FlaScubaMan

If anyone is interested, I will be selling dead lynx's in lots of 4 on ebay for the next couple of months. I have quite a few to sell. They are totally dead and I'm not sure if they can be resurrected or not. But they are quite useful for parts harvesting. On more than one occasion, I have had to replace the A/C jack and comlynx jack as described above. They are just soldered to the board and if you jerk on the cables when plugged in, the solder joints loosen up or the jack dissintegrates. Most of the parts were custom made for the lynx and impossible to find unless you harvest them from another dead lynx. I will be keeping a few of these for myself to keep my four lynx's operational, but the rest will be sold on ebay. You never know when you might need a jack, battery cover, lens replacement, keypad or LCD backlight assembly.

Yes, the original files would be quite useful. These print outs were the only remnants that I had left and the BBS that they came from bit the dust long ago. I'm sure any additional help files or maps of any lynx games would be greatly appreciated. I know I would like to see them, especially the chips challenge maps.

Here's a great text based complete walkthrough for Gates of Zendocon for the Atari Lynx. Gives all level codes, hints for defeating some of the more difficult aliens, and other strategies. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in order to view these files. Here's the link: Gates of Zendocon Level Codes/Hints Credit goes to Jeff Kovach and the Star-Lynx BBS where these were downloaded many years ago. Also, a big hand for Eric Ruck who converted these to PDF files and is providing the web space for downloads. Say thanks to Eric by visiting his Lynx Website below: Eric Ruck's Atari Lynx Website Michael

Here's a walkthrough for how to get to the Easter Egg program LIFE which is hidden within the Zarlor Mercenary lynx game. Describes how to navigate to the LIFE program, describes all the lifeforms, Copy Mode, Paste/Erase Mode and more. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in order to view these files. Here's the link: Zarlor Mercenary Easter Egg LIFE Program Credit goes to Jeff Kovach, Todd Ellering and the Star-Lynx BBS where these were downloaded many years ago. Also, a big hand for Eric Ruck who converted these to PDF files and is providing the web space for downloads. Say thanks to Eric by visiting his Lynx Website below: Eric Ruck's Atari Lynx Website Michael

Here are all the level entry codes and level names for all 149 levels of Chips Challenge. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in order to view these files. Here's the link: Chips Challenge Level Codes Credit goes to Jeff Kovach and the Star-Lynx BBS where these were downloaded many years ago. Also, a big hand for Eric Ruck who converted these to PDF files and is providing the web space for downloads. Say thanks to Eric by visiting his Lynx Website below: Eric Ruck's Atari Lynx Website Michael

Here's a great text based complete walkthrough for Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Describes each level and gives a complete description for how to navigate. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in order to view these files. Here's the link: Bill&Ted's Excellent Adventure Walkthrough Credit goes to Jeff Kovach and the Star-Lynx BBS where these were downloaded many years ago. Also, a big hand for Eric Ruck who converted these to PDF files and is providing the web space for downloads. Say thanks to Eric by visiting his Lynx Website below: Eric Ruck's Atari Lynx Website Michael

Godzilla, I think I have a copy of your Slime World maps also. My scanner is on the blink so I will need to type both Bill & Ted's and the Slime World stuff back into a text file. As soon as I get it done, I will post it here. Unless maybe I can talk Eric Ruck into letting me fax them again and he can create another PDF file. Michael

They are not Atari internal documents, but they certainly are well done. Jeff Kovach did these on his home computer over 10 years ago. I'm certain that it took many, many hours and demonstrates his dedication to this game. I found the originals in the back of my game closet when I was cleaning it out. I had downloaded them 10 years ago when I originally bought my first Lynx. They came from a BBS called Star-Linx. Some people may not even know what a BBS is. Back in the old days before the Internet was the powerhouse it is today, most people used their early 8088 computers with their modems to dial other computers directly over the phone lines without the benefit of the internet. Some highly dedicated individuals had specialty bulletin board systems (BBS) set up to answer the phone, connect and provide DOS based menus for the user. This particular one specialized in lynx game hints and cheats. I blacked out the BBS name and phone number on the maps because by now, that's probably somebody else's private phone number. By the way, I also found an extremely detailed Bill & Ted's text based walkthrough. If there is interest, I will post that to the forum also. Michael

(Windows 98 answer) In case anyone else has this question, instead of left clicking the link, use the right click, then select "save target as" from the drop down menu. Then you can select where to save the PDF file on your hard drive. I highly recommend that you do this in case the link disappears at some point in the future. Michael

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, especially for someone as long-winded as me. Here are some JPG pics of the LYNX II ONLY. These may not apply to the Lynx I: The LCD/Backlight Assembly Motherboard Ribbon Connector with Clip Disengaged Control Panel Michael

