iGame 044 Poker Machine Error

[CaptainHappy]

Hey Folks,

I am reaching out to the super techie experts for some help here! My IGT iGame 044 Poker Machine has come up with a weird new error that I have no idea why it is happening and how to permanently fix it???

Some history it is a completely STANDALONE Triple Five Ten play multigame setup, and it has always had an error show up in the error screen that said Validation System Failure, and the top candle constantly flashes, but it worked just fine. It takes forever and then some time (MANY HOURS) to get all of the games and various settings entered, so I want to avoid fully clearing and virginizing the machine!

How this error came up is that I used to have the machine set up for Key to Credit for jackpots so that the big wins go to the credit meter. I just got a big win today that did not go to the meter as it should and it had to be cleared with a hand pay ticket. I was trying to get it to do key to credit like it used to, so I cashed it out, checked the settings, keychipped it and reset a couple settings. I found out why the key to credit was not working... The KTK Limit was set to $1200 just like the Jackpot limit of $1200 as these are the IGT defaults. I remembered that the KTK Limit actually needs to be set to a higher # for this feature to work as it is really more of an upper limit figure, so I set it to the max of $100,000... This solved the KTK problem as I played Bonus Poker Deluxe at 15 coins per line, 3 lines, $1 Denom. I played for a while trying to get a simple four of a kind as it pays $1200, and I got it and the win went to credit after keying the additional "W2G" or KTK key. I then went to change to a different game (of the multigame menu) to play and the message in the first picture came up!!! Basically all I could do is cash out and then it reverted to the second picture. I then had to keychip the machine to check the settings and reboot the game and it was working fine! Problem Solved??? NOT!!!! I was playing and hit another good one, and the message in the first picture came up again followed by the second picture after cashout!!! Now it is in a screensaver type mode flashing Terminal Locked around the screen. I am not sure if I have done something wrong in a setting accidentally or what , but I need help from one of our Casino folks I think!

It is set for SAS Standard Validation with No Redemption like most games should be set in order to have the printer work in my experience. (In playing with the settings it is possible that I may have set it to SAS Secure Standard Validation in error before all of this happened, but it is now set for SAS STANDARD VALIDATION.

Can anyone help figure this out??? I have not keychipped it and have left it like this in the hope of getting some help with this weird complex error! SLOT GODS

CaptainHappy

[CaptainHappy]

Above I mentioned an Error Screen, and after taking the miracle pill for CRS I remembered that it is actually the PENDING TILTS SCREEN! See Picture. This is the Tilt that always came up with no problems or game effects.

I hope the casino experts see this tomorrow and know just how to fix it as it is frustrating! The machine will stay in the error condition as in the second PIC unless I enter the attendant or operator modes, and even the touchscreen is acting flakey and not responding at all at times! (I think that it got an email from someone and has been hijacked! My friend named YOU KNOW WHO! It is conected to AC power and that is it! Just trying to give you a laugh! )

CH

[zarobhr]

when i get home i will check my 044 game king,

one thing to check make sure that it is set to game enabled on validation failure. that way when buffer is full it will just over write it. if set to disabled then it will disable game when buffer is full so that no records are lost.

[CaptainHappy]

when i get home i will check my 044 game king,

one thing to check make sure that it is set to game enabled on validation failure. that way when buffer is full it will just over write it. if set to disabled then it will disable game when buffer is full so that no records are lost.

Thanks I appreciate the help. I will check it out when I get home. I brought my NLG house guests to their VA appointment early this am and we are in a waiting pattern!

I will have to look around for that game enabled setting that you mentioned... The guests rely on the machines for prime entertainment!

CH

[Mirage_Chaser]

Also you can set it for no validation. Right now you have it set for standard validation i would imagine. If you set it for no validation then it will not buffer the information and the pending tilts screen will be clear also.

The only caveat to that is on some software you can not generate a ticket with no validation enabled.

[CaptainHappy]

Also you can set it for no validation. Right now you have it set for standard validation i would imagine. If you set it for no validation then it will not buffer the information and the pending tilts screen will be clear also.

The only caveat to that is on some software you can not generate a ticket with no validation enabled.

Thanks, since I don't use coin handling, I need the ticket printer for cashouts to clear credits. It always had the validation system error, but it did not effect game play like this new error of the full buffer. Other software/games don't have the validation system error, you just get used to the flashing candle. I am sure that something must have been changed in the settings mistakenly, or maybe the buffer finally just got full?

CH

[Yoeddy1]

Mark, I fought the VSE and flashing candle on GK 5.3 and never resolved it.  This does not happen with 5.0, 4.3, or my STP sets. 

For your reading pleasure:  http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=8710.msg74992#msg74992

Jason

[CaptainHappy]

Mark, I fought the VSE and flashing candle on GK 5.3 and never resolved it.  This does not happen with 5.0, 4.3, or my STP sets. 

For your reading pleasure:  http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=8710.msg74992#msg74992

Jason

Jason,

Thanks, I remember that topic, but I did not remember if you had the VSE or not, but you confirmed that above. The flashing candle is no big deal to me, my ocd is less than yours! ha ha But this new lockup thing is unsat! I really hope that is just some obscure setting that messed up, but is correctable.

CH

[CaptainHappy]

when i get home i will check my 044 game king,

one thing to check make sure that it is set to game enabled on validation failure. that way when buffer is full it will just over write it. if set to disabled then it will disable game when buffer is full so that no records are lost.

