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CPS2 1st game flash loaded with garbled picture and audio, then blank screen ever since.

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FaZeKsF

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So I just received my darksoft CPS2 CE kit a few days ago and I've had a problem with a blank screen after flashing my first game, 1944. So, I will try to be as detailed on what I've done and tried. I had a functional A board and Marvel vs Street Fighter B board revision 7 with the G PAL chip and gave it one last play on the CRT screen before starting the mod. First thing I did was remove the battery, then started removing all of the ROM and IC chips as described in the manual (I left the PAL chip in). I left the jumper pads as is since the guide says they no longer have to be adjusted. I installed everything accordingly with the key writing cable and copied the latest encrypted game ROM folders in the games folder on the SD card. About 2 hours after removing the battery I powered up the board, LCD came on, selected 1944 and hit select. It flashed without issue. Once it loaded the game it had garbled sprites and messed up audio. So I took everything off the board and reseated everything. Once I reconnected everything and powered the board I had a blank screen. I tried flashing numerous encrypted ROMs, decrypted ROMS (which I copied after formatting the SD card via FAT32) and disconnected the key writing cable. I tried the MVC unlocked version. I've power cycled with the SD card out then power cycled with it back in. I tried shorting EXC5 in different scenarios and reflashing encrypted and decrypted ROMS, reseated the darksoft numerous times. Everything is seated properly, nothing sticking up, no bent pins at all. I installed the locking clips on the A and B board as well and all I've received is a blank screen and no sound. I checked the voltage on the JAMMA cable while connected to the CPS2 board and adjusted it to 5.1V, no luck. FYI, the AMP rating on the power supply is 12V 2A and 5V 11A. I purchased a new power supply rated at 12V 4A and 5V 16A. I didn't get a chance to try it due to the rainy weather today. I've spent countless hours reading forums trying to troubleshoot the issue but have gotten nowhere. I don't have any other A or B boards to try out as well as another SD card since it worked on the first try I figured that the SD card isn't the issue since every time I've flashed a ROM they were successful. I'm finally throwing in the towel and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance!
 
I had a case that suddenly, it turned to yellow screen but with sound. I changed the motherboard. It can be fixed the problem. May my case and experience can help you.
 
I would try a new B board and a new A board, nothing the OP did should have killed that original combo.
But with symptoms like that it really sounds like component failure.?(
 
That would be a major bummer if something failed. Who would I contact about shipping the boards for service?
 
I can always look at it for you. Keep in mind most issues lately are sd card issues. If you send it to me and the multi is not the issue there would be a tech fee in addition to the return shipping cost.

If there is a problem with your a or b boards I might not be able to help fix it but at least I can narrow it down.

By the way have you tried placing the B-board on the a-board without the b-board case?
 
I will purchase a new SD card to try out. Could you send me a link for a card to purchase that you know works? I just find it odd that it loaded the first time. I have placed the b board with just the bottom of the case on to the a board. I have not tried installing it bare. The screen is black with snow rolling up. It's barely noticeable, but it's definitely not a solid color.
 
Is your interconnect board the right way up? I vaguely remember putting mine upside down and having something similar happen.
 
If you're getting a black screen it's an issue with booting after key injection or a hardware fault.

Garbled sound and graphics on the initial boot points to an issue with the G PAL.

If you could send through some photos of the installation it may help but the CE generally doesn't have the same faults as the original kit in terms of key writing wires because it's a pin to pin harness.

If you're in the US, I would send it through to @Mitsurugi-w

The only thing I can suggest is there is a loose pin on the key writing connector on the multi or B board, there is something wrong with the interconnect board, or component failure (this would be very very unlikely)

Have you tried reinstalling the original game?
 
I checked continuity on the key writing connector and everything checked out. I will check the continuity with the wire attached from the CE board to the b board. By reinstalling the original game do you mean reinstalling the battery, flashing the keys and reinstalling the rom chips? Would decrypted roms have worked since they do not use the key writing method?
 
I'm trying to determine if the fault lies with the multi kit hardware vs the CPS2 B board.

If the original game loads, then that's not the fault

If you can't run decrypted games on the multi kit either that's also good to know
 
Gotcha. I will send pics of the install and will keep you posted on what happens once I reinstall the original game as soon as I bring my solder station back home (should be by Sunday). Thank you and everyone else for the troubleshooting help!
 
I got it working! It turns out the "RU" printing on the interconnect was wrong. The manual shows that the letters should have been on the top left corner. I had found a schematic from darksoft on the interconnect pinout and noticed there were traces missing on the left side. As you can see, with the letters right side up on my interconnect the traces were missing on the right. Amazing how the issue was something so simple but a printing error on the interconnect board made my life hell! So my issue at the moment is that there are sprites missing. I didn't have the whole case screwed back together and didn't have time to put everything back so hopefully that does the trick.
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Missing sprites is odd. The interconnect is definitely working since that connects the main program area.

The mask ROM area is 13-20 and connected through the large IDC connectors.

Do you have sound and or music? Music is a separate part of the circuit so I'm trying to narrow down what's working

There's no glitching so I'm not 100% sure it's related to A and B connectivity but it could be that or the main board of the kit isn't making good contact.

Maybe check for dirty pins on your IDC connectors. If you have sound but no sprites then that would be even more strange but we'll figure it out
 
Sound is working fine. I still haven't had a chance to test it out after reassembling everything including the clips between the A and B board. I've read people having issues with glitches until everything was put back in place. IDC connector pins seemed to be clean prior to install but I will look into that if I still have the issue once I'm back home.
 
xodaraP said:
Good idea. Also check for bent pins on your A and B connectors and hopefully you're up and running.
Click to expand...
So, I finally had time to mess around with the kit and I've inspected everything on the boards, and I get the same result with no foreground sprites as seen in the pics. When I had loaded the first game 1944 there were garbled graphics and sound, but it had the foreground sprites. So something went wrong between uninstalling and reinstalling the kit. Could installing the interconnect the wrong way have messed something up? I swear it was the most annoying thing finding out the company had installed the sticker the wrong way.
 
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