Interesting error during Defender boot-up

[CIA_Guy]

I've got an original Williams Defender that's been working until recently.  I had the machine moved to our new house...and it developed a problem I haven't seen mentioned before.   I get the usual "Systems OK" message right after the "rug test," but it goes immediately into the setup screen after the "OK" message.  If I open the door and step through all of the options with the service buttons, it will clear and run perfectly.  If I turn it off, it repeats the exact same process.  

Has anyone seen this before or know what the fix might be?  I'll probably file a claim against the movers and have it fixed by professionals, but it would be nice to see if I can fix it rather than trying to find someone that will touch a 1981 machine!  

[CIA_Guy]

Okay....solved it with a little help from a rarely used resource -- the manual!  For anyone facing this in the future, it means the battery that holds the configuration has gone dead!  In my case, it was a little CR2032 battery.  I changed it, went through the setup menu once (not changing anything) and it saved everything and started up normally after that. 

[RayB]

Okay....solved it with a little help from a rarely used resource -- the manual!  For anyone facing this in the future, it means the battery that holds the configuration has gone dead!  In my case, it was a little CR2032 battery.  I changed it, went through the setup menu once (not changing anything) and it saved everything and started up normally after that. 

Whether you care to know or not, sounds like you have an upgraded board. The original batteries were 3 AA batteries that would end up leaking acid all over the board.

[TheShanMan]

Glad you figured it out. I hate that about Defender. Batteries don't seem to last long in mine for some reason and it's a real pain to deal with that screen every time I power on until I get a chance to install a new battery.

 

[CIA_Guy]

I knew I had the upgraded board, but it didn't occur to me that the battery could be the problem.  (FYI, this is the first time I've had to replace the battery in the 3 years I've had the machine.  I guess I can't complain about that!)

[aw]

I used a nokia 3589i battery for a suitcase 286 compaq machine once and it lasted a super long time PLUS i can recharge it in a old unused cell phone!
.
the only problem w that was the perticular computer takes so mutch power if i leave it for a month it kills the c-mos battery GEE its only taking more than 1.5 amps since the battery is a 1500mAh battery then it must be taking a ½ amp a day WoW thats a lot of power but once it get it to boot it seems to remember the harddrive boot bit and works I could care less about the clock!! it only boots to bowling gwbasic dos or adventure
yes you want instructions.
PS on a or any else thing or like a arcade pcb the nokia cell phone if charged battery would last more than 12 years since a 2032 would last 3 years a nokia battery witch would have more current should last 12 years or more but remember it only puts out 3.3v so add two in series then you get 6.6v and you could add to a 5v input and get 6.3v witch should be ok..
I hope you never have a boot problem w defender and be happy you have a button cell hole instead of a battery holder for aa batterys witch SUCK .
mu freind had a Nintendo Punch out pcb w crappy batterys removed but the connections were crusty I told him youre lucky you got to it when you did or the springs would have rusted off on the bat holder..
I also remembered you can get a super fat version of a 2032 but even bigger one is differnt number but way fatter and lasts even longer . Good luck .. ALso i heard there is a nvram mod for mr do witch sounds like any game could be changed if you knew what was done to mrdo and change out nvram and change program to allow guy who made that mod must program.. I can burn eeproms now 2532 and 2732 and 2716 tms2716 and can copy 9316 and burn 2764 27256 and 27c010 the only thing i cant program is a tms2716 w out copying it from a 2716! the tms needs -5v and 12v and 5v+ then move a10 poin 19 and 20 around and you can read.....
the good news is on my space invaders pcb I read a 9316 then ran it in mame and it booted to mame then took a deluxe tms2716 and changed it to a double socket mod and a test space invaders test rom i downloaded onto a 2732 then to a 2532 then to a 2716!!!!! two eprom burners one old and can change brands and types and copy from one type to nother the other burner is a $15 from ebay that can progam normal 2732 but not 2532 but the other one can change from one to other ... then i took 2716 non tms and made it work in normal space invaders tms2716 configuration w out touching strappings just used two sockets and rewired the two sockets to only deal w pins 18-21 then swaped 19 and 20 then connected 5v where it needed it then the whole pins 1-12 leave alone you only have to move pins 18 19 and 20 then you can use the two sockets to make the chip look like a tms2716 as long as you dont let 12v or -5 onto the 2716 it will read like a tms2716 !!! this means you can and i can run space invaders test rom on original board!!! it worked .. now onto learning about basic stamps and nvram so i can make a basic stamp just to emulte a ram chip on any arcade game so like defender you wouldnt need battery! the basic stamp would have socket output to the place where the battery back up chip goes and make it remember like the mrdo mod.. 

anyway I rambled to long today sorry...

[aw]

WOW next time I wont leave sutch a long rambling and will try to keep it short so i will rewrite it.
Hey I used a nokia battery for a c-mos aplication and they last long time and can be recharged in cell phone..
I just soldered a little solder blob onto the + and (-) tabs and left it intackt if it dies i just unsolder from wires going to where old battery was for c-mos or other aplication then snap back into the phone and the solder doesnt stick out to far and seems to recharge normal! .. I used a nokia 3589i battery and it worked great.. GOOD LUCK .
PS.. the real reason i replied to this is just to ask whats youre new high score and did you put youre arcades name or youre name in the highscore advertizing space in the defender memmory settings I used to do this all the time to mame!. so whats youre high score..
k-bye and have a great day 

[Kevin Mullins]

and did you put youre arcades name or youre name in the highscore advertizing space in the defender memmory settings

Hmmm .....  didn't realize Defender did this.
I've only done it on my Stargate. (but makes sense they both would be capable)

Will have to check that out next time I have the Defender up and going.   

[SavannahLion]

Wow, I must confess I stopped reading about 1/3 the way through.

Welcome to the forum aw, sounds like you have a lot of info to part with and an interesting project in the works. 

[TheShanMan]

Whaaaa??? Can someone fill me in on this advertising thing? Is that what all the "unused" settings are for?

[RayB]

Some games, especially the old Taito ones have a programmable setting where the arcade operator could enter in a message, like the arcade's name, or the operators name and phone number, etc.... It then displays during attract mode.

Try it with Zoo Keeper:
Press F2 for the test mode. When the first color test is done, keep pressing F1 to advance through the tests until you get to text that says "THIS LOCATION". Use joystick and buttons to set the text.

[TheShanMan]

I'm asking specifically about Defender.

[andyman]

There is no advertising message on Defender, 100% sure, I've had mine since 1985  and the NVram thing has been around for years, at least 3 or 4 peeps have made & sold them.

Andy.