a noob question about power on

[betas]

Hello everyone. I was always an Atari gamer, so I don't have any idea about Amstrad. I've played few times as a kid in a friend's house but I really don't remember anything about CPC. The last few years I own 3 CPC 464 with their monitors. I know that they worked when they gave them to me, but I never turned them on. Today I remembered them again so I tried to check them because I own a huge collection of original games for the CPC 464, so I thought that it would be nice to try them all. But there is the problem... And I know it sounds stupid but I don't know how to turn them on!! I mean, I connect the monitor in the CPC and turn on the monitor but nothing happens, the red led is off. I tried both of three monitors and both of three CPC. I know that all those worked when they gave them to me, so I think that it's strange none of them work now. So I want to ask you what I am doing wrong? Is something I can do?

[IanS]

The 464 has a power switch on the right-hand end.

[Dagger]

Hi  betas, sometimes the on of switch on the side can stop working. The switch needs to be taken apart and cleaned and maybe a very slight bend put in the copper contact. Aslo is the monitor working or do you have more than one?

[betas]

thanks both of you! I cleaned it and it worked. All the three monitors I have works fine, but two of the CPC when I push the play button, stop rolling after 2 seconds. If I press it again they rolling for 2 seconds again and stop. THe third CPC seems to work fine, I tried to play a game but I got a reading error in the loading screen but maybe its the game, I will try some others today. Any idea about the two others with the play problem? thank you

[Dagger]

You made need some new belts, 5-10 min job, easy to replace. Also the heads made need a clean.

[betas]

I will! I cleaned them very carefuly and the two of them started to play. But when a game is loading I get a "reading error" message. I tried with a lot of games and still the same. I will replace the belts in both of three CPC and I will come back!!!