Date   : Mon, 19 Sep 2005 19:15:58 +0100
From   : "Adam D. Barratt" <lists+bbc-micro@...>
Subject: Poorly Master?

Hi,

I've recently acquired a Master 128 which is exhibiting some slightly
odd symptoms. I've had a look through the list archives but can't see
anything that obviously explains the problems. Sorry if this is a bit
long, but I've tried to include as much information as I could think
of / remember how to gather (it's been a few years since I last owned a
Beeb).

*TIME / TIME$ return gibberish, so my first thought was that the CMOS
battery was flat. However, as I understand it, setting TIME$ should give
a useful *TIME output, at least until the machine is powered off.

Unfortunately, this is what happens:

  > *TIME
      ,00 Xx 1922.23:12:06
  >TIME$="Mon,08 May 1900 12:00:00"
  > *TIME
      ,00 Xx 1922.23:12:49

*HELP hangs, although not always. From power-up, *HELP gets as far as
SRAM and then stops with a flashing cursor and the shift lock led
illuminated; hitting escape drops back to the prompt as expected and
shift lock led goes out again. *HELP SRAM works fine, *HELP MOS also
hangs, three or four lines from the end of the output. (Update - the
hangs only occur if the startup mode is 7/135 - after a *CONF. MODE 128
both are quite happy).

The disc drive activity light is illuminated from power-up, and the
drive makes clicking sounds as soon as a disk is inserted and the door
secured - both No Directory and No Boot are set. I've tried several
disks which should work (although they've been in a box for several
years) and can't persuade the drive to catalogue any of them.

I've tried resetting the CMOS, followed by setting Lang to 12 and
Floppy, but all of the symptoms still occur as described. Any
suggestions as to what might be wrong, where to look for further clues
would be most welcome. If there's any other information you might need
to suggest either of these then I'll retrieve them as any when.

Thanks,

Adam