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**Video Poker, Keno, Slots, 21** Gaming machines => WMS Williams Video => Topic started by: teamclark4 on March 05, 2015, 10:41:21 PM

Title: BB2 - Bios Level - Solved
Post by: teamclark4 on March 05, 2015, 10:41:21 PM
Have a BB2 CPU that i'm putting in my BB1 dual screen.  Is there a similar issue like there is on the BB1 where there are potential bios incompatibilities based upon the OS card level?


If i put in Dean Martin Wild Party it uses a 512mb game CF and a 256mb OS CF (sssg-1220 - family e1.11). It boots fine to the config screen.


If i put in Dashing Dolphins, which is is a 512mb game CF and a 512mb OS CF (sssg-1691 - family H13.30). it goes all the way to the point where it is about to load the Blue Configuration screen; but instead i get a black screen and it says "connecting to gamemgr...". It just hangs there. This game and os work in my BB1 CPU, original WMS CF Cards.


I have tried other 512mb os cards in that H13.xx family and they all do the same thing (connecting to gamemgr...) , and have also tried other games like  Golden Emporer (that use that same H13.xx family).


The bios chip says "sbot-00002 - 3000". Is that the latest i need for the BB2 for those H13.xx games ? Do i need to roll back to a 2000 version like on the BB1 ?


Thanks for any feedback.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: rickhunter on March 05, 2015, 10:56:19 PM
You have the latest bios provided that the chips has what the sticker says it does, and yes some OS' don't work on the earlier bios.  Do you have 2GB of Ram on your bb2 mpu?
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 05, 2015, 11:00:31 PM
1gb.. I notice that a lot of the bb2 games need 2gb; but figured dashing dolphins should load fine since it worked on my 512mb BB1...
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: coolwavepic on March 05, 2015, 11:04:04 PM
Your main door switch is open right? Did these games work on a bb1?

Rick, why would 2gb memory matter when these games run on BB1s? Not being a jerk, just asking. :)
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 05, 2015, 11:07:12 PM
right, worked on the BB1 yesterday. If i put in the Dean Martin Wild Party it boots to the config fine (256mb os e1.11). So that's why i was leaning towards a possible os level issue.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: coaster on March 06, 2015, 05:51:17 AM
Dashing Dolphins needs 2 gig of memory to run.Thats strange it ran on a BB1.My list shows it as a BB2 game only.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: rickhunter on March 06, 2015, 06:17:54 AM
I am not entirely sure if it does require 2GB or not.  But it is something to try.  All my bb2 boxes have been upgraded to 2GB, and I have never had issues with any games loading.  From what you describe, it is the only different thing from my setup.  Also memory requirements are different between bb1 and bb2, just because it works on a bb1 with 512MB doesn't mean it will run on a BB2 with 1GB, you can't always use that as a guideline.   Just out of curiosity, what clear are you using?  I will try and go find a 1GB stick to put into a bb2 and try to load the game you are trying to see if I get same results, but I want to use the same things you are using.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: coolwavepic on March 06, 2015, 06:36:28 AM
Dashing Dolphins needs 2 gig of memory to run.Thats strange it ran on a BB1.My list shows it as a BB2 game only.


Yes. It runs like complete ass on a BB1.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: idesign on March 06, 2015, 06:51:42 AM
Dashing Dolphins uses SSSG1681, H13.31, sssg-1691 - family H13.30 is wrong.  Try it with SSSG1681.  With a BB2, some of the older games will only work with SSSG1683 or less.  Also, are both PC boards in your BB2 CPU all blue of is one of them green?
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 06, 2015, 08:10:13 AM
Thanks for the responses guys.


Jeff, The Dashing Dolphins with the SSSG-1691 does work on my BB1; yes it's about unplayable it's so slow but it work. I will try scaling back to 1681 and try it again.  Both the boards are blue.


Rick, I have ordered a 2gb memory stick; because i will need it anyway; but if you find out that 1gb does not do the job and you have similar "connecting to gamemgr" hangups then that would be evidence that it's the problem. The clear i'm using is my same 64mb 1810; which on the BB2 i always get to the green "cleared" screen; and Dean Martin Wild Party loads; so i'm under the impression that the 512mb version of the BB2 clear i've seen is more for the upper level BB2 dongle games ?


