d8b Forum

Pulled d8b #2 out of its storage box today. Booted up 5.0 ok with an initial CMOS complaint but booted again subsequently without issue. Swapped out the 50mm fan on top of the CPU heat sink with a new 50mm Fractal (louder than the original). Removed it and put back the original. VFD system 43 errors from there on out...

• Nothing whatsoever written to video monitor; no video signal detected
• Disk spins up but no arm seek sounds
• Reseated all cards and connectors including RAM stick
• Replaced the battery

New style motherboard, 300 MHz Celeron, 256M RAM, OS 5.0. I was grounded the whole time to the chassis. Any suggestions, please? Thanks.

Disk spins up but no arm seek sounds

Check your BIOS settings particularly the boot drive.

Reseated all cards and connectors including RAM stick

Check again. If it isn't the BIOS, you missed something.

Thanks, Frank, but the video monitor is getting no signal so no way to check BIOS. I'll try re-seating everything again in the morning.

From -

http://www.mackie.com/support/FAQ/d8b_error_messages.html

"System 43 Error -

11. Fried CPU motherboard or other cards in the CPU. Last but not least this is a possible cause. This is typical when nothing is shown on the XVGA screen when the CPU is powered up. Replace the defective piece of hardware."

Nothing showing up on my XVGA screen is exactly what is happening. How does one go about troubleshooting this scenario when there are no diagnostic messages whatever from the CPU to the video monitor? Do I just start swapping out cards until it boots? I've re-seated everything multiple times.

Fortunately, I have a functioning 5.1 desk but this now non-booting 5.0 desk is supposed to be my hot spare. Any ideas for troubleshooting, repair, parts, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

bitSync wrote:Thanks, Frank, but the video monitor is getting no signal so no way to check BIOS. I'll try re-seating everything again in the morning.

If you're not seeing BIOS info displayed, there's most likely something going on between the hardware and the video card. Pull that video card out of your working unit and install it, then rinse/repeat... that's gonna pass/condemn the video subsystem one way or another. Unfortunately, it sounds like you got a Street Fight on your hands - however, I wouldn't just roll over on this one. Conversely, you've got a working unit so it gives you a degree of flexibility to troubleshoot the unit and make the determination by yourself. 1st things 1st, get some pixel-action from the VGA and go from there...

Post back here with your results...

You knew it was coming, so here it is:
[Standard Mgmt Disclaimer] - "Your actual mileage may vary."

Peace

doktor1360 wrote:Pull that video card out of your working unit and install it, then rinse/repeat... that's gonna pass/condemn the video subsystem one way or another.

Hey Doktor, thanks for the feedback. I'll tell you, this makes me a little nervous. One of the things I like most about my working d8b is that it's working. I think I may try what you suggest only maybe using a newly purchased graphics card, if I can find one. Now, I wonder where I can find a 14 year old NOS ATI Rage 128 Pro graphics adapter...

I just found 2 identical ATI VGA cards on eBay for super cheap. I'll resume my troubleshooting/fixing when they arrive.

bitSync wrote:I just found 2 identical ATI VGA cards on eBay for super cheap. I'll resume my troubleshooting/fixing when they arrive.

Keep me in the Looper, Brutha-Man...

Peace

doktor1360 wrote:
Keep me in the Looper, Brutha-Man...

Peace

Most definitely. Thanks for your interest.

By the way, I just unhooked everything, relocated it into the (now uber cramped) studio and hooked it all back up with the same bootless results, no output to the video monitor. I've noticed that sometimes the tweakishness of these boards responds well to some physical manipulation and wholesale re-hookup, but not in this case. I think something's truly toasted; I'll keep you posted.

Cross posting with a purpose... This thread ends here and picks up in another thread here -

http://www.d8bforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1088#p8625

The error was encountered during a CPU fan upgrade addressed in the thread link above. The System 43 error message was resolved with the support of the forum in that thread.