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**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => Bally Alpha Reel Games => Topic started by: cobra617 on February 04, 2015, 06:29:08 PM
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Hi all,
I have a Bally Alpha touchscreen (no reels) running Lucky Luigi's Pizzeria which is now refusing to boot.
The machine boots up seeming successfully through the text mode portion. It then goes to the graphical Bally Alpha splashscreen.
After a few minutes I get an error message:
"Call Attendant" and it hangs there. About a second or so before that message comes up, I hear a little twitch noise coming from the dbv or the bill holder. (more info below)
If I insert the reset key and turn, I get a bit more info:
Machine Fault
Process Fault=GameMgr (977)
Turn Attendant key to reboot
Here is a little background on what happened before this error came up.
After playing for a while, I needed to add more credits. I was trying to add credits via the dbv (MEI Cashflow SC series) with some $100 bills. It took a couple of bills and registered them correctly. After 2-3 it then refused to accept additional bills. I popped the door to see if there was an obvious reason for the dbv to not be taking bills. (like something being jammed in there)
It looked clear. I then popped the dbv to get a better look. (I wasn't paying attention and I did this with the machine powered on...really hoping that this isn't what caused my issue)
I noticed that all of the lights were lit on the dbv. (Green Amber Red). I powered the machine down. Upon bootup the dbv kept turning over and over (forward and reverse). It kept doing this on multiple reboots. I pressed a button on the front left of the dbv thinking this might reset it. (I have no docs on this so this was a wild guess) The dbv seems to come up normally now when I power on the machine. It "turns" only one time and then it lights its green light that flashes very slowly. (Hoping that this is green slow flash means "ok").
Any thoughts?
Thanks
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So now it boot's up to what pending status and you should see viedo. All doors closed and let boot up all the way as your box takes a while to boot.
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It boots to the splashscreen and apparently it is booting ok. After a few mins is when the Call Attendant error message comes up. It seems to be hung. I've let it sit there for up to 40mins (when it worked it takes about 10-15 mins to boot). It never seems to boot into the game.
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Try unplugging bill validator and see if it advances and gives you "pending status for bv" and try clearing it and setting up again. If unplug advances you in screens you know you made progress and would know what problem is. Never plug or unplug componets HOT --While they are on.
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OK. I will try to boot without the dbv. I know about unplugging hot components. I don't know what I was thinking. I was so involved with checking the dbv, I forgot that the machine was powered up.
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It's ok. Let us know.
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Ahh crud. I removed the dbv and I get the same Call Attendant message. The only slight difference was when I insert the reset key the message is:
Machine Fault
Process Fault=GameMgr (979)
Turn Attendant key to reboot
(Previously the "code" was 977)
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Not a good sign but did you do a clear and set it up again?
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I guess I need to buy a clear chip.
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Ok, You need to know what you are running. Your OS- operating sys cf . You prob. have a 512 box. That will dictate the clear cf card you need and many vendors or members here can help you with that. It is imperitive to have a clear for any platform you are using being Bally,IGT or WMS --etc. To clarify just state your OS and that will dictate the clear needed. **OS is top card in mpu, Lwr is Game ***
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Thanks again. I don't know how to tell what version my O/S is. I will look around to find out how.
I had earlier asked the seller I had bought it from and he said that I need a 335CF.
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How big is your OS cf card? Is it 2GB, if it is, they you need clear 335. If it is 64MB, then it can be a number of them. You can also pull out the mpu and read us the label on top of the rom chip, that will also tell us what clear to use.
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I pulled the O/S card out and it shows
2GB
AVOS00000336-09
So it looks like a 335CF is what I need.
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The dealer I bought it from is somewhat local to me. I'll see if he has any clear cards to sell me.
Thanks.
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One more question. Any other troubleshooting steps for me to try before I can get the clear chip? I am looking to calm my nerves as I am so stressed about this machine right now.
I really wish I had another Alpha where I could swap the MPUs/dbv/etc to narrow down the problem.
Been stressed at work and this problem is compounding my stress. I am freaking myself out as I am looking at this as being a $1000+ paperweight right now. What do we think would be the worst case scenario? My big concern is that I'll have to spend a lot of money to diagnose/fix it.
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Worst case scenario new mpu, backplane, and validator, about $200-$250 depending on the cost of validator. The backplane around $60 retail, the mpu (256mb version) around $100, plus the cost of the validator, if it is a mars, around $80 I would guess.
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One more question. Any other troubleshooting steps for me to try before I can get the clear chip? I am looking to calm my nerves as I am so stressed about this machine right now.
I really wish I had another Alpha where I could swap the MPUs/dbv/etc to narrow down the problem.
Been stressed at work and this problem is compounding my stress. I am freaking myself out as I am looking at this as being a $1000+ paperweight right now. What do we think would be the worst case scenario? My big concern is that I'll have to spend a lot of money to diagnose/fix it.
Ok, first of all, stay calm...there's nothing we can't fix here! Just stay with us! :yes:
Not to add insult to injury, but if your local "dealer" isn't willing to help you through this (given the machine was bought somewhat recently), then why is he still your go-to??? There are plenty of d***s selling machines that can give a rats ass after if leaves their shop. If he's one of them, then do NOT give him another PENNY! Buy what you need from someone here or, hell, even from eBay, but don't support him any longer!
