Broken Mac SE FHDH in box

[Torbar]

Craigslist score,  dead Mac SE FDHD in box with a bunch of manuals for $10.

The computer

800k external floppy

5 ink ribbons for an Imagewriter II

Mac SE manuals

Mac IIci manual

Imagewriter II manual

sealed floppy drive manual

Pictures:

http://imgur.com/a/gCksV

When you plug in the computer and flip the switch it does nothing.  Power supply issue possibly?  Gotta dig out my Mac Cracker tool either this weekend or next

 

[Macdrone]

battery leak? could be power supply also.  most dont need a mac cracker.  Just set it on its screen on a towel and smack up on both sides at the same time.  Of course take out the interrupt switch first.

 

[Torbar]

I've always used the term Mac Cracker as the long T15 screwdriver, but now after digging around online I guess there was a tool use for seperating the case parts.  I've always done the towel thing.  So yeah, i need to find my long screwdriver

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

$10, wow, just wow!

 

[Juror22]

I had a Mac Plus that would not separate and did actually have to use a case cracker.  Not a  real one - I improvised an old magnetic note holder with thin metal flanges that I had; it was free and worked like a charm to pop it open, without shaking the thing to death.  Congrats on a great deal! I hope that it is an easy fix, which would make the deal even better.

 

[Torbar]

Yeah, definitely excited about this deal, even if for whatever reason the Mac is totally dead(Which I hope it's not).

Ended up ordering a screwdriver on Amazon, can't seem to find mine.

 

[agent_js03]

If it is totally dead, then you can always use the case to make a sleeper build... I have wanted to do that with an SE case, but I love my SE too much.

I actually got my SE it for 10 dollars when I was in grad school back in 2011. It came with KB, mouse and a carrying case, as well as the original system install disks. The HD was bad and the floppy had a broken sensor that caused the head not to work; I was able to replace the sensor on the floppy and replace the hard drive and it is still working to this day, in beautiful condition and a nice crisp screen. I actually used it to write reports and do assignments when I was in grad school. Cool stuff...

 

[Unknown_K]

Case looks decent, the external floppy drive is worth the $10.

 

[bibilit]

PSUs are pretty solid, never seen one bad, but first thing to have a look at.

IIRC if the logic board is bad you will have activity anyway.

 

[Torbar]

Yeah, if figure even if the battery leaked, it would likely still show something, even just the checkerboard pattern,

screwdriver will be here monday so I'll be able to crack it open and take a look

 

[Torbar]

. Not sure if this was a victim of the Maxwell bomb or if this was water damage or something but I'm thinking this board is toast. I'm going to clean it off tomorrow to get a closer look, but I don't have much hope

http://imgur.com/a/JNHRv

 

[Compgeke]

That's a maxell bomb alright. With any luck the swim will be savable and you can upgrade a plain SE to a Superdrive. The roms might be gone.

 

[Torbar]

The ROMS are the chips below the CPU, right?  I was able to clean at least the top of them decently,  gotta see how bad the pins are.  which ones the SWIM chip?  And that's the only thing that is needed to upgrade a regular SE to superdrive?  Or does it need the ROMS too?

 

[bibilit]

The 3 socketed chips above the white connector are the ones needed to perform the Superdrive conversion IIRC.

 

[Themk]

Well, I'm sorry it had to end in such a mess xx(

If it's possible to save the SWIM, and the FDHD ROMs, do it!!!

They aren't getting any more common, and are easy to pop out of the computer, and are usually salvageable.

 

[rsolberg]

Does the chassis seem to be rusting through, or is it mainly surface rust? I'm curious if anyone else has encountered similar damage and tried sandblasting the metal chassis. It seems like sandblasting, (or glass beading) cleaning, then painting or lacquering the metal chassis might have a good restorative effect.

 

[Torbar]

I haven't messed with the chassis yet, but I think I do have access to a sandblaster.  I'll have to see if it is just surface rust or went deeper.

 

[Torbar]

Yeah, chassis looks like it's just surface rust so I should be able to sandblast it. 

 

[Compgeke]

The ROMS are the chips below the CPU, right?  I was able to clean at least the top of them decently,  gotta see how bad the pins are.  which ones the SWIM chip?  And that's the only thing that is needed to upgrade a regular SE to superdrive?  Or does it need the ROMS too?

ROMs are needed, but, in theory, they can be duplicated unlike a SWIM. A basic adapter to plug into the TC531000 socket then pull the voltage pin from pin 28 to pin 32 and possibly pin 24 (output enable) to ground. The only question is whether piggy backed adapters could fit inside the chassis.

SWIM on the other hand can't be duplicated.