Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems G98 Software failed

I would be interested to hear about your experiences with the failed DSL drives. Have you been able to repair any or identify what has failed on the boards?

Most of the failed DSL drives I've come across appear to have hed failed lasers as they'll read CDs O.K, but not DVDs.

Please share any information you may have gleaned.

Thanks,

Steve

Hi Steve,
Still waiting for a 98 to come in and try to do the chip on it. It's definitely EPROM related, as said it works with a transplant.
About DSL drives, on the mentioned ones based on HOP1000 or 1200 variants, if you find the laser lights brightly but will not read the disc, spinning it at various speeds and then reporting no disc, you can look to the 6 100u/6v caps on the board. I think they must have been put together with pathetic parts as you will find these are possibly open. My Fluke can't measure them, other types measure fine. If you replace them the mech will read and play.
I hope this helped. I could send you a photo. I did send James Cook the info before he vanished from Meridian.

Hi David

Very interesting about DSL drives. I live in hope for the revival of my 596. Steve fitted a new drive to my 598 some time ago and this now plays both DVD and CD. Thank you for your valuable contribution it is much appreciated.

Hector

Hector,
I guess this forum is about being helpful if possible to one another. I am happy to do so. I could post a photo of the actual repair, but can't figure how.

Hi see.... How to post a link or photo

Richard
I can"t figure this out. What gallery, where?

Here we go!

The capacitors in RED need to be replaced

Is this an expert grade job or could a handy amateur get it done?

Great information thanks.

Removing the highlighted surface mount electrolytic capacitors is a far from easy job - soldering them back on is much more straightforward. I have special pincer like desoldering tools and it is still terribly difficult not to damage the circuit tracks underneath the capacitors. I usually end up carefully snipping them off with precision wire cutters and then desoldering the remnants.

Often, depending on headroom, it is possible to use conventional flying lead capacitors as replacements and if there is room I would always recommend this. It is easier to resolder them and the capacitors (if of good quality) will last much longer.

The surface mount caps are used because they are small but, more importantly, they are machine mountable. Flying leads normally involve people. I have had to replace many of these capacitors on all sorts of kit. I suspect their life is not helped by being overheated during original manufacture.

Hi Steve
Well, I did get another G98 in and it upgraded just fine. I then transplanted the suspect EPROM and it went through the motions, but just hanged again. So it's not the board, it is an EPROM problem. Can I get these anywhere? Any info on this rather elaborate application? Or is it just a modern replacement for the older windowed 27C256 etc types previously used?
David

Hi David,

The chip is a 29F800TMC-90, which is an 8M-BIT CMOS FLASH MEMORY.

The MX29F800T/B is an 8-mega bit Flash memory organized as 1M bytes of 8 bits or 512K words of 16 bits.
The MX29F800T/B is packaged in 44-pin SOP, 48-pin TSOP. It is designed to be reprogrammed and erased
in the system or in standard EPROM programmers.

You would need to de-solder the chip to replace it or connect it into a reader.

It may be worth speaking to MrTechGuy to see if he has any spares.

I have no idea on how you would flash the correct code onto it (including any boot loader)

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Steve