Another "OMFG CROSSHATCH STUCK" thread.

Alright, so here's my problem:
I have had a Neo-Geo 1-slot MVS in my Franken-cab (Asteroids to Frogger to JAMMA to MVS convert) for about a year now, and all is well. However, as many of you know swapping carts is not very convenient. So, I decided to do something. I went up to the local arcade distributer, and lo and behold they had a broken 4-slot that they would give me for $20. Hey, why not? I took it home. Upon connecting it, inserting a cart, and turning it on I noticed that it has the somewhat-common "stuck at crosshatch" problem. I tried different combos of games in the 4 slots. No luck. I cleaned it as described at hardmvs. No luck. I even put UniBios 2.1 on it. Still no luck. I read somewhere in another thread that UniBios 2.1 would allow this kind of problem to be diagnosed more easily through the memory viewer at crosshatch, though I saw no further discussion in my search results. So, here's my obvious question: How do I fix this? Does the memory viewer in UniBios 2.1 make this a solvable problem now?

Guess I'm down $20.

Try reseating the conection between the two PCBS.

with the unibios v2.1 do the following. Once on the crosshatch press the button to get the memory viewer. Then scroll to register 000100 and take a photo and post it to this thread.

Raz

SpamYouToDeath said:

Guess I'm down $20.

Click to expand...

Worst comes to Worst you can always resell it.."broken"...Here or on Ebay..

As many people look for the 4 Slot Shell/top metal cover that's on the boards...They may be missing it for a 4 slot of their own or use it for a project.

Razoola said:

with the unibios v2.1 do the following. Once on the crosshatch press the button to get the memory viewer. Then scroll to register 000100 and take a photo and post it to this thread.

Raz

Click to expand...

Hey Raz... which button is "the" button to push to get the memory viewer?
-J

EDIT: I still need to test the fricking PSU voltages...

norton9478 said:

Try reseating the conection between the two PCBS.

Click to expand...

I have already done this in the process of putting in UB2.1.

Razoola said:

with the unibios v2.1 do the following. Once on the crosshatch press the button to get the memory viewer. Then scroll to register 000100 and take a photo and post it to this thread.

Raz

Click to expand...

Isn't that supposed to contain some intelligible text or something?

Ok, from the screenshot its clear to me that the lowest address line is stuck for some reason in the high position (even address fetches are ruturning data for the next odd address). This is comfirmed by the following in your piture;

0x000100 0x4f2d 0x4f2d 0x4f00 0x4f00

It should read;

0x000100 0x4e45 0x4f2d 0x4745 0x4f00

The good news for you is this is going to be fixable quite easily, the problam is going to be of finding out whats causing the address line A0 to be stuck high. First thing to do is to be sure all SLOTs give the same result in the area I pointed out. If so the problem is probably going to be around the top and bottom PCB connectors.

I hope other people find this helpfull in how to track the dreaded 'CROSS HATCH OF DEATH' fault.

Raz

P.S. UncaJJ, its button D and it actually tells you in the center of the crosshatch screen.

I'm not seeing anything with just my eyes; I'm gonna pull out a multimeter and start checking traces. Damn, this may take a long time. Can you gie me any more specifics on where the problem may be physically located?

EDIT: Hmmm... well, right now my MVS stuff is primarly in storage, so I only have 1 game with me to test with. But... is the memory viewer supposed to work with nothing in slot 1? In the other 3 slots the cart I have does nothing; the mem viewer just gives a blank screen.

EDIT2: I seem to be having problems tracing out of CN10... I think it's the problem. I also read somewhere that the battery can leak and cause corrosion. I'll check it out in the morning as I'm not going to attempt solder work at 1:30AM.

SpamYouToDeath said:

EDIT: Hmmm... well, right now my MVS stuff is primarly in storage, so I only have 1 game with me to test with. But... is the memory viewer supposed to work with nothing in slot 1? In the other 3 slots the cart I have does nothing; the mem viewer just gives a blank screen.

Click to expand...

The memory viewer will work if there is no game in slot one. Like you say you'll get a blank screen. Simply press the select game up and down buttons, once you select the slot with the game in you should see the graphics.

Raz

Oh...

Alright... It appears to be the same with all the games. Still looking around CN10 as I think that there may be a problem around there.

INSERT COIN




It was CN10. Pin 5B was going to a broken trace, corroded by the battery. Hope this thread helps other people.

(Woohoo! I just got a 4 slot for $20!)

Nice one, glad you got it working

Raz

Razoola said:

P.S. UncaJJ, its button D and it actually tells you in the center of the crosshatch screen.

Click to expand...

Thanks Raz,

I just don't remember seeing that... *sigh* Haven't had much time to look at it lately though...