Sad Mac Error Code '0000000E 0000FFFF' for Classic (now with pictures!)

[Only16Characters]

I posted this earlier right when 68kMLA was going through its certification renewal, so I'm making an educated guess that is why my pictures weren't uploading. I've copy and pasted the same text from the previous post but with relevant pictures.

Hello once again 68kMLA!

I've posted here about a year ago concerning a Macintosh Classic motherboard needing help, and the general consensus was to recap the board. However due to a lack of time (and money...and confidence...), I never really got around to doing what was needed for that motherboard. But never mind all of that.

By chance, my friend was able to scoop up a Macintosh Classic from a recycling center against all odds, same model and everything. Opening it up, I was met with an interesting but, as far as I'm aware, good looking motherboard. It has a Applied Engineering board sitting on top of the motherboard with the tag TW2325 (shown in the first pic); looking it up here on this forum returns a TransWarp accelerator, but I'm not too sure of its function.

Booting it up, I was met with a sad mac error code of "0000000E 0000FFFF". According to this, the 0000000E represents a failed data bus test, either a bad SIMM or data bus failure. After checking around online and this forum, I bought a new battery for the motherboard (1/2 AA 3.6V) and tried using the RAM from my previous Mac (although I can't say this test means anything ) and am still met with the same error. 

I feel like I'm super close to booting this up, but don't know where to go from here. I found a post here or there mentioning the same error code, but no particular solutions. Any advice for the situation? 

 

[Only16Characters]

@techknight you mentioned checking out the read/write line from the CPU, but how would that work in this case in reference to the TW2325? Do I look at the chip on top of the TW2325 or below it?

 

[Nathanplus]

Did you make sure to check that you have the ram configured correctly as in using a jumper for the correct same amount of ram you had put in? also check to see if your computer accepts that type of ram. For EXAMPLE my Macintosh se doesn't aloud the 2 chip sims, in my machine they arn't compatible like the se/30 is. And that board to me Idk if I'm right to be some sort of accelerator card for high powered graphic work thats why it adds the extra ram, I would also try reseating the chip and ram and cleaning all contacts with alcohol as usual.

 

[MOS8_030]

Have you tried removing the AE board and booting the system?

 

[techknight]

Weird. my post disappeared.... 

I didnt see the pictures prior, they woudlnt load for me when I typed my message. So in the case of the expansion card, I dont know. 

My thought would be to remove it. But I do know the ROM generates an E code if it is unable to write to something. 

 

[superjer2000]

Let me know if you want to sell that Transwarp board.  I bought the same board for my old Classic back in 1993 or so and have been looking for one to recreate that machine. I still recall how disappointed I was in the speed boost from that accelerator.  Without on board RAM its impact was limited.

 

[Only16Characters]

Did you make sure to check that you have the ram configured correctly as in using a jumper for the correct same amount of ram you had put in? also check to see if your computer accepts that type of ram. For EXAMPLE my Macintosh se doesn't aloud the 2 chip sims, in my machine they arn't compatible like the se/30 is. And that board to me Idk if I'm right to be some sort of accelerator card for high powered graphic work thats why it adds the extra ram, I would also try reseating the chip and ram and cleaning all contacts with alcohol as usual.

So I took a quick look online as to what RAM is accepted by my Macintosh classic and came across this website. It mentions that it has 1MB of memory soldered onto the motherboard already, so would booting the computer without the memory expansion board be a possible diagnostic step? If so, I'll try giving that a shot when I get home. I also didn't know what you meant by jumper until coming across that website, so I'll also take a look at it when I get home. I'll give all contacts some cleaning, but which chips do you mean when you say reseating?

 

[Only16Characters]

Have you tried removing the AE board and booting the system?

I'm not too sure if removing the AE board is possible though I would wager that it should be since it's been tacked on. I'll take a picture of where the two boards connect when I have a chance just to get some second opinions.

 

[Only16Characters]

Let me know if you want to sell that Transwarp board.  I bought the same board for my old Classic back in 1993 or so and have been looking for one to recreate that machine. I still recall how disappointed I was in the speed boost from that accelerator.  Without on board RAM its impact was limited.

If i can get the machine running without the Transwarp board, I'd be happy to sell it to you. My end goal is to just get the computer running and have it sit pretty in my room, so I have no particular attachment to the board.

 

[superjer2000]

The transwarp board just clips onto the cpu. There aren’t any screws or clips or anything. You should just be able to pop  it off. That would be the first step in troubleshooting. 

The logic board will need to be recapped as well. It would also be worthwhile to check voltages at the floppy drive port. I would’ve be surprised if the transwarp worked it’s way partially loose as mine used to do whenever I would transport it. I can’t recall what the repercussions were though.  

 

[superjer2000]

Also to answer your other questions you can start the unit up without the ram board as well. As you noted there is 1 mb on board. The ram expansion card adds another 1 mb and then there are two simm slots for an addition 0.5 or 2mb of ram. 

 

[Only16Characters]

Seems that ram wasnt the issue as booting it up without the expansion didnt change anything. Im looking at where the TW connects and where the cpu would be theres this brown rectangular prism? Not sure if I should go ahead and detach the TW still

 

[Only16Characters]

Jk, you were right @superjer2000, just came right off

Ill give the contacts some cleaning and see where to go from here

 

[Bolacore]

If it helps, I fixed a Mac Classic recently with the exact same error. In my case, it was the 74LS174 - a few of it's pins had corroded from bad caps and were no longer making contact. That little chip generates the timing for the CAS PAL in the corner of the board, and if it's not working, you'll see half (or all) the data bus not working very well. Pulled the chip on mine, cleaned the board, and put the chip back on. Booted right up after. Looking at your board, it looks the same as my did before I repaired it. 

 

[Bolle]

Get this thing recapped asap. You can clearly see the caps leaking and there is corrosion on one of the 74LS174s that @Bolacore already mentioned.

Next steps should be replacing the caps and testing/cleaning up that LS174.

 

[HTZ Cactus]

Any luck with the solution?

I've got a Macintosh SE with the exact same error code. This model had a modem in its expansion slot and has worked flawlessly for a couple years. It did have a bit of a shaky screen during those years. It then sat for 1/2 a year, and I then used it a little bit for a month or so, and then stopped using it for another half year, and then when I returned, this error popped up. I've tried taking out the modem card, scrubbing the MB, and swapping out ram in all sorts of combinations (it had 4MB installed... 2 original sticks, 2 aftermarket ones). Different combinations of ram seemed to cause different error codes... all of which I was not able to find on the dead mac scrolls.

I've tried installing a fresh PRAM battery in these attempts too... as I remember seeing on the old "Mac SE Support Pages" (that are no longer around) that the SE needs a PRAM battery to boot... (not true in my experience.. but eh worth a try). I do happen to have another SE on hand... also with issues (its not able to boot from anything for some reason) --

Next to try is to swap the motherboards and ram with the other SE to see if that yields a result and will report back at that point. I've also got an original LC which needs a recap but I could use the RAM from it... though, are those rams compatible with each other? I've got RAM from a IIvx which did not seem to work with the SE.. but it is unknown if they work.

But in the meantime, any ideas? Figured I'd post here... though since I have an SE and you have a Classic, and the error codes are simply hex values, I'm guessing the problems may be unrelated.