MiSTer FPGA Forum

So I was playing it for an hour like all times previously, only difference was I had connected a toslink cable from the mister io board directly to a sony dac (dp-1000 that I use as well with ps2/ps3). All working fine,

But then it turned off and there is only a blinking red led on the usb hub.

This is the type of connector I use, I have the usb later revision with pin and usb:

Tried different power outlet, the power supply green led starts blinking when I use the switch. But nothing on mister.

Tried the original power supply with original splitter (came in the box) and also this LED8 red blinking on usb hub.

Did the de10 nano die?

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 9:55 pm

Did the de10 nano die?

If you have a different 5V power supply capable of at least 2 amps (not sure what the actual requirement is), you could try plugging that into just the MiSTer and see if it turns on. Perhaps you still have the original power supply that came with the DE10 nano.

Also, it looks like there is rust on the screws and perhaps the buttons too. If that is the case, I wouldn't be surprised if it is dead.

I tested the original power supply and still nothing.

It was odd because this happened coincidentally after I connected the toslink from io board directly into the dac, before I always used from mister io directly to the edifier speakers and this time I tried different because I wanted to try the headphones.

any way I can check if the mister io, ram and usb hub are not dead as well? like using a multimeter and such?

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 11:04 pm

any way I can check if the mister io, ram and usb hub are not dead as well? like using a multimeter and such?

You can remove the I/O board, RAM and USB hub and see if the MiSTer powers on. Perhaps the RAM or I/O board went bad. Also, the USB hub can function on its own, so you can test that while it is not connected to anything if you have the right cable to plug into it's input port.

thorr wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 11:28 pm

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 11:04 pm

any way I can check if the mister io, ram and usb hub are not dead as well? like using a multimeter and such?

You can remove the I/O board, RAM and USB hub and see if the MiSTer powers on. Perhaps the RAM or I/O board went bad. Also, the USB hub can function on its own, so you can test that while it is not connected to anything if you have the right cable to plug into it's input port.

It is like this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTn9Lxqshx0

When I unplug both cables from usb hub and de10nano the green led on power supply keeps on without blinking.

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:07 am

It is like this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTn9Lxqshx0

When I unplug both cables from usb hub and de10nano the green led on power supply keeps on without blinking.

I forgot one important thing, and this might fix everything. Make sure the microSD card is properly inserted. I don't know how many times I accidentally ejected it and everything appeared to be broken. You might have done this when you connected your TOSlink cable. In fact, it looks like it might be ejected in your video.

If that is not the issue, it looks like you may still have the USB hub connected. Try disconnecting it and don't supply power to it. Hook up an HDMI cable to the MiSTer and see if it does anything when you turn it on. Also, you could try hooking up USB to the console port to see the debug output. You may need to google how to do this. Edit: I just did: https://mister-devel.github.io/MkDocs_M ... d/console/

thorr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:42 am

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:07 am

It is like this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTn9Lxqshx0

When I unplug both cables from usb hub and de10nano the green led on power supply keeps on without blinking.

I forgot one important thing, and this might fix everything. Make sure the microSD card is properly inserted. I don't know how many times I accidentally ejected it and everything appeared to be broken. You might have done this when you connected your TOSlink cable. In fact, it looks like it might be ejected in your video.

If that is not the issue, it looks like you may still have the USB hub connected. Try disconnecting it and don't supply power to it. Hook up an HDMI cable to the MiSTer and see if it does anything when you turn it on. Also, you could try hooking up USB to the console port to see the debug output. You may need to google how to do this. Edit: I just did: https://mister-devel.github.io/MkDocs_M ... d/console/

Even connecting only the de10 nano with an old mister io board and old usb hub still does nothing. Only that LED8 blinking and green led on power supply blinking as well. If I unplug the power supply cable, its green led stays active not blinking.

Also tried as you suggested, only the de10 nano and hdmi and the power supply and only the green led blinking:

https://youtube.com/shorts/EpQaVTmlNRg?feature=share

Tried the original power supply (it doesnt have any leds) and no result.

If I were to use a multimeter, which parts should I try to check if the boards are dead?

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 1:37 am

Even connecting only the de10 nano with an old mister io board and old usb hub still does nothing. Only that LED8 blinking and green led on power supply blinking as well. If I unplug the power supply cable, its green led stays active not blinking.

Also tried as you suggested, only the de10 nano and hdmi and the power supply and only the green led blinking:

https://youtube.com/shorts/EpQaVTmlNRg?feature=share

Tried the original power supply (it doesnt have any leds) and no result.

If I were to use a multimeter, which parts should I try to check if the boards are dead?

That video is very helpful. It appears that your MiSTer is physically covered in crud. The switches look like they have rust on them. The main issue I see is that the pins on at least one of the chips is coated with stuff. I recommend getting some Isopropyl alcohol and some cotton swabs (Qtips) and thoroughly clean your MiSTer. You can use the alcohol excessively and wash everything with it. The fact that the MiSTer is causing the power supply LED to blink makes me think that it has a short.

