Re: IIc help

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

Scarletdown <SecretaryBird@SoftHome.net> wrote:

> On Fri, 13 Dec 2002 19:56:03 -0500, "Greg Andrzejewski"
> <pressyourluck85@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> >I was recently given an old Apple IIc. When I turn it on, SOMETIMES it beeps
> >and then it says "check boot disk" or something like that. At the top of the
> >display is says "Apple //c". However, there seems to be a character "@" in
> >the middle of the screen. Also, when I try to boot with a program disk, it
> >just goes into monitor dump mode. Same thing with a DOS 3.3 disk.
> 
> Well, it does sound like there is some sort of hardware problem;
> though I'm not sure what would cause those symptoms.

It might be something as simple as a dry joint on the board, which would
require resoldering several pins, or bad contact between a chip and its
socket, which can usually be fixed by removing and resocketing the
chips.  It might also be a faulty RAM chip, which would require removing
and replacing the chip in question.

If the IIc is running the "UniDisk 3.5" firmware or a later revision, it
has a built-in self test that may reveal the problem.  Try holding down
the open and closed Apple keys while turning on the machine.  The self
test should run through several screen pattern and eventually report
"System Good" (or similar) or display an error message.  The test will
take less than a minute.

The original IIc firmware contains a rudimentary test which doesn't do
anything useful.  It just draws patterns on the screen and never stops.

> >When I just insert a blank prodos disk, it says "UNABLE TO LOAD PRODOS."
> >When I copy ProDOS and BASIC.SYSTEM from my GS boot disk onto a 5.25, the
> >IIc says that GS/OS requires Apple IIgs hardware.

> However, the ProDOS that you want to copy off of the GS/OS disk is a file
> named P8 (I can't remember which folder it is in, since I haven't booted
> up my GS in a while.)  But once you copy P8 to your ProDOS boot disk, you
> then rename it ProDOS.

The P8 file in question is located in the SYSTEM folder.

> >And also, how do you get the case open????

I recall that this is a somewhat tricky process.  It requires removing a
few screws, but there are also some cleverly hidden plastic clips that
hold the case together.  I broke some of them in the process of getting
a IIc open.

I hope that the csa2 FAQ has instructions on how to do this correctly,
or perhaps someone else can post detailed instructions.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz