Bally Alpha 9000 with NVRAM Issues

[Ash100]

I just finished up this machine and had it programmed and playing great, for 3 days.


I moved it inside and turned it on, booted normally and I added credits. On the 4th or 5th spin the Reels stopped and the credit meters and such went blank and a small Call Attendant box was displayed on the LCD.


I turned the attendant key and got this message "Non-Volatile RAM Fault". See photo
I turned the key, machine rebooted, spin finished and it played the winning stop.


I pressed the Spin button again and got the same thing. This time the machine would not reboot and showed error message "Data 1 and 2 Checksums Failed".second photo


I turned off machine and  now it won't even try to boot. I never get to the splash page and it's displaying this message "SVGALIB Failed to Initialize".


Where do I start to look for this?


I'm going to do a clear and try to set it up again first, but have a feeling I've got a bad MPU or corrupt OS or Game Card.


Also, on a side note, where is the Reel Driver Board? On start up several times before I would intermittently get a "7 Segment Display Disconnected" or something like that along with "Bezel Disconnected" and even the occasional "Mechanical Reels Not Configured". But these errors would all clear themselves and the machine would eventually go into ready mode.




Thinking I may want to swap one out?


Anyway, let me know your thoughts on the above issues if you can.


Thanks,


Curtis ash100

[sixcardmark]

Have you replaced the CPU batteries?

The reel board is in the metal box with a lock behind the reels.

[Ash100]

Yes, both CPU Batteries are fresh, and the one on the Backplane has been replaced as well.


Thanks for letting me know that box was the Reel Driver, had no idea. Good thing I have a key that fits it.


Curtis ash100

[Ash100]

Just tested all 3 batteries, they're all good.


Installed Clear Card and recieved an "NVRAM Write Failed".


Looking like a bad MPU. I'll pull a spare and see what happens next.


Curtis ash100

[sixcardmark]

Have you tried different ram dimms?

[Ash100]

Mark,


I don't have any idea where they are.


Attached is a photo of the first MPU.


I put a spare MPU in and programmed it, that took care of my NVRAM issues, but now I'm stuck with a "Mechanical Reel 4 Device Error" and also #5.


It's a 3 Reel Game.


Can you point out the RAM DIMMS for me if you don't mind.


Thanks again,


Curtis ash100

[sixcardmark]

Oh 512 MPU has built in ram, no dimm slots.  Nevermind.

[Ash100]

Copy, thanks.


Curtis ash100

[sixcardmark]

Do you have a different reel control box to swap with?  It does sound like it could be the culprit for those reel errors.

[Ash100]

Yes, had 1 spare, didn't change anything.


Another member suggested it could be the Bezel Control Board,  I'll try that tomorrow.


Thanks for everything.


Curtis ash100

[Ash100]

Update:


This game is fixed, for now anyway.


Changed out the MPU to resolve the NVRAM Errors.


Changed out the Bezel Control Board and it cleared the Reel 5 Error, Mechanical Reels Disconnected Errors, Bezel Disconnected Errors and the 7 Segment LED Errors.




Thanks everyone for your help.


Curtis ash100