Re: ][gs Help Needed!!!

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

In article <01HCX12GLCQA8Y2A3V@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu>,
 <HOLTG@CTRVAX.VANDERBILT.EDU> wrote:
> 
> I have an Apple ][gs that is doing some very peculiar things.
> It is a ][gs with an 8/16 ZipGSX in slot 2; a HyperStudio sound card; a 
> ComputerEyes Video Digitizer in slot 4; an Apple ][ High Speed SCSI card in 
> slot 7; a 4 meg RAM card from Quality Computers (Q-RAM GS2); and a 240 meg 
> hard drive from Quality Computers (Q-Drive).
> 
> The following things are acting up:
> 
> 1.  The Calculator NDA that comes with System 6.0.1 --- when you try to use 
> it, well let's say you did 2+2, your answer would be this outrageous number 
> in scientific notation  (very large) --- I have tried replacing the 
> calculator, but the newly installed one will do the same exact thing --- 
> and yes, I do hit the clear button before I do the next operation...

Hm, no idea what this problem might be caused by.

> 2.  Let's say I want to put an unformated disk into the 3.5" drive --- the 
> finder will notify me that this is not readable and will ask me if I want 
> to initialize it --- well, I click "Initialize" and then the whole computer 
> locks up and the computer will say the words:  "Alert, Alert!"

I know exactly what is happening here: you have an INIT called "GS Spy
2" installed.  This INIT has two functions:

- Display a disk access indicator in the top right corner of the menu bar.

- If you attempt to format a disk, the computer will say "Alert!
  Alert!" and pause.  At this point, press RETURN to proceed with the
  format, or ESCAPE to abort it.

I suspect that this was installed by Quality Computers as part of
their standard system software intallation on the Q-Drive.

If you want to disable or remove it, you should be able to locate it
in the System.Setup folder inside the System folder on the boot
partition on your drive.

> 3.  Another weird thing that my ][gs (by the way, it's a ROM 3) is doing is 
> when I perform the "system test" (open apple, option, control, reset keys), 
> it tells me:
> 
> System Bad:  020C4000

That means faulty RAM.  In your case, bit 6 of memory bank $0C has
failed.  This may affect other banks as well.

Another possibility is a fault or bad connection with your ZIP GS.
Make sure the cable from the ZIP to the CPU socket is firmly in place.

If it seems to be OK, try disabling the ZIP (by powering down, turning
off switch 1-6 on the ZIP and powering up again), then running the self
test again.

If the fault still occurs, remove the ZIP GS from the system and
replace the original processor (make sure you get it around the right
way!), then try again.  If it still fails test 02xxxxxx from time to
time, you almost certainly have a RAM fault or some other fault on the
motherboard.

> I have also gotten:
> 
> System Bad:  023C4000

Also RAM failure, but I didn't think the memory test went as far as
bank $3C.  (The same bit is reported as having failed.)

> Even still I have gotten:
> 
> System Bad:  0B030000

This is probably caused by the ZIP GS.  See the top of page 3 of the
documentation that came with your ZIP.  Unless you disable the ZIP
before doing the self test, it will usually fail test 0Bxxxxxx and
0Cxxxxxx.  This is because these tests are speed-dependent, and the
ZIP is causing the computer to run faster than the tests are expecting.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand