Caterpiggle Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 I has 2 Sinclair 2068 8 bits computers. Both has an major problems. Will send an photo of screenshot. 1st one, has too many frequently crashed and re-boot to many times. The screenshot has too many garbage, nothing sense of it. 2nd one, has strange screenshot like zebra strips. 1st one can play "Crazy Bugs" cartridge but ONLY temporary before crashed or garbage screen. Anyone would be appreciated to share the knowledge. - Sinclair 2068 User. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 (edited) The most common failure on about any old machine is RAM. If the display is messed up with stripes, that's the usual culprit. On machines with socketed RAM replacement is easy but I believe the 2068's chips are soldered to the board, not sure though since I haven't looked in mine in years. You'd have to carefully desolder the RAM to remove the chips. Then you should solder in sockets so the RAM chips can be easily replaced if any fail again. Some machines with external ports (Amiga, CoCo, etc...) can have a bad I/O chip due to someone plugging in a peripheral when the power is on. On machines where the chips are socketed it's just a matter of swapping out a chip if you can find a replacement. The 2068 has a custom chip (ULA) that handles almost all I/O & video and it's soldered to the board. The only way to get a replacement would be with a chip taken from another machine or with an FPGA programmed for the machine and an adapter. The logic of the Sinclair Spectrum, predicessor to the 2068, has been reverse engineered and an FPGA replacement is certainly possible but to the best of my knowledge a 2068 has not been repaired this way yet. Swapping boards would be the easiest solution if you can find a 2068 with physical damage to the case but a good logic board. You can try the yahoo group, they have the most 2068 experience and possibly some parts. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ts2068/ Edited May 27, 2013 by JamesD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted May 27, 2013 Author Share Posted May 27, 2013 Hello JamesD, I will try to re-set the chips on BASIC and OS that has free soldiers. Not sure another part to TV connector has small board above the motherboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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