Apple ][+ troubles looked at

[valthoff@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Victoria M Althoff)]

To the person who is having trouble with a ][+...

First, try bumping out all of the boards except the language card.  Power the 
machine up.  If you get a <BEEP> and the message "APPLE ][" at the top of the 
screen, followed by an Applesoft (]) prompt, then you're doing well.

If you get a screen full of question marks, followed by the Monitor prompt (*) 
and a cursor, then you are not really looking at an Apple ][+.  If you type a 
CTRL-B (return), you should then get an Integer BASIC (>) prompt, or an 
Applesoft (]) prompt if the BASIC ROMs have been changed.
Either way, things are going well.

Now, stick your drive controller, with one drive attached, into Slot #6.  Power
the machine up.  If you get a <BEEP>, the message "APPLE ][", and lots of 
activity from the disk drive, then, if you're lucky, the disk will boot, and 
you can continue building the system, one chunk at a time, until something 
makes it fail.

If you get a screen full of question marks again, with a Monitor (*) prompt, 
then you aren't looking at an Autostart ROM...you have to kick-start it 
yourself, so type "C600G" and press RETURN.  If you are lucky, the disk will 
attempt to boot.

If the disk drive is working erratically, the problem could be drive speed.  
Many Apple Disk ]['s have a strobe disk on the bottom.  Remove the four screws 
from the bottom of the drive, and slide the cover backwards, exposing the 
mechanism.  In the back, near the bottom, on the right-hand side is a long 
multi-turn potentiometer with a tiny brass screwdriver head.  This is the speed
adjustment.  If you don't have disk-speed adjustment software, invert the unit 
(with the cover off), and remove the four flush-head screws, and take the 
mechanism completely out of its case.  If the large round knob (with the drive 
belt around it) has a bunch of black trapezoidal marks around the edge, you're 
in luck.  IF there are two rows, one will be marked "60Hz" and the other will 
be marked "50Hz".

To get the drive speed 'pretty close', get it running (i.e. try to boot with no
disk inserted), and watch the marks on the drive flywheel.  Best to illuminate 
with a flourescent light here.  Assuming you're in North America, watch the 
"60Hz" row of marks, and adjust the speed control until the markings appear to 
be dead still.  This should get you close enough for most disk operations.  
Stuff the drive back together, and good luck.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
(used to be on an Apple ][ set-up and troubleshooting crew)