repairs for vicist

[mrr19121970]

Today I am testing vicist's vic20s.

1st one seems to have a bad via. vicist reports:

Star Battle crashes on loading from SD2IEC.


Download here
ftp://www.zimmers.net/pub/cbm/vic20/rom ... Battle.prg

[mrr19121970]

2nd one passes tests. But has colour issues (yes I know I don't have the correct cable for s-video mod).

[mrr19121970]

Both machines have s-video mod wire replaced.

Machine 1 has vic-I socketed.

Machine 2 has via2 socketed and replaced. Now passed test.

[mrr19121970]

We need k3ys opinion here. I can't get star battle to load either with his card. Works fine with Penultimate card and sd2iec. I can't get it to run with @k3ys expander.

[mrr19121970]

I am getting X showing memory errors when running his 'TESTING MEMORY' basic program

[vicist]

I just checked my cart against yours. Try flicking dip switch 7 up as this is the config that I have. May make a difference. Who knows?

[mrr19121970]

I'll try....

1st on VIC-I issue machine WORKS

Now on VIA2 issue machine WORKS but goes straight to 'game over'. Tried BEHR-BONZ again. Works fine. Tried K3ys card again, Just goes back to READY

Now playing on machine #2 with RAM expansion. I am convinced @k3ys card is the issue here...

[vicist]

Try the memory test again now that 7 is up and see what you get.

[mrr19121970]

Try the memory test again now that 7 is up and see what you get.

Well switch 7 is for ram 1-3 are 0400 to 0fff. Only switch 6 needs to be down to activate bank $a0

[vicist]

My ram doesn't have the extra 3k.

[mrr19121970]

I desolder the VIC-I from machine #2 and put it in machine #1.
DONE

GORF is working with multicolour again and STAR BATTLE still works with @k3ys expander

Update

I am 100% sure this is an @k3ys issue. I am now using a VIC1110 with the 8k @ $a0000 - guess what STAR BATTLE works fine on the 'broken machine'

On my VIC20, also I have the same issue with the @k3ys expander

[mrr19121970]

I am getting X showing memory errors when running his 'TESTING MEMORY' basic program

@k3ys, you read my PM but didn't respond. Your input would be appreciated here. Could it be that both my and @vicist have a 'duff card' from you?

[vicist]

I'm not convinced that there is anything wrong with my 32k ram expander from k3ys.
It works flawlessly with my original vic and worked ok with the vic with the bad vic-I chip. The only problem I had was with the vic with the via2 issue. I assumed that it was the motherboard that was at fault here, not the ram expander, as Star Battle would not work using a vic 1110 switched to work as block 5 ram either.

[mrr19121970]

Well this is the puzzling thing. I could get star battle to work with behr bonz, penultimate card and vic1110 expander. For me the odd man out was @k3ys expander. The same issue is experienced on my own vic 20 too.

[vicist]

In the picture showing the 'memory test pattern', it is indicating a problem with $a000 memory.
I tested my ram in all my machines and always got a 'clean' result.

I assume you have tried it with just block 5 active?