I would put your multimeter in beep mode where it beeps if you connect the leads together, and hook it up to the power connector. If it beeps, that means that the positive and negative are connected. Also, read the ohms when you do that. Regardless, you should clean it up, and perhaps it will start working again if it is not completely fried at this point.

Also, my guess is the red blinking on the USB board is because the power supply keeps shutting down as a precaution. If you only connect the USB board and not the MiSTer to the power, I bet the red light would stay on.

impossible to say over a distance but mine had a power button that started depressing after a while , after i tried several things and even bought a new psu (which was desperate b/c it worked before so theres no reason it would suddenly need more power for the same setup) turns out i had to clamp the button (since i dont have a soldering kit and i never really soldered on a button so i prefer not to) and that way it stayed pressed down and everything runs fine. Otherwise it started up "sometimes" but got worse over time and the red leds kept blinking too indeed but it also rebooted often IF it got to the startup screen ... for what its worth my 2cents ... i suppose if you have ever done some soldering it cant be too much rocket science to just replace (or simply remove) the button ... good luck, dont fry the board lol

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 1:37 am

thorr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:42 am

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:07 am

It is like this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTn9Lxqshx0

When I unplug both cables from usb hub and de10nano the green led on power supply keeps on without blinking.

I forgot one important thing, and this might fix everything. Make sure the microSD card is properly inserted. I don't know how many times I accidentally ejected it and everything appeared to be broken. You might have done this when you connected your TOSlink cable. In fact, it looks like it might be ejected in your video.

If that is not the issue, it looks like you may still have the USB hub connected. Try disconnecting it and don't supply power to it. Hook up an HDMI cable to the MiSTer and see if it does anything when you turn it on. Also, you could try hooking up USB to the console port to see the debug output. You may need to google how to do this. Edit: I just did: https://mister-devel.github.io/MkDocs_M ... d/console/

Even connecting only the de10 nano with an old mister io board and old usb hub still does nothing. Only that LED8 blinking and green led on power supply blinking as well. If I unplug the power supply cable, its green led stays active not blinking.

Also tried as you suggested, only the de10 nano and hdmi and the power supply and only the green led blinking:

https://youtube.com/shorts/EpQaVTmlNRg?feature=share

Tried the original power supply (it doesnt have any leds) and no result.

If I were to use a multimeter, which parts should I try to check if the boards are dead?

Have you tried reseating the SD-Card and if that failed tried a different SD-Card?

Syntax Error wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 2:41 am

impossible to say over a distance but mine had a power button that started depressing after a while , after i tried several things and even bought a new psu (which was desperate b/c it worked before so theres no reason it would suddenly need more power for the same setup) turns out i had to clamp the button (since i dont have a soldering kit and i never really soldered on a button so i prefer not to) and that way it stayed pressed down and everything runs fine. Otherwise it started up "sometimes" but got worse over time and the red leds kept blinking too indeed but it also rebooted often IF it got to the startup screen ... for what its worth my 2cents ... i suppose if you have ever done some soldering it cant be too much rocket science to just replace (or simply remove) the button ... good luck, dont fry the board lol

what is this button you are talking about? de10 nano doesnt have one, it would turn on immediatelly when powered on, which is not happening in this case. I believe you didnt see the video.

Corrupted micro sd for sure.

bootsector wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 11:08 am

Corrupted micro sd for sure.

But wouldn't at least the de10 nano power on when connected to power supply and get some image via hdmi also plugged?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTn9Lxqshx0

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EpQaVTmlNRg

I will find some time later today to get a multimeter and check this board (it has been ages I used a multimeter)

You'd think so, but no. Create a new SD card and you'll see.

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 11:23 am

bootsector wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 11:08 am

Corrupted micro sd for sure.

But wouldn't at least the de10 nano power on when connected to power supply and get some image via hdmi also plugged?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTn9Lxqshx0

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EpQaVTmlNRg

I will find some time later today to get a multimeter and check this board (it has been ages I used a multimeter)

No the DE10 has no image on it. It needs to load it from the Sd card. Without an image its just a paperweight.

FPGA64 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:31 pm

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 11:23 am

bootsector wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 11:08 am

Corrupted micro sd for sure.

But wouldn't at least the de10 nano power on when connected to power supply and get some image via hdmi also plugged?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTn9Lxqshx0

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EpQaVTmlNRg

I will find some time later today to get a multimeter and check this board (it has been ages I used a multimeter)

No the DE10 has no image on it. It needs to load it from the Sd card. Without an image its just a paperweight.

So should I use for example another sd card (8gb I have one spare) and flash it with mr fusion?

