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IIfx woes [message #413792] Sun, 27 March 2022 20:03 Go to next message
Nat Hall is currently offline  Nat Hall
Messages: 7
Registered: March 2013
Karma: 0
Junior Member
Hi all,

Been probably 15 years since I posted here.

After moving last summer, I set up my long dormant/closeted IIfx that had been out of circulation for at least 10 years. To my surprise, it booted right up into OS 8.1 and my second hard drive with A/UX booted right up as well.

It was a blast from the past to see my most recent Low End Mac usergroup emails, the most recent of which was June 2006. A moment frozen in time.

I started a new A/UX project on it and after about 4 months, it just died a sudden, hopefully NOT ugly death.

I went to power down one evening and instead of shutting off, the video display corrupted and just sat there. I had to unplug the power cable.

When I went to start up the next day, I get the normal startup bong, the hard drives spin up normally, then I get the do-do-da-da and the screen just sits on the all-grey screen with the "radius" logo at the bottom.

Since then, I have:

- swapped RAM, tried many different configurations
- tried a different video card (only difference here is the blank grey screen doesn't get the "radius" logo, since it's an apple card)
- removed all nubus cards
- removed all hard drives
- removed floppy drives
- removed all external peripherals
- tried a host of different keyboard/mouse configurations
- thoroughly cleaned the logic board (it looks brand new, excellent condition)
- tried holding the ROM SIMM at various angles, I've read these slots can be touchy
- installed fresh PRAM batteries
- zapped PRAM
- tried different SCSI cables and configurations

Nothing has any effect at all, the exact same scenario plays out in all cases. The only thing aside from the lack of "radius" logo with the Apple card is there is a longer/shorter delay between the startup bong and the do-do-da-da that is directly correlated with how much RAM I have installed, which leads me to believe whatever is happening is happening after the RAM check.

My next thought is to try to hunt down a replacement ROM, but I thought I'd check in here first, see if anyone has any other thoughts. I tried the Dead Mac Scrolls, my exact scenario isn't listed but it's closest to what is described on pages 225 and 226, although the drives/termination on the SCSI bus on this machine haven't changed in 22 years. Also, the do-do-da-da does not come quickly after the bong, it comes after 15-30 seconds after the RAM check.

Sent from my iPad

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Re: IIfx woes [message #414035 is a reply to message #413792] Thu, 14 April 2022 20:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
squ...@pobox.com is currently offline  squ...@pobox.com
Messages: 3
Registered: July 2021
Karma: 0
Junior Member
The first thing to do is have the capacitors replaced. Thete's no point to
other troubleshooting until that is taken care of.

On Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 6:51:39 PM UTC-5 Nat Hall wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Been probably 15 years since I posted here.
>
> After moving last summer, I set up my long dormant/closeted IIfx that had
> been out of circulation for at least 10 years. To my surprise, it booted
> right up into OS 8.1 and my second hard drive with A/UX booted right up as
> well.
>
> It was a blast from the past to see my most recent Low End Mac usergroup
> emails, the most recent of which was June 2006. A moment frozen in time.
>
> I started a new A/UX project on it and after about 4 months, it just died
> a sudden, hopefully NOT ugly death.
>
> I went to power down one evening and instead of shutting off, the video
> display corrupted and just sat there. I had to unplug the power cable.
>
> When I went to start up the next day, I get the normal startup bong, the
> hard drives spin up normally, then I get the do-do-da-da and the screen
> just sits on the all-grey screen with the "radius" logo at the bottom.
>
> Since then, I have:
>
> - swapped RAM, tried many different configurations
> - tried a different video card (only difference here is the blank grey
> screen doesn't get the "radius" logo, since it's an apple card)
> - removed all nubus cards
> - removed all hard drives
> - removed floppy drives
> - removed all external peripherals
> - tried a host of different keyboard/mouse configurations
> - thoroughly cleaned the logic board (it looks brand new, excellent
> condition)
> - tried holding the ROM SIMM at various angles, I've read these slots can
> be touchy
> - installed fresh PRAM batteries
> - zapped PRAM
> - tried different SCSI cables and configurations
>
> Nothing has any effect at all, the exact same scenario plays out in all
> cases. The only thing aside from the lack of "radius" logo with the Apple
> card is there is a longer/shorter delay between the startup bong and the
> do-do-da-da that is directly correlated with how much RAM I have installed,
> which leads me to believe whatever is happening is happening after the RAM
> check.
>
> My next thought is to try to hunt down a replacement ROM, but I thought
> I'd check in here first, see if anyone has any other thoughts. I tried the
> Dead Mac Scrolls, my exact scenario isn't listed but it's closest to what
> is described on pages 225 and 226, although the drives/termination on the
> SCSI bus on this machine haven't changed in 22 years. Also, the do-do-da-da
> does not come quickly after the bong, it comes after 15-30 seconds after
> the RAM check.
>
> Sent from my iPad

