Sad sunday- My Vic is dead

quarkx · February 21, 2011, 03:04 AM

Hi, all, I know I have not been around all that much (it sucks not having internet!)
I though today was a perfect day to play with the VIC 20 for the first time, so I got out the 1702 monitor and hooked up the old beast, for I just got a in few carts for it and found out , its dead!
It appears the VIC chip has given up the ghost for all I get is garbage on the screen. I though I would let it "warm up" but it seems just to have worsen the out put. I thought I had a spare kicking around, but I can't seem to locate one now.
Oh well, anyone have a spare VIC chip or unit they want to get rid of

All is not shot though, I am digging around now for a C64 power supply, I have 2 C64-C's to test out.

bacon · February 21, 2011, 07:50 PM

I feel your pain

Can't help you with a new VIC, but I hope you find one soon.

Chuckie Chuck · February 22, 2011, 08:18 AM

May want to try pulling the cart out and see what it doesn without the cart, you may find you just have a dirty cart slot and the best solution is, two steps.

Run a regular pencil eraser across the leads of the cart and blow out the slot with compressed air, if any oxidation or corrosion exist, try to figure a none damaging way to clean them too.

I've had my vics display odd characters in failed cart boots (partial connections, not clean enough to start the cart, but enough to tell the computer try to boot the cart.

Booting without the cart will get the normal boot screen if the computer is internally ok.

quarkx · February 23, 2011, 02:21 AM

Thanks Chuck,
This was a "Naked boot" with no cart or anything plugged in (Joystick, Tape drive, Floppy etc). I have put an add up on Kijjii , but so far no responses. I guess I will have to hunt down e-bay again, as I don't expect much luck on Amibay for here in Canada.

RobertB · February 24, 2011, 08:54 AM

Quote from: quarkx on February 21, 2011, 03:04 AM...today was a perfect day to play with the VIC 20 for the first time, so I got out the 1702 monitor and hooked up the old beast, for I just got a in few carts for it and found out , its dead!

What type of power supply does it use? Is it the two-prong p.s., or is it the round DIN connection?

Wondering if the p.s. is shot,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

quarkx · February 25, 2011, 03:12 AM

Quote from: RobertB on February 24, 2011, 08:54 AM
and found out , its dead!

What type of power supply does it use? Is it the two-prong p.s., or is it the round DIN connection?

Hey Robert,
it is an older Round din Made by Nortel!

Part No. 251053-02 (early version)
Rectangular black plastic case with few ridges
Sticky label on top.)
110V, 60Hz for N. American / Japanese market
Openable

: NO
Replaceable fuse: NO
Input: 117V, 50/60Hz
Output: 5V DC-8.5W, 9VAC-9.0VA

RobertB · February 25, 2011, 06:15 AM

Quote from: quarkx on February 25, 2011, 03:12 AM
it is an older Round din Made by Nortel!

O.K., try using a working C64 p.s. on that VIC-20 then.

FCUG celebrating 30 years,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

quarkx · February 27, 2011, 01:20 PM

Quote from: RobertB on February 25, 2011, 06:15 AM
Quote from: quarkx on February 25, 2011, 03:12 AM
it is an older Round din Made by Nortel!

O.K., try using a working C64 p.s. on that VIC-20 then.

FCUG celebrating 30 years,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

Thanks Robert,
And No Go, same output as before, the VIC Chip is defiantly toast.

RobertB · February 28, 2011, 04:15 PM

Quote from: quarkx on February 27, 2011, 01:20 PMAnd No Go, same output as before, the VIC Chip is defiantly toast.

O.K., if you don't want to repair it, then it's time to get another one, like maybe one from Bob Kadylo's massive collection right there in Edmonton. You can contact Bob through Bruce Thomas of CUE.

FCUG celebrating 30 years,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

quarkx · March 01, 2011, 01:33 AM

Quote from: RobertB on February 28, 2011, 04:15 PM
Quote from: quarkx on February 27, 2011, 01:20 PMAnd No Go, same output as before, the VIC Chip is defiantly toast.
O.K., if you don't want to repair it, then it's time to get another one, like maybe one from Bob Kadylo's massive collection right there in Edmonton. You can contact Bob through Bruce Thomas of CUE.

FCUG celebrating 30 years,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

Bob (believe it or not) Hosts our AMICUE meetings, at the school he works at. I am waiting for him to retire at the end of the school year so he can get at his "stuff". He has promised me a PET cable for the PET floppy drive also, so we will see. The funny thing is getting a VIC chip should be a simple task, but it is way cheaper to get a whole new unit. The people who sell "parts" usually want 3- 10 X more for just a chip, then the people selling whole boxed VICS and C64s.
The VIC stuff is on hold for now, over the weekend I got in a big Amiga Haul with an A4000 in it (pics on Amibay). The battery has leaked, so I am going to be busy for a while cleaning that mess up.

RobertB · March 01, 2011, 05:10 PM

Quote from: quarkx on March 01, 2011, 01:33 AMBob (believe it or not) Hosts our AMICUE meetings, at the school he works at.

Oh, very interesting. I did not know that.

QuoteIThe VIC stuff is on hold for now...

O.K.

Quoteover the weekend I got in a big Amiga Haul with an A4000 in it (pics on Amibay). The battery has leaked, so I am going to be busy for a while cleaning that mess up.

Ack! I hope the A4000 motherboard was not too damaged by that leaky battery.

FCUG celebrating 30 years,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

quarkx · March 03, 2011, 01:40 AM

Quote from: RobertB on March 01, 2011, 05:10 PM

Quoteover the weekend I got in a big Amiga Haul with an A4000 in it (pics on Amibay). The battery has leaked, so I am going to be busy for a while cleaning that mess up.
Ack! I hope the A4000 motherboard was not too damaged by that leaky battery.

It LOOKS ok, no corrosion damage, just green all over the pins, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Just an FYI, in Edmonton CUE is dead (actually for years now) as far as I know (what I have been told form AMICUE). Most of the remaining members have come over to AMICUE, I did e-mail the CUE group on that page about a year or 2 back and got no response.

RobertB · March 03, 2011, 02:20 AM

Quote from: quarkx on March 03, 2011, 01:40 AM...in Edmonton CUE is dead (actually for years now) as far as I know (what I have been told form AMICUE).

Oh, I know that.

QuoteMost of the remaining members have come over to AMICUE, I did e-mail the CUE group on that page about a year or 2 back and got no response.

Bruce Thomas keeps the memory of CUE alive, and he would be the one to talk to.

FCUG celebrating 30 years,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug