My girlfriend killed my Seibu Mobo...

[Skykid]

She switched off the machine while I was out of the room during a countdown (when it's writing data to flash memory I believe.)

I actually have a spare mobo and the game seems fine, I tried it on that, let the countdown go and it seems unharmed (unless something pops up during play?).

But the mobo is frozen on some Japanese text and the number 81. No matter what cart I try on it, this is all it gives me.

Is there any way to fix the mobo, or reset the flash memory or whatnot? Not that I could do it myself, but I just want to know if I should junk it for parts or hold out until I see my fixit dude in London.

Thanks for the help.

[PsychoGun]

Break up with this girl, right now.

[Dave_K.]

Hard for me to believe this permanently screws your mobo, but robivy64 says so here. I know the G-Net mobo can be reset if the flash load gets interrupted, but it requires you to reload (or upgrade) the bios.

Did you try resetting the jumper with another cart?

[Skykid]

Hard for me to believe this permanently screws your mobo, but robivy64 says so here. I know the G-Net mobo can be reset if the flash load gets interrupted, but it requires you to reload (or upgrade) the bios.

Did you try resetting the jumper with another cart?

Yes, there's only one switch jumper on the board but that flips the screen afaik. I tried switching it with other carts and it stays frozen on the countdown.
Any other jumpers I'm not noticing?

It's the latest revision mobo, a 2.1 and the smallest they made, so it doesn't need jumping between carts, it's automatic after the countdown, just switch the power off and on again.

Info seems scarce on the net regarding this. Dave K, I'm with you in regards to gut feeling - arcade ops could have possibly killed the power during countdowns - I would imagine Seibu built something in to reset the flash. But right now, I can't see what that could be.

Break up with this girl, right now.

Definitely not worth it man.

[emphatic]

Your cabinet's service button can't do Jack either? I only did the cart install countdown thing once when I had a Raiden Fighters 2 and that wasn't interrupted. The screen flip is the only switch, so service button should be the only other option. A "default settings" setting?

I say give your girlfriend a hug, I'm sure she feels bad.

[robivy64]

If you guys find a way to revive it, I'm all ears.

I'll also have two motherboards resurrected from the scrap heap.

[THE]

I would imagine Seibu built something in to reset the flash. But right now, I can't see what that could be.

They probably thought, that people just sent them in to get them repaired for a service fee. That was quite common in that time...

Maybe MOSS can repair it

Seriously, unless there are PALs and CPLDs involved, you could unsolder all flash roms and delete them with a eprom burner. Not sure whether this is worth the hassle for a 40 bucks mobo for you...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Thatt's too bad to hear a perfectly working Seibu Kaihatsu SP1 mobo go on the fritz. Will the gf make it up to you and get a replacement SP1 mobo?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Skykid]

Aww, sounds like it's good for the bin.

It was one of those dinky 2.1 mini versions too - brand new shape.

Shiiiit. Least it didn't kill the game.

[Ed Oscuro]

I think I'd better go rescue the next one to show up...



And hasn't anybody gone looking for a Seibu support service? Company's still around after all.

[GaijinPunch]

Well, look on the bright side. You've got credit for a no-questions-asked blow job at the time of your choosing.

[Skykid]

Well, look on the bright side. You've got credit for a no-questions-asked blow job at the time of your choosing.

Already cashed it in.

[Strider77]

Break up with this girl, right now.


Definitely not worth it man.

I think the responsible thing would be for her to pay for a new one or the repair cost.. otherwise I would be..... pissed. My other half did the same thing to my Japanese backwards compatible PS3 during a firmware update (unplugged it while I was away b/c the room was getting "hot"). Bricked... I was not happy and did not pretend to be otherwise. I have a new one now, and I didn't pay for it. Actually I did have a tad bit of sympathy after I cooled down and when it was re-purchased I chipped in 150.00 out of the 600.00 plus shipping from japan.

Screw a blow job... that is a given, or should be if you have any real spark. Hell even if there is no spark You could buy a BJ for a lower cost; or if you have any social skills a bar and a few drinks works to.

Some of this is tongue in cheek for the record.

Interrupted firmware updates are the worst.. you know the hardware is fine but you're helpless.

[JunoMan]

The Seibu Mobo is repairable, and in fact there is nothing wrong with it.

The problem is that the Mobo's region code has been erased. For some reason Seibu decided they would write that back to the flash rom at the end of the flashing process. (The first command is a bulk erase of the flash)

I've repaired a couple of mine. One had broken pins on the flashrom so when the original owner changed the cart, it failed.

I'd offer to repair it, but I'm on the other side of the world and it's probably more expensive to post the Mobo.

Chris

[robivy64]

I'm assuming you have a piece of software that needs to be written to the flash after erased?

Sharing that would be helpful to many of us hobbyists.

[rtw]

@robivy64

If you can do SMD rework, desolder u1053, change the first byte
to the same as the last byte in ROM1 on the cart and you should
be good to go.

[Dave_K.]

Very interesting. So this is also a way to permanently switch the motherboard's region as well.

I just noticed that all my JPN region SPI motherboards have a silver dot painted on U1053, while the one USA region motherboard I have, does not.

[rtw]

I just noticed that all my JPN region SPI motherboards have a silver dot painted on U1053, while the one USA region motherboard I have, does not.

I checked all mine which is a mix of ASIA and JP and they ALL have a silver dot. I suspect the silver dot is a
marker for the chip which is to be soldered at location U1053.

[Skykid]

The Seibu Mobo is repairable, and in fact there is nothing wrong with it.

The problem is that the Mobo's region code has been erased. For some reason Seibu decided they would write that back to the flash rom at the end of the flashing process. (The first command is a bulk erase of the flash)

I've repaired a couple of mine. One had broken pins on the flashrom so when the original owner changed the cart, it failed.

I'd offer to repair it, but I'm on the other side of the world and it's probably more expensive to post the Mobo.

Chris

Wow, good news. Where on the other side of the world are you (could be my side)?

[cools]

The Seibu Mobo is repairable, and in fact there is nothing wrong with it.

The problem is that the Mobo's region code has been erased. For some reason Seibu decided they would write that back to the flash rom at the end of the flashing process. (The first command is a bulk erase of the flash)

I've repaired a couple of mine. One had broken pins on the flashrom so when the original owner changed the cart, it failed.

I'd offer to repair it, but I'm on the other side of the world and it's probably more expensive to post the Mobo.

Chris

Wow, good news. Where on the other side of the world are you (could be my side)?

You mentioned London in the opening post

[Skykid]

You mentioned London in the opening post

Ah, so I did. Nuts.

[StarCreator]

It just so happens someone in the UK just bumped a thread over at Trading Station offering repair services. Maybe you can see if he can help out?

[cools]

I've got a couple of mobos that need this repair... Hmm.

[Skykid]

It just so happens someone in the UK just bumped a thread over at Trading Station offering repair services. Maybe you can see if he can help out?

I ran it by him and, as a professional his rates are fair, but for the value of the mobo it wouldn't be worth the expense unfortunately

[cools]

I'll take it if it's headed for the bin

[robivy64]

[Ed Oscuro]

so much fail everywhere

[brentsg]

I thought cools was offering to take the girl if she was getting tossed.