Offroad Thunder Magic Bus Errors

killerbooger

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I recently got an offroad thunder. The game plays but there is no picture. This is a newer game than I normally mess with so I am a little out of my element on this one. I have installed a video converter to run an LCD monitor and that also does not work. I have read something about clamp settings but I cannot find anything in the manual about that so no idea how to check it. There are also two errors LEDs when the game boots: Magic Bus reset error and security error. Again the manual provides no trouble shooting for these errors either. I could replace the magic bus board but thought I would see if anyone here can help first before I just start replacing stuff.. I have checked all the voltages and they are good across the board. Also, found no wiring issues. Thanks all for the help I appreciate it!
 
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Offroad Thunder uses the same Obsidian 2 PCI video card that Hydrothunder uses. This will only display EGA nothing else. I have one here that I can use a "standard" voodoo2 card on and get a picture of the game play. so If you have one of those old cards laying around you should be able to see something.

Also IIRC the video goes through the I/O card "Magic Bus" so if that has a error you may have some issue there.
I have been able to "with a working I/O card" use one of those Converters "short term" as the picture always washes out in a matter of minutes, No matter what settings I have tried.
 
Thanks a lot for the reply. I will find a new magic bus card. So are you saying that the converters don't work at all on these machines? I can remove it no problem and find a different way to use a lcd monitor or use the old monitor. I think Susi happ has a lcd that has the direct video connector in so no adapter is needed. I don't have a voodoo vid card but not hard to find.
 
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I am saying "I" had issues several people stated there's worked great after quite some time at tinkering with settings. But it seems hit or miss as to what converters worked. I bought 2 or 3 and could only get good picture for a minute or two, then it would wash out the colors. almost like someone cranked the brightness and contrast. The only way I could make it look good again was to unplug the converter and plug it back in. then the cycle would repeat.

Also if you have a old AGP video card, I again used a Voodoo3 16 meg in mine, you can hood up a standard PC monitor and see the software loading. (You will NOT see the game though) Some cards have a hardware conflict so YMMV with what works.
 
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Ok got it. The guy I got it from put the adapter in. I will take it out. Working on getting a K7500 chassis to get the original monitor going. Or will recap this one. I am also working on getting a "new" magic bus for it. Just to be safe. I dont really have a good way to test it and not a lot of money for one anyway. Thanks a lot for the help!
 
I am saying "I" had issues several people stated there's worked great after quite some time at tinkering with settings. But it seems hit or miss as to what converters worked. I bought 2 or 3 and could only get good picture for a minute or two, then it would wash out the colors. almost like someone cranked the brightness and contrast. The only way I could make it look good again was to unplug the converter and plug it back in. then the cycle would repeat.

Also if you have a old AGP video card, I again used a Voodoo3 16 meg in mine, you can hood up a standard PC monitor and see the software loading. (You will NOT see the game though) Some cards have a hardware conflict so YMMV with what works.

If you are talking about these Chinese EGA to VGA convertor boards, I had the same problem with the brightness and washed out colors.
It sounds like you need to change the Clamp ST en Clamp SP settings.

There's information on the Internet of which value to use.
This is easy to do and solves the problem.
 
If you are talking about these Chinese EGA to VGA convertor boards, I had the same problem with the brightness and washed out colors.
It sounds like you need to change the Clamp ST en Clamp SP settings.

There's information on the Internet of which value to use.
This is easy to do and solves the problem.

I have done that till I wanted to puke. the settings only worked for a few minutes at best no matter were I set those settings. I said F it and fixed my 7500. These do work great for CGA boards though. (For me)
 
Ok I swapped out the magic bus and also have a new LCD from suzo happ that has the CGA input requiring no adapter. With the new magic bus that security error led is still lit and the magicbus reset error led is still lit. What do those mean. There is nothing on that at all anywhere. Still same issue, no picture on screen. Also, how do you adjust the clamp settings when you have no video. Also, I checked power to the IO board again. It is 12V on orange and 5V and some change on red.
 
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Here are some pics. The two LEDs that are out in he pic flash as they should. The two on are the errors. I also took a pic of the power filter card so you can see how that is wired. Finally I took a picture of the wrong harnesto the monitor. It appears he cut off the v hold wire and a ground. I do not see any evidence of them on the original connector to the monitor though not sure if they are needed or not.
 

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One big thing its to make sure you have the Serial cable connected to COM1 And only com1 com2 will not work, Also make sure the cable says NUL MODEM on it i straight cable will also not work. Be sure you have the Bios set properly. his requires a second AGP video card and PC monitor keyboard ect...
 