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Thanks for talking me off the ledge CVSlots. :yes: I have been under a ton of stress lately as I've had to shell out over $6000 in unexpected costs. (busted transmission, problems with my HVAC were the main culprits) and the thought of this machine being dead and costing me more money almost sent me over. Oh and I found out I need to have 2 surgeries...(more money grrrr!!!!) So thanks again for talking me down. :thank_you:
In my dealer's defense I haven't gone to him yet. He was a pretty nice guy so I'll hit him up on a PM (he is a regular here).
Do you all think that this is a reasonable request for me to ask of him?
- If I could bring my MPU and dbv over to his place to try in another machine? If my MPU comes up with the same error in another machine, I'll ask if he can perform a clear....(I'd buy the clear chip from him) and if that doesn't fix it, I'll get a replacement MPU (I'd buy it from him if he has one as I don't know if pulling the dbv hot made things worse)
- If the MPU boots fine without the clear, then I know we are looking at the backplane or dbv.
Again, the dealer hasn't given me any reason to doubt his integrity. I came here first as I didn't want to be that "pest" customer. I typically am able to take care of things myself but I am stuck at this point.
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Worst case scenario new mpu, backplane, and validator, about $200-$250 depending on the cost of validator. The backplane around $60 retail, the mpu (256mb version) around $100, plus the cost of the validator, if it is a mars, around $80 I would guess.
Thanks Rick. Sorry to be such a drama queen but it has not been a good month for me. If I know that worst case scenario is $200-$250, I can sleep stress free tonight.
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Hey, we've all been where you are. The "talking me off the ledge" thing made me laugh though. its not wuite that bad (I hope, lol!). When you have money tied up in something that's not performing, it can be stressful. These things are supposed to be enjoyable, not stressful!
Your requests do not sound unreasonable at all (again, given it hasn't been like a year since you bought the machine). Components DO go out, it's not like he's on the hook for LIFE for every component in the machine, forever! But, if its been a reasonable time since you bought the machine, I would certainly think he would be fair??? Ask him to test your MPU. No big deal. If it comes up bad, ask him to sell you a good one (a 512mb is under $100). I wouldn't expect a bill for the test, but he could charge you, depending on how long it's been?
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Thanks again. I'll shoot an email over to him. He is local so I am hoping that he has an Alpha on hand that we can test with. I bought it in December BUT I am taking responsibility for pulling the dbv while the machine was powered up. Not sure that this caused the problem as the dbv started acting whacky before I pulled it, but I did do it, so if that is something that shouldn't be done, I take responsibility for it.
Almost forgot about my getting to the ledge.....I also found out last month that I am diabetic.....yay :no:
So it literally has been a month and a half of hell for me.
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Wow, you really have had an AWESOME 2015 so far huh? I'm sorry, but geez, sometimes, when it rains, it ours. Lets just hope you see a bright sunny ending to all (or at least most) of this, and get thought it all. Stay strong!
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Diabetes really bites. My entire elderly part of the family has type II is some form or another, so I know I am doomed to get it eventually. :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit:
Clearing the mpu at his show won't do you any good because a clear also involves the backplane. So I would get the clear, clear it at home and take it from there.
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Diabetes really bites. My entire elderly part of the family has type II is some form or another, so I know I am doomed to get it eventually. :hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit:
Clearing the mpu at his show won't do you any good because a clear also involves the backplane. So I would get the clear, clear it at home and take it from there.
Thanks Rick. All 4 of my grandparents were type II. Both of my parents are as well. None of them were obese. Neither am I. (but I am about 10 pounds over my ideal weight) So I knew I couldn't outrun my genes. They all were diagnosed in their mid-late 50s. I am 43. I knew I'd get it eventually, but I thought I had another 10 years or so before I got it.
Would you think that taking my mpu to him to boot in another machine would help diagnose? (assuming he has another Bally Alpha touchscreen available to him)
Thanks,
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Anytime I have seen the red kiss of death fault screen ----- it has been fixed with a ram clear. Hope all goes well. If you need any help with the setup just ask here and we can help.
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Thanks again for all of the help folks. I freaked out a bit last night. Mainly because I have been regretting purchasing this machine. Not because I don't like it, but because just after I bought it is when I got clobbered with all of these unexpected expenses, so I have been thinking "If I didn't spend all of the cash on this machine those expenses would not have hurt as much"
I'll see if I can grab a Clear card and go from there.
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I was on MEI and found the documentation for my dbv. One clarification.....when I was referring to disconnecting the dbv, I meant the acceptor module. Not the entire dbv.
I found from their docs the the green flashing led means that the dbv status as Disabled by machine interface. The recommended course of action is Fix the machine interface (i.e. check connection)
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Your PM box is full - OK on pickup
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Your PM box is full - OK on pickup
Thank you! Will be by this afternoon.
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Don't regret this purchase. There is so much you can do to a Bally Alpha to make it as close to an Alpha 2 and modern as possible. Once you have everything fixed up and get a 1gig MPU in that machine, you can load some of the newer games on that bad boy! If you need any help feel free to chime in. You can also read some of my posts on what I did with my old ass M9000.... :)
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Folks,
Thanks VERY much for the help. The seller was able to get me a clear chip and that worked. Sorry about coming across as overly dramatic. I am literally having the worst 45 days stretch of my life ever.
Game is up and running after a clear.
Thanks!