Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
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By Kazee Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:18 pm
I'm having quite a mare at the mo. I turned on my MPC3000 and to my horror the screen has some activity, (basically nothing), and every light is on and doesn't change.

What's happened can anyone help? I've been using it with the new vailixi 3.50 software for quite some months along with a SCSI compact flash card reader. I've never had problem like this.

Should I worry gravely?! Can anyone suggest a possible factory reset, maybe I need to re install the original OS chips?

I have no idea at this level of maintenance on the MPC3000 but have lots of projects I need to work on that were made on this beast.

Any ideas? A very panicked MPC3000 user.

:?
By mpc3000le Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:15 am
Kazee wrote:I'm having quite a mare at the mo. I turned on my MPC3000 and to my horror the screen has some activity, (basically nothing), and every light is on and doesn't change.


Not too good.

Kazee wrote:What's happened can anyone help? I've been using it with the new vailixi 3.50 software for quite some months along with a SCSI compact flash card reader. I've never had problem like this.


I don't suspect an OS problem.
Especially if you have been using the machine for a while with no issue.
Still ... ROM's can some times die for no apparent reason.
Lets see what we can work out.

Try powering off, disconnecting all devices from the MPC3000 and re-applying power.

Kazee wrote:Should I worry gravely?! Can anyone suggest a possible factory reset, maybe I need to re install the original OS chips?


Maybe. Maybe not. All things can be fixed eventually.
You can try re-installing the original chips.
Or ... the "at your own risk" factory re-set.
Opening the machine...and then.
Basically shorting out the memory battery for a second or so with the power disconnected.
Then re-applying the power.

Kazee wrote:I have no idea at this level of maintenance on the MPC3000 but have lots of projects I need to work on that were made on this beast.


You're one of my registered users ? Yes ?

Kazee wrote:Any ideas? A very panicked MPC3000 user.


PM me.

Rohan.
User avatar
By Kazee Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:25 pm
Ok so..

I reinstalled the original OS chips in the MPC, (v3.11), and turned on the power, not connected to anything.

I got an even weirder looking LCD display of giant blocks and no lights came on at all.

That freaked me out more, so I put the 3.5 chips back in and booted up to find the original problem again.

I can't see any fuses that have blown and now don't have a clue on what to do.

Anyone?

:(
User avatar
By The Grublet Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:43 am
Ribbon cable.... Open case, locate ribbon cable that goes from top panel to lower board, re-connect.
By mpc3000le Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:43 am
Kazee wrote:Ok so..

I reinstalled the original OS chips in the MPC, (v3.11), and turned on the power, not connected to anything.

I got an even weirder looking LCD display of giant blocks and no lights came on at all.

That freaked me out more, so I put the 3.5 chips back in and booted up to find the original problem again.

I can't see any fuses that have blown and now don't have a clue on what to do.

Anyone?

:(


I think your power supply has faulted.

A tech will find information in the following post of use:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=105253&p=950121&hilit=death#p950121

I'll send you some other info and this above continuing our PM discussion.

Rohan.
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By Kazee Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:59 am
Ribbon cable.... Open case, locate ribbon cable that goes from top panel to lower board, re-connect.


I tried this first off, all the cables are seated correctly and all fuses seem to be intact.

Have you tried reseating your ram chips? and pressing down on every cable connection and chip inside the machine to make sure they are fully seated?


I haven't tried this, I'll see if reseating the RAM chips has any effect. Otherwise I agree with Rohan that it is a power issue and need to find the offending fuse / trasformer.

I'll let you know how I get on.
User avatar
By Kazee Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:49 pm
Hi there,

I re-seated the RAM chips, tested the four fuses on the two power supply boards, (they're all good), and double checked there were no loose connections following the document Rohan posted, (thanks Rohan).

I haven't checked the voltage as I'm not competent enough for testing voltage, it scares me slightly. So I haven't pinned down exactly where the fault is. I'm going to have to take it to a technician unfortunately.

I so hope this is fixable, as I'm now falling behind on some projects, damn! :(

Does anyone know of a technician in the South London area able to do this kind of thing?

Cheers,

Dean.
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By The Grublet Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:25 pm
Mine did the same thing when I was replacing the backlight. It was all lights, no action. So I freaked out. But if I had a guess, it's something loose or jarred. Don't be afraid to turn it on while it's open. Just don't be retarded about what your touching.

It was just a cable loose for me. So check for damaged cables as well
User avatar
By Kazee Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:07 pm
It turns out it was the power supply. It's all fixed now and is back up and running.

Thanks for the help everyone.

:D
By mpc3000le Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:48 am
Kazee wrote:It turns out it was the power supply. It's all fixed now and is back up and running.

Thanks for the help everyone.

:D


Yeeehaaarrr ...

What exactly was the problem with the power supply ?

Did the repair tech say ?

Rohan.
User avatar
By Kazee Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:12 pm
The tech just said the 5V cable wasn't supplying enough power, he didn't go into anymore detail than that unfortunately.
By mpc3000le Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:32 pm
Kazee wrote:The tech just said the 5V cable wasn't supplying enough power, he didn't go into anymore detail than that unfortunately.


Well, I guess that's it then ...

All good ... carry on ! :)

Rohan.