Warlok (Williams, 1982): common faults and System 7 replacement boards

June 26, 2026

Does your Williams Warlok fail to boot, reset, see its flippers drop out or have no sound? These symptoms are typical of Williams System 7 pinball machines, whose original boards (MPU, Driver, power supply) are now over 40 years old. The good news: the WillFA7 replacement board, Plug & Play and battery-free, brings your machine back to life.

Warlok (Williams, 1982): overview

Released in October 1982, Warlok is a Williams System 7 pinball machine on a witchcraft theme. To cut costs, its playfield reuses the base of Blackout (1980), spinners included, and its sound section is close to that of Stern's Meteor. It had a production run of about 412 units.

Manufacturer: Williams
Year: 1982
Electronic system: Williams System 7
Type: solid-state pinball
Theme: witchcraft / fantasy

WillFA7 MPU/Driver board for Williams System 3 to 7 — The WillFA7 board replaces the original MPU and Driver of Williams System 3 to 7.

Common faults (System 7)

On Williams System 3 to 7, the recurring faults come from ageing: leaking NiCad battery on the MPU (corrosion, the No. 1 cause of dead boards), worn 40-pin MPU↔Driver connector (the best-known weak point), resets/reboots on a 5 V drop (power headers and connectors to be resoldered), tired power-supply capacitors, displays with missing segments, and a solenoid fuse that blows (slingshot or stuck bumper).

Issues specific to Warlok (forum feedback)

Spinners no longer turning freely or no longer scoring: inherited from the Blackout playfield, to clean and straighten, switches to check.
Playfield paint wear in the centre: a heavily used area, to protect or restore (NOS playfields exist).
Leaking battery on the MPU: track corrosion, the No. 1 cause of dead boards on System 7.
Intermittent 40-pin MPU↔Driver connector: false contacts to rebuild with trifurcon pins.
Resets on a 5 V drop: power connectors and capacitors to be reworked.
Missing or crackling sound: Type 2 sound board (close to Stern's Meteor) to be diagnosed.

Checking voltages with a multimeter on a Williams System 7 — A multimeter is used to check the 5 V and diagnose the boards of Williams System 7 machines.

Replacement boards compatible with Warlok

WillFA7 — 2-in-1 board (MPU + Driver) compatible with System 3 to 7, System 7 included.

WillFA7 replacement board for Williams pinball — The WillFA7: Plug & Play installation, battery-free, with tutorials and free support.

📚 Further reading: Guide: which board for a Williams System 3 to 7?

The WillFA7 replaces the original MPU and Driver board (boot-up, logic resets, coil driving, battery-free memory) and removes the fragile 40-pin ribbon. The sound board and the mechanical parts (spinners, switches) must still be maintained separately; our support team will guide you.

Plug & Play installation, battery-free, free tutorials and support. Contact us.

FAQ — Warlok Williams

My Warlok's spinners no longer turn or score.
Clean and straighten the spinners, inherited from Blackout, and check their switches. The WillFA7 makes switch reading reliable on the logic side.

My Warlok won't boot or resets.
A corroded original battery and worn 40-pin connector are the No. 1 causes. The WillFA7 replaces the MPU and Driver and boots without a battery.

Is the WillFA7 compatible with System 7?
Yes. It covers System 3 to 7, System 7 included, and drives the logic and coils.

Should I keep the original battery?
No. The WillFA7 works without a battery and removes the No. 1 cause of corrosion on System 7.

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

Powered off, visual inspection: look for any battery or corrosion trace on your Warlok's MPU; remove the NiCad battery if it is still present.
Power supply: measure the 5 V and check it actually reaches the MPU and Driver (redo the power solder joints and connectors if the voltage drops); check the fuses.
Grounds and power connectors: resolder the tired headers between the boards to eliminate resets and reboots.
40-pin MPU↔Driver connector: re-pin the oxidised link with trifurcon pins, the No. 1 weak point of Williams System 7.
Displays: never plug or unplug a display while powered on; test with a known-good display.
Final test: check boot-up, credits, coils and displays; reminder: the WillFA7 replaces the MPU and Driver and boots without a battery. If needed, contact our free support.