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Rapidly Flashing Ghosts and Garbage
Repair Case Summary
This page documents a firsthand Rapidly Flashing Ghosts and Garbage repair case.
It is intended for technicians and collectors troubleshooting original Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man arcade PCB hardware.
- Date: 2018-06-05
- Board: Original Pac-Man PCB
- Category: Scratchpad memory / graphics
- Symptoms:
- Screen displayed rapidly flashing ghosts.
- Flashing garbage appeared on screen.
- Diagnostic observations / tests:
- ABC Pac-Man Diagnostics reported a bad scratchpad memory IC at 4R.
- Components / locations investigated: 4R, scratchpad memory
- Root cause: Bad scratchpad memory IC at 4R.
- Repair: Replaced 4R with a known-good part.
- Result: The game booted and played perfectly.
- Search terms: Pac-Man flashing ghosts; flashing garbage; 4R; scratchpad memory; ABC Diagnostics
- Evidence: Physically verified repair / firsthand repair log
How to Use This Repair Record
This is a firsthand physical repair case. The same symptom on another Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man PCB can have a different electrical cause. Use the documented diagnostic observations and tests to guide troubleshooting rather than replacing a component solely because it repaired this board.
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