Galaga problems

Robotron Jon

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The game is freezing up occassionally between rounds. There is also an intermittent problem between levels when the level indicator starts appearing over and over again in a straight line upwards and making the "next level" sound over and over again.

Any ideas? I have the high score save kit installed. Haven't had a problem with the game for about two years.

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you.
 
Intermittent problems on those Galaga boards are a bitch to track down.

They generally fall into 4 categories:

1. Power problems - dirty or wrong voltage level
2. Dirty chip legs - clean them
3. Bad sockets - replace them. (I replace ALL 24 pin and greater sockets for reliability reasons)
4. Broken resistor packs - replace them. (I replace ALL resistor packs if they are the thin film, non epoxy potted types for reliability reasons)

Now, you could have a bad RAM or CPU cause this but it's far less likely than one of the 4 listed above.

RJ
 
Your post screams RAM troubles to me; I like the two chip mod for reliability.

Arcadeshop has a write-up on their site under the "Galaga Information" along with pics of one way to sub resistor packs.
 
Only pull those custom ICs out if you absolutely have to!!! The legs on those are so brittle and repairing them can be a real pain if a leg breaks high up. I'd check your +5v first and then take it from there. Also, you only need to clean the inner side of the legs as those stock sockets aren't dual-wipe.

- Mike
 
Only pull those custom ICs out if you absolutely have to!!! The legs on those are so brittle and repairing them can be a real pain if a leg breaks high up. I'd check your +5v first and then take it from there. Also, you only need to clean the inner side of the legs as those stock sockets aren't dual-wipe.

- Mike

For the innerside of the legs (where I can't get a wire brush) I have a thin piece of wood (think chopstick) and I rub the legs against that... cleans them up nicely, then a little dielectric grease on the legs and in the sockets to keep it from happening again (or atleast slowing it down A LOT).

But, since my Galaga is still screwing up (still haven't ordered new RAM)... I'd take pretty much anything I say with a grain of salt until I post picks of the thing working.
 
I fired it up tonight and it froze once but then was playable after turning it off and then on again. I noticed some pulsing on the screen before it froze and the score was definitely pulsing a bit (getting dim).

Does this help diagnose the problem?

Haven't tested the power yet. Will try over the weekend.
 
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