Atari 800XL repair: Black screen at power up @adriansdigitalbasement
Atari 800XL repair: Black screen at power up  @adriansdigitalbasement
Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On the bench we have a broken Atari 800XL exhibiting a black screen when powered on. I've never done any Atari circuit repairs before, so let's see if I can fix this machine.

-- Links

Testing three Atari computers:
youtube.com/watch?v=MIJ_CcdIBJk

800XL Schematics:
ezcontents.org/sites/default/files/downloads/Atari800XL_schematics_rev2.pdf

Atari video connector pinout:
dfarq.homeip.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/atari-800-video-cable.png

Adrian's Digital Basement Merch store:
my-store-c82bd2-2.creator-spring.com

Adrian's Digital Basement ][ (Second Channel)
youtube.com/channel/UCbtwi4wK1YXd9AyV_4UcE6g

Support the channel on Patreon:
patreon.com/adriansdigitalbasement

-- Tools

Deoxit D5:
amzn.to/2VvOKy1
store.caig.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1602/.f

O-Ring Pick Set: (I use these to lift chips off boards)
amzn.to/3a9x54J

Elenco Electronics LP-560 Logic Probe:
amzn.to/2VrT5lW

Hakko FR301 Desoldering Iron:
amzn.to/2ye6xC0

Rigol DS1054Z Four Channel Oscilloscope:
rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/1000z

Head Worn Magnifying Goggles / Dual Lens Flip-In Head Magnifier:
amzn.to/3adRbuy

TL866II Plus Chip Tester and EPROM programmer: (The MiniPro)
amzn.to/2wG4tlP
aliexpress.com/item/33000308958.html

TS100 Soldering Iron:
amzn.to/2K36dJ5
ebay.com/itm/TS100-65W-MINI-Digital-OLED-Programmable-Soldering-Iron-Anti-static-Structure/113382669853

EEVBlog 121GW Multimeter:
eevblog.com/product/121gw

DSLogic Basic Logic Analyzer:
amzn.to/2RDSDQw
ebay.com/itm/USB-Logic-DSLogic-Basic-Analyzer-16Ch-100MHz-4Ch-400MHz-Xilinx-Spartan-6-FPGA/202543965672

Magnetic Screw Holder:
amzn.to/3b8LOhG
harborfreight.com/4-inch-magnetic-parts-tray-90566.html

Universal ZIP sockets: (clones, used on my ZIF-64 test machine)
ebay.com/itm/14-16-18-20-24-28-32-40-pin-IC-Test-Universal-ZIF-Socket-Fs/303206721971

RetroTink 2X Upconverter: (to hook up something like a C64 to HDMI)
retrotink.com

Plato (Clone) Side Cutters: (order five)
ebay.com/itm/1-2-5-10PCS-Micro-Scissor-125mm-PLATO-170-Electronics-Cutter-Side-Cutting-Pliers/163458746184

Heat Sinks:
aliexpress.com/item/32537183709.html

Little squeezy bottles: (available elsewhere too)
amzn.to/3b8LOOI

--- Links

My GitHub repository:
github.com/misterblack1?tab=repositories

Commodore Computer Club / Vancouver, WA – Portland, OR – PDX Commodore Users Group
commodorecomputerclub.com

--- Instructional videos

My video on damage-free chip removal:
youtube.com/watch?v=XQVjwPsVFd8

--- Music

Intro music and other tracks by:
Nathan Divino
@itsnathandivino
Atari 800XL repair: Black screen at power upDEC VT100 test and diagnosisApple Lisa Part 3: Im looking for a good CRT for th LisaTroubleshooting a 360k floppy drive (Fujitsu M2551A)Dont use a blowtorch to fix your C64!PC archeology: The Leading Edge MP-2400L doesnt existUsing a Commodore 1541 disk drive with an Apple IISoroc IQ 120: Lets address the cataracts in the room286 motherboard repair - VARTA battery leakedThe final push: Fixing every last issue on the Brazilian clone (MILMAR Part 4)PC archeology: Upgrading the Compaq Presario 425 All-In-One (Part 2)This new NES clone has promise, and its very cheap.
Adrians Digital Basement |

Atari 800XL repair: Black screen at power up

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