FYI, i have nothing plugged into the BB2 cpu except the upper VGA lcd cable and the lower DVI lcd cable.


Jurisdiction chip is Illinois.


Trying SSSG1681 next.


 
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: coolwavepic on March 06, 2015, 08:17:46 AM
Are the game cards and OS cards original?


The 512 - 1851 Clear card is faster and doesn't load up the green screen. I recommend finding one if you change your games a lot... like I do...lol
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 06, 2015, 08:24:15 AM
The game and os cards are WMS cards; though i've restored different games and os for my testing. The same WMS CF cards will load in my BB1, i just reverified that, so i know the cards are good.



Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: Blueridgeslots on March 06, 2015, 08:36:27 AM
Unplug top monitor cable from CPU
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 06, 2015, 03:54:28 PM
Wow, a whole wasted day troubleshooting the BB2 boot problem. Still no resolution, seems like  my only chance is when i get my 2gb memory stick on Tuesday if it will load then. I have done basically everything i can think of.


This is what i've done today, with no luck.  :Scratch-Head:


- unplugged top LCD
- used 1851 clear chip, instead of 1810
- tried 10 other WMS cards, for both game and os. Tried multiple games (all using 512mb game and 512mb os).
- Dean Martin Wild Party (256mb os), still will load fine.  Doesn't help me with the all the 512mb os BB2 games though.
- Tried the BB2 cpu in a different BB1 machine
- new nvram batteries
- swapped jurisdiction chips to known good one
- swapped the 1gb memory stick with another i had (same specs) from a laptop.
- reseated BB2 components
- Don't have a 2nd BB2 cpu to further rule out things.




So it's stopping right at the point where it tries to load the blue configuration screen (ie.. connecting to gamemgr message).  No errors, no jackpot-reset key response, door switch is open, just hangs there.


It seems like those 512mb os's are wage-net? Unless i'm thinking of something different.  It's as if it's looking for some type of connection (network or otherwise) and can't find it; like i don't have something connected to the backplane that i should (though remember Dean Martin loads fine on the same BB2).  Or it can't load the game into the 1gb memory. Though the same game loads into my 512mb BB1. Maybe the BB2 allocates memory differently? I just find it hard to believe that the base BB2 that comes with 1gb wouldn't load a BB1/BB2 game (the earliest ones made for a BB2).


Or i have a glitched up BB2 cpu; but the fact that Dean Martin works makes me think that's not the problem.


Open to any more suggestions. I think i've tried everything except the bios chip, which my eprom reader won't accomodate. [size=78%] [/size] :pull_hair:

Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: Blueridgeslots on March 06, 2015, 04:20:43 PM
How long are you waiting.??
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 06, 2015, 04:54:37 PM
On the "connecting to gamemgr" a good 20 - 30 minutes.. 
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: bpracer on March 06, 2015, 05:26:52 PM
On the "connecting to gamemgr" a good 20 - 30 minutes..

No fail to trigger timeout???

Leave it on "connecting to gamemgr" and go grab a bite to eat, see what happens.

What version of OS have you tried?

Bryan
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: rickhunter on March 06, 2015, 05:44:10 PM
Put a 1GB memory dim and the game loaded up with no issues.  I used OS1696 as it was the one I had handy.  I have a 19" bottom monitor and a 22 inch top, which only displas a blue wms logo screen.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 06, 2015, 06:12:49 PM
Thanks for checking.. i don't specifically have os1696 but have other ones that are mated to its game (like Golden Emporer os 1681). I'm getting the impression that with all the testing and troubleshooting; leaning towards a glitched BB2 cpu.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: idesign on March 06, 2015, 06:57:17 PM
Just curious, in the lower left hand corner of the main board there is a WMS logo with a copyright date.  Is yours 2006 or 2008?
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: coolwavepic on March 06, 2015, 07:04:45 PM
Could it be a faulty door switch? Maybe your stuck at the Config in Progress because it things the door is still closed??
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: rickhunter on March 06, 2015, 07:22:26 PM
On the one I am using it says 2006.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 06, 2015, 07:36:34 PM
Jeff,


2006
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 06, 2015, 08:35:54 PM
Tried it in multiple BB1's. The door switch would do that; but it's open and the cherry switch is not pulled open.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: iramack on March 07, 2015, 10:51:51 AM
Just a thought, although a bit late in the game...........


