ZIP Chip Heartbreak

[carrk@pilotc.msu.edu (Kevin M. Carr)]

   Hello all.
   I am hoping that someone might have some answer for my problem.


   I just bought myself a ZIP chip 8MHz direct from MCTA (formerly Zip
technology.)  When it arrived I was naturally quite ecstatic.  This didn't
last long.  The thing just doesn't want to work.  Most of the time at
power up I would just get a bunch of vertical bars on the screeen and it
would hang.  occasionally it would proceed to start loading ProDOS then
either hang or crash to the Monitor.  On three occasions I did get it to
successfully boot but it didn't last, it would crash shortly afterwards. 
These times when I could get it to boot, I was holding the <ESC> to put
the chip at 'normal' (1MHz) speed, however more often than not it still
failed to boot properly at this speed.  I tried removeing and reseating
the chip a number of times (being careful and wearing a grounding strap)
but this was no help.

Info on setup:

   Apple //e enhanced

   Aux Slot:  RAMWorks III w/ 1 meg
                2 banks have 150ns chips the other 2 have 200ns chips

   Slot 1:  AE Serial Pro
   Slot 4:  Apple ][ mouse card
   Slot 5:  Laser universal disk controller w/ 1 3.5"
   Slot 6:  Disk ][ controller w/ 1 5.25"
   Slot 7:  Apple HS SCSI  w/ Quantum 40MB (2x20MB partitions)

   The problems occured trying to boot from either the hard drive or the
floppy.  On the harddrive, I tried it with DMA on and off, no difference. 
It occurred to me that the 200ns chips on the RAMWorks might not be fast
enough but then why will it not work when I start the system a normal
speed?

   I haven't called MCTA because I'm not sure there is anyone there
anymore who really knows (or cares) about the ZIP Chip.  Also when I
ordered the chip the women told me it was the _last one_ she had, so I
think getting a replacement is not likely.

   Does anybody have any suggestions, or am I doomed to plod through life
at 1MHz.

-- 
Kevin M. Carr
Research Assistant
Department of Biochemistry
Michigan State University