From: nospam.Dennis.Katsonis@f1.n770.z1701.fidonet.org   
      
   -=> Clocky wrote to Dennis Katsonis <=-   
      
    Cl> On 4/10/2020 2:32 am, Dennis Katsonis wrote:   
    > Subject: Two Commodore 64's that wont power on   
    >   
    > I have just received FOUR breadbin Commodore 64s.  One is missing the   
    > mainboard, one turns on, but with a black screen, and two don't turn on   
    > at all (power LED does not light up).   
      
    Cl> Black screen is often a failed PLA. These can be replaced with modern   
    Cl> equivalents.   
      
    >   
    > When our lockdown ends, I'm going to get a multimeter, but I'm wondering   
    > if there is a common and obvious cause for this that I could look at   
    > before I get a multimeter (which may not be for weeks because our state   
    > premier likes to imprison us).   
    >   
    > I've looked at the fuses, one was broken, but putting the good fuse in   
    > both machines didn't work.   
    >   
    >   
      
    Cl> What supply are you using? If it's an original Commodore brick you   
    Cl> should test the voltages first as they commonly fail and when they do   
    Cl> they destroy the computer attached to it.   
      
    Cl> Better still get at least a power saver or better still a modern   
    Cl> replacement power supply.   
      
    > ... MultiMail, the new multi-platform, multi-format offline reader!   
    > === MultiMail/MS-DOS v0.29   
    >   
      
   I'm using an original power supply, but it works fine on one other machine.   
   That doesn't rule it out, but it makes it less likely.   
      
   I did switch the PLA with another machine to no effect.  I suspect it could be   
   RAM.  Bad RAM I think can cause this.  I do recall that one machine would   
   start, but only have 27 bytes free.  So perhaps the last remining working ram   
   chip failed.  With three boards, I should be able to get one working from   
   parts, but it won't be easy.   
      
      
   ... MultiMail, the new multi-platform, multi-format offline reader!   
   === MultiMail/Linux v0.52   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)