You say these are BB1 cabinets,  What size screens are they running??


Steve



Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 07, 2015, 10:56:52 AM
I have 22" in the BB1 cabinet.  Either way it should at least take me to the config menu, good thought though.
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 07, 2015, 11:05:16 AM
UPDATE:


Tried more game/os combinations this morning. Bottom line.... If i put in 256mb OS's in the BB2 it will boot to the config screen (the game CF is 512mb). If i use the newer 512mb os's, it hangs at "connecting to gamemgr" forever. These are the same 512mb game/os pairs that will boot to the config when i swap in my BB1 CPU in the same exact cabinet. I even tested the Monkees; it has a weird combination of a 256mb Game Card but a 512mb OS Card. It boots in the BB1; but hangs in the BB2. So it's got to be that os level.


The only thing i haven't done is swap or mess with the Bios chip. It shows sbot-00002 - 3000 on the label. Small glimmer of hope here, when i booted it i took a pic of the boot screen and it's saying version 2000. Can someone verify when they boot their BB2 if you have the same bios level on the screen? I'm hoping you have a different bios level and maybe that is my problem.
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Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 07, 2015, 11:08:30 AM
Weird, it cutoff my last few sentences in the last post.. 


The bios chip label says sbot-0002 3000; hoping someone can look at the pic i took and verify if i have the right level or not. I have a glimmer of hope that maybe i need to update the bios ?
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: Blueridgeslots on March 07, 2015, 11:09:53 AM
If it was not the newer update, on that screen at the bottom in Red would be a disclaimer ..running in Demo Mode only
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: iramack on March 07, 2015, 11:12:22 AM
If both monitors are 22 then it must be the lower capacity memory card.  512 OS does not leave much room in the hard memory to get the program configured and loaded.


My guess anyway................. :Scratch-Head:


Steve
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: Blueridgeslots on March 07, 2015, 11:14:17 AM
Wait til you get the 2gb Ram before pulling your hair out (more)

But just so you know, just because a Card works in a BB1 does not mean it will work in a BB2, typically the OS in BB2 (512mb) needs to be WMS (yes I have seen others) but the OS card is picky in BB2 where the Game card is picky in BB1

So a Game card that may not work in a BB1 will work in a BB2 but a OS that works in BB1 will not work in a BB2, WMS OS in BB2 cures all ills
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 07, 2015, 11:21:53 AM
Yes, running short on hair..


I am using the WMS original cards; i had heard that the non WMS are fussy in the BB2 so i made sure during my testing that wasn't one of the variables.


Might try to dig thru some of my many laptops for a compatible 2gb memory card to borrow; so i don't have to wait until Tuesday for the one i ordered. If the 2gb is not the issue, then i would have the rest of the weekend to still mess with it.


Thanks...
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level
Post by: teamclark4 on March 08, 2015, 02:17:03 PM
Solved..  :applause: 


This morning i mentally went thru everything i had 100% ruled out during all the testing, to see if i missed anything that it could possibly be. Didn't leave much left. Then i remembered that when it switches from the black boot screen, to the little cross, and then to connecting to gamemgr that is resets the display resolution (display flickers and auto-adjusts the resolution).  During my testing i had my BB1 dual screen with my 22" monitor (which always had the vga plugged in and looked awesome) as the slot machine i was putting the BB2 into. On either side of that machine were 2 other BB1's with standard 19" screen. When i was testing the other BB1 machines, i was always leaving the DVI cable plugged into that 22" LCD in the dual screen cabinet ( i had a long dvi cable) and was just putting that BB2 into the other BB1's.


