Pharaoh (Williams, 1981): Troubleshooting and System 7 Replacement Boards
Is your Pharaoh by Williams has no sound or voice, missing feature lamps, GI overheating, or dead flippers when both are pressed? 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.
Pharaoh (Williams, 1981): Overview
Released in 1981, Pharaoh is a multi-level System 7 machine with multiball, Magna-Save, and speech synthesis, part of the famous multi-level series alongside Black Knight and Jungle Lord.
- Manufacturer: Williams
- Year: 1981
- Electronic system: Williams System 7
- Type: solid state, multiball, Magna-Save, multi-level playfield, speech
- Theme: ancient Egypt / pharaoh
Common Issues (System 7)
On Williams System 3 to 7 pinball machines, recurring failures stem from aging: leaking NiCad battery on the MPU (corrosion — the #1 cause of dead boards), worn 40-pin MPU-to-driver connector (the single most common failure point), resets/reboots from 5V drops (power headers and connectors need re-soldering), tired power supply capacitors, displays with missing segments, and solenoid fuse blowing (stuck slingshot or pop bumper).
Pharaoh-Specific Issues (Forum Reports)
- No sound or voice: loss of communication between the MPU and the sound-select stage; probe the Sound Select signals at the MPU (connector 1J8) and at the sound board (10J3).
- Crackling voice then silent after a reboot: an intermittent sound/voice fault to diagnose.
- Missing feature lamps: the lamp board is sometimes badly repaired (sockets bridged with bare wire; Yellow-Orange and Yellow-Black wires wrongly connected).
- GI (general illumination) overheating: discolored System 7 GI connectors to replace, sockets to clean, and small short circuits to hunt down.
- Flippers dead when both are actuated at once: the machine goes into standby; the large original MPU capacitor C10 must be replaced.
- Fuse holders under the playfield (near the flippers): replace with new ones; remember to place both balls in the trough to start.
Compatible Replacement Boards for Pharaoh
- 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 (startup, logic resets, solenoid and multiball control, battery-free memory) and eliminates the fragile 40-pin ribbon cable. Multiball mechanical adjustments, the power supply, and the sound board are addressed separately; our support team can guide you.
Installation is Plug & Play, battery-free, with tutorials and free support. Contact us.
FAQ — Pharaoh Williams
My flippers die when I press both at once.
The machine goes into standby — the large original MPU capacitor C10 must be replaced. The WillFA7 replaces the MPU entirely, battery-free.
My Pharaoh has no sound or voice.
Loss of MPU-to-sound-select communication. Probe Sound Select at the MPU (1J8) and sound board (10J3). The sound board is diagnosed separately; the WillFA7 stabilizes the MPU.
Do I need to keep the original battery?
No. The WillFA7 runs without a battery and eliminates the #1 cause of corrosion on System 7 machines.
How long does installation take?
Installation is Plug & Play: just a few minutes, no soldering required, with tutorials and free support.
Does a battery-free board retain settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use NVRAM: no battery, no corrosion, and settings are preserved when powered off.
Step-by-Step Diagnostics
- With power off, visual inspection: look for any signs of battery leakage or corrosion on the MPU of your Pharaoh; remove the NiCad battery if still present.
- Power supply: check the 5V rail and fuses; re-solder power supply headers and MPU headers if voltage drops or the game resets.
- Connectors: re-pin oxidized Molex connectors, especially the MPU-to-driver connection.
- Solenoids: check solenoid fuses and 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: verify startup, credits, solenoids, and displays; remember the WillFA7 replaces MPU + driver. If needed, contact free support.
Useful Guides
- How much does pinball machine repair cost? A price guide
- How much is my pinball machine worth? Value and estimation
- Pinball machine leg sizes: the complete guide
- Which board for a Williams System 3 to 7?
See Also
- Black Knight (Williams, 1980)
- Jungle Lord (Williams, 1981)
- Barracora (Williams, 1981)
- Solar Fire (Williams, 1981)
