Will my Cap Kit fix this? (DK horizontal light and dark bars)

phrenzy

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Will my Cap Kit fix this? (DK horizontal light and dark bars)

So, as suggested by members here, I ordered a Deluxe Cap Kit from Bob today for my recently acquired DK. I also turned down the brightness as suggested. I took a video of the results, the screen has alternating horizontal bars of too bright, then completely black. The display also has short vertical lines.

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this issue, and if recapping the monitor will fix it, or if it could be something else.

I took a short video to show what it looks like. This is with the brightness set at its lowest setting before losing the signal completely:

http://youtu.be/nLh_Wcvi1vc

 
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Yep you need a cap kit. It also appears that you have rom rot.

Rom Rot sounds like something I do not want to have. Is that something I can fix by ordering a $12 kit from Bob and teaching myself how to solder/desolder?

(Haha, it's a good thing I was looking at this first machine as a learning experience from the beginning.)
 
Rom rot simply means that the data on the eproms on your game boards may not be intact. That's what's causing the vertical lines on the display.

Re-programming the eproms usually solves the issue.

Before you do that, though, try re-seating the eproms.
 
Rom rot simply means that the data on the eproms on your game boards may not be intact. That's what's causing the vertical lines on the display.

Re-programming the eproms usually solves the issue.

Before you do that, though, try re-seating the eproms.

I'm somewhat electronically inclined, but please forgive my noobishness. I'm assuming by re-seating the EPROMs you mean removing, possibly cleaning the contacts on, and replacing all of the chips on the PCB that are in sockets and not soldered in.... correct?

How does one re-program the EPROMs? That seems beyond my scope. Is there a service provider where you can send them to or something?

Also, I've heard the terms 2-stack and 4-stack thrown around, I'm assuming I have a 2-stack (since there appears to be two main boards in my machine)?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I appreciate it. :)

pcb.jpg
 
Yep, you have a 2 board stack. Yes, removing and re-inserting is what I meant.

As far as re-burning roms goes, you'd need a eprom programmer for that. Eprom programming isn't too hard to do once you get the right equipment to do it, but it's sometimes easier to let someone else do it for you, if you like.

Since you don't have access to an eprom burner, I'd suggest pulling, cleaning, and re-seating socketed chips. Just take great care to remove them carefully - if you yank them improperly, you can bend/break chip legs, and then you're replacing chips.

You can buy an IC extraction tool on feeBay for less than $2. It's a handy tool to have for this hobby.
 
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