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Mac Plus error code

IlikeTech

68000
I recently got an old Mac Plus, but it throws the error code 038000 after chiming.

Any ideas what this means? I read that it could mean a memory problem.

Thanks,

IlikeTech

 
Yeah you're right. That is indeed a memory problem. According to Larry Pina's The Dead Mac Scrolls this code means there's an issue with SIMMS 2 and/or 4.

You should open it up, remove the logic board as well as the 4 simms, clean the pads/sockets and retry. 

But the RAM is probably bad. It happens. You can get new simms on sites like welovemacs or any equivalent.

 
Yea, ok. I am wondering if it is just standard 30 pin simm 150ns or less RAM.  Also, do all slots need to be populated?

 
IIRC the minimum is 1 Meg, meaning all slots populated with 256 k sticks, Yes you need to have all of them populated, using two 1 Meg in the A bank (the one closer to the Processor) and leaving 256 Ks in the B Bank will give you 2,5 Mo of memory... but a pair of resistors should been removed or clipped (R8 and R9)

Max ram is 4 Meg.

Yes standard 30 pin simm 150ns.

 
I tried reseating the simms, with no luck. I just ordered 4 1MB 70ns simms for about 16 dollars shipped. I will blow out the sim sockets before I install them. I sure hope this works, because I don't want to spend all that much more money on it.

 
You'll have to disable one 256k resistor to enable the 4Mb upgrade if it hasn't been done before. 

Check your logic board: for full 4Mb support, clip one end of R8 '256k bit'. Technically, R9 shouldn't be there. If it is, clip one end of that one too.

 
Both were already clipped. Someone had tried to upgrade it in the past, and I think that why it had a memory problems.

 
I got my Plus keyboard off ebay for $30 late last year and the mice are a fair bit more common. Seems reasonable enough, however just note you might need to find a straight through 4P4C cable depending on whether or not the keyboard comes with one. The ones from a telephone headset are crossed and will most likely damage the computer, keyboard or both.

 
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