Hi all,
My CPC displays a "Z" character when I turn it on, if a joystick is plugged in. I guess the "Z" character means that the second fire button is being pressed, and I can confirm this by short-circuiting the joystick pins 7 and 8. However there is nothing wrong with the joystick as I tried with several other joysticks and all joysticks print a "Z" character on startup. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Well, you got the wrong joysticks. Maybe they have an "auto fire" opition, you can switch that off.
Since you don't see the "Z" without a joystick the problem is not on the CPC side.
You could open the joystick and correct it inside.
TFM, thanks for your response. Yes all joysticks have an auto fire switch, but turned off. They are well known Quickshot II and Python joysticks. I remember using them before, also back on my childhood but this "Z" character is new. Something must be wrong. If I disconnect the 7th pin inside the joystick, problem disappears. But that's the +5V pin for other systems like C64 and auto fire doesn't work anymore if I disconnect the 7th pin. I want to solve the issue without crippling my joysticks if possible :)
Thanks
You could make an 1:1 adapter and leave the 7th pin disconnected. :-X
Sounds like an auto fire problem.
Switches can get grotty over time. Take the sticks apart and clean all of the the fire buttons contacts and the auto fire switch to be sure. I've had a number of switches misbehave on old kit including a reset button on my Spectrum +3. Nothing a good dose of isopropyl alcohol couldn't cure.