Everything You Always Wanted To
Know
But Were Too Polite To Ask
Amiga Technical References
Installation of 2.04 ROM Into An Amiga 500
For this you will need:
- Torx T15 Screwdriver or a flathead small enough to fit
- small jewellers flathead screwdriver OR chip extractor
- A Kickstart 2.04 ROM (37.175)
- These instructions printed out since your machine will hopefully be turned
off at the time
THE PROCEDURE:
- Turn everything off.
- Unplug everything from the machine
- Turn the machine over and remove the 6 T15 screws around the edges.
- Turn the machine right side up now and lift off the cover
- Unplug the keyboard from inside the metal shielding and lift out the
keyboard
- Lift the tabs up for the metal shielding and unscrew the four screws
holding it down
- Pull out the shielding
- Now exposed is your Amiga 500 motherboard. You need to determine the
version of the motherboard. Look right beside the trapdoor RAM expansion.
There should be an inscription telling you what REV it is. If it's REV 5 or
lower then fine, continue on. If it's REV6 or 7 then cut the wire that is
soldered on the Kickstart 2.04 ROM. This wire is just there for the older
REV A500's.
- Locate the 68000 on the motherboard of the machine. It's the largest chip
on the board, over to the left beside the expansion slot. Then moving
towards the right you will see a smaller 40-pin DIP CHIP. This is the chip
you want to replace.
- Pry the chip out of it's socket with a small screwdriver, slowly easing it
out on each end so as to not crack the socket.
- Insert the Kickstart 2.04 ROM in the socket. You MUST match up pin 1 on
the chip with pin 1 on the socket/board. The chip has a half-moon dimple on
it on one end. This is the end that points towards the rear of the machine.
There will also be a half-moon on the motherboard. Look at it and match them
up. VERY IMPORTANT!
- Make sure the chip is in solid and all the legs are in the socket. If you
missed any of them, then this really isn't going to work. Remove the chip,
carefully straighten them out with a pair of pliers and re-insert.
- Plug the machine back in to see if it works.
- Works? Turn it off and reassemble everything and away you go.
- Enjoy!
APPENDIX:
The following is valid for A500 rev 3 and rev 5 if the original
instructions doesn't do it.
- There should be no jumper between pin 1 and 31. Bend up pin 31 so that it
doesn't have any contact with the socket.
- Jumper pin 1 to socket 31. Make sure there's no connection to pin 31.
- Solder a wire from pin 31 to 21.
Copyright © 2000 Amiga Auckland Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised: June 16, 2005.