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Re: IIfx woes [message #414036 is a reply to message #414035] Fri, 15 April 2022 00:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rockin' Kat is currently offline  Rockin' Kat
Messages: 19
Registered: November 2012
Karma: 0
Junior Member
Aren’t most of the capacitors on the IIfx logicboard Tantalums rather than electrolytics?



From: <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com> on behalf of "squ...@pobox.com" <squires@pobox.com>
Reply-To: <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com>
Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 6:40 PM
To: Vintage Macs <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: IIfx woes



The first thing to do is have the capacitors replaced. Thete's no point to other troubleshooting until that is taken care of.

On Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 6:51:39 PM UTC-5 Nat Hall wrote:

Hi all,

Been probably 15 years since I posted here.

After moving last summer, I set up my long dormant/closeted IIfx that had been out of circulation for at least 10 years. To my surprise, it booted right up into OS 8.1 and my second hard drive with A/UX booted right up as well.

It was a blast from the past to see my most recent Low End Mac usergroup emails, the most recent of which was June 2006. A moment frozen in time.

I started a new A/UX project on it and after about 4 months, it just died a sudden, hopefully NOT ugly death.

I went to power down one evening and instead of shutting off, the video display corrupted and just sat there. I had to unplug the power cable.

When I went to start up the next day, I get the normal startup bong, the hard drives spin up normally, then I get the do-do-da-da and the screen just sits on the all-grey screen with the "radius" logo at the bottom.

Since then, I have:

- swapped RAM, tried many different configurations
- tried a different video card (only difference here is the blank grey screen doesn't get the "radius" logo, since it's an apple card)
- removed all nubus cards
- removed all hard drives
- removed floppy drives
- removed all external peripherals
- tried a host of different keyboard/mouse configurations
- thoroughly cleaned the logic board (it looks brand new, excellent condition)
- tried holding the ROM SIMM at various angles, I've read these slots can be touchy
- installed fresh PRAM batteries
- zapped PRAM
- tried different SCSI cables and configurations

Nothing has any effect at all, the exact same scenario plays out in all cases. The only thing aside from the lack of "radius" logo with the Apple card is there is a longer/shorter delay between the startup bong and the do-do-da-da that is directly correlated with how much RAM I have installed, which leads me to believe whatever is happening is happening after the RAM check.

My next thought is to try to hunt down a replacement ROM, but I thought I'd check in here first, see if anyone has any other thoughts. I tried the Dead Mac Scrolls, my exact scenario isn't listed but it's closest to what is described on pages 225 and 226, although the drives/termination on the SCSI bus on this machine haven't changed in 22 years. Also, the do-do-da-da does not come quickly after the bong, it comes after 15-30 seconds after the RAM check.

Sent from my iPad

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You received this message because you are a member of the Vintage Macs group.
The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml
To post to this group, send email to vintage-macs@googlegroups.com
To leave this group, send email to vintage-macs+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
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Support for older Macs: http://lowendmac.com/services/
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Re: IIfx woes [message #414038 is a reply to message #414036] Fri, 15 April 2022 09:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dylan McDermond is currently offline  Dylan McDermond
Messages: 133
Registered: August 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
There are some electrolytic on the IIfx board. Don’t overlook failing capacitors in the power supply. Marginal power can allow it to turn on but not have quite enough power to run the RAM, accessories, etc. I would look at recapping the PSU.

