Jagosaurus Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Hey guys, I'm expanding my Atari love from the Jaguar & picked up a 7800. It plays 2600 games fine but seems to get stuck on the boot screen of 7800 titles. Am I missing something easy here? Looked for switches on console, cleaned carts... no luck. 2600 Missile Command running: 7800 Ms Pac Man hung up on boot screen: Thanks in advance for the help! ... also it feels like my 2600 Miner 2049er cart doesn't "fit." Just me being overly cautious? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Did you accidentally pick up some PAL format 7800 games? Mitch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 (edited) I don't think so Mitch. They're the normal looking grey labels & got this lot locally from an older lady who was original owner. I'm running the video out through a composite cable to RCA/phono to coax adapter... shouldn't matter regarding signal, right? Esp bc it runs the 2600 titles fine. Edited January 3, 2014 by Jagosaurus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Sounds like your 7800 cart is either dirty or broken. The Miner cart is a typical problem, search the forums for Tigervision and 7800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Sounds like your 7800 cart is either dirty or broken. The Miner cart is a typical problem, search the forums for Tigervision and 7800. Hm, I cleaned and tested 3 7800 carts. I'm going to try again tonight on my CRT. Perhaps my LCD didn't like the signal... ? Thanks, I'll dig into Tigervision cart issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Just tried on my CRT, no luck with it being a signal issue related to my LCD. I'll clean games again. Anyone every heard of a 7800 that'll play 2600 but not 7800 games lol? Wondering if it's the console itself. Games I tested. Don't look PAL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gorfcadet Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Probably a bad connection or chip that is needed for 7800 specific funtionality. Have you opened the system up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Probably a bad connection or chip that is needed for 7800 specific funtionality. Have you opened the system up? I haven't opened it. What would I be looking for? Any idea on chip set I should be inspecting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Okay... cleaned my 7800 carts, tried multiple TVs, multiple cables... nothing. Looks like my 7800 is officially going to be used as a 2600 lol. If anyone has experience with this issue let me know please. I'd love to fix it if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhomaios Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Pictures for comparison would be helpful. I'm not an expert at the internals, but opening up could help you spot something obvious, or allow an expert here to point out something egregious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Might be a bad RAM chip. 2600 mode can't see the internal RAM, or use Maria functionality. But a working display indicates Maria at least working to that extent, plus it's responsible for the CPU clocking and 2600 working confirms that should be OK too. Could also be bad BIOS chip, fairly sure it does the 7800 startup screen - someone else could confirm that. But my bet would be on the RAM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebor Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Could also be bad BIOS chip, fairly sure it does the 7800 startup screen - someone else could confirm that. But my bet would be on the RAM. Correct; the NTSC BIOS does the 7800 startup screen shown above (It also runs the encryption check for placing the system in 7800 mode). Those with a modified system BIOS (i.e. Euro mod with built in Asteroids), do not see the startup screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Thanks guys. I was hoping it wasn't an internal hardware issue :/ One of the mods over at Racketboy brought up a good point... cleaning the actual cart slot itself. How do you all do this? For the Genesis I would also fold a sturdy index card, dip lightly in alcohol, then use it to clean connection pins. Idea for 7800 cleaning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebor Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 http://atariage.com/forums/topic/117012-cleaning-cartridge-slot-contacts/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 http://atariage.com/forums/topic/117012-cleaning-cartridge-slot-contacts/ Awesome. Will try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariFriend Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 check the pins on the connector specifically that the 7800 uses to make sure they are making contact with the game pcb. If they are bent or dirty this could be your simple and easy to fix answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhomaios Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Thanks guys. I was hoping it wasn't an internal hardware issue :/ One of the mods over at Racketboy brought up a good point... cleaning the actual cart slot itself. How do you all do this? For the Genesis I would also fold a sturdy index card, dip lightly in alcohol, then use it to clean connection pins. Idea for 7800 cleaning? I'm so accustomed to cleaning cart and slot that I figured you'd already do both. Leave it to Hobie to make specific mention of it. How'd the results come out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Man, cleaned the pins really well, no luck. Used the method some here on AA recommended (thin nail file, wrapped in thin cloth, dipped in alcohol). The system is clean & outputs a very crisp 2600 signal. After cleaning pins & my three 7800 carts, it yells me it is hardware related. The BIOS starts up as I mentioned also... looks like I have 2600 shaped like a 7800 What's a good price for 7800 console stand alone? They're looking a bit pricey on eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted February 2, 2014 Author Share Posted February 2, 2014 Okay.... back with pics. What do you hardware guys want me to zoom in on? Green marker? Possibly worked on before or a quality control check? Board Not good? No go still on 7800 Still playing 2600! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireTiger Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 (edited) Does the Splash screen look normal?Is the color running in the logo or is the logo stuck? Edited February 3, 2014 by FireTiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 Does the Splash screen look normal? Is the color running in the logo or is the logo stuck? By splash, you mean the 7800 colorful bios, correct? It is stuck on what you see. Doesn't change colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagosaurus Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 check the pins on the connector specifically that the 7800 uses to make sure they are making contact with the game pcb. If they are bent or dirty this could be your simple and easy to fix answer. Can any point me to a diagram of which pins on the console the 7800 & 2600 titles use? I want to take a closer look. Hopefully it's the pins. Any 1 else have that green marker on their RF shield... makes me think it was repaired & signed off on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariBrian Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 I have seen quite a few on the inside and have never seen green marker on any . Maybe someone who has modded quite a few could tell you if they have seen that before . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+GoldenWheels Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 I just cracked mine the other day to replace the cart port and there was certainly no marks like that on my shielding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhomaios Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Strange, everything you took a picture of so far looks fine to me (except the green marking, which most certainly would indicate someone else opening it up and marking on it). I don't see anything unusual, but is everything connected on the rest of the board? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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