Stargate test/setup mode fails but game plays

Bullwinkle

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I'm working on a Stargate mini, and the game boots up with the following screen:
stargate_adjustment_failure.jpg

I hit the test switch and the game starts in attract mode with the following hi score screen:
stargate_high_score.jpg

Then I take it into test mode and get as far as the setup screen that chooses the number of ships and i get the following:
stargate_testmode_failure.jpg
the horizontal lines crawl up the screen and then roll over the top back to the bottom and continue up. From here I have to power down/up to get back to anything.

I've reseated all ICs and all plugs. Anyone with tips on what to start with?

thanks,

-tom
 
Did you put new batteries in it? The "Factory Setting Restored" message means that the batteries are dead, dying, or gone. They may have leaked acid onto the CPU board. Usually you have problems getting into the menu if the memory is corrupt from battery issues, and pulling the batteries and leaving the game off for 30 seconds will take care of that. if you have acid damage that has spread to other parts on the CPU, then that could be causing your problem, too...
 
Check the battery holder while you are at it. The original battery holders frequently lose one or more of the contacts, which leaves the batteries maybe sorta kinda mostly supplying the necessary voltage to the CMOS. They are also very twitchy and bumping the cabinet can break the contact causing the power up CMOS reset messages.

ken
 
Did you put new batteries in it? The "Factory Setting Restored" message means that the batteries are dead, dying, or gone. They may have leaked acid onto the CPU board. Usually you have problems getting into the menu if the memory is corrupt from battery issues, and pulling the batteries and leaving the game off for 30 seconds will take care of that. if you have acid damage that has spread to other parts on the CPU, then that could be causing your problem, too...

The battery unit was actually pretty clean with no noticeable damage or corrosion...even on the contacts where the batteries sit. It had no batteries to start with, but I put some in. Still got same error.

YellowDog said:
Check the battery holder while you are at it. The original battery holders frequently lose one or more of the contacts, which leaves the batteries maybe sorta kinda mostly supplying the necessary voltage to the CMOS. They are also very twitchy and bumping the cabinet can break the contact causing the power up CMOS reset messages.

I actually did not check that so I will do that.

Thanks modessitt & YellowDog
 
The battery unit was actually pretty clean with no noticeable damage or corrosion...even on the contacts where the batteries sit. It had no batteries to start with, but I put some in. Still got same error.

You will get that error the first time that it is powered up after new batteries are put in. If you open the coin door (it is actually checking the interlock switch usually on the left side) and power it down. Wait a few seconds and power it back up and clear the messages by pressing the advance button, it should go away.

If it doesn't, then check the voltage the batteries are putting out (with the power off). And check to make sure the interlock on the coin door is actually working. Those are the two most common problems.

ken
 
You will get that error the first time that it is powered up after new batteries are put in. If you open the coin door (it is actually checking the interlock switch usually on the left side) and power it down. Wait a few seconds and power it back up and clear the messages by pressing the advance button, it should go away.

If it doesn't, then check the voltage the batteries are putting out (with the power off). And check to make sure the interlock on the coin door is actually working. Those are the two most common problems.

ken

Will check both of those. Thanks!
 
You will get that error the first time that it is powered up after new batteries are put in. If you open the coin door (it is actually checking the interlock switch usually on the left side) and power it down. Wait a few seconds and power it back up and clear the messages by pressing the advance button, it should go away.

If it doesn't, then check the voltage the batteries are putting out (with the power off). And check to make sure the interlock on the coin door is actually working. Those are the two most common problems.

ken

Ken, I did indeed have an issue with the battery holder. So I replaced it with a new holder... inserted new batteries and from entry to exit of the holder, I get 3.6v. If I test from the last negative terminal on the battery holder (ie, running the test from the last negative leg, through the holder and out the positive) and onto the board to the first diode leg or any point beyond that in the initial trace, powered I get 4.9v~5.0v, unpowered, I get 2.6v~2.7v. Depressing the interlock switch doesn't seem to do anything, in or out, I get the same results.

I have seen a "cmos error failed to write" message occasionally (cant remember where i was when it occurred.
 
I have this exact issue with my Stargate.. never figured it out although I have not gone into test mode to see if that screen is scrambled. I bought a new battery holder and new batteries from Digikey but it made no difference.. Odd thing is it does not happen all the time on mine.. but more often than not.. Plus, every once in awhile I start up and I have unlimited ships and smartbombs... just a long row of each.
 
