Re: GS Hardware Problem

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Charles A. Plater writes ...
> 
> I've got a Woz GS.  The video output is not right.  I've got a monitor
> //c, and I get very fuzzy output (I can tell what is on the screen because
> I've familiar with the GS boot screen).  The monitor does work with my
> //e.  The keyboard does not seem to work (I hit ctrl-apple-reset and
> nothing happened)  The keyboard worked fine when I tested it on my Mac.
> The machines does turn on, and it goes to the sliding apple screen, but
> the picture is not right.  Is it possible that I have a dead power supply,
> or a dead motherboard?  The power supply does make a short squeak when it
> is turned on.  Any ideas?


     When a composite monitor is known to be okay, a fuzzy/dim display
from the monitor connected to an Apple II composite video output-- i.e.
the 'RCA connector'-- usually indicates that the video output level is
too low. There does not seem to be any way to adjust composite video
output on the GS. If your monitor has a video input level adjustment,
try changing the setting. (If the IIc monitor is, somehow, connected to
the GS RGB output, it would probably be best to disconnect it.) 

     Getting the sliding Apple display is a long way from having a dead
motherboard.

     The squeak from your power supply could indicate that it is on the
verge of believing that it is overloaded. Unless your GS is crammed with
an unusual collection of power-sucking boards (e.g. a TransWarp + PC
Transporter + Second Sight + RamFAST) this should not be the case. You
may have a poor PS plug connection or a PS socket connection to the
motherboard may have fractured or a Slot card may have developed a
problem and be drawing more current than it should.

     Try checking voltages (mainly +5 and +12) at one of the Slots. If
they are low and your PS connection is okay and there is nothing to make
you believe there is a short or similar failure on one of the Slot
cards, then, your power supply could be about to crater.

     Voltages which are low, especially a voltage below 4.5V on the +5
bus, could account for all of your other problems, including the
non-functioning keyboard.

 
Rubywand