How To Fix a Commodore 64 Black Screen

[@easycompzeelandold2521]

Very helpful now I can finally correctly diagnose my machine! You just earned a new subscriber!

[@DIYChris]

Happy to hear this. Thanks

[@naderhumood1199]

Great job ... Thank you very much indeed.

[@richardkimes7810]

It seems like the pla is most often the cause for the black screen. Nice video!

[@DIYChris]

For black screen PLA, kernal and ram are the go to’s also sometimes the cpu and Sid

[@taltechchip5827]

Another c64 was saved, nice job!

[@DIYChris]

Yes! Thank you!

[@stelleratorsuprise8185]

Error Detection ... 1. Check with Datasette: connect Datatsette, switch on, try Run/Shift and RunStop/Restore ? If Datasette Starts and Stops, you know the CPU, ROM and parts of the CIAs are working. 2. Check 5, 12V on regulator Pins, check the other 5V on Pin 2 of User Port. ? If not OK, check fuse, power supply, you are lucky if it was only the fuse. 3. Check the clock on Pin 1 of the 6510 CPU. If you have no Oscilloscope use - a logic probe, it will display high and low Leds the same itensity - a frequency meter, some digital multimeters have it and it should give you a reading of ~1MHz - a simple analog multimeter, it will display ~2,5V DC Voltage (half of VCC) That's where I'm now, it seems as if the clock generation circuity failed.

[@DIYChris]

Do you have access to a Dead Test cartridge? The issue could very well be memory related.

[@konturgestalter]

excellent

[@DIYChris]

First video in the series, hope you guys enjoy it.

[@donaldblakley6796]

Can I still get a replacement pla. Thanks

[@TheHoss4145]

8:49 "I am not really good at this game so you can not judge me"... Sure...

[@joopidema]

So what kind of IC puller are you using? I see no link in the description.

[@DIYChris]

Sorry I thought I had it listed. Here's a link to what I'm using amzn.to/32wVBi7

[@madeinjapan3485]

Great video, we're do you buy the cia chip?

[@danielbraker3876]

Chris is a black screen different than a "no signal" message on your TV. I'm getting a "no signal" message when hooking up the old Commodore 64 I had when I was a kid. Don't have the original monitor, but I would assume as long as the TV has VGA input, I'm good with the connection. Thoughts?

[@alphahr]

What are your go to games for checking audio and video

[@DIYChris]

Hi, great question. For checking video, especially PLA related issues, I like to you Super Zaxxon. For audio some good ones are Donkey Kong and Lazy Jones

[@raymondheath7668]

@@DIYChris thanks

[@stelleratorsuprise8185]

Hi Chris, I have 4 C64 with Black Screen, I'm sure some of them worked before I stored them away (clean, dry place) I opened two of them, checked voltage (12V, 5V) all OK. I removed CIAs, SIDs and PAL but none of them came back with the boot-up message. Any ideas for further searches? Edit: corrected the numer to 4 defect C64s ps: checked video out on the first 3 C64s with a 2nd monitor and checked video out with an oscilloscope there was no video out.

[@DIYChris]

before you do anything else, I would # check the temp of the chips and see if any get hot, especially the memory chips. #2 get a dead test cartridge.. #3 which should be #1 is to make sure you have a proper power supply and video cable. Its a little suspicious that all of them are non functioning especially if you remember all of them being functional before storage. Other than that, anything that is socketed should be pulled and cleaned with deoxit to help with any oxidation that may have occurred.