That is definitely a corrupted CMOS issue. If you have pulled the batteries and cleared the memory, and still have this problem, I'd suspect bad CMOS...
 
Ken, I did indeed have an issue with the battery holder. So I replaced it with a new holder... inserted new batteries and from entry to exit of the holder, I get 3.6v. If I test from the last negative terminal on the battery holder (ie, running the test from the last negative leg, through the holder and out the positive) and onto the board to the first diode leg or any point beyond that in the initial trace, powered I get 4.9v~5.0v, unpowered, I get 2.6v~2.7v. Depressing the interlock switch doesn't seem to do anything, in or out, I get the same results.

I have seen a "cmos error failed to write" message occasionally (cant remember where i was when it occurred.

Having a new battery holder will help. I can't tell you how many people say "it looks good" but they get no voltage on the board. That's why you always have to meter them.

The interlock switch is a safety measure. IIRC, when the coin door is closed, the switch is closed, which grounds the memory protect circuit on the settings side of the CMOS chip. You can only adjust the settings and bookkeeping when the coin door is open.

2.6V might not be enough to keep the CMOS powered. If you follow the final trace on the positive side and connect the negative probe of your meter to the ground strip on the board (the wide trace all around the edge of the board) you should get a good reading on the voltage the batteries are putting out.

ken
 
Update

OK, per suggestions, I ordered a socket and cmos for the board. When I went to install them, I took a close look at the board and ..well...

10-badsocket.jpg 11-badsocket.jpg

Whoever worked on this previously decided to take a 16pin socket, solder it in place and then snip the end off another socket and slide it into the last two pins to make an 18pin socket... brilliant.

12-badsolderjob.jpg

Then they went underneath and proceeded to scorch 2 of the holes down to the board and the rest weren't much better.

I've fixed the soldering issues as best I could and tested each trace from the opposite side of the board with good results (ie: if the trace for a specific pin was on the topside of the board, i tested it for continuity and resistance from topside to bottomside and vice-versa)

13-repairedsocket.jpg14-repairesolder.jpg

more to come...
 
Now I get the following:

with batteries in the holder..it boots up..with the warning about adjustment failure, I hit advance, it goes to the high score screen..which now shows high scores instead of dashes..that's good... I hit advance, it shows the screen with the counts.. I hit advance again and get the following:

1-with_batteries.jpg

If i then remove the batteries, I get the same sequence, but when I get to the options screen, it shows normally and I can advance to the 2nd options screen.. then I advance to the attract message screen, then to what looks like a high score name screen. From there I need to shut down to get out of it.

2-after_removing_batteries.jpg3-options_now_work.jpg5-advancebutton_to_attract_message.jpg6-advancebutton_to_what_looks_like_high_score_entry.jpg
Apparently I flipped my phone on the last two pics

Eventhough I can get to the options screen, I can not change any values. At the bottom of the 1st option screen, It says Freeplay = NO. I then checked all voltages, made a minor adjustment and the Freeplay = YES now...but still cant change anything while in there. I can also play the game with unlimited lives...no smartbombs though but all buttons work.

could this be a power supply issue? not sure about why it locks up with the batteries in place, new batteries, new holder.

Any ideas on where to look?

Thanks,

-tom
 
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.....2.6V might not be enough to keep the CMOS powered. If you follow the final trace on the positive side and connect the negative probe of your meter to the ground strip on the board (the wide trace all around the edge of the board) you should get a good reading on the voltage the batteries are putting out. ....

2v is the minimum for memory retention

below 2v = memory loss.
 
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i dont like the look of the coloured bars under the Pricing settings text - if you have a spare ROM board, or if you have someone nearby with a ROM board you could swap in temporarily, see if a replacement rom board fixes your problem.
 
I've seen the same on my Stargate. When I get a replacement chip, I'm going to try replacing the CMOS RAM on it.
 
Was there ever a clear resolution here? I have the same exact issue as OP (unlimited ships, colored bars on the number of ships screen forcing a restart) with my Stargate. I've replaced the battery holder (with a new lithium one).

New CMOS is likely the fix? I'm not exactly sure which chip (or chips) that is...can anyone explain it, and or tell me where to get new ones? Thx.
 
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