Re: Dead GS

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <4todo7$805@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, krinibar@aol.com (Krinibar)
wrote:

>I'm getting a strange screen asking me to reset the hertz, then a lot of
>flashing colors, then a "bad system" message.  What is going on?

It sounds like you might have some stuck keys or a faulty joystick
connected.  The two screens you mention appear if you hold down either the
Option key or both the Apple (Command) and Option keys when you turn on or
reboot the computer.

The joystick buttons produce the same result - button 0 is the same as the
Apple (Command) key, and button 1 is the same as the Option key.  If
button 1 is stuck down, then you will get either of these screens
appearing when you reboot.


If you reboot the computer by pressing Control-Option-Reset, then you get
a screen which presents four menu options:

1=Enter the Control Panel
2=Set system standards and 60 hertz.
3=Set system standards and 50 hertz.
4=Continue restarting the system.

Option 2 and 3 are the only way of changing the display frequency, but
they also restore all Control Panel settings to their original default
values (check marks in the Control Panel).  Option 1 takes you into the
Control Panel, where you can make changes as required.

If you use this method to enter the Control Panel, then the computer will
reboot when you choose the "Quit" command.  The normal method of entering
the Control Panel (by pressing Control-Apple-Escape) does not force you to
reboot the computer, though some changes (e.g. slot settings) will not
take effect until you next reboot.


The screens full of flashing colours sound like a self-test is being
performed.  This is accessed by pressing Control-Apple-Option-Reset.  It
runs through a series of tests for some parts of the motherboard, and
should report "System Good" when complete.

If there is a fault on the motherboard, it will report "System Failure"
with an error code which can be used to narrow down the problem area.

Note, however, that if you have a ZIP GS accelerator installed and
enabled, the IIgs will ALWAYS fail one particular self-test, and will
usually fail at least one other test.

To get a meaningful result from the self-test, make sure you disable the
ZIP GS by turning off the computer, setting switch 1-6 OFF, then turn on
the computer with Apple and Option held down to do the self test.

Turn switch 1-6 ON again then reboot to re-enable the ZIP.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail Mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand