Pinball 2000 RFM ROM Update Question

ComputerSpace

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Hello all,

I'm a new owner of a RFM pin and I love it. After playing it for awhile I've noticed that sometimes pushing the ball launch button does not make the shooting sound. It seems to do it intermittently. I'm hoping it's a ROM version issue.

I discovered that my ROM version is 1.0 and that there have been several updates to the program and sound roms since that version. I downloaded the Update Manager software and loaded it on my laptop and have a null modem cable on the way. I've located the ROM update files online and have downloaded them.

My question is; is it ok to update directly to version 1.5 from version 1.0? Or do I have to go through each version one at a time (cumulative)?

I've emailed the address at pinball.com with no answer from them.

I have a couple other questions about the self test findings but I'll wait till hear anything on this...

T.I.A.
Tom
 
When I updated mine I skipped over all of the other older versions did not have a problem.
 
No, it's not incremental. You can update it directly to the latest version. I can give you RFM version 1.6 that works with Update Manager. PM me.
 
Does anyone have a summary of the changes for the updates?

Revenge From Mars - Revision History

Version: 1.60 - SEP 22 2003
(Changes From 1.50)
Incorporate the final version of XINA (1.19) which fixes the problem
where booting the system with the power driver board disconnected
can cause factory reset to occur due to the mismatch of the last
country dipswitch setting in CMOS vs. the country setting for
an open power driver board cable.

Version 1.50 - July 31, 2000
(Changes From 1.40)

Updated to latest operating system.
Enhanced coin/bill handling and credit system.

Version 1.40 - January 31, 2000
(Changes From V1.30)

Fixed a bug in Martian Bowling that sometimes caused the game to reset.
The Bonus Wave total page now always runs, even if the Jet Exit Post is disabled.
Fixed a bug in Martian Happy Hour which caused some of the Martian animations not to appear.

Version 1.30 - November 24, 1999
(Changes From V1.20)

Added Martian Champion.
Added a jet bumper rule.
Added a ball saver (for the start of a new ball).
Added a victory lap rule. (Similar to Attack From Mars, started when Attack Mars has been won.
Added the ability to loop the ball under certain conditions.
(Scenes where the shot does nothing, or if LOCK is lit let the ball loop around.)
Adjustments are added to control this behaviour. (Default: OFF)
Added an adjustment to let the ball loop through the loop shots during bonus wave sudden death.
Adjustment "Bonus Wave Ending" has 2 settings: "Ramps+Loops" (original behaviour) and ""Ramp Only" (new behaviour)
More "Family Mode" logic added.
Added service credit switch debounce.
Fixed a bug at the start of Mother Ship that sometimes caused no balls to kick out at multiball start.

Version 1.20 - June 9, 1999
(Changes From V1.10)

Restored United Kingdom to country list (missing in version 1.1)
Fixed Canadian dollar coin bonus pricing.
Added display of game/serial number and generally reorganized the System Information screen.
Added timestamps for tilt and replay.
Added adjustments for awarding saucer lights for some number of Martians killed.
Added attract mode sounds and adjustment.
Attract mode and game over display effects now take note of the 'Insert Coins' adjustment and do not display that phrase if the adjustment is set to 'no'. This is for places which use swipe cards.
Fixed a bug in the custom message display which showed garbage if a message line used the last available character on the line.
Modified the attract mode pricing display to show 2 lines per page, with intelligent skipping of empty lines. If a given page has only 1 line to display, it is centred.

Version 1.10 - May 24, 1999
(Changes From V1.00)

Timing of flipper circuits changed to make the flippers run cooler.
Hourly bookkeeping data extended to cover 7 days.
Changes made to pricing modes for Norway, Netherlands and Holland.
Adjustment printout now shows replay information and dip switch settings.
Replay boost is now available when game is set to give credits for score awards.
Game Name and version displayed in "coin door open" messages.
Lamp effects added for Multiball Start and Multiball awards.
Autopsy now tosses out items in a fan-out fashion, starting with the center shot.
Switch compensation improved in various places.

Version 1.00 - May 5, 1999
(Changes from V0.90)

System changes made to eliminate lockups and resets. This version is extremely stable.
Hypno-Beam multiball awarded by Stroke of Luck
3 New modes for the "?" (5th round):
Martian Bowling
Martian Autopsy
Martian Tank
Attack Mars mode has been completed.
Pressing flippers now cancels certain effects.
Many difficulty adjustments implemented.
After a round is completed, the introduction of subsequent rounds will not run if the ball is in play (not captured by post on playfield).
Sound and Graphics added to Match.
Sound added to Enter Initials.
Logic for Flipper and Action button broken switch compensation improved.
Attract mode messages and Pricing messages have been implemented and may be entered from test mode using test buttons or a keyboard.
Score Award 2 may now be set to "credit"
Automatic percentaging implemented for replay score management.
"Empty Balls" test added.
When the power driver board is not detected, a message is displayed indicating that this board is not connected or F108 has a problem.
Audit totals are now maintained for each type of credit that may be awarded (HSTD, Score, Match and Special).
"Switch Trace" command added to shell to allow a real time switch trace during operation.
Solenoid test now properly flips the Flipper coils
Keyboard control of test system (including help map and "flip" feature) implemented.
Fuse values now shown in test report.
Hourly earnings chart now shows hourly earnings for the last 7 days.
 
