MSX Won't boot on 2-slot

Shady994 · Jan 18, 2009

I noticed yesterday that Metal Slug X will no longer boot on my 2-slot (Unibios 2.3).

It gets a second or so into the title screen then freezes and displays a warning message saying:

Warning
this rom cartridge is for use with original SNK boards only.
Copying of SNK boards is prohibited and may result blah blah blah...

Basically it thinks my 2-slot is a knock-off. It worked fine up until yesterday. Has anyone come across this before? Have any idea what the problem might be? All the other games I've tried still work OK on it.

Cheers!

FAT$TACKS · Jan 18, 2009

I had that problem before on a board. I went in and cleared out the ram and I've not had it after that. I had never seen that before and don't know what causes it but if you find out more please share the info. Kind of a curious thing.

Shady994 · Jan 18, 2009

Thanks for the reply!

I just tried to reset the backup ram a few times and it didn't make a difference. I might have to get my debugging hat on!

Xian Xi · Jan 18, 2009

Maybe you have a bootleg 2 slot or a bootleg MSX.

Can you post a pic of it?

Shady994 · Jan 18, 2009

I don't think either the MVS or the cart are boots, the 2-slot looks just the same as the other two I have, and I checked out the MSX when I bought it and cleaned it up. I will take some pics in 15 mins or so when my camera battery has some charge in it. It was working fine with MSX up until yesterday. The only thing I've done to it is audio/12v mod a few weeks ago, as its being consolised at the moment.

I just tested my MSX out with a different 2-slot, both with Unibios and normal US bios, and it worked fine. It seems to be something with the board.

Cheers!

Xian Xi · Jan 18, 2009

Any dips on?

Shady994 · Jan 18, 2009

Yes I've tried turning the dips on and off, no change

Pics:
The screen when it freezes

MSX top board:

MSX bottom board:

2-Slot:

Xian Xi · Jan 18, 2009

What are those wires going under the board? I'm assuming an audio mod but you should probably tap the solder points under the board to conceal the wiring.

Did you check the soft dips as well?

Shady994 · Jan 18, 2009

Yes I tapped the audio from where the audio amp IC used to be. ATM the wires go to a jack plug. I just tucked it under there for the photo. It will be out of sight when the cover is fitted.

I think I'll get out the continuity tester and logic probe and start testing the board mid week. There has definitely got to be something funky going on somewhere!

I'll try playing with the soft dips now, and I need to test it with a normal bios as well.

FAT$TACKS · Jan 18, 2009

When I got that message on mine it was just those words on a black screen. It seems odd that the game starts to load up like that.

Razoola · Jan 19, 2009

joeaverage said:
When I got that message on mine it was just those words on a black screen. It seems odd that the game starts to load up like that.

It's the game protection kicking in for whatever reason. Give the cart contacts a good clean and see if that helps. Normally this game uses the bank swapping regions for protection.. Clearing the backup RAM may help also but I feel cleaning the contacts will do the trick.

Shady994 · Jan 19, 2009

joeaverage said:
When I got that message on mine it was just those words on a black screen. It seems odd that the game starts to load up like that.

It only starts the game when I have the Unibios installed. When using a normal bios it doesn't start the game.

I have given the contacts a clean but I'll try it again tomorrow, and I'll clean out the contacts on the board as well. The fact that it occurs only on this board does point to the board being the problem. I'll try it out in a 1FZ tomorrow as well.

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys!

Xian Xi · Jan 19, 2009

Put the bios from the FZ into the 2 slot.

chris1 · Jan 20, 2009

My MVS Cleaning Method

Cleaning Contacts=Left

Two NES games lined up both cleaned using different methods

Left"
Scotch Brite(Red Type-Home Depot)+ 91% Alcohol(works perfectly)

Right>Cotton Swab + 91% Alcohol(Graphical Errors on Screen)

buaku · Jan 20, 2009

chris1 said:
Cleaning Contacts=Left

Two NES games lined up both cleaned using different methods

Left"
Scotch Brite(Red Type-Home Depot)+ 91% Alcohol(works perfectly)

Right>Cotton Swab + 91% Alcohol(Graphical Errors on Screen)

weird..the one on the right looks cleaner to me. Well at least shinier, lol.

chris1 · Jan 20, 2009

buaku said:
weird..the one on the right looks cleaner to me. Well at least shinier, lol.

It's hard for me to catch it with a camera..I took several pics but just can't get the right angle.

When I clean contacts I get all that yellow-gold off and the contacts become silver in color.

It comes off quite easily..

buaku · Jan 20, 2009

chris1 said:
It's hard for me to catch it with a camera..I took several pics but just can't get the right angle.

When I clean contacts I get all that yellow-gold off and the contacts become silver in color.

It comes off quite easily..

Ahh yeah it's hard to get pics of shiny stuff sometimes. Either that or the flash bounces off the shiny when you don't want it to.

MSX Won't boot on 2-slot

Shady994

n00b

FAT$TACKS

Not Average Joe., Not Average Homeowner., Not Aver

Shady994

n00b

Xian Xi

JammaNationX,

Shady994

n00b

Xian Xi

JammaNationX,

Shady994

n00b

Xian Xi

JammaNationX,

Shady994

n00b

FAT$TACKS

Not Average Joe., Not Average Homeowner., Not Aver

Razoola

Divine Hand of the UniBIOS,

Shady994

n00b

Xian Xi

JammaNationX,

chris1

POCKETBIKE NUT,

buaku

Hardened Shock Trooper

chris1

POCKETBIKE NUT,

buaku

Hardened Shock Trooper