Big Buck Hunter Pro "Connect I/O Board" error

[Now get brutal]

First time arcade owner, so I'm still learning how these operate. Does anyone have some insight for how to correct this error on Big Buck Hunter Pro?

I replaced the CR2032 battery on the mobo and updated the BIOS per the manual. (With the exception of "advanced chip set features > PMU > CPU frequency" as I could not locate it.

All fans run, and the dongle lights up on the computer. I/O board has 6 red lights on, two of which toggle back and forth.

I was reading it could be due to a bad/weak power supply, and that the watchdog adapter harness might be the culprit?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Now get brutal]

Update - I was able to locate "Advanced chip set features > PMU > CPU frequency" but it was located under the "Performance Booster Zone" heading. The preset values were correct and did not need to be altered.

I was told to make sure Com1 (3F8) was selected as the serial port - I believe I have this correct by default settings (picture attached)

Picture of I/O board attached for review by anyone who might notice something off/out of place.

I will be swapping out cables tonight and doing a pin out test to rule out faulty cables and will advise.

 

[fr4nk]

Obviously, I/O has power, hmm... Check what the +5V and +12V are at. I see FSP aka Sparkle Power supply, they're pretty good (but could be old). Try unplugging the guns, especially if +5V is low.

This game should run off the onboard video, remove the video card and set the video RAM to the lowest setting in BIOS (16MB?)

 

[Now get brutal]

Obviously, I/O has power, hmm... Check what the +5V and +12V are at. I see FSP aka Sparkle Power supply, they're pretty good (but could be old). Try unplugging the guns, especially if +5V is low.

This game should run off the onboard video, remove the video card and set the video RAM to the lowest setting in BIOS (16MB?)

Thanks @fr4nk

5.1V and 12.28V are what I show. I'll unplug the guns tonight and try again. Will advise. What is your though behind this?

RAM is set to 16M per the BIOS Procedure listed in the manual (Advanced Chipset Features > Frame Buffer) Currently installed is 2 GB of RAM, if that matters.

 

[fr4nk]

(removed)

 

[Now get brutal]

So, DC voltages are perfect. If there is a short in a gun or its wiring, that can drag the +5V down and/or make the I/O board act up.

2GB RAM should be OK, I usually use 1GB.

Thank you

Any advise on where to go from here, after swapping out some of the DB9 cables?

 

[fr4nk]

So, DC voltages are perfect. You have to measure the DC with a multimeter at the I/O board. If there is a short in a gun or its wiring, that can drag the +5V down and/or make the I/O board act up.

2GB RAM should be OK, I usually use 1GB.

 

[Now get brutal]

So, DC voltages are perfect. You have to measure the DC with a multimeter at the I/O board. If there is a short in a gun or its wiring, that can drag the +5V down and/or make the I/O board act up.

2GB RAM should be OK, I usually use 1GB.

Where would I measure this specifically on the board? Sorry for all the questions, I'm still trying to learn my around this machine.

*Update*

Booted up without guns plugged into the I/O board. Same Connect I/O board error. Cables swapped as well, with no change.

 

[fr4nk]

I'm guessing the power is fine, but you can meter it right on those empty pads on the I/O, where they could have put a 4-pin Molex connector like on your HDD or CD-ROM.

Did you remove the video card and go with the onboard video? That's what it's designed for and weird things can happen when the game software doesn't have the correct drivers... Hard to tell from the pictures but your motherboard appears to be a supported one (N68S+?)

 

[Now get brutal]

Update

I/O board metered fine, thanks for the instructions fr4nk!

I brought the I/O board and computer to a local arcade owner to test out additionally. I/O board checks out again and operators intended.

His testing and assumption is the original PC is bad. His recommendation would be to purchase a working Dell OptiPlex 740 off from ebay to replace that whole computer, and "those original computers were not very reliable." He then instructed me to just buy the latest Big Buck Hunter pro disc from Raw Thrills and load the software on the OptiPlex 740 and I should be good to go.

Any advice on what I need to look for in a new PC?

I also don't see Raw Thrills selling new, or new old stock of BBHP discs online. Am I missing these?

TLDR
I need a new OptiPlex 740 PC and BBHP software disc. Any advice on what and where to buy.

