Thankfully there was a doctor in the house.
A screen full of coloured garbage...
From past experience it 'smelled' of bad ram
The only ram chip on the board not socketed for easy test and swapping out.
It had to be that one of course.
Took about an hour removing the 2k X 8 package..
cleaned up the board..checked for any trace or via damage.
Non spotted so in went a 24pin socket.
The pulled chip was then tested in my retro chip tester pro (the best purchase and build I ever did)..it was faulty of course.
..then went to Sram collection and found a replacement.
Fitted into the new socket...and back in business.
You can't stop these old computers going faulty...but it helps to keep a supply of older chips...and a versatile means of testing rather than just swap and hope.
anyhoo..VIC20 number 3 lives again.
