Atari 400 issue. Can anyone tell me what might be wrong?

[Worley5_]

Hi everyone. I sold this Atari 400 with 410 recorder on eBay with no only a power cable, no plug attached. The buyer purchased an additionally required cable to hook up to a screen and when he turned on this appears on the screen. 
The eBayer 100% knows what they are doing and said if I partially refund then he will get it fixed. 
He only paid £50 for it.

 

Is this a case of cleaning the inside with some alcohol and putting it back together? System hasn’t been used in...25 years.

 

Many thanks for your help. 

 

[Voxel]

On 6/7/2020 at 12:12 PM, Worley5_ said:

Is this a case of cleaning the inside with some alcohol and putting it back together? System hasn’t been used in...25 years.

That's the positive approach.

 

Back in the day I had a few 800/400s and I'd happily open them up and check all the chips were seated and the connectors were snug in their sockets. Which they often needed and that was back in the day.

 

The above indicates the system is getting power but for some reason the display data is showing garbage, this could be as simple as oxide on the connectors/chips somewhere affecting the voltages so garbage is displayed from another area of memory instead.

 

 

[mimo]

at today's prices £50 is a bargain even for a non working 400.
If you sold it as untested then he got what he paid for.
Offer him a full refund, take it back and I'll give you £50 for it 

[Voxel]

7 hours ago, mimo said:

Offer him a full refund, take it back and I'll give you £50 for it 

Do it!