We got a Revenge from Mars pinball from another vendor last week for next to nothing. Overall in okay shape. Computer needed to be recapped to boot again. monitor is a little weak but nothing to worry about. Recapped the monitor to future proof.
I noticed the software version on the system was 1.1. the latest version is 1.5. while normally i wouldn't worry too much about it, they fixed some pretty serious game breaking bugs. (including resets and crashes) So I figure, what the hell. Seems easy enough. Just run the program on a computer, connect it to the Pinball 2000 machine, and update the software.
I've outlined the steps I needed to take here to complete the task.
items needed:
computer with serial port
"null modem" serial cable
Pin2000 update manager software
RFM 1.5 update
1: Find the software. This was easy enough. it was freely available at
http://www.planetarypinball.com/mm5/Williams/tech/pin2000/index.html2: Install the software on the computer
3: Find out the software won't install on Windows XP. (apparently only works with 95/98/2000 only)
4: Search around the shop and find an old computer
5: Download Windows 98 onto a USB thumbdrive and install Windows 98 on old computer.
6: Realize computer doesn't properly support booting from USB resulting in boot error.
7: Find another computer that is not so old.
8: Realize Windows 98 does not like booting from USB at all.
9: Burn Windows 98 to a DVD because who has CD's these days?
10: Realize that Windows 98 setup really doesn't like SATA CDROM drives and installation fails due to not being able to load the MSCDEX driver.
11: Drag out old computer #1 again and realize it doesn't have a DVD reader.
12: Search everywhere for a DVD drive with PATA connector. Find one in a Big Buck Hunter Pro computer.
13: Boot computer with Windows 98 DVD.
14: Realize the DVD drive from the BBHP doesn't work. (they never do... hell, I don't even know why I tried.)
15: Find a DVD drive in an empty computer case hulk in storage.
16: Boot computer with Windows 98 DVD.
17: Install Windows 98.
18: Transfer files downloaded from aforementioned site to a USB thumbdrive.
19: Plug thumbdrive into old computer to be greeted with "Add hardware wizard".
20: Find no drivers for USB.
21: Not burning a 4.7gb DVD for 5mb of data.
22: Connect the 2 computers with the null modem cable.
23: Load up hyperterminal on both computers.
24: Realize Windows 98 didn't install hyperterminal.
25: Run "Add Remove Programs" and install hyperterminal on Windows 98 machine.
26: Load up hyperterminal on both computers.
27: Transfer 3mb "Pin2000 update manager" setup program.
28: wait 5 minutes for it to get to 3%
29: realize it's connected at 9600 bps.
30: Eff that noise.
31: Connect that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- up at 115200
32: takes 10 minutes to transfer 5mb
Boy I don't miss those days.
33: Install Pin2000 update manager. Goes perfect.
34: Copy RFM update to "Pinball 2000" folder...execute the EXE file and unpack it just to be sure it will find what it needs.
35: Shutdown computer and move it to RFM pinball machine in warehouse...Boot pinball and computer.
36: Connect null modem cable to jack inside coin door.
37: Load pin2000 update manager and click connect.
38: Realize it can't connect.
39: Realize the ribbon cable that plugs the serial port onto the motherboard header is connected to COM2 instead of COM1.
40: Switch header connector to COM1.
41: Load pin2000 update manager and click connect.
42: Connected... click find update.
43: Found update v 1.5... Click update software.
44: Wait 15 minutes for the update to complete.
45: Revenge from Mars pinball will automatically reboot when complete.
46: Dismantle computer and vow never to do it again.
Total time to complete this simple update:
3 3/4 hours.