- Dylan


> On Apr 14, 2022, at 9:56 PM, Matthew C <rockinkat@thecowsaysmoo.org> wrote:
>
> Aren’t most of the capacitors on the IIfx logicboard Tantalums rather than electrolytics?
>
> From: <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com> on behalf of "squ...@pobox.com" <squires@pobox.com>
> Reply-To: <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com>
> Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 6:40 PM
> To: Vintage Macs <vintage-macs@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: Re: IIfx woes
>
> The first thing to do is have the capacitors replaced. Thete's no point to other troubleshooting until that is taken care of.
>
> On Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 6:51:39 PM UTC-5 Nat Hall wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Been probably 15 years since I posted here.
>>
>> After moving last summer, I set up my long dormant/closeted IIfx that had been out of circulation for at least 10 years. To my surprise, it booted right up into OS 8.1 and my second hard drive with A/UX booted right up as well.
>>
>> It was a blast from the past to see my most recent Low End Mac usergroup emails, the most recent of which was June 2006. A moment frozen in time.
>>
>> I started a new A/UX project on it and after about 4 months, it just died a sudden, hopefully NOT ugly death.
>>
>> I went to power down one evening and instead of shutting off, the video display corrupted and just sat there. I had to unplug the power cable.
>>
>> When I went to start up the next day, I get the normal startup bong, the hard drives spin up normally, then I get the do-do-da-da and the screen just sits on the all-grey screen with the "radius" logo at the bottom.
>>
>> Since then, I have:
>>
>> - swapped RAM, tried many different configurations
>> - tried a different video card (only difference here is the blank grey screen doesn't get the "radius" logo, since it's an apple card)
>> - removed all nubus cards
>> - removed all hard drives
>> - removed floppy drives
>> - removed all external peripherals
>> - tried a host of different keyboard/mouse configurations
>> - thoroughly cleaned the logic board (it looks brand new, excellent condition)
>> - tried holding the ROM SIMM at various angles, I've read these slots can be touchy
>> - installed fresh PRAM batteries
>> - zapped PRAM
>> - tried different SCSI cables and configurations
>>
>> Nothing has any effect at all, the exact same scenario plays out in all cases. The only thing aside from the lack of "radius" logo with the Apple card is there is a longer/shorter delay between the startup bong and the do-do-da-da that is directly correlated with how much RAM I have installed, which leads me to believe whatever is happening is happening after the RAM check.
>>
>> My next thought is to try to hunt down a replacement ROM, but I thought I'd check in here first, see if anyone has any other thoughts. I tried the Dead Mac Scrolls, my exact scenario isn't listed but it's closest to what is described on pages 225 and 226, although the drives/termination on the SCSI bus on this machine haven't changed in 22 years. Also, the do-do-da-da does not come quickly after the bong, it comes after 15-30 seconds after the RAM check.
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
> --
> --
> -----
> You received this message because you are a member of the Vintage Macs group.
> The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml
> To post to this group, send email to vintage-macs@googlegroups.com
> To leave this group, send email to vintage-macs+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintage-macs
>
> Support for older Macs: http://lowendmac.com/services/
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Vintage Macs" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to vintage-macs+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vintage-macs/eaece96b-4856 -47fb-b017-55c87dd08e8bn%40googlegroups.com.
>
>
> --
> --
> -----
> You received this message because you are a member of the Vintage Macs group.
> The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml
> To post to this group, send email to vintage-macs@googlegroups.com
> To leave this group, send email to vintage-macs+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintage-macs
>
> Support for older Macs: http://lowendmac.com/services/
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Vintage Macs" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to vintage-macs+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vintage-macs/FA55EA8E-BC92 -413B-A9B1-98490FF4D54F%40thecowsaysmoo.org.

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You received this message because you are a member of the Vintage Macs group.
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To post to this group, send email to vintage-macs@googlegroups.com
To leave this group, send email to vintage-macs+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
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Support for older Macs: http://lowendmac.com/services/
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Re: IIfx woes [message #414071 is a reply to message #414038] Fri, 15 April 2022 12:53 Go to previous message
squ...@pobox.com is currently offline  squ...@pobox.com
Messages: 3
Registered: July 2021
Karma: 0
Junior Member
Yep, what Dylan said. The IIfx shipped with varying combinations of
tantalum/electrolytic capacitors. Have to treat each machine individually.
Plus the PSU. Some people replace the old PSUs with new ATX ones. That's
another option. My preference is to extend the life of the original parts
as much as possible.
On Friday, April 15, 2022 at 8:23:26 AM UTC-5 Dylan McDermond wrote:

