Opinions on this Macintosh Portable (sorry if wrong section)

[joshc]

@techknight may be able to point you in the right direction as he’s worked on a lot of these.

 

[desertrout]

Original schematic here: https://github.com/nickpunt/nubus-se30/blob/master/Schematics/apple/Macintosh Portable Schematic.pdf

Reverse engineered schematic here: https://github.com/ppieczul/macintosh-portable/releases/download/0.15/macintosh-portable-v15.pdf

 

[desertrout]

The HD is likely toast; you're probably better off with a SCSI2SD. However, I'd try just removing the HD for now and try getting it going from a floppy or something. Just getting it to work at all before getting fancy.

Not necessarily toast. The gasket for the Conner in my Portable had completely turned to goo to the point of dripping all over the interior of the case, but was successfully saved since none of the goo made it to the actual platter. @techknight has a video of the procedure:

That said, I've since replaced it with a BlueSCSI. @broccoliwithattitude keep in mind that when you move to a modern solution you will need a 34-to-50 pin SCSI adapter, as the Portable uses a non-standard pinout. You can find these on eBay, or make your own - the gerbers are out there. In fact, I have some extra boards (not assembled, just the bare PCB) I can pop in the mail.

But, yes, this is a later concern... first try to get the lovely thing working as @LaPorta says.

 

[broccoliwithattitude]

Hello all...

Bad news. It does turn on. With stripes all over the place. Sometimes it bongs fine, but I cannot see anything.
Other times it does bong death chime.
Some other times nothing happens. Resetting power management sometimes clicks the speakers. But then nothing.

What do you think )-: the monitor is working.

Probably who recapped this made a mess. I don't even know what to think I am not an expert.


@desertrout sorry for the late reply and thank you so much for all the infos! I don't really mind about the Conner anyway, I have a scsi2sd ready to go in (-: but it doesn't work so...

Someone had the same issue? What turned out to be the cause?

 

[LaPorta]

I had a slightly similar issue. It was caused by cap juice shorting out connections between some of the chips. Don't remember what/where, Techknight would be the best to answer if he is around. But even sometimes getting a startup chime is a really good thing in general. Did you also check continuity on all of those scratched traces?

 

[broccoliwithattitude]

I had a slightly similar issue. It was caused by cap juice shorting out connections between some of the chips. Don't remember what/where, Techknight would be the best to answer if he is around. But even sometimes getting a startup chime is a really good thing in general. Did you also check continuity on all of those scratched traces?

I suspect shorting as well. Either that really bad recapping job that now we discovered needs to be redone and those traces. I kind of set the portable aside these days cause I was really busy with other stuff, today the battery came in so I thought of trying.

I haven't tested the traces but I suspect they might be shorting then. The very problem is that they are all small and near one each other, it will be a pain in the backdoor to fix. And frankly I don't think I am that able either. Plus some vias are dead I suppose.
I don't want to let the machine die and it's bonging so I suppose it can be saved. I need to figure out what to do. Time to seek help..

 

[ScutBoy]

The fact that it chimes puts you in a much better spot than many!

 

[broccoliwithattitude]

The fact that it chimes puts you in a much better spot than many!

That's a good news! Sometimes it chimes normally and doesn't even play the death chime. Other times straight up death chime. So something is shorting.

I gave up and brought it to a repair shop which was scared at first cause they thought they had to open it. I took the mobo out and took it on a walk. They said next week will let me know, let's hope. They're specialised in microsoldering so... they offered to check and restore the board. If caps/traces are the issue let's hope Kennedy will live! Cause I really need it in an usable state. I have plans for the lil portable zombie!

I'll post once I have news, hopefully good. Wish me luck!

 

[Johnnya101]

@broccoliwithattitude , did you ever hear back about this?

 

[broccoliwithattitude]

@broccoliwithattitude , did you ever hear back about this?

not really. i called the shop few times and they said they need more time every time i call. i guess they needed to order capacitors etc. anyhow, i’m leaving this country for good on the 19th and so i have told them. tomorrow i’ll give them a call and get the motherboard back.

i’ll have to find a solution then…
but i’m not giving up on it at all (-:

 

[Johnnya101]

Thanks for the update, let us know how it turns out! I wonder if they have done anything at all with it.

 

[broccoliwithattitude]

Thanks for the update, let us know how it turns out! I wonder if they have done anything at all with it.

my guess is that they did not. probably left it aside. the irritating thing is that i did not just show up with it and boom, i emailed and called them days prior bringing it to them and explicitly asked if they were up to it. they accepted and then 1 month has passed with no news.

once i’ll be back home i’ll ask my cousin’s husband a hand, he is an electrician and offered to give me a hand with soldering properly etc.

the portable shall live!

 

[broccoliwithattitude]

update: i called the shop today, friday it should be ready. let’s see.

 

[desertrout]

 

[joshc]

@broccoliwithattitude Any update? Did you get your board back?

 

[broccoliwithattitude]

@broccoliwithattitude Any update? Did you get your board back?

I did. Worse than before, now it won't even boot. and the capacitors were soldered upright do it did not even fit. Needless to say I was outraged and they asked to send it back for free repair. I'm starting to give up and sell it for parts...

 

[androda]

Sounds like more in depth work might be necessary on this poor machine. Portables really get eaten alive sometimes.

 

[joshc]

I did. Worse than before, now it won't even boot. and the capacitors were soldered upright do it did not even fit. Needless to say I was outraged and they asked to send it back for free repair. I'm starting to give up and sell it for parts...

Sorry to hear that. I really wouldn't trust any repair shop with a vintage Mac unless they specialised in them and could prove that. Portables do certainly require a lot of attention and prior knowledge/experience is really helpful in getting them working. I hope you either find somone who can fix it, or otherwise wish you luck in selling it on for parts.