I've just bought my first woodgrain in about 12 years. The only games I own that I can get to work are mostly older ones- frogger, combat etc. All my other games (some older, some more recent) either have a wavy black and white screen or just a plain blank screen. I've tried tuning the tv, I've tried the vertical and horizontal hold knobs, and I know most of the games are PAL, so what is wrong? The tv, the console, or the games?
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Problem with my Atari :(
Started by Stroxalarb, Mar 14 2002 5:04 AM
14 replies to this topic
#1 OFFLINE
Stroxalarb
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Star Raider
- Location:Melbourne, Australia
Posted Thu Mar 14, 2002 5:04 AM
#2 OFFLINE
moycon
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Quadrunner
- moycon?? What the hell is that??
- Location:Acworth, GA
Posted Thu Mar 14, 2002 6:28 AM
Sounds like you might have a fried convibulator????
How old are the games? Maybe they need a good cleaning?
I had one Atari 2600 where I had to shove something down between the unit and the cart, The added pressure would make the games work! That was weird.
How old are the games? Maybe they need a good cleaning?
I had one Atari 2600 where I had to shove something down between the unit and the cart, The added pressure would make the games work! That was weird.
#3 OFFLINE
Bez
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Dragonstomper
- Location:Stockholm, Sweden
Posted Thu Mar 14, 2002 9:04 AM
Seems like I have a similart problemo..Check under hardware.
Stroxalarb: Do you get full colour in some games, or none at all?
I´m trying to hook an NTSC sys to a PAL TV. Screen is B&W, fuzzy and occasional noise.
Moycon, any suggestions? A convibulator is what?
Stroxalarb: Do you get full colour in some games, or none at all?
I´m trying to hook an NTSC sys to a PAL TV. Screen is B&W, fuzzy and occasional noise.
Moycon, any suggestions? A convibulator is what?
#4 OFFLINE
Adrian M
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Quadrunner
Posted Thu Mar 14, 2002 9:40 AM
My 4 switch Vader has the same problem. It took many hours of trial and error to figure out whether or not it was the console, the adapter, the cables or the switchbox.
#5 OFFLINE
Bez
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Dragonstomper
- Location:Stockholm, Sweden
Posted Thu Mar 14, 2002 10:16 AM
Adrian M: What was the problem?
Just curious.
By the way,is there really a difference between US RCA cables and European ones?
Henrik
Just curious.
By the way,is there really a difference between US RCA cables and European ones?
Henrik
#6 OFFLINE
Stroxalarb
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Star Raider
- Location:Melbourne, Australia
Posted Thu Mar 14, 2002 9:57 PM
Beserker: Some games have colour, sound and everything- only the quality of the old tv stops them from being perfect. Other games have no colour, some have a really wavy screen but you can still sort of make out some stuff. Other games have either a plain blank screen or something that looks like a giant vertical worm withering across the screen........weird stuff..........
(oh yeah, and what do you mean by 'check under hardware'?)
I don't want to shove things into the console or take it apart because I don't know anything about that stuff and I might mangle something.
And the games are all roughly the same age....made in the early to mid 80's like most games (that I know of anyway). How do you clean them apart from wiping the outside??
(oh yeah, and what do you mean by 'check under hardware'?)
I don't want to shove things into the console or take it apart because I don't know anything about that stuff and I might mangle something.
And the games are all roughly the same age....made in the early to mid 80's like most games (that I know of anyway). How do you clean them apart from wiping the outside??
#7 OFFLINE
Stroxalarb
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Star Raider
- Location:Melbourne, Australia
Posted Thu Mar 14, 2002 10:00 PM
Adrian: what turned out to be the problem, and how did you find out what it was? Did you find a way to fix it?
#8 OFFLINE
Adrian M
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Quadrunner
Posted Thu Mar 14, 2002 10:04 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Stroxalarb:
Adrian: what turned out to be the problem, and how did you find out what it was? Did you find a way to fix it?
It was the 2600 console itself, and I know this because the components worked fine on my other working 2600. I don't really know what was wrong with it specifically. I plan on getting it serviced someday probably at 4jays.com.
