Falcon 030: does it work without the timer IC

[Frank Bergemann]

Hi,

i try to replace the timer IC, which has a battery inside, that is
exhausted.
I could remove the old IC. But i still have to insert the new one.
But in between i wanted to check, if the Falcon is still alive.
But it doesn't show any boot screen.

Can someone confirm, that it just doesn't work without the timer IC?
Or should it do without? (Then i maybe damaged it).

- thanks!

rgds,
Frank

[Matthias Arndt]

Hello,

you cannot leave the IC out. The chip contains some NVRAM.
That stores more information than just the clock such as harddisk
configuration, boot language etc.

cheers,
Matthias

Post by Frank Bergemann
Hi,
i try to replace the timer IC, which has a battery inside, that is
exhausted.
I could remove the old IC. But i still have to insert the new one.
But in between i wanted to check, if the Falcon is still alive.
But it doesn't show any boot screen.
Can someone confirm, that it just doesn't work without the timer IC?
Or should it do without? (Then i maybe damaged it).
- thanks!
rgds,
Frank

[x***@cix.compulink.co.uk]

Post by Frank Bergemann
i try to replace the timer IC, which has a battery inside, that is
exhausted.
I could remove the old IC. But i still have to insert the new one.
But in between i wanted to check, if the Falcon is still alive.
But it doesn't show any boot screen.
Can someone confirm, that it just doesn't work without the timer IC?
Or should it do without? (Then i maybe damaged it).

The clockchip of the Falcon also contains some non-volatile RAM in
which the machine stores some boot and configuration parameters.
Therefore it probably won't boot without the chip.

I suggest you solder a chipholder into the motherboard, so next
time you can replace the chip easily - that's what I did on mine.
This also makes it less likely that the chip will be damaged
during soldering. If you do this, you have to either discard the
shielding under the keyboard, or cut a hole in it for the clock
chip, since it will now sit too high for the shielding to fit over
it. I used a Dremmel-type sanding disc as a cutter, but it can be
done with a Stanley (or similar hobby) knife, though it takes a
*lot* of cuts to get through the mumetal. Alternativley, drill
holes at the corners of the rectangle to be removed and use a file
or sawblade.

Good luck!

Regards,

/Peter/