Thanks!

 

[fr4nk]

I think all the information you need is already on these forums, but I'll continue to reply here in case it can help others in the future.

The boxy generic-case PC you have is referred to as a Microtel (the PC case manufacturer?). Saying "the original PCs were not reliable" is vague, as the games were made with and can run on many different motherboards, and yes, they are all getting old at this point. So are Dell Optiplex 740s! In these games, I've replaced motherboard capacitors, replaced several "Microtel" motherboards, and replaced several Optiplex 740 motherboards... along with power supplies (Dell's is a custom shape!) At least this game runs on onboard video; when the video card dies in other Raw Thrills games, it's either off to eBay to find an old card that still works, or pay RT several hundred dollars for an new-old-stock video card that they have been hoarding. It's old parts no matter which way you go! The software runs on twenty-years-old Linux, so there aren't drivers to support new hardware.

Installing an Optiplex 740 is not a simple "swap it, install software, and you are done." The way these games are designed, the PC powers all DC circuitry using one of two custom power harnesses; 8-pin for Dells, and the 5-pin one that you have. I don't know if Raw Thrills sells just the power harness... You could wire up a power supply just for the I/O board, or make your own harness using an ATX extension cable. Either way, if you make a mistake in the wiring, the PC or I/O could fry.

You've narrowed the problem down to the serial port on your motherboard not working. I would simply replace the motherboard and you may need to run the restore disc. I'm reposting here an official list of PC parts used in Raw Thrills games for you, BBHP on last page.

 

[fr4nk]

Personally, I've seen too many weird issues with the Asrock N68S-GS FX in these and other machines (Arachnid dartboards) so I would go with a MCP6P-M2+ or N68S+. Not sure what a MB-MCP+ is. These parts seem to be getting hoarded for arcade repair now, along with Optiplex 740, which you used to be able to purchase by the pallet-full...

There are too many "older" PC issues to cover here, when so much in the restore disc is hard-coded... For example, I think you can use a SATA HDD when your IDE one dies, but you can't use a USB or SATA DVD-ROM for the restore (except SATA works in the Optiplex 740s?). Hopefully your IDE CD/DVD-ROM drive is still good, set your master/slave jumpers correctly (am I still allowed to use those terms?). I've seen when a brand-new SATA HDD comes GPT-formatted and the restore disc goes through the whole process but then the game won't boot, until the HDD is MBR-formatted and the restore disc run again.

 

[Now get brutal]

I think all the information you need is already on these forums, but I'll continue to reply here in case it can help others in the future.

The boxy generic-case PC you have is referred to as a Microtel (the PC case manufacturer?). Saying "the original PCs were not reliable" is vague, as the games were made with and can run on many different motherboards, and yes, they are all getting old at this point. So are Dell Optiplex 740s! In these games, I've replaced motherboard capacitors, replaced several "Microtel" motherboards, and replaced several Optiplex 740 motherboards... along with power supplies (Dell's is a custom shape!) At least this game runs on onboard video; when the video card dies in other Raw Thrills games, it's either off to eBay to find an old card that still works, or pay RT several hundred dollars for an new-old-stock video card that they have been hoarding. It's old parts no matter which way you go! The software runs on twenty-years-old Linux, so there aren't drivers to support new hardware.

Installing an Optiplex 740 is not a simple "swap it, install software, and you are done." The way these games are designed, the PC powers all DC circuitry using one of two custom power harnesses; 8-pin for Dells, and the 5-pin one that you have. I don't know if Raw Thrills sells just the power harness... You could wire up a power supply just for the I/O board, or make your own harness using an ATX extension cable. Either way, if you make a mistake in the wiring, the PC or I/O could fry.

You've narrowed the problem down to the serial port on your motherboard not working. I would simply replace the motherboard and you may need to run the restore disc. I'm reposting here an official list of PC parts used in Raw Thrills games for you, BBHP on last page.

Not all heroes wear capes, but you sir, should! Thank you! Guess I'm off to hunt for a motherboard.

 

[jetusenet]

Was this ever resolved?

I am having an issue with a "new" Biostar MCP6P M2+ that seems to have lost it's serial port........