Amiga not working : (

[Big Seany]

Right - I have an Amiga 500+, basically it only works occasionally, and I have the following problems with it:

1) Nothing happens at all when you switch it on. The screen is just completely blank. The light for power comes on, but the disc doesn't do anything or make any noise.

2) There is no sound via the standard RF connection, or via an RGB connection provided. Can this be rectified by simply plugging it into my stereo? If this is the case I need to buy some longer leads to connect the stereo to the RF unit/rgb lead respectively.

I know that the Amiga normally flashes different colours which indicate the problem with the unit (for example I think that the screen flashes green if the disc drive is ****ed). But the screen on mine is just black or a veeeery dark blue. the lad I bought it off reckoned just giving it a clean. How on earth do I do that?

Any other suggestions appreciated.

[blizzard]

grab a amiga to scart lead u might find one here electronic universe 01933 271500 if its to far away i can pick it up and post to u if u pay for it

it could be the rf modulator thats had it the amiga might be ok

[andy572]

Do you have a black, Y-shaped phono cable for the connecting the left and right audio output to the single input of the modulator, seany? There should have been one with the Amiga and without it, you won't get audio output unless you use the phono connections with a stereo amp (using two phono to phono cables). Oh, if you don't have the Y-cable handy, you could use a single output into the modulator in order to test the audio, of course.

The other possibility is that the battery inside the 500+ has leaked. I haven't checked mine in a long time, so I can't offer much; but there's a fair bit of on-line comment about the importance of replacing this part in a 500+. Having said that, I'd first go for the more obvious possibility of the connections. I just include it so that you know and have one more thing to eliminate. Not that the audio stuff will help if you can't even load a disk...

The modulator has to be considered a problem part, but as you may know, that disk drive should be clicking without a disk in the drive. Back to the modulator, if you have a phono cable handy, you could test the video output by using the composite 'Video Out' at the side of the modulator. With an A500+, you'll only get a black and white signal, but you'll have tested one more connection. I'm afraid that I don't remember the error colours, so I'll try to have a look around if you've made no progress and I feel somewhat less icky than at present.

If you haven't already, it may be worth your while having a look at the English Amiga Board. There's a hardware problem part of the forum and some very helpful participants, so that could be worth a try.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Good luck.