Sorry, I missed that part in the original question. All of my comments apply strictly to the Lynx II as those are the only units that I have personally disassembled. Also, I have never disassembled the LCD/Backlight module itself, and the other end of the ribbon may in fact be soldered in place on that module. However, on the Lynx II, all connections on the motherboard that lead to the LCD/Backlight module (or anywhere else) can be disconnected and reconnected as described above. If the Lynx I has similar ribbon connectors on the motherboard, I would assume that another Lynx I LCD/Backlight module could be substituted (and possibly a Lynx II LCD/Backlight module if no changes were made in this assembly). The only reason that I replied initially was because at a glance the Lynx II ribbon connectors on the motherboard appear to be one piece and the clip on the edge of it is not readily noticable unless you are looking for it and recognize that it is firmly holding the ribbon in place. The ribbons cannot be unplugged without loosening the clip and may mistakenly appear to be permanently attached to the motherboard. I don't know if the Lynx I connectors are of the same type. Sorry for any confusion I might have caused. Michael

Actually, I disagree with the last post. If you can find a defective lynx with a working backlight/LCD assembly they can be swapped out, at least on the Lynx II. The ribbon is not soldered to the board, its a flimsy ribbon, but its just plugged in. Here's how you do it: 1. Remove the 4 screws under the rubber bumpers on the back of the lynx. 2. Remove the screw holding the battery compartment in place, and remove battery holder. 3. Carefully lift up the motherboard. You will see two wired connections, one is the high voltage power going to the backlight, one goes to the speaker. Carefully unplug both of these. 4. Next you will see two ribbon connectors going to the back of the motherboard. The large one goes to the LCD assembly and the small one goes to the front control panel. These are held in place by a clip at the top of the connector. Use a screwdriver to loosen each side of the clip until it is separated by about 1/16 inch from the rest of the connector. The ribbon should unplug now. Repeat with the other ribbon. 5. You should now be able to remove the motherboard and set aside. 6. Remove the four screws holding the LCD/backlight assembly in place. It can now be removed. 7. Using the same steps above, remove a working LCD/backlight assembly from another defective lynx. 8. Reassemble the lynx in reverse order. Plug the speaker and backlight wires in first. Next are the ribbon cables, there is very little slack so its kind of tricky. But you can plug them back into the motherboard. Make sure they are fully inserted and are straight. Use the screwdriver to push the ribbon clamps back in place. 7. Test the lynx. Sometimes you have to unplug and reinsert the ribbon cables to get them lined up correctly. 8. If working, replace battery compartment, and back of lynx. My suggestion, is that while you have the lynx apart, do a spring cleaning of the push button contacts. Over the years they can get corroded or foreign matter can get under them causing them to fail to respond, or to respond in a way that the button appears pushed all the time. I have fixed several lynx's with malfunctioning buttons just by cleaning the button contacts. Here's how I have done it: 1. Follow the steps above and get to the point where you remove the LCD/backlight assembly. 2. Then remove the six screws holding the control panel in place and carefully lift out the control panel. Be careful at this point because underneath there are many loose plastic buttons. On the Lynx II, note how each button has a letter on it (A, B). Make sure the A button goes back in the A button slot, and facing in the same direction as how you read the "A". Same with "B" buttons. On the directional button, note a mark on the back of the plastic button and the direction it faces. Its important that these buttons are re-assembled in exactly the same position and orientation. 3. On the front of the control panel, note a black plastic ring that holds the grey rubber button contacts in place. Use a sharp knife or screwdriver to carefully release the little latches holding these in place. 4. Look at the inside of the rubber button contacts. You will notice a metalic disc contact. This is what contacts the circuit board on the control panel. Use a pencil with a clean fresh rubber eraser and "erase" the black corrosion on the metal discs. Also carefully, with slight pressure use the rubber eraser on the circuit board at the point where the disc contacts and remove the black corrosion on the circuit board contacts. Make sure you remove any trace of rubber eraser residue or any other foreign matter or dust. 5. While you have the control panel off, use a kleenex to remove any dust or marks from the inside of the plexiglass viewscreen and the front of the LCD/backlight display. 6. Re-assemble in reverse order and your button contacts will work as good as new. Hope this helps. Michael

You have to climb out the window then navigate along the side of the building along a certain hidden path, then climb in another window. Michael

I am posting a link that will provide you with the complete walkthrough maps for all 12 levels of Electrocop. It's a complete spoiler but may be handy to have around if you get stuck. It includes a complete visual "birds-eye view" of each level with locations of all doors, door codes, weapons, exits etc. This is a PDF file, so you will need to have Adobe Acrobat installed to view it. Many thanks to Eric Ruck for converting the files to PDF format and for providing the web space. Also credit goes to Jeff Kovach for creating the maps many years ago, if he is still around. Here is the link: Electrocop Map PDF File Michael

Eric, I was going to fire up my scanner and make some JPG's and email them to you but now my scanner is on the blink. I would be happy to fax these to you (or anyone that would volunteer to scan and email them to Eric or post them in the forum themselves). I dont have any hosting space so if you can find a spot for them and post the link, that would be great. They are very well done and give a complete Electrcop walkthrough map (spoiler) for every level in the game including all power ups, weapons, doors, door codes, and exits. I originally downloaded them years ago from a dialup BBS called Star-Linx BBS, so they deserve the credit, if they are still around. I also found an extensive set of hints and walkthroughs for Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure as well. I would be willing to fax those to any volunteer willing to post them as well. If interested, drop me an email with your fax number. Michael