Re: Fatal error 0911 and GS self-test

[nparker@cie-2.uoregon.edu (Neil Parker)]

In article <32B38E14.E23@unixg.ubc.ca> benlai@unixg.ubc.ca writes:
}I have a ROM 01 IIGS which I've only brought recently.  
}This machine seems to give me the Fatal Error 0911 message 
}(with the laterally moving apple logo) every now and than 
}when I press Control-OA-Reset.  When this happens, pressing 
}any combo of control-reset keys will do no good (ie. the 
}error message stays).  I basically have to restart the 
}computer by turning it on and off.
}
}From what I've read, this error is a good indication that my 
}GS is overheating - and this messes up the ADB.  This 0911 
}error do seem to creep up more often when my power supply 
}is hot (ie. it has never happened during the first 20 minutes).  
}But I thought heat is a problem only if you have 3 or more 
}expansion cards...   I only have two cards in my GS - an Apple 
}Memory Expansion Card in the memory slot and an Apple Super 
}Serial Card in slot 2.  My question is: Are there other 
}problems that can gives me error 0911?

This used to happen to too...all the time, on a IIGS with only two cards in
it (a 1-meg memory card and an old Disk II interface).  So it's definitely
not limited to machines loaded with lots of cards.

The cure seems to be pretty simple--I just take the lid off the machine when
I turn it on.  Since I started doing that, I've almost never seen Fatal
System Error 0911, in spite of the fact that it now has five cards in it
(plus a Hyperstudio sound doohicky).

There seems to be some confusion over whether the problem happens when the
ADB gets too hot or too cold, but the authorities all seem to agree that
it's temperature-related.  I guess running with the lid off is sufficient
to keep my ADB chip within the safe temperature range.


Technically speaking, error 0911 happens when the main CPU commands the ADB
controller to reset itself, and the ADB controller fails to complete the
operation within a certain amount of time.  The ADB reset-yourself command
is issued at power-on, and when the RESET key is pressed, and when you exit
from the Control Panel CDA.

}On a semi-related note:
}I tried to test my GS with the control-OA-option-reset self-test,
}but it does not seem to do anything - even when I press them
}during boot up.  It just bring me to a "]" prompt like I have just
}pressed control-reset.  Is this the usual way a GS tell you that
}it's okay?  I was kind of expecting a self-test similar to that of
}a //e (ie. with flashing coloured pixels for couple of seconds and
}then a SYSTEM OK message). 

You're releasing the keys too quickly.  You need to press and hold the
control, option, and open-apple keys, and press and release RESET without
letting go of the other keys.  Don't let go of the other keys until you see
something start to happen.  It'll be pretty obvious when you successfully
start the self-test...the border starts changing colors, and after a moment
you'll see test patterns on the graphics screen.

If you're used to resetting an Apple II+ or IIe, you'll have trouble with
the IIGS RESET key at first...it requires a different, somewhat slower
rhythm.  The trick is to keep the modifier keys pressed until after you see
the copyright message or the self-test on the screen.

The reason for the slower rhythm is that the IIGS reset routine has a *lot*
more work to do than the IIe reset routine.

                - Neil Parker
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