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A Perfect Condition SE/30

Scott Baret

Well-known member
Few things in life are perfect, but this SE/30 definitely is cosmetically.

It does boot, but given the lack of sound, it’s going to get new caps before I use it.

The hard drive is also bad, so I’m going to make this the ultimate dream machine, sticking a big ol’ 2 gigger in there and finding the correct RAM for a 128MB configuration.

From there, it’s just a matter of determining which software to run on it. Office 4.2.1 is already a given.

329B03CC-9723-4A14-A179-4D6043FEA06C.jpeg

 

Von

Well-known member
Looks very nice!

I finally got my SE/30s out and am still working on them...

 

LaPorta

Well-known member
I just did the exact same thing to my SE/30. It's basically perfect inside and out. And to think I got it for around $15 in 2000...

 

Scott Baret

Well-known member
The only thing wrong with this is the mouse is a bit yellow. I’ve never done Retrobrite before but since I know I have a pristine mouse lost somewhere in my storage unit just in case, I think I found my first item to try with it!! Any tips for a first timer who lives in a city with a lot of cloudy days?

 

Torbar

Well-known member
The only thing wrong with this is the mouse is a bit yellow. I’ve never done Retrobrite before but since I know I have a pristine mouse lost somewhere in my storage unit just in case, I think I found my first item to try with it!! Any tips for a first timer who lives in a city with a lot of cloudy days?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVNHC4td7MQ

I've never done retrobriting myself yet, but I'm planning on trying the method that he trys about 10 minutes in since I don't really have a good spot to do it outside.  He seems to do a pretty good job.  8bitguy has done a similar method to a Commodore 64 in his most recent video too

 

LaPorta

Well-known member
I, too, am going to give a go at it with OxyClean solution in front of my wood stove to heat the water. I've got somewhat of a beater SE case to try it on.

Honestly, unless the yellowing is insane or in a terrible pattern (i.e. one side), i usually look at it like my emerging gray hairs: just a little distinction with age!

 

DouggieG

New member
So I'm new here, forgive me if Im not posting in the right place, but I just got an SE/30 to basically relive my youth (Apple ][+, 128K Mac, SE, IIsi), and want to get it up to the point of being somewhere between being as authentically a retro Mac experience as possible, and as currently functional as possible.  So I'm looking for some advice.  My specs are 5 MG RAM an 40 MB HD, nothing in the PDS currently.  It boots fine.  I'm thinking initially do the SCSI/SD thing, replace the fan and power supply.  and battery.   Longer term, get the motherboard preemptively re-capped.  Beyond that, I'd like to be able to get online, boost RAM, and use internal-monitor grayscale if possible. I have Claris Works 2.1, HyperCard 2.2, and System 7.0.  Planning on looking for system 7.5, Think C, and some games.  I don't see much in what I currently have that is useful for getting online.  

Any guidance is appreciated!

 

mdeverhart

Well-known member
First, @DouggieG, welcome! You’re on the right forum if you love old Macs. That said, this particular thread isn’t quite the right place for this question - this thread was created by Scott Baret to document the SE/30 he found, and the ‘Conquests’ board in general is for members to post about their finds and collections. This question would be better off in the Compact Mac forum. I’d recommend starting a new post there, where it’ll get more attention.

It sounds like you’ve got a really good setup to get started with! I’d recommend doing the battery and capacitors sooner rather than later. If it has one of the red Maxell batteries in it, get rid of it right away (they have a tendency to explode, spraying battery acid everywhere inside, which can cause very severe damage to the logic board). The capacitors also have almost certainly started leaking, which will cause both functional issues (the goo is conductive, and will start shorting out circuits) as well as physical damage (eating away at the copper pads and traces). Both the battery and the capacitors are easier to take care of before they cause damage, rather than after.

I’m not an expert on fans and power supplies on the SE/30, so hopefully someone else here can chime in on that.

Your hardest challenge will be getting files on and off the machine. A PDS Ethernet card or a SCSI/Ethernet adapter will be very helpful if you can find one. There’s lots of good info on the forum on getting these older machines online or getting files onto them.

 
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