@Jack

I have tried to read the serial output using VLT on an A1200, using 9600 baud and N81, and many other combinations of these parameters and got only garbled characters. I get 2 or 3 with memory out and 4 with memory in.

Someone said he got garbled characters when his CPU died. Could this be my problem?

@Jack

I have checked two batteries that I took off the board with a friend's volt meter. They both measured slightly above 3 volts.

Is it not true that Uboot will not send characters to the serial port unless you have saved that setting? Without video I can't change any settings.

@Chip
I have tried many combinations of speed, parity, bits and stop bits, all to no avail. In fact I only get these characters when I turn on the PSU switch beffore I hit the power button on the front of the case.

At the moment I have no memory in nor any drives connected. I just have a video card connected, which I know works in another machine.

@tlm

I have tried everyone's suggestion without success, except replacing the battery holder. I guess I will order one unless anyone has a better idea.

@Snuffy

Thanks for the dose. I should have checked my spelling, I now realize, but I was kind of in a hurry . I'll try getting a new battery holder if adjusting the CPU connection doesn't work.

Connections don't speak but my screen used to print out messages when it booted up. I'm hoping that someone will tell me something that will get those messages back.

@ssolie

I've tried that and got nothing but 4 nonsense letters no matter what parameters I tried on my terminal program.

@interrogative

Thanks

@Ricossa

Thanks for your input. My machine lives at my weekend house. I won't be able to try your suggestioon until next weekend.

@Jack
I've replaced the battery for the fifth or sixth time. The message mentioned was the last time save once that I've seen anything on my screen. I'm wondering if I have a dead rom.

One cold morning I booted my machine. It got as far as telling me scsi was spinning up then quit. I replaced the poser supply, the battery - no luck. Video card is OK. When I tried a PCI video card the machine wouldn't power up. Dose anyone have any ideas?