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Topic: I just got a really weird IIe (Read 602 times) |
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Zorgitron
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You wonder what this is....
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I just got a really weird IIe
« on: Jan 8th, 2004, 6:24pm » |
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I showed this to interoracle, and he said I have a very strange Apple //e motherboard. Take a look at it:
http://zorgitron.tripod.com/zorg/id6.html
What do you think? It also says that the MOBO was made in 1982, which is before the //e came out, right>?
I haven't learned much about the apple II yet, this is my first experience with one, but I am finding out it's really cool. I like how it actually computes instead of showing me point and click windows. It speaks it's own language
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| « Last Edit: Jan 8th, 2004, 6:33pm by Zorgitron » |
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"If you don't like my products, don't use them."
- Bill Gates
"So I don't!" -Zorgitron
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woogie
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Cats Rule!!
Posts: 341
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Re: I just got a really weird IIe
« Reply #1 on: Jan 8th, 2004, 6:40pm » |
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Looked at your pictures of your Apple II. Looks like it
has some possible damage. (Missing #6 key, etc.) Where
did you get it? School? Surplus? You might want to know
some of its history so that you can diagnose possible
problems. As to that screen display, if you did what you
say about rapidly swithcing on and off, you could damage
your motherboard by creating power surges/spikes. NOT
GOOD at all! Try reseating all of your removeable IC chips.
They sometimes work loose from their sockets as a result
of physical damage (dropping, etc.), heating/cooling (use
in an adverse environment such as a lab or warehouse),
or just plain age. Do you have any software for your Apple?
Have you tried running any programs? Do they work OK?
Be sure to check all of your cable connections. They, too,
can be faulty because of use, age or damage. Those old
critters ('fritters?) can take a LOT of abuse and still work.
I have several that were used in a burn-lab where they
were used in the presence of high heat, smoke and chemi-
cals. All they needed was a quick cleaning and they still
work to this day. You shoudn't have too much trouble in
locating a replacement key-cap for your keyboard. This is
the right place to find that stuff. Good luck and have fun
with your new toy.
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Zorgitron
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You wonder what this is....
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Re: I just got a really weird IIe
« Reply #2 on: Jan 8th, 2004, 6:51pm » |
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Well, I got it at a thrift store, I don't have any history of it. I don't have any software either. I just wanted to use the Applesoft BASIC in the rom just to learn to program. Hmm, I really should stop with the turning on and off, but that's the only way to get to BASIC. Aer there any other ways? I tried the ctrl>open apple>reset.
The missing key is the only damage that is apparent.
All that scramblement you see is after running a couple commands in BASIC, so maybe I messed something up, but I probably need to clean it. Do I need any anti static tools or anything like that?
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"If you don't like my products, don't use them."
- Bill Gates
"So I don't!" -Zorgitron
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woogie
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Cats Rule!!
Posts: 341
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Re: I just got a really weird IIe
« Reply #3 on: Jan 8th, 2004, 7:07pm » |
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To get to BASIC try after the machine boots up
and you get "Apple //e" or "Apple IIe" pressing
just CTRL and RESET. That will get you to the
BASIC cursor, then you can try running a few
commands.
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beerslayer
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Making the world a little bit weirder...
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Re: I just got a really weird IIe
« Reply #4 on: Feb 16th, 2004, 11:07pm » |
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FWIW, I don't notice anything particularly unusual about your motherboard, but I'm not an expert. I also have an early //e, which I purchased in 1983, so 1982 doesn't seem unreasonable as a manufacture date. I might wonder about that card in slot 2... real-time clock?
That screen display definitely looks fried. I've seen similar displays when loading a program from disk that wants to load into the video section of memory (a lot of broken copy-protection schemes do this), but I am not sure what you were doing to get to that stage. I would definitely try removing, cleaning contacts, and reseating all three cards (disk, memory, and whatever's in slot 2)
It's possible you may have some tarnished chip connections somewhere. Those should be simple enough (but tedious) to clean, but you definitely should wear anti-static gear before yanking chips.
As for BASIC, there are at least couple of ways to get to it, as has been mentioned earlier in this thread:
1) Press Control-Reset while the text "Apple //" is still being displayed at the top. This will take you into Applesoft BASIC, but without access to any DOS routines, of course.
2) Boot any DOS 3.3 System disk. Once DOS is loaded, it puts you at a BASIC prompt. This is also Applesoft, but with some additional DOS-related commands.
If you want to try a slightly different flavor of BASIC, boot a DOS 3.3 System Master disk (you should see the text "(LOADING INTEGER INTO LANGUAGE CARD)" during boot), then type INT<return>. Prompt changes from ] to >, and many of the commands are different or nonexistent. This is called "Integer BASIC". To get back to Applesoft, type FP<return> (this is short for Floating Point).
As for static, any time you're mucking around in the innards of a computer, you ought to be wearing some sort of anti-static gear - wrist strap, etc. If you don't have one and you absolutely refuse to wear one, the next best thing is to plug the machine in (this grounds it), but make sure that it is turned off, then touch the metal shell of the power supply to discharge any static.
You definitely should not switch your machine off and on repeatedly - this can and will damage the components. I typically recommend that if you have to shut your machine off for any reason, wait at least 10-15 seconds before turning it back on.
I hope this helps...
-- Jeff
-- aka The Eternal Newbie 
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| « Last Edit: Feb 16th, 2004, 11:15pm by beerslayer » |
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