> There are some electrolytic on the IIfx board. Don’t overlook failing
> capacitors in the power supply. Marginal power can allow it to turn on but
> not have quite enough power to run the RAM, accessories, etc. I would look
> at recapping the PSU.
>
> - Dylan
>
>
>> On Apr 14, 2022, at 9:56 PM, Matthew C <rock...@thecowsaysmoo.org>
> wrote:
>>
>> Aren’t most of the capacitors on the IIfx logicboard Tantalums rather
> than electrolytics?
>>
>> From: <vintag...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of "squ...@pobox.com" <
> squ...@pobox.com>
>> Reply-To: <vintag...@googlegroups.com>
>> Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 6:40 PM
>> To: Vintage Macs <vintag...@googlegroups.com>
>> Subject: Re: IIfx woes
>>
>> The first thing to do is have the capacitors replaced. Thete's no point
> to other troubleshooting until that is taken care of.
>>
>> On Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 6:51:39 PM UTC-5 Nat Hall wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Been probably 15 years since I posted here.
>>>
>>> After moving last summer, I set up my long dormant/closeted IIfx that
> had been out of circulation for at least 10 years. To my surprise, it
> booted right up into OS 8.1 and my second hard drive with A/UX booted right
> up as well.
>>>
>>> It was a blast from the past to see my most recent Low End Mac
> usergroup emails, the most recent of which was June 2006. A moment frozen
> in time.
>>>
>>> I started a new A/UX project on it and after about 4 months, it just
> died a sudden, hopefully NOT ugly death.
>>>
>>> I went to power down one evening and instead of shutting off, the video
> display corrupted and just sat there. I had to unplug the power cable.
>>>
>>> When I went to start up the next day, I get the normal startup bong,
> the hard drives spin up normally, then I get the do-do-da-da and the screen
> just sits on the all-grey screen with the "radius" logo at the bottom.
>>>
>>> Since then, I have:
>>>
>>> - swapped RAM, tried many different configurations
>>> - tried a different video card (only difference here is the blank grey
> screen doesn't get the "radius" logo, since it's an apple card)
>>> - removed all nubus cards
>>> - removed all hard drives
>>> - removed floppy drives
>>> - removed all external peripherals
>>> - tried a host of different keyboard/mouse configurations
>>> - thoroughly cleaned the logic board (it looks brand new, excellent
> condition)
>>> - tried holding the ROM SIMM at various angles, I've read these slots
> can be touchy
>>> - installed fresh PRAM batteries
>>> - zapped PRAM
>>> - tried different SCSI cables and configurations
>>>
>>> Nothing has any effect at all, the exact same scenario plays out in all
> cases. The only thing aside from the lack of "radius" logo with the Apple
> card is there is a longer/shorter delay between the startup bong and the
> do-do-da-da that is directly correlated with how much RAM I have installed,
> which leads me to believe whatever is happening is happening after the RAM
> check.
>>>
>>> My next thought is to try to hunt down a replacement ROM, but I thought
> I'd check in here first, see if anyone has any other thoughts. I tried the
> Dead Mac Scrolls, my exact scenario isn't listed but it's closest to what
> is described on pages 225 and 226, although the drives/termination on the
> SCSI bus on this machine haven't changed in 22 years. Also, the do-do-da-da
> does not come quickly after the bong, it comes after 15-30 seconds after
> the RAM check.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>> --
>> --
>> -----
>> You received this message because you are a member of the Vintage Macs
> group.
>> The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml and our
> netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml
>> To post to this group, send email to vintag...@googlegroups.com
>> To leave this group, send email to vintage-macs...@googlegroups.com
>> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/vintage-macs
>>
>> Support for older Macs: http://lowendmac.com/services/
>> ---
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Vintage Macs" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to vintage-macs...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vintage-macs/eaece96b-4856 -47fb-b017-55c87dd08e8bn%40googlegroups.com
> .
>>
>>
>> --
>> --
>> -----
>> You received this message because you are a member of the Vintage Macs
> group.
>> The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml and our
> netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml
>> To post to this group, send email to vintag...@googlegroups.com
>> To leave this group, send email to vintage-macs...@googlegroups.com
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>>
>> Support for older Macs: http://lowendmac.com/services/
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>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Vintage Macs" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to vintage-macs...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vintage-macs/FA55EA8E-BC92 -413B-A9B1-98490FF4D54F%40thecowsaysmoo.org
> .
>
>

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