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Esquire Fox
07-06-2012, 12:30 AM
So I recently picked up a Jaguar CD Dev Unit. The seller mentioned that it wasn't working, but I didn't know what the problem would be.
In this case, it is the infamous Red Screen of Death (dun dun dun). The first thing I did was test my Jaguar console. It plays all my cartridge games just fine.
So I cleaned the contacts of the Jaguar CD with rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip and got all the dirt off. Still snarling at me.
Opened it up and examined the board for any faults, but couldn't find any. Did confirm the BIOS was a Dev version though.
The power supplies I am using are both official Jaguar adapters.

Any ideas on what I could do to repair this?

Esquire Fox
07-06-2012, 06:46 PM
Tried removing the top off the console and inserting the Jaguar CD all the way into the cartridge slot, but it didn't make a difference.
I'm convinced that this is an internal problem. I've heard that if you hook the wrong kind of cable into it, you can damage it without even turning it on.
So if the previous owner did this, then it would mean an internal component has failed.

Now I need to ask some questions about how the Jaguar CD is intended to function.
If you do not have the power cable plugged in, will it produce a red screen, or will it load up with a screen asking you to plug the power supply in?
Does a Dev unit Jaguar CD require a Dev unit Jaguar console to run? This unit does not have any cables coming from the back.

Esquire Fox
07-06-2012, 08:57 PM
Here are some thumbnail links of the board. I can't find any significant problems with the contacts or any of the capacitors.

Top of board:
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7166/img0575bw.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/189/img0575bw.jpg/)

Bottoms of board:
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6164/img0576wo.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/img0576wo.jpg/)

Bottom Front:
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/307/img0578js.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/266/img0578js.jpg/)

Bottom Back:
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/6271/img0579ll.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/833/img0579ll.jpg/)

There are some differences from a regular Jaguar CD board. The obvious is the ROM chip, which has a sticker indicating that it is a Dev ROM.
There is also a green cord going from the front of the bottom to the back. I'm not sure what that does, but it isn't on the retail Jaguar CD board.
The developers also color coded the capacitors.

APE992
07-06-2012, 09:33 PM
Do cartridges work when inserted into the Jaguar CD unit?

Esquire Fox
07-07-2012, 12:39 AM
No. Regardless of whether or not a cartridge or the power cable are attached to the unit, I get the red screen.

APE992
07-07-2012, 01:09 AM
Can the Jaguar unit itself boot cartridges or do those give a red screen as well?

I'm wondering if the cartridge slot needs retensioning.

Esquire Fox
07-07-2012, 01:12 AM
The Jaguar console loads cartridge games correctly and without issue. I even tested the CD unit on my spare Jaguar console to similar effect.
I cleaned the contacts on my Jaguar console by wrapping a card in cloth and applying a light amount of rubbing alcohol. I carefully cleaned all of the contacts.
This didn't affect the CD unit producing the red screen.

I should mention that the front clip on the Jaguar CD is broken off. As far as I know, this only provides a little extra grip and isn't necessary for the CD unit to boot.

APE992
07-07-2012, 02:00 AM
Couldn't hurt to retension the slot anyway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJuKsbvr3PM

The EPROM may have been corrupted too for all I know. I've never worked with a dev unit so I'm pretty much out of ideas unfortunately.