Hello,
I am new here sorry for coming with Problems
I dont have any experience with MSX for now. I got a VG8000 cheap with 16k RAM and I always thought it works but now I found out something that bothers me. Few weeks before I got a VG8010 but it not works. So now I have 2 Problems/questions:
#1: VG8000
I start it up normally (original PSU) and it says only 12K free. Also it Features 4x4416 Chips on the board only 16K work. I saw a Video on YouTube and now I found out that it should have around 28K free (Startup message) - at least in the Video it says so. So now I am worried if my machine is broken because my Commodore 16 has 2x 4416 Chips and has 16K so when I have 4 Chips I should have 32K but it has only 16K.
I got a 16K RAM cartridge with it. So now my question is: Was it maybe delivered like that with 16K working only plus 16K extra to get 32K or is there something fishy with my Computer ? I tried other RAM Chips and other stuff, nothing did Change. Always 16K only (12k Free). 32K (~28K free) only Shows on my Startup Screen with the extra 16K RAM cart in the Slot but in my understanding, it should have 32K always, even with no extra RAM added to it.
Strange Thing is it seems to Need 4 RAM Chips or it does not really work. But on the other side, it does not use all the RAM Chips it has.
#2: VG8010
I found that on a flea market but all it does is a black Screen and White Flash on reset. I tested all the big socketed Chips in my VG8000 and all working. I then found out when I pll out 2 of the 4 RAMs on my VG8000 I also get black Screen with the White Flash. So I suspect a TTL or RAM error on the VG8010.
But all is soldered in and there is a strange extra RAM board with some logic Chips on it. I did not solder anything yet as I dont know what is broken often on those machines.
When I put 2 RAM Chips in the sockets instead of the board, nothing changes. Nothing changes with the 16K extra RAM in either Slot. The machine never starts up. I cleaned all the contacts and stuff but did not help.
NOTE/EDIT: The LEDs of CAPS and CODE do NOT work on the VG8010 at any time. Power LED works but seems the computer does not start up at all so no LEDs when I press the corresponding keys.
I wonder if the VG8010 is a "hack" of the VG8000. There are some extra cables and stuff. Maybe are there some cutted traces on the Mainboard? I just wonder if I could test it with 4x 4416 and make it a VG8000 to see if that is working at least or if there is something different then the RAM a Problem.
I tested with both PSUs, 8000 and 8010. Both PSU work on my VG8000. No Change on the 8010. Only black Screen with Flash on reset.
I am not sure what I can do now Nothing seems to work 100% and I have no other MSX Hardware or game so I cannot tell you anything other then what I have. I would like to get a game called "Road Fighter" but not sure how to get it and if it even works on my broken machines.
HELP?
thanks,
gehtjanx