How to know if Macintosh 128k has been upgraded?

[tmt345]

I booted it up and clicked "about Finder" but all it says is version 1.1... nothing about the amount of memory.

I recently came across one of these but I have no idea if its been upgraded and I'm looking to sell it and I'm sure its worth more if it hasn't been upgraded.

thanks for any and all help,

tmt

 

[tmt345]

Also, if your Macintosh 128k was the "35th manufactured during the 20th week of 1984 in Fremont, CA." would that make its value be higher?

thanks

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Find a newer boot disk that will properly recognize a 512K Mac.

And no, being older doesn't necessarily increase the value. (Says the person with a December 1983 manufacture date 128K.)

 

[tmt345]

I can't find the quote button :I I don't have access to a newer system disk, let alone a floppy drive besides the one in the Macintosh. I heard you can open these up but I'm not sure if its for those who don't know what they are doing.

Sorry for the noob questions, after googling I could only find very little information on this.

 

[Osgeld]

I can't find the quote button

thats exactly why its not there

(sorry I have nothing useful to add)

 

[Mac128]

The only way to test for 512K RAM is to use System 2.0, Finder 4.1 or above. Then using About Finder will show you how much RAM is installed in the info box window. Unfortunately, a 128K won't boot from a disk newer than System 3.2, Finder 5.3. However, a 512K will, up to System 4.1, Finder 5.5. A 512Ke should boot up to System 6.0.5. So depending on what startup disks you have access to, that may tell you what you need to know.

You can open it up carefully without doing any harm, but you need a special long handled torx screwdriver, or make one. Let us know if you intend to do so and we'll walk you through it.

Another test is to press the interrupt switch on the left side-bottom of the Mac (as you face it), if one is installed. It won't tell you how much RAM is installed per se, but it will let you know if the ROMs have been upgraded. If you get a window with a prompt, instead of a sad Mac screen, that means the ROMs have been upgraded and a high likelihood that the RAM has been upgraded as well. If you get the sad Mac, the RAM may still have been upgraded.

Welcome to the wonderful world of vintage Macintosh!

 

[tmt345]

^^^

Thanks for the great reply! I clicked the interrupt button while the system disk was loaded and a window popped up saying "Sorry, a system error occured" and "ID=13" with a Restart button highlighted and a highlighted Resume button.

So this means its been upgraded correct?

 

[Mac128]

Thanks for the great reply! I clicked the interrupt button while the system disk was loaded and a window popped up saying "Sorry, a system error occured" and "ID=13" with a Restart button highlighted and a highlighted Resume button. So this means its been upgraded correct?

Actually no. This strongly suggests 64K ROMs. However, it does not rule out a 512K RAM upgrade. The only way to determine that is by visual inspection or using software 2.0 to 4.1 (it definitely will not run on anything above 4.1 with 64K ROMs).