Re: questions on apple hardware

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Eric Young writes ...
> 
> 
> 1) I received a few "broken beyond repair" apple IIe's from my school,
>         after swapping some parts, the only problem that they have a
>         display problem.  When the display first comes up, it's very
>         blurry, but that can be fixed by holding the connector tightly
>         against the back of the IIe. Does anyone have any suggestions
>         on what's causing that, and how to fix it?


     It sounds like there is a break somewhere in the Ground (GND) side 
of the circuit which supplies video output. GND corresponds to the 
outside part of the IIe monitor socket and the outside/shield part of the 
plug on the cable going to the monitor.

     Step One is to make sure the cable is not messed up. Use a Radio 
Shack multi-meter to check Resistance between each end of the cable.

     Remove the cable from the monitor and the computer. Check 
outside/shield -to- outside shield and center pin -to- center pin on the 
R x 1 or R x 10 range. In each case, resistance should show up as very 
low (fairly close to one Ohm or so) and not show sudden jumps when the 
cable is flexed (so long as your meter leads maintain good contact).

     If the cable passes the above test, check resistance between center 
and outside parts of the plug on one end on the R x 10 or R x 100 range. 
Resistance should be very high (close to max) and should not dip down 
when the cable is flexed.

     If the cable is okay, the most likely explanation is that the IIe 
socket has become loose and no longer makes reliable contact with the 
motherboard. (Repeated plugging and un-plugging can lead to breaks in 
soldered connections to a socket.)  The fix for this problem is to remove 
the motherboard and re-solder connections to the socket.

   

> 2) I have some in-laws that picked up an "apple" computer at a school
>         auction.  "Apple" is in quotes, because there is another
>         manufacturer's name on it. .... They had parts that were
>         patently Apple, but that darn CPU had me stumped.  It almost
>         looked more IBM like.  I'm sorry I can't provide you with more
>         complete information, but I'm brain-fried. ....


     So, like, it may help to give the manufacturer's name.

     There's a good chance you are talking about "Franklin" computers. 
They were fairly popular in schools. I've never owned one; however, the 
various Franklin models are said to be good quality Apple II clones.
 

Rubywand