new D8B user have some issues

[billyg]

hello out there,
I bought a used D8B and have mic/line I/Os working, passing signal, but am having issues with several things:

it works sometimes for a few hours, then I start to get random repeating noise on some channels, or
upon bootup it locks into a repeating loop with all faders jumping up together and makes a clicking sound
or, upon bootup, sometimes the meters just twinkle randomly and no signal passes...

I welcome any input... please!?

[arjepsen]

well, it's an old machine
Make sure the cpu-unit is able to ventilate properly.
Also, you might want to clean the connectors on the big cable going into the desk.

Have you reinstalled the OS?
Does it have the stock clock card, or the apogee clock card?

[billyg]

Hi arjepsen, thanks for the reply...
so, the CPU is well ventilated, contacts on big connector to mixer all cleaned (using non-conductive elec cleaner), sattempted to load the OS, but now the screen just says "loading mackieos, please wait" ... what to do next?

[billyg]

ok, got it rebooted, seems to fix most of the current gremlins, but I'm sure more are lurking in the dark...

what about inherent noise, sort of like the sound of tape hiss, in each channel? is this normal?

[Phil.c]

Are all the gains turned up all the way?

[billyg]

I turn all gains down and I get that tape hiss noise, even when all strips are muted; also, it's back to making that random noise across most channels, sounds like a motorcycle engine starting up, and does it after the unit has been on for 45 min or so... I have the cover off and it's ventilated fine... any thoughts?

[arjepsen]

did you manage to reinstall, ?
If so - did you do a format on the way? (i've had some issues, if I didn't format during the installation).

Also which clock card do you have?

I'm thinking the issue could also be powersupply related. There are some old capacitors in there, and they do have a certain lifespan. But first lets rule out other causes.

[billyg]

I have the apogee clock card, how do I format it for the install?
I am also wondering about the power supply... the sound it is making, besides the "tape hiss" type sound, is like a motor that is putting along on a few cylinders, and it's random across the channels

[arjepsen]

If you are installing from floppy disks, there is a file on disk 1 that you have to open, and add/change it to have:
Format: on
In it.

Check here in the database:
http://www.sonido-7.com/d8b/maintenance.html#Post4

[billyg]

thanks for that, but I don't have a floppy with the OS, how can I get that?