Laser Ball (Williams, 1979): faults and System 6 replacement boards
Does your Williams Laser Ball have a missing display segment, distorted sound, silent coils or shut down on the flippers? These symptoms are typical of Williams System 6 pinball machines, whose original boards (MPU, Driver, power supply) are now over 40 years old. Good news: the WillFA7 replacement board, Plug & Play and battery-free, gives your machine a second life.
Laser Ball (Williams, 1979): overview
Released in 1979, Laser Ball is a Williams System 6 pinball machine with a futuristic, laser theme. A fast title from this solid state generation.
- Manufacturer: Williams
- Year: 1979
- Electronic system: Williams System 6
- Type: electronic pinball (solid state)
- Theme: futuristic / laser
Common faults (System 6)
On Williams System 3 to 7, recurring faults come from ageing: leaking NiCad battery on the MPU (corrosion, the no.1 cause of dead boards), worn 40-pin connector MPU↔Driver (the best-known weak point), resets/reboots on 5 V drop (headers and power connectors to re-solder), tired power supply capacitors, displays with missing segments (connectors, display resistors), and a blown solenoid fuse (stuck slingshot or bumper).
Issues specific to Laser Ball (forum feedback)
- Bottom segment (“d”) missing: with burnt resistors on the master display board; sometimes just a cold solder joint on a connector of the CPU board.
- Second digit silent: on certain displays, persisting even after swapping the slave boards.
- Distorted or absent sound: on the System 6 Type 1 sound board, replace the IC8 chip (buffer); distortion that appears after several hours of warming up.
- Shutdown on the flippers: the game shuts down when the flippers are operated and no longer reboots.
- No coils at all: bumpers, drop target reset, ejectors and slingshots silent.
Replacement boards compatible with Laser Ball
- WillFA7 — 2-in-1 board (MPU + Driver) compatible with System 3 to 7, System 7 included.
The WillFA7 replaces the original MPU and Driver board (start-up, logic resets, coil driving, battery-free memory) and does away with the fragile 40-pin ribbon. Pure power supply and sound faults still need handling separately; our support guides you.
Plug & Play installation, battery-free, free tutorials and support. Contact us.
FAQ — Laser Ball Williams
The bottom segment is missing on my displays.
Check the burnt resistors on the master display and the solder joints of the CPU connector. The WillFA7 makes the driving reliable.
My sound is distorted.
On the Type 1 sound board, the IC8 chip is often to blame. That is on the sound side; our support guides you.
No coil works at all.
Check the Driver board and the 40-pin connector. The WillFA7 (MPU + Driver) makes all the driving reliable.
Should I keep the original battery?
No. The WillFA7 works without a battery and removes the no.1 cause of corrosion on System 6.
How long does it take to install a replacement board?
Installation is Plug & Play: a few minutes, no soldering, with tutorials and free support.
Does a battery-free board keep the settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use non-volatile memory: no more battery, no more corrosion, and the settings are kept when powered off.
Step-by-step diagnosis
- Power off, visual inspection: look for any trace of battery or corrosion on the MPU of your Laser Ball; remove the NiCad battery if it is still present.
- Power supply: check the 5 V and the fuses; resolder the power supply and MPU headers if the voltage drops or the game resets.
- Connectors: re-pin the oxidised Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link.
- Coils: check the solenoid fuses and the switches (stuck slingshot) before powering back on.
- Displays: never connect or disconnect a display while powered on; test with a known-good display.
- Final test: check start-up, credits, coils and displays; remember that the WillFA7 replaces MPU + Driver. If needed, contact free support.
