First, Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!
I plan to swap the RAM around this weekend, and do as Tony suggested,
which is to use my VOM just to see if the clocks and/or address data
lines are stuck high or low.
I also have the assembler and basic ROMs installed (they were both
options when my AIM was new) and I guess maybe it might be a good idea
to remove them as well, just to have only the absolute minimum on the
board.
Also, I have been corresponding with another person off-list, so maybe
I can get this thing repaired after-all!! :)
Couple of things about general AIM-lore:
Most AIM 65's were sold as boards, the case came later, but I never got
around to getting one.
The original AIM 65 (not the AIM 65/40) had a 20 char alpha LED
display. The Aim 65/40 had a 40 character vacuum fluorescent display
and 40 character printer, much more friendly for development than the
20 char display and printer.
The stock AIM 65 did not come with the Assembler or Basic (those were
options)
Later Rockwell also offered a set of FORTH ROMs ( I have them, never
did program much FORTH though)
The stock AIM 65 was offered with either 1K or 4K RAM, I bought a 1K
and a guy I knew at Rockwell gave me the other 3K.
Way back then, I used to be a consultant, did most of my work with
Rockwell PPS 4 and PPS 8 and 6502 I even used to teach seminars for
Rockwell to their customers on PPS 4 and 8 (mostly PPS 4). The AIM 65
was a fair development platform, we used to use a Rockwell System 65
for much of our code development and test, but we also used the AIM 65
for development and test, and I could also my AIM 65 at home when I
didn't go to the office.
Way more than anyone wanted to hear, I hope it is not too long a
message.
Later,
AndyD