myers@mhuxd.UUCP (MYERS) (11/03/86)
---bugline--- ---bugline--- ---bugline--- ---bugline--- ---bugline--- Have you had this problem, and can I fix it? I love my old Atari 800 and would really hate to see it die. I can still replace it with an 800XL but don't want to (the keyboard is *so* nice). Anyhow, my machine is 4 years old. It has the newer operating system [PEEK(58383)=0], so the problem isn't there. The problem, in as few words as possible, is that my poor little Atari mistak- enly believes the printer is disconnected. Off and on, for 2 years, I've been getting erroneous ERROR 138 messages, both from BASIC and from ATARIWRITER (cartridge). I have a 1050 Disk Drive, Epson RX-80 printer, and MicroPRINT interface (Apeface equivalent). I've checked all peripheral devices indepen- dently, and they're OK. It's not just a loose connection in cable. The problem often goes away if I shut down and let everything cool off, but returns before I can get a full page of text printed. I can get the printer to work if it's turned on *before* the computer, but again, only for a half page or so. Lately, I've been getting ERROR 140, which is supposed to indicate a bad POKEY chip, or at least bad data getting to this chip. I've taken a chance and ordered a new POKEY chip. Will this solve my problem? Needless to say, the system is useless for the kids' homework, and for printing my homebrew fractal images. I'll send you free my fantastic Mandlebrot 11 program (draws and stores 16-color detailed fractals, gives you complete control over successive images, saves picture values) if you can save my Atari 800. Thanks! Email: ...ihnp4!mhuxd!myers 201-564-4280 --andy myers--