

From the other thread (Atari Mega STE boots only in monochrome)
With German TOS 2.05 ROMs

I didn't suceeded
Control: nothing happens....boots from HD
Alternate: goes to GEM but only with A and B

After fitting TOS 2.06 ROMs

I just upgraded it to a TOS 2.06 UK and now Control works fine but Alternate shows me 4 bombs...somebody knows why?

and

I tried EXOLON game. With TOS 2.05 GER it worked well. No autoboot pressing ALTERNATE but in GEM and going to the Auto folder and executing the .prg it worked. Now, with 2.06 UK if I press ALTERNATE, it crashes with 4 bombs before going to GEM.

plus

With any floppy disk (with or without autoboot), ALT key shows me 4 bombs. Without disk it shows them too .
I disconnected the HD and then it boots from FD initializing autoboot without problems but if I reset it and press ALT, then 4 bombs again....What could it be?

It sounds like the problem is an error in the TOS 2.06 ROMs.
Try putting the TOS 2.05 ROMs back in and see if you get the same results as earlier.
Then put the TOS 2.06 ROMs back in and repeat the tests.
Doing this should help determine if it is the machine, the ROM sockets or the ROMs.
It is most unlikely to be the FDD or the FDD chip.

Mark

[Dal]

I seem to remember having similar issues with my mste when I first got it.

I unplug the internal hard drive from the motherboard and booting from floppy works fine. With the hard drive connected (or even just having the internal SCSI controller connected, I got 4 bombs when booting from floppy.

I ended up disconnecting the internal SCSI controller and just using the UltraSatan. No more bombs.

[qq1975b]

Thank you. I will try the reccomendations.

If they don't work...I think I will have to follow Dal post...when I unplugged SCSI HD it worked (booted from FD with an autoboot disk - game) but pressing ALT it crashed as always.

I will fit 2.05 GER TOS and 2.06 UK again...and let's see what happens.

thanks

[qq1975b]

Finally I had to follow Dal reccomendation...I changed TOS roms and it continues crashing

So strange...

[Dal]

Just a thought, what TOS 2.06 ROM image did you use? There's a modified version out there (with some eye-candy improvements) that can be a bit troublesome.

[qq1975b]

I tried 2.06 US and 2.06 UK. With another MegaSTe I got, it doesn't crash, boots to GEM showing A and B drive (but doesn't autoboot from floppy disk). This one, it crashes with 4 bombs

Quite strange

[1024MAK]

Have you tried swapping keyboards?

[stab in the dark fault finding]
Based on it not being the TOS ROM, it must be either a socket problem, a chip on the board, the PCB board, the keyboard or a connector (and I am assuming the PSU is good).
[/stab in the dark fault finding]

Mark

[wongck]

Apologies if someone already mentioned this.... 1st time reading this thread.

When I tried to start from a bootable disk (games) by pressing ALT to skip booting from HD, it went to GEM screen with A: and B: units but didn't start the game.

This is a normal behavior, no?
Look at the AF Wiki on Tos 2.06 user guide.
But I am sure this is no your problem here.

Then I upgraded to TOS 2.06 UK and when I press ALT, the system crashes and shows me 4 bombs. It crashes with or without disk in the disk drive. Just press ALT for a few seconds and crashes.

This is your real problem.

So pressing the ALT crashes the system during bootup?
Have you disconnected everything yet and try?
Disconnect the hard disk as well as the floppy and try.

[wongck]

Remember, when you remove the HDD and Floppy drive, the desktop will still appear without any floppy icons (because it cannot find it).
It will take a long time... may be 3-5 mins ( I don't know as I did not time it ) before the desktop will appear.
So take a book/magazine to read while keeping that ALT key pressed.

[qq1975b]

All disconnected...when I press Alt, system shows 4 bombs.

[DarkLord]

Another way out there thought, try a different keyboard?

[wongck]

Yeap, looks like your HDD and FDD are not the culprit so it is something in your motherboard.
I would try to remove as much as possible from the mother board and try.
I am not sure but may be try to remove that SCSi-ASCI card and see if that helps.
Also if you have RAM card, try to get it to a minimum... I don't know what is the min ram it can go to.
( on the TT it is 2 MB, may the same for MSTE ).

[qq1975b]

I swapped keyboards and does the same.

I will try swapping SCSI cards....

[wongck]

you don't really need to swap. Just remove it and try ALT on reboot.
Anyway, good luck.

[qq1975b]

I think I need a terminator if I remove it

[wongck]

I think I need a terminator if I remove it

Only if your HDD is connected to it. Should be OK as there is nothing for the signal to bounce at.
But not too sure.