Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I just got an EPROM from Alesis to replace faulty eprom on my Alesis
DM5. However, there are no instructions on how to make this
replacement. Is it just a matter of pulling the old EPROM out and
securing the new EPROM into the socket? Is this risky? Thanks!

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <1110314818.098295.167290@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com> aobradovic@gmail.com writes:

> I just got an EPROM from Alesis to replace faulty eprom on my Alesis
> DM5. However, there are no instructions on how to make this
> replacement. Is it just a matter of pulling the old EPROM out and
> securing the new EPROM into the socket?

Basically, yes. But first you have to open up the case and find the
EPROM chip. That might be simple, or not. I've never opened a DM5 up.

> Is this risky?

It could be, if you're careless. The risks are that you'll zap
something with static electricity when you're handling the parts, and
that you'll bend a pin (or a whole row of pins) when inserting the new
chip into the socket. Best case here is that it won't work, worst case
is that you can't recover it.

I'd recommend that you invest a few bucks in the proper tools. Radio
Shack used to sell an IC puller and inserter kit - not highly
precision tools, but good enough for one use. The puller helps you to
remove the old chip without damaging it and the inserter guides the
pins so that they don't splay out from the socket when you try to push
the chip in. A grounding wrist strap is a good idea, but if you can't
find one, at least touch something grounded to drain off any static
charge you might have on your body before getting into the insides of
the unit or opening the anti-static protective bag or sleeve that the
new EPROM comes in.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers (mrivers@d-and-d.com)
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Mike Rivers" <mrivers@d-and-d.com> wrote in message news:znr1110325543k@trad...

> I'd recommend that you invest a few bucks in the proper tools. Radio
> Shack used to sell an IC puller and inserter kit - not highly
> precision tools, but good enough for one use. The puller helps you to
> remove the old chip without damaging it and the inserter guides the
> pins so that they don't splay out from the socket when you try to push
> the chip in. A grounding wrist strap is a good idea, but if you can't
> find one, at least touch something grounded to drain off any static
> charge you might have on your body before getting into the insides of
> the unit or opening the anti-static protective bag or sleeve that the
> new EPROM comes in.

You should follow this man's advice. Especially regarding the puller tool. The
DM boxes run warm and, after a couple years, the EPROMs get seated in pretty
tight. It's not an easy thing the use your fingers to pull the chip and using a
screwdriver (or screwdriver-lite, commonly known as a butter knife) is a lot
like driving down the interstate at 120MPH without your seatbelt on.

The only other thing I'd add is to initialize the box once the new EPROM is
installed. On the DM5, you press the VOICE and OUTPUT buttons down while turning
on the power. Then release the buttons and the box will re-initialize itself.
(Goes without saying any user-stored stuff goes out the window on
re-initialization.)

John

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

<aobradovic@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1110314818.098295.167290@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I just got an EPROM from Alesis to replace faulty eprom on my Alesis
> DM5. However, there are no instructions on how to make this
> replacement. Is it just a matter of pulling the old EPROM out and
> securing the new EPROM into the socket? Is this risky? Thanks!
>

One more thing, if you insert the new EPROM the wrong way round you will
destroy it. DO NOT go by the orientation of any stick-on labels. Pin 1 is
marked with a dot punched or printed on the chip itself.


Gareth.