Can you damage an a4k by...

Plugging in a Buster chip the wrong way? :)

No I didn't, but a friend of mine who should know better did. The machine ran for about 2-3 minutes (at a blank screen) before I noticed the problem. He had plugged the Buster chip in (it had been out to clean the contacts) 90 degrees off its correct orientation.

A couple of logic ICs got hot, but not "super hot". When I found the problem I reinstalled the buster and the logic ICs no longer get hot.

No damage APPEARS to have been done, but my question is, CAN this damage an a4k mb or the Buster chip? Or is it just one of those bungles you can usually walk away from unscathed?

I'm surprised the Buster has been plugged incorrectly! I think it has a "guiding" corner, making it real hard to go wrong... (unless excessive force has been used?) :unsure:

Excess force probably WAS used. :) It was hard to get out without damaging the socket.

ICs getting hot is a very bad sign. If the Buster is fine I wouldnt bet on the ICs being good...

If its still working hes damn lucky... My rule of thumb is... "If it doesnt fit, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!", lol.

We all make mistakes but excessive force should never be needed in anything of this nature.

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Originally Posted by abraXXious

Excess force probably WAS used. :).

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return the favour to your friend! :D The Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Amiga's have been informed.

Aye, wait until he gets an i7 and force it in side ways! :lol:

Well, to get more sirious here:

Yes, that can damage both, A4000 and Buster. I would say Buster is dead now, couse it got 5V on a pin where that should not be ;) If buster is dead, that could be the problem why the A4000 is not starting up. I _think_ an A4000 without buster is showing some strange behaviour I read, there is no "standard error", couse some bus-signals are "unclear".

So 1st would be to get the buster tested (in right position :Doh:) and see, what the test-A4000 will do. But be warned, test an devective chip _could_ also be risky for the running a4000 board. But install an running buster in the devective board, has the same effect on the working buster chip. It's up to you how you are doing that, buster chips are still available.

if some damage is done to A4000, it would be bad. Not easy to repair due to SMD. Try also without any Zorro cards (if there are any), couse buster is doing that function, maybe there is a problem that without zorro cards is not there.

gehtjanx

Hi Gehtjanx,

way ahead of you mate - I had a spare buster chip which is what was put in (just to narrow it down).

Now waiting on Chip Ram module before I can test any further. When that arrives I will get it up and running (assuming no damage has occurred to the a4k mb) and then swap back to the original Buster chip to see if it is still ok.

Hi

Time a go one of my A4KD's mobos go dead because the socketed SBuster "jumps". Correctly installed, but sometimes "jumps".... So, mobo go to the Amiga's Heaven and I needed to change for another one with a soldered SBuster.

Now all is working fine. :thumbsup:

Best wishes

simply put -

1. The buster is now most likely a Key-Fob / Key Ring item
2. The socket will now probably need to be repaired / replaced.

Sorry Abraxy, the Buster is perhaps the weakest point next to the Battery on the A4000.