044 clear DSA SHA error

[Badbaud]

Thought someone could use this fancy PDF.

[FloridaGaming]

Thanks Badbaud!  Invaluable information to keep 044 GKs running.

[Stayouttadabunker]

That's a fancy one! lol  Thanks BB 

Hey....what's a DSA and SHA?

CRC checks?

[rickhunter]

Yes, DSA (Digital Signal Algorithm) and SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm) are basically more secure crc checks, SHA1 for example has a 40 digit result instead of the usual 4 to 8  digit number.

I should point out that just because you can bypass the checksum check with the dev chip, does not mean that there won't be anything wrong with the game play.  If you have a DSA/SHA failure, it means that part of the contents of the flash are already bad.  All it takes is one bit to go bad and the SHA fails. Typically you can't even tell what has gone bad, but you may run into a situation where the game hangs if the damage is to an critical area.  If the error you get is Zero Check failure, then your game is no affected as the error is in an area where it is meant to be empty anyway, but an SHA/DSA error means the program has been compromised.  Most likely you won't ever find the error, but it is incorrect to say that the dev chip "fixes the problem" and that there is nothing wrong with the board.  All the chip does, is bypass the checksum security test.

[Stayouttadabunker]

Amazing...one bad byte and the game is kaput!

Thanks for clarifying those abbreviations & what the DEV chip does Rick! 

[rickhunter]

The sha/dsa checksum is what makes the game forever to start up, that's why when you disable that with the Dev chip, the game boots up in a few seconds.  Even if you don't have any issues with your flashboard, the dev chip is worth it just for that aspect.  The dev chip also has the key chip built-in, so you never have to pop the chip out of the socket.

[FloridaGaming]

Ok- here is one I would like to run by all since we have experts here. IGT 044 MPU with known tested good flash.  Upon power up no game.  Black screen no signal.  DEV39 chip installed- will not go into menu on boot.  Is there any resurrecting a dead 044 board?  Both eproms are there, no battery, pins straight.  No visible blown surface mount components. Test cab good.

[Ash100]

Great explanation Rick, glad to have your level of expertise and experience in this forum!


And I too am curious about resurrecting a dead 044 Processor board, just as FloridaGamining mentioned above.


I've got 2 boards with the same symptoms. Good battery, good Flashboard, no visible signs of damage, bent pins etc.


They just won't boot. Even with the Developers Boot Chip.


Anyone have a test stand for these boards yet? Replacements are getting pretty expensive.


Thanks again BadBaud, Bunker and Rick.


Curtis ash100

[Badbaud]

The problem I ran into was upon unchecking the DSA SHA boxes and rebooting the DSA and SHA boxes re-checked themselves.
BUT after clearing both the EEPROM and RAM I was able to uncheck the DSA and SHA and they stayed unchecked this time.
Something in RAM or EEPROM was sticky.

[Stayouttadabunker]

Ok- here is one I would like to run by all since we have experts here. IGT 044 MPU with known tested good flash.  Upon power up no game.  Black screen no signal.  DEV39 chip installed- will not go into menu on boot.  Is there any resurrecting a dead 044 board?  Both eproms are there, no battery, pins straight.  No visible blown surface mount components. Test cab good.

How about the printer and the bill acceptor?
With a bad or non-existent BOOT chip, I get a solid red [Fault] LED on the printer,
and a bottom red LED flashing on the MPU.

[wizeone]

Ok- here is one I would like to run by all since we have experts here. IGT 044 MPU with known tested good flash.  Upon power up no game.  Black screen no signal.  DEV39 chip installed- will not go into menu on boot.  Is there any resurrecting a dead 044 board?  Both eproms are there, no battery, pins straight.  No visible blown surface mount components. Test cab good.

by chance do they have the green telltale battery on them?

[Ash100]

All of the 044 boards I have that won't boot do still have the Varta installed. Voltage checks show that it is within limits, so I wouldn't think that would be the hang up.


The Flashboards were all tested and working, so it's not a software issue. Probably component based, but not sure where to start looking.


Have some 1270 Boards that do the same thing. One day hope to find some good fixes.


Thanks,


Curtis ash100

[wizeone]

i had issues with a few of the 044 boards we have(that used to have the telltale batteries), following tilts post ( http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=4092.msg21234#msg21234 )  i was able to get them back up and running

[FloridaGaming]

Just following Ash and Wizeone: My pile of no boot 044 boards do not have the green varta/ tell tale battery and do not have the surrounding components that are located near the battery.  Like Ash, it would be great to have somewhere to start on toubleshooting and diagnosis.

[wifehippo]

I just installed the GKBDEV39 chip and got a black screen as well.  I thought I fried the chip or something.  Turns out the board wasn't pushed far enough into the GK.  Husband pushed it in a little more and now the screen shows up as it should. 

Hope that helps!