Apple Lisa - Information & Help!

B34N0

6502
Hi everybody,

I've come across my Apple Lisa (2 I believe?) that had been stored in the attic for many of years and it is now unfortunately taking up too much space and I will need to look at parting with it.

If anybody can assist with confirming any information about it and a rough form of valuation, I would be eternally grateful.

When it was originally purchased in 1994 from a seller, it was in working order. I am unsure now as am yet to attempt to boot it.

I have attached a library of images of it also.IMG_5523.JPGIMG_5533.JPGIMG_5538.JPGIMG_5541.JPGIMG_5542.JPGIMG_5543.JPG
 
Nice looking ensemble. Nice collection of software as well. You are wise to take caution in activating it.
Have you checked for corrosion on the motherboard from the backup batteries?
After many years in the attic it's possible something will fail very quickly and cause damage if you try to power it up.
Be ready to quickly kill the power if you try.
The whole setup will need, at the very least, all the capacitors replaced for it to be reliable to operate.
 
Nice looking ensemble. Nice collection of software as well. You are wise to take caution in activating it.
Have you checked for corrosion on the motherboard from the backup batteries?
After many years in the attic it's possible something will fail very quickly and cause damage if you try to power it up.
Be ready to quickly kill the power if you try.
The whole setup will need, at the very least, all the capacitors replaced for it to be reliable to operate.
Thank you for your response.

I'm going to investigate the motherboard tonight for any damage and will report back!

EDIT: I've attached some photos of the rear access, is it game over??1efba0b5-ff46-40ce-98e5-a23b4359334a.JPGfa07515f-59fa-4d7e-b4af-73930a54d521.JPG
 
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"Macintosh XL" was a marketing term, basically, and its precise interpretation differs in documentation and differs between different people. In my book, if it is running MacWorks of some version or other, you can call it a MacXL. Otherwise it is a Lisa.

It's not the case that all of your software is Mac software: you appear to have a copy of the Lisa Office System as well.

Anyway, you will need to remove the batteries now, as they are still damaging your Lisa as long as they are fitted. The I/O board does not look great, but I have seen worse. It may be recoverable if you have the skills and equipment for it. The motherboard has probably also been damaged somewhat, as evidenced by the corrosion visible on your serial ports.

A repair journey now awaits you. How do you assess your skill at troubleshooting electronics and carrying out electronics repair? Unfortunately some of this work will almost surely be necessary in order to recover from the damage the batteries have wrought on the I/O board and motherboard (at least).

If you do not possess these skills now, but you have a desire to develop them, one option would be to arrest the damage from the battery leakage and place the Lisa back in storage until you are ready to tackle this restoration project later.

Have you seen this series of YouTube videos by Adrian's Digital Basement? They may give you a good idea of the nature of the project of repairing your Lisa.

While this computer is absolutely not ready to be plugged into the mains, I disagree with @MOS8_030 in "The whole setup will need, at the very least, all the capacitors replaced for it to be reliable to operate." While this comment surely only refers to the computer's electrolytic capacitors and the RIFA paper safety capacitors in the power supply (as small ceramic caps like I/O board C4, C5, C6, C7 hardly ever fail), it is very likely that most of the violet-coloured axial electrolytic caps on the I/O board (except for those with corroded legs) are fine, and so are similar caps on the other logic boards. Some electrolytic capacitors in the power supply and a few on the video card may require replacement. The RIFAs should certainly go unless you want to fumigate your Lisa and your bench with noxious smoke. But even an exploding RIFA is unlikely to do much damage.

The real issue to correct now is to remove the batteries and treat the damaged area so that all traces of the leaking electrolyte are gone.
 
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