Mac SE Superdrive boots to a sad Mac

[TheNixer]

Hello all, I've looked over the error codes on other websites but to be honest I'm still not sure what my error code means. I've got an SE Superdrive running 6.0.8, my daily machine, that at times boots to a Sad Mac with the 00000004 00000040 error code. Other times it boots to a checkerboard but mostly it boots fine. I'd really like to go ahead and get this machine ready for the next 30 years of it's life. Is this a RAM or ROM error? I use it a lot and want it to be dependable again. Thanks for any help!

 

[bibilit]

Other times it boots to a checkerboard

Will your SE be suffering from bad ram or bad contact in ram slot ?

 

[phreakout]

A "checkerboard" pattern usually indicates bad RAM or the contacts between the sticks of RAM and their sockets are corroded. Try removing the RAM and cleaning the contacts on the sticks with a pencil eraser and a light application of denatured alcohol. Take a small pencil-thin wire brush and clean any debris, corrosion, etc. loose from the sockets as well. Then reinstall the RAM; you can even rotate the sticks, much like rotating tires on a vehicle. Turn it back on and see if the symptoms happen again. If they do, you may have capacitors that need replacement or further cleaning to do. Oh, and don't forget to check the PRAM battery (3.67 Volts or greater).

73s de Phreakout. :rambo:

 

[TheNixer]

Thanks for the replies! Okay, I cleaned out the RAM as suggested and it booted fine. I brought it back upstairs and flipped it on to do some work and now it just boots to a happy Mac. I'm wondering if I've now lost the hard drive. I've verified everything is hooked up correctly. Any thoughts?

 

[bibilit]

I'm wondering if I've now lost the hard drive.

If so, you will not probably have the happy mac anyway, just the floppy with the "?"

can you boot successfully with a floppy ?

 

[TheNixer]

I'll try that as soon as I get home. I'll throw in a disk utility and see if it recognizes the hard drive. I think now the HD is okay. You're right, I'd probably get a "?" because it wouldn't find the system folder. I just turned it on again and it got to the "Welcome to Macintosh" screen and froze there. It's on my desk at work currently so I'll pack it up tonight and take it home for testing. This along with the error code along with the checkerboard made me wonder just where to start solving problems.