The cable is original to the game so it bless it is bad should've fine. I don't see any writing on it at all but is in there he right port. Bios battery is totally dead so no saved settings. I dont have an AGP card but I am sure I can find one. What should the bios settings be? Or are thy in the manual. I have another video card on the way also for the game.
 
I have mine set for COM1 3F8

You seem to be throwing money at this thing in crazy fashion.
You "Need" to do basic tests before going all out.
If the CMOS battery has died , some PC's will not boot properly until it is replaced. Once it is replaced you again "NEED" a AGP video card monitor and keyboard to enter the Bios and set everything. The card that is installed is a voodoo2 Obsidian2 type card. this will only ever output 3D (So game only) to see post (Words on screen) you need a 2D card installed.
PC based games are easy to work on if you have the tools to do so.

IIRC there are some Bios settings in the manual. Only ones I ever worried about were, power on after power loss, and to make sure the COM port is set properly.
 
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I had a friend that had the video card and the PCI Bus card so no big expense there. I have them if I need them. I have an agp video card coming that was $39. I hope I didnt need anything in particular on that. If the battery was stopping the computer from booting there would be nothing at all and that isnt the case. Just no picture which is either a conflict as you mentioned with the com settings or the video card itself will cause the magic bus to reset. So now I will have everything here I need to fix it whatever it turns out to be. About $125 in parts which can now be spares or I can just sell them again. This stuff takes forever to get here so I would rather just have it all here if I need it as opposed to testing it, then needing something that I dont have especially when the parts are not expensive. Ill let you know when the AGP card gets here and what I find.
 
I should rephrase that comment. A faulty CMOS battery will in all likely-hood prevent the PC from "completing" its boot cycle. And you will not be able to see that as the video card installed can not display 2D video.

So yes the PC will turn on... BUT it may not be loading the OS or getting past the main start screen.

If the CMOS dies most PC's will halt at the main load screen and display Low CMOS battery press F1 to continue. And without your input AKA pressing F1 on the Keyboard that is as far as the machine will go.

If that is the case you will Never get into the game to unlock the I/O card to turn on the Video card.
And like I said you will never see any of those errors, because the card is 3D only and the monitor is EGA.

As for the AGP video card Yes there are some that will not work. Which is why I mentioned the Voodoo3 AGP because I know it works in my system, and I leave it installed.

But this is only a issue IF your trying to load the game with it installed. If your just testing the PC to post and boot any card will work.
You will know if it works if the Pharlap OS allows the game to load with the "extra" card installed.

I hope this clears up everything.
 
I have the video card and it connected great and I can see the system boot. However, I do not have an old school keyboard. All of mine are wireless or usb. Will have to find one of those.
 
I have the video card and it connected great and I can see the system boot. However, I do not have an old school keyboard. All of mine are wireless or usb. Will have to find one of those.

If there is a USB port on that PC, I kinda doubt it..... you may get lucky and a USB keyboard may work. But those boards were back in the Pentium II days so USB was probably not a option. I really can not remember off my head if they have ports or not... LOL memory is going already.....
 
Man I hear ya. I owned three computer stores back when these celeron chips were the thing. I have a ps 2 keyboard coming $11 no problem. Will have to remember how to get into the bios to check the settings you gave me. I think it is F8 when booting or something. Ill figure that out. I also need to find the jumper for clearing the cmos. So, just to get one step ahead if the video card is in there and recognized and set correctly where do I go from there. I guess there could be an issue with the null modem cable but that seems really unlikely. I know it isn't the magic bus. Ill let you know what I find will be tomorrow when the keyboard gets here. I did install new battery but did not help.
 
To enter System Bios on the old Intel boards it was DEL or F1 key. No need to clear CMOS again it was cleared when you removed the battery, and if the battery was dead.
If the system boots and you have a AGP card installed you "should" see the OS boot it will say something like PharLap Real Time OS ect... If you do not see that you could have a failed drive.

But we will cross that bridge when we get to it.
 
Ok. Hooked up the keyboard and watched the boot sequence. Had a time error and fixed that. Easy. Hoped that was it but still no luck. Went in and activated the two serial ports and had a spare null modem cable laying around...no luck. The default video was set to AGP and the card in the machine is PCI so I changed that. No luck. When I watch everything load I am wondering if there is information on what it should look like. I dont think the files are bad on the HDD but how would I know. Wondering if it would be easier if we just talked on the phone as I go through it? Could PM you my info. On the serial ports I did not have your message with me on what you have it set at but it is seeing them and the settings it gave them appears to have no conflict.
 
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