Did I destroy my Expansion Interface just by moving it?

[Abmvk]

I got a perfect Model 1 Level 2 here in the Netherlands. Then I bought an Expansion Interface from Germany over eBay. It worked fine (well, at the moment that is just extra memory, still searching for good diskdrives). Today I moved the system to another desk a few metres away. Disconnected everything carefully, moved it carefully and connected again carefully. But now, when I start the EI and then the computer itself I don’t get the normal starting question, but a screen full of random characters and nothing else. If I leave the EI off, the computer starts normal.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Any suggestions what to do besides crying?

 

[Eudimorphodon]

Hold down the break key while turning it on and see what you get.

 

[John(Wales-UK)]

Try cleaning the edge connector where the ribbon cable from the TRS-80 joins the expansion interface (both sides if necessary but start with the edge connector that you disconnected when moving it). I use an alcohol wipe (IPA) or DeoxIt when needed and have also used a soft non-abrasive eraser (red). Keep all wipes etc. away from painted surfaces.

 

[Eudimorphodon]

To clarify on the break key comment: if you don’t have any drives connected to a Model I (or do and don’t put a disk in drive 0) it’s normal for it to hang forever on that “crash screen” as it futilely looks for a boot sector. Holding down the BREAK key on power on/reset skips trying to boot and gives you the BASIC prompt.

The OP makes it sound like it was just going straight to BASIC before it was moved. So… if that’s the case then it could well be an intermittent bad connection that’s actually “better” post-move. Another possibility is if the unit has a data separator or double density board installed in the FDC socket it’s depressingly common for them to work loose and likewise have iffy connections.

 

[John(Wales-UK)]

A very good point. I was just assuming that he owns a disk drive (of some quality) since he mentioned it was working until he moved it a couple of meters. Regardless, doesn't sound like it should take too much to get it back up and running again. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[Abmvk]

I don’t own a diskdrive yet, working on it. So as I understand it now, the unit worked wrong when it worked, and now it doesn’t work that is correct behaviour. That is good to know, because I was a bit worried even after it worked with the break-key.

Anyhow, with the break-key the problem was solved, and I hope to have a set of diskdrives soon, to see if that does work as well.

Thanks for both the help and the reassurance!