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SE/30 Glitches and PDS issues

WhiskeyJackass

Active member
So, I need some guidance on how to figure out these issues I'm having with my se/30.
My old SE/30 with a radius pivot color card had leaky caps issues, sound not working screen glitches etc so I had it recapped.
After recap it boots and runs fine until I put the radius card back in. Then I get no boot sound, garbled zebra stripes and nothing else, if I pull the card the issues remain until it has been unplugged for a good half hour or so, then it boots fine again (without the card ofc).

I managed to get it to boot from a GGLabs rom once with a quick power cycle, and it recognised the card in the PDS slot in tech tool, but after reboot with a blue scsi it reverted to the same issues. I don't think there are any issues with the card, especially since the pattern and failure to boot persists for a while even after pulling it out.

Any tips where to start poking around?

Also having intermittent glitches on screen but searching the forum I believe it might be cracks on the joints on the analog board so I need to check that.
I measured the 5v and 12v rails and they are dead stable which leads me to believe the power supply is ok.
RAM/ROM has been reseated. Same issue with GG Labs rom and Original ROM.
 

chiptripper

Well-known member
What does the zebra pattern look like?

I typically start with RAM, swap and test groups of four in each of the two banks, sometimes you can get simasimac from a failing stick.

Next look at video address muxes (UA8 -UG8) and related address lines. Bad chip, bad solder, leg corrosion, broken or damaged traces, could all explain intermittent video issues, it’s a common failure point.
 

WhiskeyJackass

Active member
Thanks for your reply. I have some new ram on the way so that will make it easier to take it out of the equation. Hopefully that helps.

I managed to get the same persistent error and pattern after a software crash yesterday. Only disappears after completely unplugging for a while.

Attaching pic of the pattern. 20E8991D-8B92-49DC-A5EE-B9E64F13614D.jpeg
 

joshc

Well-known member
Got any pics of your logicboard please?

Various glitchy patterns and no boot chime can also be caused by issues with the ROM slot (loose connection between the slot and the ROM SIMM). Hot glue and rubber bands have fixed this for me in the past to keep the SIMM in the slot tight.
 
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