Mac 128k peculiar error code

[BadGoldEagle]

Hey there

I saw a 128k for sale and the seller says it does not start, it produces the usual bong but then there's a sad mac with this error code: 04D010

I read that 04 meant it was a memory chip issue. But on the 128k/512k, RAM chips start at location F through G.

So it can't be a RAM chip, does it?

I've never seen this error code. There are 9 chips on the D-row, including the two ROM chips. It can't be the ROMS though because the error code would have started with 01 right?

010 could indicate that the problem is on the IWM since D10 corresponds to the IWM's location.

But then the IWM is not a memory chip. 

I'M CONFUSED

 

[Macdrone]

Im not for sure as codes at this point are suspect, a non boot regardless of code on the 128 is bad ram.  If its not replaced any code is just not reliable.  Ask Uniserver he has repaired alot of them.

 

[Elfen]

The "D010" is the bit address of the RAM Chips involved and not their physical location on the logic board. Like Macdrone stated, ask Uniserver as he would be able to tell you which chips are involved in this address.

 

[Macdrone]

Uniserver has mentioned all the ram is suspect at this point is why I say dont troubleshoot until its changed.

 

[uniserver]

if you can see the ram, if its the apple logo'd ram its all bad and needs to be changed.

i'v done re-ram's to 128k's that didn't have that ram as well, seems like that ram of the era was rushed and might have been contaminated some suspect.

the apple IIc has the same issue.

 

[waynestewart]

As soon as I see any unusual error codes, I usually think that there's two or more bad RAM

 

[Elfen]

the apple IIc has the same issue.

ACK! DON'T SAY THAT!!!

Come here my precious ones... he did not mean to say that!

 

[uniserver]

yep, some used that same crappy ram in the Apple Iic,  all 16 chips of that poor quality goodness....

i had a customer once, way back 4 years ago... they were stuck on wanting the "genuine" apple ram in there.

i had a glass cup that i toss 128k ram in good or bad.

so i found 2 good ones, and changed out 2 chips.

then 2 weeks later , he sent it back to me... sad mac again... another one ...

about 3 months sent it back again... 2 more...

he contacted me about 7 months later and i told him look man.. this ram is garbage.

(he really liked playing that missile game)

I replaced all the ram with quality samsung ram, same that i have right now, and he hasn't had one lick of trouble since.

 

[BadGoldEagle]

Thanks guys for your help. Yeah I think more there's more than 1 bad chip. Hence the "unusual" code.

I'm quite poor now. Spent too much dough on Macs recently...

But since it is quite rare (in France), I offered him 130 euros for the computer plus the keyboard. I think that's relatively fair.

If he accepts, then in a few months I'll send the mobo to Uni for a re-RAM. It can wait until then.

He gave me the serial number: F44008AM0001P.

So 40th week of 1984. Technically the 512k was out since September 10th, or during the 37th week of 1984.

But the badge on the back only says "Macintosh". It was probably one of the last ones to sport the "Macintosh" badge before it was replaced by the 128k one.

What about that logic board though... if it is original, ie not upgraded to 512k, it should have been a revision C board (the ones designed for both the 512 and the 128). Maybe it isn't I don't know.

It's a European model, so maybe the 512k came out later in Europe...

I'll know by Friday if no one offered him more. It should be interesting.

 

[BadGoldEagle]

Yeah !

I am now the proud owner of an original Mac 128k. 

It doesn't have a mouse though... I have an '85 serial mouse down at the basement. It will work but the serials won't match. And that annoys me more than anything

I fancy a square connector one. I'll try to get one cheaply. I know the serial won't be the right one, since those came with early Macs and mine is a late 84 model (but still "original")...

(actually having RAM issues is more preoccupying than the serial  )

I have one more question: since the logic board is not working, can I test the floppy and the analog board with my Plus' Logic board ?

I think the Analog board's voltage doesn't need to be tweaked. But is the 400k floppy drive compatible with the Plus? When they did the Upgrade, I think they changed the floppy for an 800k... 

 

[Elfen]

You can test the analog board and floppy drive with the Plus Logic board.

But the RAM is more important in the 128K. You can also save to get parts to replace "the usual suspects" in the Analog board.

 

[BadGoldEagle]

You mean C1 I presume.

Yeah I heard of it and its friends, they usally go wrong after 30-odd years. Some died way earlier than expected tho.

But while it works, I guess it´s okay.

I'll take care of this baby once I get my SE/30 up and running with the powercache and the color card.

That 128k is in very nice cosmetic condition. It's very beige, not yellowed at all. It must have lived nearly all its life in a basement or something. I just hope now that it hasn't been upgraded to a 512k or 512ke...

I have yet another question: can you put 64k Roms on a Mac Plus and what is the result? Does it see it as a 128k?

 

[Elfen]

C1, L1 (just needs cleaning & resoldering most of the time), T1, D1, Q1.... and so on. Its  a short list but these are the "usual suspects."

 

[BadGoldEagle]

So I picked up the mac sunday evening. It is magnificent. Not discoloured at all as you can see from the image below.



It had a few stickers the seller had removed (service?) and I had to clean those bits to make sure the plastic wasn't damaged underneath. It wasn't at all. 

It came with a beige reset/interrupt switch and a leaking battery... which, as I discovered once I opened it up, had leaked all over the chassis... It was a little corroded near the Analog board. The AB is like new. Really. I haven't seen a computer that clean on the inside (apart from the battery leakage) for a long time!

One thing that surprised me though is that this computer, albeit being a "late" original 128K (i.e. original badging on the back of the unit and original logic board version:  630 - 0101): it has one of those ceramic 68000 CPUs. I thought only the very first ones had those cpus and that Apple changed it for the plastic type ones on later models but I was wrong. Same with the mouse (which sadly wasn't included): I used to believe until now that the square connector ones were only bundled with the very early macs, but it turns out they were still produced in September 1984... I'll be posting in the Trading post now because I need a mouse which was made during the 44th week of 1984. I have a '85 mouse for the testing but in the future I want it to be really complete and original.

Oh and while the guy couldn't find the mouse, he found the original power cord. How rare are those things now? Especially in the French format?

While US versions had a little Apple logo, this European one didn't. It was just a plain plug. 

 

[SE30_Neal]

It looks a sweet example are you going to retrobright it?

 

[BadGoldEagle]

No need to, SE30_Neal. Some parts are indeed more yellow than others, but that's because it's still filthy. I removed some of the stains using Cif. It's really good at cleaning old cables or really filthy stuff. Be careful though not to apply too much of it and don't rub it too hard because it will make the plastic look shiny. I had to though to get rid of that remaining sticker glue! But I haven't damaged it at all.

When I disassembled the keyboard, I realised that some coffee has been spilt on it. The PCB is yellow on the left hand side. I hope it's still working. We'll know this week end: I'll be swapping the logic board from my Plus to test the 400k drive and the AB and the Keyboard. I'll buy some lube and service that floppy drive because since the computer was really clean on the inside, it mustn't have been used much. So the floppy drive's mechanism is probably a little sticky.

I'll then put it on display on one of my shelves (before eventually sending the board to Uni for a Re-Ram...) but now it needs a good bath! 

If you guys want more pictures, I'll be posting some this week end if you like.

EDIT: Actually I will be using Retr0bright on that spacebar, looks far too much discoloured.