Can I move the insides ...

[Florence]

I don't know if this is a really stupid question either because its obviously simple or because its obviously impossible!!

An old 3a has died, mainly due to the hinge area falling apart I think. I have a 'new' one but its memory is smaller (ie 512 k whereas the old one is 2 mb).

Can I open up the old one, and physically move the insides particularly the memory bit, into the new case?

If its possible, any tips on where to start and what I'm looking for?

If its impossible, please excuse my stupidity and don't answer too rudely! ;)

Thanks - Flo

[Graham Tanner]

Flo,

It should be possible to replace your old motherboard (512k) with a new one (2mb). All the memory (whether it is 256k, 512k, 1mb or 2mb) is on the mother-board. They are physically the same size. You cannot replace a 3A board with a 3C board, or vice-versa.

You will lose the entire contents of your Psion if you replace the board, because you have to remove the main batteries and the buttob battery. make sure that you have a good working backup of everything important before you attempt the work.

I found instructions at
www.home.unix-ag.org/fionn/e/Psion/Inside.htm

I followed these and repaired my own 3A.

You only need to work as far as removing the motherboard, disconnecting the battery cable (top right), and then connect the battery cable to the new board, and put it back together. It sounds moe difficult than it really is. Good luck, if you need more advice, please ask.

[Florence]

Excellent, Graham, thank you. I will study that site and see what I can do :) Hope its got good pictures with an arrow pointing out the 'memory'!!! ;)

Many thanks. I will let you know how I get on, particularly if I need help.

Flo

:D

[Graham Tanner]

Florence,

I am sure that the web-site has a few pictures to illustrate the sequence required to open up any of the Psion 3 series, but I cannot remember if there is one which points out the memory chips.

However, you don't need to know where they are, because you are not changing the memory chips, you are replacing the *whole* mother-board.

In fact, you can work out which are the memory chips by comparing the boards - put your old 512k version next to your 2mb version, and the extra chips should be obvious.

[Florence]

You're right, of course :)

Thanks

Flo

[Graham Tanner]

Flo,

I have just noticed that the 'fionn' web-site I listed above comes back as '404 - not found', so here's another.

http://www.home.unix-ag.org/nils/s3a_512kb.html

This web-site existed about 10 minutes ago (14.15 on 12th Nov), so I know that it is available.

[Florence]

Thanks, I did notice that that link didn't work, so I deleted the end bit, then clicked on a link on the page that produced and ended up at http://www.home.unix-ag.org/fionn/e/Psion/Inside.html which, I think, was where you directed me :) (I see the 'l' is missing off your link?)

I will look at the new site you've given too. I need all the help I can get! ;)

Flo

[Florence]

Well, it was all looking good ... until I turned it on :( Swapping the boards over went fine. All clipped back into place fine. But nothing will come on the screen now :( Any ideas?

Thanks

Flo

[Graham Tanner]

Flo,

whenever I have changed boards or repaired any Psion 3s or 5s, when I start the device for the first time afterwards, there is usually a 'beep', and then a long wait while everything is initialised and reloaded from ROM. This can be as much as 10 or 15 seconds, and all the while the screen stays blank. It is quite frightening, waiting with no indication of 'life' in the machine.

I hope that once you had dismantled your machine and removed the old mother board you will see the small daughter-board underneath it, between the two SSD connectors. The cable from the screen (brown cable) and the button-bar (blue cable) fit into sockets on the smaller board. I hope that you did not disconnect or dislodge these - simply replacing the mother board does not require these connections to be touched or broken.

I would love to take a look at your Psion 3A, to see if I can find anything wrong with it, or even make it work again. I'm in London, where are you?

[Florence]

Many thanks for the reply :)

Yes, there was a beep but then nothing. I read somewhere that it can be 20 seconds or so, so I tried again another day, and it beeped and I waited, and then nothing :( It is turned on, I think, as there are little clicks if I press any of the keys.

I believe I saw the daughter-board, yes, and the motherboard feels like its pressed into the two slots. I didn't touch anything on the daughter-board, so I hope thats all OK. Is that where it joins to the screen?

On the instruction pages that I've read, it always spoke about backing up before starting, which, of course, I did :) I'm wondering, though whether I've lost all the Psion programs, or should they still be on there?

I've read in the handbook something about 'reset' and 'hard reset' buttons? Should I do something with them?

Very many thanks for your kind offer to have a look at the Psion. I'm up in Norfolk, but if I get to desperation point, it might well be worthwhile me visiting relatives in Surrey and you on the way :D I'll bear it in mind, thank you.

[Florence]

Graham - have PMd you rather than keep making everyone else read this! ;)

[Florence]

A bit of a development ... I suddenly had the idea of putting the newer Psion back together again to see if it worked. It did!! So, this means that the psion casing itself and connections to the screen must be ok, it must be the motherboard with the bigger memory thats got a problem. (It had stopped showing anything on the display on the old one, but I thought that was because of the broken hinging!)

So, anyone got any ideas with what might be wrong with the motherboard?

Thanks.

[Graham Tanner]

Flo,

if you have re-built your 2MB machine and it works okay, then it should be possible to put both the mother-board and small daughter-board into your other machine with the working hinges.

I have moved boards around many times, and they almost always work correctly afterwards, so this problem is quite intriguing and interesting.

I am looking forward to having the opportunity of inspecting these machines, as I am sure there is a simple solution. I am almost prepared to suggest that I send/lend you my spare 3C for a few weeks and you send me the two 3As so that I can try fixing them.

Send me a personal message if you think that this would work.