Re: My //e died. Can you help me fix it?

[aw133@lafn.org (James Poore)]

In a previous article, drew@ctnet.com (Drew Ivan) says:

>I tried rebooting, which didn't work. I switched off the power and
>turned it back on. It came up with "Apple ][" at the top, but the
>screen was covered with blinking characters. There was a "]" prompt,
>but anything you typed was a syntax error. 
>
>I took out each card, one by one, and tried rebooting. No luck. I
>took out _all_ the cards and started up. Same thing. You still
>can't reboot with control-open apple-reset. I seem to remember
>there being a built-in self test, but either I don't remember how
>to do it or it simply won't do it. (I'm using control-both apples-
>reset.)
>
>Any clue what might be wrong or how I might fix it? Thanks.
>
One question might help here...Does the screen come up the same every 
time you power-up?  If not, I would suspect the reset line, otherwise it 
could be either RAM or  Rom problem.  The self-test is activated by 
control-both-apples-reset and letting up on reset first.  I would also 
check the +5V line for correct voltage and also do an AC reading on the 
+5V line to see if there is any ripple voltage.  And of course your basic 
Apple maintainece of removing all socketed chips, spray some contact 
cleaner into the sockets and reinsert the chips (observing correct 
alignment <notch position>), also doing the same to the cards.

Jim

-- 
James M (Jim) Poore--Apple II's Forever--Especially IIgs's
Los Angeles Free Net---aw133@lafn.org
Pro-Palmtree BBS---jpoore@pro-palmtree.cts.com
"Using Computers for Mental Floss"