I use to update mine all the time every time I swapped the RFM playfield with the SWEP1 playfield. The key to this is really having a real serial port. Most of the newer PC's do not a serial port and the serial port adapters don't always work. I now own two prism cards and one is loaded with RFM and the other is SWEP1 so swapping is easy. I made my own serial cable. It's about 50 feet long and I run it to my PC. The long length was never an issue.
 
What's the difference between a regular serial cable and a null modem cable? Trying to figure out if I can use my serial cable to update my own RFM.
 
What's the difference between a regular serial cable and a null modem cable? Trying to figure out if I can use my serial cable to update my own RFM.

Take a look at this - everything you ever wanted to know...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Null_modem

"With a null modem connection the transmit and receive lines are crosslinked. Depending on the purpose, sometimes also one or more handshake lines are crosslinked. Several wiring layouts are in use because the null modem connection is not covered by a standard."

Tom
 
I guess it would have been too easy for the factory to have ordered null-modem cable instead so I could just use my serial cable :( oh well.


Anyone ever seen the program for "advanced diagnostics" of the driver board through the parallel port? Seen it referenced many different places including the manual but can't ever find anything.
 
Some more help please...

I was able to update my RFM from V1.0 to V1.2 last night. I was shooting for V1.6, had the files downloaded but it had a problem so when I selected 1.2 it did update to that version successfully.

I would like to take it to 1.5 if possible. I have the rom files downloaded, but the update manager does not locate the 1.5 update files. In fact, now I getting the following error message when I tell the update manager to scan for files on the pc.

Scan/Copy of update file failed <c:\Program Files\Pin2000\Pinball 2000 Update Manager\PIN2000_50070_0160_09222003_B_10000000.EXE >.0

I get this three times, one time for each rom file I've downloaded. I even get it for 1.2 even though it successfully updated to that.

Any insite would be really appreciated.
Tom
 
Some more help please...

I was able to update my RFM from V1.0 to V1.2 last night. I was shooting for V1.6, had the files downloaded but it had a problem so when I selected 1.2 it did update to that version successfully.

I would like to take it to 1.5 if possible. I have the rom files downloaded, but the update manager does not locate the 1.5 update files. In fact, now I getting the following error message when I tell the update manager to scan for files on the pc.

Scan/Copy of update file failed <c:\Program Files\Pin2000\Pinball 2000 Update Manager\PIN2000_50070_0160_09222003_B_10000000.EXE >.0

I get this three times, one time for each rom file I've downloaded. I even get it for 1.2 even though it successfully updated to that.

Any insite would be really appreciated.
Tom



Do you still have all versions in the update manager? I would delete all the files, and just download 1.5, then try again. Also, are you telling it which file to update, or are you letting it search? I had those errors when I assigned the file to update. If I just let it go it works fine.

Hope that made sense. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions :)

Chris
 
I agree with Chris. You need to delete all the other update files (and the directory where the Update Manager unpacked them) and just put the one update file (preferably the v1.6 file I gave you) in the directory with the Update Manager. Sometimes the Update Manager has trouble unpacking the update.... You can run the update file EXE first (it's a self-extracting ZIP) and let it unpack itself, then run Update Manager.
 
I agree with Chris. You need to delete all the other update files (and the directory where the Update Manager unpacked them) and just put the one update file (preferably the v1.6 file I gave you) in the directory with the Update Manager. Sometimes the Update Manager has trouble unpacking the update.... You can run the update file EXE first (it's a self-extracting ZIP) and let it unpack itself, then run Update Manager.

Thanks for the tips. I'll delete all update files except 1.6 and give it a try again. I'll post back when I'm through.

Tom
 
This was touched on earlier in this thread, but there was no follow up. If I already have 1.5 on my machine, is there any reason to go through all the trouble to upgrade to 1.6?
 
Just as a followup, I had my RFM at version 1.5 for about 2 months now and was working fine with one or two exceptions. I thought I would go for 1.6 and see if it addressed my issues, it has not so I'll continue to dig.

I was able to update to V1.6 after unzipping the files manually then starting the update manager.

Tom
 
This was touched on earlier in this thread, but there was no follow up. If I already have 1.5 on my machine, is there any reason to go through all the trouble to upgrade to 1.6?

I'd like to know as wll. I have 1.5 and if the update to 1.6 just fixes some obscure issue that happens when a driver card is unplugged, that doesn't seem like a concern to me.
 
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