Apple IIe Startup problem

11 posts / 0 new
Last post
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 3 months ago
Joined: Mar 12 2011 - 09:14
Posts: 3
Apple IIe Startup problem

Hello everyone , i'm glad there still peoples who cares about old computer and that why i'm registered on this forum . Hope you will find the time to help me .

First , as you will see , i know NOTHING about old computer , i will try to be the most clear for you .
And I 'm not good in english too , so please excuse my sentences .

Intro :
In my childwood , my parents give me there old Apple IIe to stir my video game desire , he was perfectely working.
Six years ago ( testing before perfect ) i store it in a box . After three years , i re-open it and there was a message error i don't remember ( a sentence ) so i re-store it pending someone with knowledge .
I just test it and there a new error " message ".
I make photo to help you .

So the beast with three cards :
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/828838Main.jpg)

Close up :
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/691317A.jpg)
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/619457b.jpg)
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/428690c.jpg)

The A card is link to two disk player :
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/thumbs/mini_987740Disk.jpg)

When all three cards are connected there is this (screen 1):
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/805985Screen1.jpg)
The disk player is running and letters succeed in this order :
_ ^ § ç ° Z Y X W V U T S R Q (fix on it , disk make noise ) P O N M L ( stay on the L )

It's the same thing when i disconnect the B or the C card .
When i change the place of the A card , the same thing but with a different spot for the letters following .

When i disconnect the A card it make this (screen2) :
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/602333Screen2.jpg)
An § follow by a blinking cursor .

I try to invert the two disk player and it make the same (screen 1) with the other disket player running .
I try different disket and it's the same .

So , did someone can say to me witch card is defected and what can i do to resolve the problem ?

I've found this card in my parents stuff , i don't know if it's can be helpful :
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/302256D.jpg)

Thank you in advance for helping me or just advice me .
( i need to play "sabotage" and "psychedelic" damn it!)

Offline
Last seen: 3 weeks 4 days ago
Joined: Dec 13 2005 - 08:40
Posts: 265
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem

Hi,
First you need to turn the power off and unplug it. Clean the cards edges, and place them down and reseat all the chips that are socketted. Clean the brass card edges with a T-shirt white cloth like. Just rub across the brass, the first few times it will be dark. Choosing a new spot till it is clean. Both sides. Then insert it and remove it a few to several times to clean the slots where it goes.

(Every few years my Ramfast will not work till I clean the edge and reseat it)

The disk drive card should go it slot #6 I believe. Press all the chips on the mother board of the computer itself.

Now plug it in and try it.

Disk Drives head may need cleaning too.

Take Care

gew
Offline
Last seen: 6 years 2 months ago
Joined: Mar 2 2011 - 13:50
Posts: 11
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem

Hello Fishfinger,

in addition to cleaning you may perform the build in self test.

See http://support.apple.com/kb/TA38047?viewlocale=en_US

If everything is fine you should get: KERNEL OK

My enhanced //e (European version) gets: System OK

Card A is the disk drive controlle card.
Card B is a super serial card. It is very useful to transfer disk images from a PC to your //e with ADTpro.
Card C is a 80 column card with 64kB memory extension.
Card D is a 80 column card without the 64kB extension.

Cards C and D allow you to display 80 columns instead of the "normal" 40 columns.

For the first steps none of the cards is necessary.

gsmcten's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 years 8 months ago
Joined: Oct 4 2005 - 18:52
Posts: 2629
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem

Fishfinger,

Could you please take a full picture of the motherboard with all cards removed?
Could you tell me what country you are in?
From what I am seeing this is not a normal US Apple IIe motherboard.

As for testing, if you remove all of the cards and do your reset procedure you should get the prompt. The other folks are also correct in that you should clean the card connectors and reseat all of the chips.

I hope this helps.

Steven Smile

gew
Offline
Last seen: 6 years 2 months ago
Joined: Mar 2 2011 - 13:50
Posts: 11
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem

Hello gsmcten,

it is the European (Pal) version of the logic board.

IMAGE(http://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Computers/Apple%20IIe/Photos/Apple%20IIe%20-%20Motherboard%20Front.jpg)

Offline
Last seen: 12 years 3 months ago
Joined: Mar 12 2011 - 09:14
Posts: 3
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem

Thanks to everyone for the fast answer .

Gsmcten ,
Here a Motherboard picture :
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/thumbs/mini_433884AppleIIeeuroboard.jpg)
And for your second question there is two clues to find in the picture ...

Ok , i remove all cards and i clean the motherboard and chips as you say( with contacts cleaner ).
I try the test boot (without cards )and it says :

RAM : F13 F12 F11 F10 F9 F8 F7 F6

Correct me if i'm wrong , but i think its the 8 little chips on this pic :
IMAGE(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/447262ram.jpg)

So , what should i do ?

(I wanted to check at the welds on the backside of the motherboard but the screws are weird and inmovable , i risk to damaged them if i try harder .)

Any advice ?

Offline
Last seen: 3 weeks 4 days ago
Joined: Dec 13 2005 - 08:40
Posts: 265
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem

Hi,
I find it a little hard to believe that all the ram failed. I doubt the solder joints are bad. I might suspect another component. One that access's all of the ram. Even one of the rom chips. Some times prying them up a little then resetting them helps make a good contact. Pry one side up reseat, then pry the other side and reseat. Not sure how the self tests works. That is does it test all of the Roms before the Ram? I am sure someone will help you with the quest.

gsmcten's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 years 8 months ago
Joined: Oct 4 2005 - 18:52
Posts: 2629
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem

Fishfinger,

I would be no help to you as I am not familiar with the european IIe motherboards.
I do wonder why the board has screws holding it to the bottom as every IIe board I've worked on here has plastic standoffs. That in itself is strange.
And yes (lol) I found the clues. I lived in Elmpt for two years many moons ago. Smile

Offline
Last seen: 12 years 3 months ago
Joined: Mar 12 2011 - 09:14
Posts: 3
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem

Ok , humm , i've got an other problem .

When i was testing the motherboard , there was funny a smell ( like plastic burnt but in cars )
The time to check an other stuff i was supected , my apple pass out .

I remove the power suply to see what happened in it and i found this :

IMAGE(http://img10.hostingpics.net/pics/832556AppleJuice.jpg)

God no ! I don't even touch this part . Why ?!!
I don't know witch part burned but the strange oily applejuice who's sprunt everywhere make me feel very sick .

So i'm now looking for an old apple IIe for replacement part .
It might take a while ...

Anyway , i've got a plan to reuse this little rascal , tuto :

First step :

IMAGE(http://img10.hostingpics.net/pics/3503461write.jpg)
Write a small information note .

Second step :

IMAGE(http://img10.hostingpics.net/pics/4123362place.jpg)
Gently place in it .

Third step :

IMAGE(http://img10.hostingpics.net/pics/9824253clean.jpg)
Close and clean

Final step :

IMAGE(http://img10.hostingpics.net/pics/8308244sell.jpg)
YEAH !!!!
Ready to sell !

gsmcten's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 years 8 months ago
Joined: Oct 4 2005 - 18:52
Posts: 2629
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem

Fishfinger,

What you have there my friend is a Crispy Critter. Smile

Dog Cow's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 10 months ago
Joined: Dec 11 2008 - 16:26
Posts: 554
Re: Apple IIe Startup problem


YEAH !!!!
Ready to sell !

I will gladly fork over $1,201,203,124 for that mint-condition power supply.

Log in or register to post comments