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einSDein troubleshooting

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 12:50 pm
by Lardo Boffin
Not necessarily related to my keyboard but more likely the general instability of my tatty I am having troubles with the einsDein.

Sometimes when I switch on I get this:
C1C4B4AD-C8C7-4867-A3C3-213F8FFB2019.jpeg
C1C4B4AD-C8C7-4867-A3C3-213F8FFB2019.jpeg (2.39 MiB) Viewed 13848 times

Sometimes when I get a no discs in drive 2 or 3 error:
CFD085AE-A6B8-48F9-B8A5-C4DCC2E40299.jpeg
CFD085AE-A6B8-48F9-B8A5-C4DCC2E40299.jpeg (3.4 MiB) Viewed 13848 times
Sometimes it works and does DIR (keyboard permitting) and then fails:

85ADFA61-A291-4850-98F0-3BA851243971.jpeg
85ADFA61-A291-4850-98F0-3BA851243971.jpeg (3.03 MiB) Viewed 13848 times

I have cleaned the PIPE pins a couple of times.

So presumably it either doesn’t like the SD card or my flaky tatty?

Re: Keyboard troubles

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 2:18 pm
by vanpeebles
I get this too, I reckon my Tatty is well flakey :(

Re: Keyboard troubles

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:59 pm
by sirmorris
It looks remarkably like the symptoms that Mr. vanpeebles has been seeing. It'll be interesting to see how his z80 transplant goes. I don't think this is an SD card issue. If you're worried that it's a defective board then I'll be happy to re-test it for you. I don't think it is though, as I had vanpeeble's board back for testing and it checked out fine :? Out of curiosity is your einsdein ROM an EEPROM (no window) type or a regular EPROM?

Re: Keyboard troubles

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 7:37 am
by vanpeebles
sirmorris wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:59 pm It looks remarkably like the symptoms that Mr. vanpeebles has been seeing. It'll be interesting to see how his z80 transplant goes. I don't think this is an SD card issue. If you're worried that it's a defective board then I'll be happy to re-test it for you. I don't think it is though, as I had vanpeeble's board back for testing and it checked out fine :? Out of curiosity is your einsdein ROM an EEPROM (no window) type or a regular EPROM?
What would be the best replacement z80 to buy? :)

Re: Keyboard troubles

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 7:41 am
by Lardo Boffin
sirmorris wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:59 pm It looks remarkably like the symptoms that Mr. vanpeebles has been seeing. It'll be interesting to see how his z80 transplant goes. I don't think this is an SD card issue. If you're worried that it's a defective board then I'll be happy to re-test it for you. I don't think it is though, as I had vanpeeble's board back for testing and it checked out fine :? Out of curiosity is your einsdein ROM an EEPROM (no window) type or a regular EPROM?
I doubt it is the board as well.

Mine has an EPROM I believe (with a little bit of sticker covering the window).

When the keyboard works I can load some games (depending on the file name / keys working at the time) from floppy disc and they happily run.

Could it be a similar issue to Spectrums and the Z80 where stuff like the DIVMMC doesn’t work?

Re: Keyboard troubles

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 7:43 am
by Lardo Boffin
I get Z80s from here for Spectrums and ZX81s but not sure if they will work at 4MHz?

https://www.retroleum.co.uk/zx-spectrum-chips

Edit - I think Pokemon used to sell 8MHz Z80s on Sell My Retro.

Re: Keyboard troubles

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 9:40 am
by vanpeebles
Good place that, he sourced my Tatung replacement ram. I wonder if the new zilog made z80 would be best?

Re: Keyboard troubles

Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 11:46 am
by vanpeebles
Tried sd setup in new tatung, worked perfect first time, then fell over ever since, doing the same no drive, which drive :(

Re: Keyboard troubles

Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 11:50 am
by vanpeebles
No hex errors like first tc01, just endless no drive, which drive, indentical to lardo.

einSDein troubleshooting

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 9:06 am
by sirmorris
I'll keep updating this first post with any relevant information that comes to light regarding issues with einSDein.

When reporting an issue it would help if certain information was provided.
  • OS ROM version
  • einSDein ROM type (EPROM with window, EEPROM without)
  • SD card brand/size
  • A short precis of the symptoms experienced