Well I looked and could not find the setting that you mentioned about game enabled on validation failure. They may call it something else? I even key chipped it again to see if there was a setting only available in Key Settings. This time after looking in key chip settings and exiting the machine came right back up with terminal locked, so it looks like I need help from the experts still!
I am going to attach a few pictures of the different settings screens in case those may be helpful......

CH

[CaptainHappy]

I am going to attach a few pictures of the different settings screens in case those may be helpful......

CH

[CaptainHappy]

I am going to attach a few pictures of the different settings screens in case those may be helpful......

CH

[CaptainHappy]

I am going to attach a few pictures of the different settings screens in case those may be helpful......

CH

[CaptainHappy]

Any of our casino tech's know how to fix this???

Also I Really do not want to have to fully clear and reset up the machine as it is a pin to get all of the games setup just right!

When you use the KEY00028 chip there is a menu with 3 options, basically clear E² on the motherboard, clear Ram, and apply keychip. Does anyone know for sure if all of the game setup is in the E² or if it is in the RAM as well? Reason I wonder is if I could safely clear the Ram and not the E²  and still have all of the game setup intact??? Maybe the buffer would clear and the error, but I would still have the main game setup intact???

Company is asking me when I am going to have the POKER Machine back up for them....

CH

[TZtech]

Hi Captain

No TITO expert as we rarely use it this side of the pond - On SA channel setup have You tried to de select validation ?
You should be able to select options 2 and 3 without affecting game configuration.

Regards
Ian

[zarobhr]

for one turn off validate handpays and handpay receipts

[CaptainHappy]

Well Folks,

Time for an update... I have solved the problem, but not in the way I hoped to! I had tried all o the things that people had suggested already to no avail. This is a different game and it seems to have some options that vary from what was described by others here, but for the most part they are similar.

Apparently the only way to get away from the buffer full/terminal locked message other than hooking it up to a full on casino validation system is to clear the RAM! Just what I did not want to do!

Disabling hand pay receipts, turning off any validation at all, etc., etc., etc.... none of these things worked. It was a real bitch keychipping so many time to try different things, and waiting forever for the machine to reboot!

I finally gave in and used the KEY00028 to do a RAM clear, and I DID NOT clear the Motherboard E² device. I did this in the hope of clearing the error, and hopefully doing the least amount of damage to all of my settings and game selections as they were pretty complex and it takes forever to start from scratch! Luckily it wiped out the error and a few other setting, several of my denoms were killed, and I had to reset others including some games. I was surprised at actually how much stayed intact... even my accounting data like coin in, out, stats etc. were still in there.

The first new setup that I did was with no validation, and I gave it $100 to play a couple hands, and then I cashed out. Since I have no coin handling or hopper, it acted as I expected and required a handpay to clear the credits, and no ticket printed. Then I went in and turned on STANDARD VALIDATION with the vanilla settings as default, rebooted and put in $100 to play a couple hands, and then I cashed out. This time it printed a ticket as I expected! SO FAR SO GOOD! Next I gave it $1000 dollars for some testing. I needed to play Bonus Poker Deluxe Triple Play $1 Denom, 15 credits per line to try to hit a handpay jackpot for my final test. This was my choice as any four of a kind will pay $1200, just what I needed for my test! How hard could it be to get a simple basic four of a kind? Crap... several THOUSAND dollars later I FINALLY got a handpay situation. I then tried my KTK/W2G switch and the money went to the meter! Everything is back to normal!!!

The only good thing to come out of this is that I have experienced it and it is documented here just in case someone else runs into this error in the future!

I do greatly appreciate the assistance from you folks!!! all around here!

CaptainHappy

[TZtech]

Glad You got it sorted - Those Game Kings can be a bit of a pain to option.

Something that I have thought of but never got round to is to remove the EEPROM from the backplane after optioning (If socketed) and read it with a programmer.
Next time You have a issue simply re flash the EPROM with the backup You made and all options should be done.

[CaptainHappy]

Glad You got it sorted - Those Game Kings can be a bit of a pain to option.

Something that I have thought of but never got round to is to remove the EEPROM from the backplane after optioning (If socketed) and read it with a programmer.
Next time You have a issue simply re flash the EPROM with the backup You made and all options should be done.

Actually I have a collection of eeproms that are for several games. I have blanks that I put in when I install a new game, then when I change games I keep the little eeproms with the actual matching game set. I have done this with success on 3902 games. I tried this on the 044 poker game and it did not work. I may have done something wrong, so I wonder if people have had success with this shortcut on 044s? Maybe I mixed up the blank and the configured chip? I have never tried with a programmer, that is a good idea. I have to check the 044 setup as I think I read about another e² that is actually soldered on the MPU???

Thanks again,

CH

[CaptainHappy]

Just thought that I would come back by and let everyone know that it is working fine still! Thanks again to those who gave suggestions and help!

Only real problem is that it does not want to give me a Royal or Four Aces with a Kicker.... Just wants to suck in the money! I guess that it is working just like it does in a casino!

CaptainHappy

[Yoeddy1]

Rub the screen Mark.  I see a lot of people doing that.  I'll bet it works! 

Jadon

[CaptainHappy]

Rub the screen Mark.  I see a lot of people doing that.  I'll bet it works! 

Jadon

JaSon,

That probably works better than whacking the screen when you get 3 aces w/ a kicker or 4 to the royal?

I think you were gone when we messed with you in the home jackpots section, you may want to check it out and get playing! Ha ha!

CH

[Yoeddy1]

I'll have to check it out.  I was in Portland.  Tried to convince my wife to stop in Pendleton, OR at the Wildhorse Resort and Casino to make another run at a Royal, but I couldn't sell her on it.  Oh well, maybe next time. 

Jason