#9 OFFLINE
Stroxalarb
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Star Raider
- Location:Melbourne, Australia
Posted Fri Mar 15, 2002 12:16 AM
hmmmm......i payed a lot of money for my console.......i really hope it's not that!!!
#10 OFFLINE
Atari Master
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River Patroller
Posted Fri Mar 15, 2002 12:28 AM
I got mine for free but I don't know if it works or not.Does anyone know if the game will show without a JoyStick?
[ 03-15-2002: Message edited by: Atari Master ]
[ 03-15-2002: Message edited by: Atari Master ]
#11 OFFLINE
moycon
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Quadrunner
- moycon?? What the hell is that??
- Location:Acworth, GA
Posted Fri Mar 15, 2002 12:50 AM
Yes even without a joystick plugged in the game will show up.
#12 OFFLINE
CaliColts
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Moonsweeper
- Location:Western U.S.A.
Posted Fri Mar 15, 2002 12:51 AM
Here's some tips i know:
You dont need joysticks plugged in for the game to display in most if not all games. I run 2600's out of the case and just on my bench to test, works fine.
To clean those games, use a paper clip to slide in the slot on the game, there is a tab you need to release in there then you can slide that plastic back to expose the contacts. Then get a cleaning swab and some rubbing alcohol and scrub those contacts. Your swab should turn a nice brown to blackish color in this process. Then make sure its dry before you try it again. Dont worry much about damaging the contacts, unless you are a bodybuilder or use steel wool you should be fine. This will cure 99% of non-working carts.
STROX - Most 2600's are pretty much bulletproof if you are semi careful in what you do inside, the layout inside is very basic.
Hope this helps ya
You dont need joysticks plugged in for the game to display in most if not all games. I run 2600's out of the case and just on my bench to test, works fine.
To clean those games, use a paper clip to slide in the slot on the game, there is a tab you need to release in there then you can slide that plastic back to expose the contacts. Then get a cleaning swab and some rubbing alcohol and scrub those contacts. Your swab should turn a nice brown to blackish color in this process. Then make sure its dry before you try it again. Dont worry much about damaging the contacts, unless you are a bodybuilder or use steel wool you should be fine. This will cure 99% of non-working carts.
STROX - Most 2600's are pretty much bulletproof if you are semi careful in what you do inside, the layout inside is very basic.
Hope this helps ya
#13 OFFLINE
Atari Master
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River Patroller
Posted Fri Mar 15, 2002 1:19 AM
I just hope an pray that it works.I got some games from Moycon and I want to play em...
#14 OFFLINE
Bez
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Dragonstomper
- Location:Stockholm, Sweden
Posted Fri Mar 15, 2002 10:38 AM
Stroxalarb:
What I ment was: Check under the topic "Hardware", on this very site (Atari Age), and there you can see my problem described under my post "Basic Help". (If you´re interested)
What I ment was: Check under the topic "Hardware", on this very site (Atari Age), and there you can see my problem described under my post "Basic Help". (If you´re interested)
#15 OFFLINE
Stroxalarb
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Star Raider
- Location:Melbourne, Australia
Posted Sat Mar 16, 2002 7:03 AM
Just did that- thanks.
But good news is, I fixed my console!!!!!! yiiiiippeeeee!
I switched something at the back labeled 'channel' or something, and my games work now :P I can't believe it was something so stupidly easy :P
Another thing, most of my carts are ones that have the chip-type-thing exposed. Is it ok to clean that? Or do I have to clean inside aswell? And is there anything that I can substitute for rubbing alcohol?
Ta
How do you clean the contacts insidet the console?
[ 03-16-2002: Message edited by: Stroxalarb ]
But good news is, I fixed my console!!!!!! yiiiiippeeeee!
I switched something at the back labeled 'channel' or something, and my games work now :P I can't believe it was something so stupidly easy :P
Another thing, most of my carts are ones that have the chip-type-thing exposed. Is it ok to clean that? Or do I have to clean inside aswell? And is there anything that I can substitute for rubbing alcohol?
Ta
How do you clean the contacts insidet the console?
[ 03-16-2002: Message edited by: Stroxalarb ]
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