JVL Retro Bootloop

[ThirdGenAmusement]

I have replaced the cpu battery(3v 2032) and the 3.6v battery.  I have also replaced the image on a known good cf card.  Machine powers up, gets through the first screen. It dies and reboots once it gets to the second bios screen at the point it says:

Run Linux
Loading /bz Image.................
Loading /initrd-nocd.gz..................ready.


and thats as far as it loads.  It then goes blank, then the no signal flashes on the screen for a second then goes through the reboot process and re-fails.

I know the cpu fan is dead though the cabinet fan works.  I hope it didnt overheat and fry the MPU.  Any thoughts of what to check ?

[Hydrolisk1792]

I used to work on them every now an then.  I have seen this before.  I believe the way I fixed it was by replacing the motherboard.  Something on the motherboard gets too hot and one of the chips deballs if I remember right.  I could be mistaken though, but if you want to give a reflow a try, that might fix it.  Or it could be a corrupt game file in the attract mode, that is another on that I have seen happen.  I think it was on the monkey game or something.

[Megatouchmike]

Have a pile of motherboards that does this. Have tried replacing memory, CPU, cf card in all of them. .... Seems to be the board itself and I don't know how to fix or if it can be fixed

[ThirdGenAmusement]

Well shoot.  ok I appreciate your reply.  Makes sense since the cpu fan isn't operating.  I will have to keep an eye out for a replacement.

[Hydrolisk1792]

If you are savy with board work, you can try a reflow and see if that solves the issue, at least you can have it running for a while until you can get a replacement board...?  Sorry I can't be more help on the matter.

[lilshawn]

if i remember correctly, these machines are kinda finnicky regarding the date and time settings in the bios... often not loading software if the date was out way before the software release day.

hook a keyboard up get in and make sure the date and time are correct and see if that straightens it out.

[Hydrolisk1792]

I got so fed up with one of mine (JVL Retro) that I completely gutted the system and built in a gaming computer instead.  Took me about 6 months, but I got everything working the way it should and even thermals were within par for a normal PC tower case.  Made a custom control panel for it, made the coin return the power button, built in a custom amp to drive the two speakers at the front of the original system, and took it a step further and made a custom scrolling ticker display above the monitor!!  Also got the original monitor to work again by replacing the back light with some compact LED strip and even the touch screen works.

[mahkeymike]

I just gut the insides and mount megatouch parts in them. At least the touchscreens are compatible.

[Hydrolisk1792]

I just gut the insides and mount megatouch parts in them. At least the touchscreens are compatible.

HA, yeah really, I was thinking the same thing.  Megatouch hardware is better in the fact that parts are a bit more modular than JVL.