Re: Problems with IIe

[Susan MacGregor <susan@interaccess.com>]

jeff@tiger.lsu.edu (Jeffrey Thomas Sheldon) wrote:
>
> I have one of the "new" Apple IIe's (with the enhanced keyboard and 
> frame) that fills the screen with gibberish characters once it is turned 
> on.  I've seen this problem with Apple II's quite a bit and was wondering 
> what I should do to see if I can fix it. 

If this happens all the time, it usually means problems with a RAM 
or ROM chip.  In II+'s reseating the chips is usually all that's 
needed because of gunk build up on the contacts.  With one of the 
newer IIe's it's more likely to have been cauesd by heat or a power 
surge, but in either case, it likely means replacing the chip.

Can you get the self test to run if you pull all the cards out of the system?  


> Also, since this "just seems to happen", then most likely it isn't faulty 
> chips is it?  I mean, I couldn't imagine a bunch of Apple II's just 
> blinking out like this over time just because a chip or two couldn't take 
> the pressure any more :)   I guess I'm just hoping it is something easily 
> repairable in one evening.

This is generally an age related problem, when it isn't from a 
power surge.  The hotter the system runs, the faster it ages.  
It isn't really that surprising that a bunch of computers bought 
at the same time and used the same amount should fail in this 
manner.

The good news is that it's usually just one chip, and not always 
the same one.  So you can likely swap chips to get things running, 
altho you should plan on more through repairs for the long run.

Susan