Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Sudden DTS-6/D problem. Help sought.

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Posted by Rob J. Buskop (Member # 3338) on 04-30-2011, 03:35 AM:

When I switched the DTS-6/D on last night, the monitor screen that displays it's funtions, gave an unusual,slow performance and
stalled at the page that reads "Award Software Inc."
Here under it said diskette drive A to D none
base memory 640K, extended memory 0 K, cache memory none.
DISC BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISC, AND PRESS ENTER.
Last show all was fine and all of a sudden this complete failure
occurred. I do have a keyboard connected, but don't have a "system disc". Anyway, something must have given up the ghost when the unit was switched on.
A reset did'nt produce any improvement over this situation.
Has any of you had a similar experience or know how to solve this problem?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-30-2011, 08:50 AM:

Probably the most common failure in 6D's at this late date that I am seeing are bad power supplies. They are just standard 250 watt AT type power supplies. I would try that first and see if it revives it... Beyond that all you can do is sub parts in fomr another 6D until you find the culprit.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 04-30-2011, 10:05 AM:

The 'system disc' on a DTS 6D is a BootRom chip, not a HD.
I would think that the BIOS battery is dead and the boot settings have been reset - so the board looks for a standard system disc to boot from instead of the ROM Chip. You should first try to locate and replace the battery, then reconfigure the BIOS settings. I think DTS had a tech-note for proper BIOS settings.

- Carsten

Posted by Rob J. Buskop (Member # 3338) on 04-30-2011, 12:18 PM:

Carsten amd Mark, thanks for your reply.
Mark's option was what I had in mind myself, but the battery
story also makes a lot of sense. Will pursue that first and
then start x-changing cards when I can find them.
Battery, hey? Now I have to find it's location!
Thanks again for your advice, it's greatly appreciated.
Rob.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 04-30-2011, 03:48 PM:

The momboards are standard AT boards with the older "sub AA" sized 3.3v battery with leads that are soldered to the board.

I've done AA battery mods with old STRONG CPA10 automations with taking two Alkaline AA's, tying them together sideways with POS and NEG ends opposite, then soldering a jumper wire across these ends to get me 3V on the opposite ends where I have soldered leads to so I can attach them to the momboard. Works like a charm.

..and talk about being ghetto ...... lol - Monte

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 04-30-2011, 04:05 PM:

Note that some batteries are really just batteries that discharge over a couple of years (latter mainboards e.g. have CR2032 button cells). While other boards actually have rechargable NiCd or NiMH cells (usually 2 or 3).

Before you connect simple alkaline batteries as a replacement, you should make sure which cells have been used originally - because if they were rechargables, then a low charging current is fed to them when the DTS 6D is running - and Alkaline cells will not like this and might leak or explode after a while, possibly causing severe damage to the mainboard. Replace Alkaline or Lithium only with the same, and rechargables with same type of rechargables.

- Carsten

Posted by Ram Sup (Member # 4711) on 05-03-2011, 05:02 AM:

"the monitor screen that displays it's funtions, gave an unusual,slow performance"

Just like to know on which monitor screen does it show. As i understand on XD10 and 6AD have small screens whereby DTS 6/6D do not have screens. Just curious to learn?

RAM.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-03-2011, 08:09 AM:

For 6D and 6 you have to install an ISA type video card in order to watch the boot up process on a monitor.

Mark

Posted by Ram Sup (Member # 4711) on 05-03-2011, 01:28 PM:

Where can we buy ISA type video card. Only from DTS or anywhere?

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 05-03-2011, 01:42 PM:

I see plenty of options for ISA video cards through google's shopping section. I assume you can find ones on ebay as well.

Posted by Ram Sup (Member # 4711) on 05-03-2011, 01:47 PM:

Thanks Chris.

Posted by Rob J. Buskop (Member # 3338) on 05-13-2011, 03:45 PM:

The culprit turned out to be..... the ROMDOS board.
Thank you all for your reaction. Greatly appreciated!
Now, I'll have to try and find this small ROMDOS board somewhere.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-13-2011, 07:25 PM:

You can still buy it but I have a box full of em laying around. I'll be back in the shop in a couple of weeks and could send you one if you can wait that long...

Mark

Posted by Rob J. Buskop (Member # 3338) on 05-14-2011, 08:29 AM:

Mark, I've sent you an Email.