Re: Daystar genesis problems and Video card

[Ernest L. Gunerius]

On: Wed, 25 May 2005 19:09:28 -0400
Kyle Koerner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Said and asked:

Well, nothing has helped.  I've done the generic - reset cuda, replaced
the $15 PRAM battery - wasted money there.  I don't understand why 
that is such a generic troubleshooting suggestion -- I've had almost 
ten
Macs, and a flat PRAM battery has **never** effected any of them.
Personally, its one of the LAST things I replace - I will repeat that
it has never solved anything for me.  If anyone knows why it is
suggested so much I'd love to know -- I'm curious, because i've never
experienced it.

The thing still freezes before it does anything.  I tried removing all
the RAM but one, switch sticks, switch slots - no help.

I tried using an AppleCD 600i SCSI drive - not even a _chime_ with that
thing in.  Disconnected the Floppy - thought maybe some wacky problem
there was causing it to hang - nothing.  Tired no keyboard, tried a
different keyboard.  Nothing.

Tried another SCSI HD - nothing.

I'm not convinced the video card is the sole problem here.  If the
computer was functioning, I would think I could at least hear the HD
making noise as the computer booted up, even without video.

A few details I noticed - if you put your ear next to the processor,
you can hear a slight noise - like the sound a Hard disk makes when it
is reading, but way softer.  The caps lock light does not light when
pressed, either.

I'm thinking that I just paid $90 to have this computer taken to a
recycle center.  Am I right?

I don't mean to sound negative, but this is getting frustrating.

Thanks for any help (and putting up with me... lol)
Kyle-


Hi Kyle;

You mentioned in your first post that one of the RAM sticks was not 
seated. That is a clue that in the process of shipping or otherwise 
transporting the Genesis box to you it was subjected to severe 
environmental conditions.

If you have not already done so, reset every connector inside the 
box. Even if you have , do it again 'cause If you have been in and 
out of the box there is always the chance of brushing up against 
something un noticed.

The power-up sequence on a Mac goes something like this:
1. Depress the Power-On switch (Keyboard or on the Box)

2.The PRAM battery, which maintains fundamental info the machine 
needs to get started, delivers a logic signal to the Power supply 
(through the On Switch) that allows the power supply to ramp its 
output voltages up.

3. When the 5 volts comes up to specification (usually the 5 V but 
could be a logical determination of all Voltages) the Chime is issued 
and also a Power-On Rest logic pulse is sent to selected logic chips 
that preset their logic condition for proper start-up. And starts the 
Boot process. When I was designing power supplies the specs usually 
called for 150 milliseconds from switch on to Power-On Reset

4. The first item in the process is a Hardware test. This is where 
faulty connections are detected. Open connectors, broken cables, 
faulty PCI cards and  such.
4a. Somewhere now the Video should start. Any failure should result 
in a Freeze or Hanging Machine.

5. If all is OK then the machine proceeds to load the Operating System.

6. All the Extensions load and the various drivers.

7. Auto Memory Test is initiated if that is set in the Memory control 
Panel. This can take a very long time. Any start up items are then 
started.

8. Finally everything is up and running.

(These comments are fairly generic and may not be exact for the Genesis)

I mention all this because you said that some where in the process 
you got a notice that there was no video.

Where was the machine in the process before you got the notice that 
there was no video and how was it delivered to you if there was 
indeed no video?

I assume you have all the necessary adapters to run Non-Mac Monitors 
with the Genesis ( I don't know that they are or are not needed. some 
one else on this list should be able to tell you)

Also remember that Mac SCSI is not the same as PC SCSI as far as 
drivers go. I won't get into that now.

I hope this helps.

Ernie



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