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Does anyone know specifically what the PE+ error "EEPROM DEVICE" means?

My hunch is that perhaps I have a bad or loose solder joint on my motherboard, as I've been intermittently getting this error, mostly when I've removed and replaced the MPU board (causing the motherboard to rattle around).

After several power-ups with CALL ATTENDANT - EEPROM DEVICE, I turned the machine off and gave it the "technician's tap" -- I banged away on the side of the cabinet a few times near the motherboard.  I powered it up again and it worked  :5-.

I ran into this yesterday when swapping boards, and today once even with the set chip to enable the validator -- I got "REMOVE SET CHIP - EEPROM DEVICE".

Anyhoo, any thoughts on what I should do (or should I just live with it)?  FWIW, I have a bartop drop in PE+ non imbedded BV with the slant type motherboard/MPU tray configuration (model 367OC).

From my discoveries with MAME, the EPROM DEVICE error comes up when there is a failure to Read or Write to the EPROM located on the backplane.  The system does a simple "discover" method to test the game type on the eprom device against the one in the battery backed cmos ram.  When they differ you get the "GAME TYPE" message.  Its during this process that you most likely get your error.

So, I would definitely suspect an issue with a bad solder joint around the area of the eprom since you are able to sometimes recover from it.  Otherwise I would suspect the eprom device itself, but seems less likely with what you are reporting.  The eprom is usually soldered directly to the backplane instead of using a socket.  If you do end up playing with the area, it may be worth dropping in a socket.

If it makes a difference, the message is definitely "EEPROM DEVICE" (two "E"s) -- that is the one on the motherboard/backplane, yes?

Correct.

Sounds very much like the data error I was and am getting. Hopefully I'll get that resolved soon, it was intermittent then last week I couldn't clear it. I'll be checking the motherboard out and see :)

EEPROM DEVICE and EEPROM DATA are two slightly different error messages.  From the manual:

EEPROM DEVICE: Either the processor could not successfully "read" from or "write" to the EEPROM.

EEPROM DATA: EEPROM data is invalid.  Either the EEPROM has failed or there is no EEPROM data.

Oh absolutely they're different errors. I just found it odd how yours was kinda intermittent here and there much like mine but mine turned unclearable. Just sounded familiar though different, I was getting mine here and there on power up and would clear it, or even occasionally after a handpay jackpot. I still haven't really gotten into it yet I wanna go the whole 9 yards, label my plugs and thoroughly check the board when it's out. Just odd 2 of us would have a possible motherboard problem at once, the PE+ has been an absolute tank since I got it, VERY reliable. Just saw some similarities tho 2 different errors, anyway hopefully we're both back up and 100% soon :)

Indeed.  These things are tanks (my S+, too) - just eventually age will get to them.  :89-

This is true my friend, age does do it's damage. Luckilly parts don't seem too too crazy to get a hold of especially as they phase PE+'s out more and more for Game Kings. As long as the parts are there we'll keep em running forever!

I know this probably sounds crazy, but since they are bartop drop in units, you may want to check behind the motherboard and make sure you have no coins back there causing it to code out. Since everything "drops" and "spills" on those units, alot of times, coins get behind the motherboard and causes the machine to act crazy.

Will do.  I need to take the motherboard out anyway if there is a loose solder joint on it, so I can certainly check for any loose parts or coins at the same time.  Thanks for the tip.