So one of the constants that never changed during testing  was that 22" LCD in the dual screen is where i always outputted the BB2 to; whether the BB2 was in that dual screen or in one of the other 2 BB1's next to it.


And i'll be damned if switching the dvi cable to the 19" LCD in the BB1 next to it made it fully boot to the config screen.


My 22" LCD couldn't handle whatever resolution that "connecting to gamemgr" piece of the boot code was looking for before it would give the blue splash screen.


Tried it on multiple games today, in my same BB1 dual screen cabinet with the 22"; and every time it hangs when the dvi is connected to the 22". But if i move the cable over to the 19", it boots to the configuration screen. 


Afer i config the game in the 19" screen, and it actually boots to the game itself, i can move back over the DVI to the 22" and it displays (but it definately is wonky in that it doesn't like the resolution or refresh rate that is happening, jumpy shaky picture).  I have another 22" that is a different model, plugged that into the DVI and the picture looks perfect. Looks like i'm going to be doing some 22" LCD swapping.


So bottom line, the boot sequence to get to the configuration screen needs a certain resolution/refresh rate. If you are using something other then the 19" that is already in the BB1, it may (or may not) accomodate that resolution.  And the symptom will be hanging on "connecting to gamemgr" forever.


Thanks to all for help during this challenging process.   :hail:

Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level - Solved
Post by: iramack on March 08, 2015, 03:47:18 PM
Glad you figured it out. 


I haven't been able to fully absorb the description of the problem you have given, but I think it boils down to having to use DVI for the lower screen no matter what size 19 or 22 the BB2 cpu needs to use the DVI output.
So what 22 inch touchscreen monitor does not have the resolution capability to run the games?? Monitor defective??

Am I understanding you correctly?


Steve
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level - Solved
Post by: rokgpsman on March 08, 2015, 06:27:04 PM
Don't know if this is what's going on, but on boot-up most computers and their operating system send an id request to the monitor and it answers back. This is done over the normal svga video cable. If the computer does not recognize the monitor or does not get an id answer from it then the computer can have a problem using high resolution settings since it doesn't know the proper refresh rates and max res setting of the monitor. This was especially a problem some years ago before Windows was made smarter (!!yeah, I know!!) and before all the monitor manufacturers got better at handling the id request. Believe it or not, it was possible for a monitor to be asked by the computer to sync to a horiz rate that exceeded its ability and the monitor circuit board would burn out trying to run at that higher frequency. So they became careful about asking a monitor to run in high res unless they were sure it could handle it. Hence the id request and confirm procedure.

If your 22" monitor that was not playing along were to power up in a high res mode that the machine software didn't recognize then that might have caused things to choke.  It could be a defect in the 22" monitor, or just something with the particular model & brand. If the monitor has a setup menu you could try changing its default screen mode setting to a lower res or refresh rate setting and storing that setting. That way it would maybe power up in a compatible mode for your system.

Just a throw-it-out-there thing to consider......
Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level - Solved
Post by: teamclark4 on March 08, 2015, 07:06:00 PM
Thanks, tried messing with the LCD menu options, they are limited. It's a 22" Kortek.  Looks great via vga; which is why i had it as my main in the BB1 dual screen.


I agree, it's like changing out the video card on a pc and then windows get's to the user screen but won't boot into the windows menu because it's changing the screen resolution and the monitor isn't compatible. Been there and done that; that's actually what made me think about the possible refresh/resolution issue stopping it.


Thanks for the feedback... For now i'm swapping the monitors...



Title: Re: BB2 - Bios Level - Solved
Post by: rokgpsman on March 08, 2015, 07:16:13 PM
yeah, the 22" Kortek requires a video input range from VGA and upward, VGA mode is the lowest. It requires a horiz input freq of 59 khz minimum. The horiz input range is spec'd at 59-75 khz. It's got some good high res modes but not too friendly to the lower and medium res video modes.

But the older 19" can drop all the way down to CGA and EGA modes to sync up if needed. It is compatible with horiz input freq as low as 15 khz. Its horiz input range is 15-32 khz.
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