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:38 pm

FPGA64 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:31 pm

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 11:23 am

But wouldn't at least the de10 nano power on when connected to power supply and get some image via hdmi also plugged?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rTn9Lxqshx0

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EpQaVTmlNRg

I will find some time later today to get a multimeter and check this board (it has been ages I used a multimeter)

No the DE10 has no image on it. It needs to load it from the Sd card. Without an image its just a paperweight.

So should I use for example another sd card (8gb I have one spare) and flash it with mr fusion?

Yes a new fresh SD card with a Mr Fusion Install. Only use the DE10 at first no extension boards. If that works you can add the expansion boards

FPGA64 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:58 pm

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:38 pm

FPGA64 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:31 pm

No the DE10 has no image on it. It needs to load it from the Sd card. Without an image its just a paperweight.

So should I use for example another sd card (8gb I have one spare) and flash it with mr fusion?

Yes a new fresh SD card with a Mr Fusion Install. Only use the DE10 at first no extension boards. If that works you can add the expansion boards

No success.

Used a different sd card 16gb transcend with fresh mr fusion install. Only the de10 nano, no boards, hdmi plugged and when I connect the power supply, its green led starts blinking only. No image on tv.

So, completely dead?

I dont know at this point but its not looking good

what's odd is the green led blinking on power supply,

When I unplug the cable from the de10 nano the led green stays active.

I still think there is a short (or defective part) causing the power supply to flash.

Try thoroughly cleaning the board with isopropyl alcohol. It might not help, but it can't hurt. Worst case, it will be very clean when you throw it away.

thorr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 5:33 pm

I still think there is a short (or defective part) causing the power supply to flash.

Try thoroughly cleaning the board with isopropyl alcohol. It might not help, but it can't hurt. Worst case, it will be very clean when you throw it away.

I had cleaned it with isopropyl alcohol before trying with different sd and fresh mr fusion install.

I would like also to make sure if it was related when I plugged the toslink cable directly to the sony dac (dp-1000) into the optical digital port and it might have caused this short? Or pure coincidence?

Just in case I buy a clone board later on and I dont know for sure if I would connect both devices again.

I always used this sony dac since 2010 with ps2 and ps3 and never had any problems to this day.

Typical ESD damage, it commonly happens to the Mister when fiddling with it when it’s not in a case, like here. Nothing to do about it, just throw away and get a new one. And get a case, too, a metal one. That’s the only protection against this sort of thing, this makes the electrostatic discharge go to ground instead of directly into sensitive chips.

C-R-T wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 6:14 pm

Typical ESD damage, it commonly happens to the Mister when fiddling with it when it’s not in a case, like here. Nothing to do about it, just throw away and get a new one. And get a case, too, a metal one. That’s the only protection against this sort of thing, this makes the electrostatic discharge go to ground instead of directly into sensitive chips.

I was using the acrylic on top and bottom, it has been 3 years like this.

That's great advice, getting the metal case. It will also protect the electronics from the elements and keep them clean. It is interesting that inserting a toslink cable caused this because it isn't metal, but my guess is you were statically charged when you picked up your MiSTer. You should get a ground strap and wear that when working on your MiSTer. You plug it into the wall outlet and it connects to ground. Once it is in the metal case, you shouldn't need the ground strap. https://www.amazon.com/Electronics-IUZI ... B08XYP7WJL

thorr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 6:41 pm

That's great advice, getting the metal case. It will also protect the electronics from the elements and keep them clean. It is interesting that inserting a toslink cable caused this because it isn't metal, but my guess is you were statically charged when you picked up your MiSTer. You should get a ground strap and wear that when working on your MiSTer. You plug it into the wall outlet and it connects to ground. Once it is in the metal case, you shouldn't need the ground strap. https://www.amazon.com/IUZIT-Grounding- ... 093BN9LWL/

If it happened right away when I turned the mister on like all times previously, I think it would be understandable this charge. But I actually powered it on, I played for an hour straight, paused for a moment, and when I came back it was off. And this mister was always on top of a wooden surface.

Given the rust on the switches and the rest of it looking pretty dirty, I wouldn't be surprised if a component just failed on its own. Do you live near the ocean? I am wondering what is causing the rust build up.

thorr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 7:19 pm

Given the rust on the switches and the rest of it looking pretty dirty, I wouldn't be surprised if a component just failed on its own. Do you live near the ocean? I am wondering what is causing the rust build up.

Yes, I live near the ocean, south america, quite tropical here all year round.

Honestly I still can't accept like how this happened. 3 years in a row, no problems and out of sudden this.

pbsk8 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 8:53 pm

Honestly I still can't accept like how this happened. 3 years in a row, no problems and out of sudden this.

It's almost certainly corrosion.

Like most things, until it fails, it hasn't. It will always be all of a sudden by definition.

Waiting for the clone now.