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SE30: C9 capacitor (positive pole), i've lost its trace.
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SE30: C9 capacitor (positive pole), i've lost its trace.
SE30: C9 capacitor (positive pole), i've lost its trace.
Hardware 28 posts
May 27, 2008 — Jun 5, 2008
Hi everyone.
I've a problem.
Reccaping my SE30 i encountered a problem with C9 capacitor.
Desoldering some capacitors (3) i broke their traces. But i've addressed the problem in any situation except the bastard C9.
I've lost its "positive" trace and i've some concerns about its origin.
Could anyone tell me where to find schematics?
Could anyone take a read with a multimeter to check resistivity between C9 positive pole and ground? there are only two choices in my opinion.
I'm suspecting two nearest points where it could start but i would be sure before trying to turn on. Even a multimeter read could be useful for me.
Regards.
I've a problem.
Reccaping my SE30 i encountered a problem with C9 capacitor.
Desoldering some capacitors (3) i broke their traces. But i've addressed the problem in any situation except the bastard C9.
I've lost its "positive" trace and i've some concerns about its origin.
Could anyone tell me where to find schematics?
Could anyone take a read with a multimeter to check resistivity between C9 positive pole and ground? there are only two choices in my opinion.
I'm suspecting two nearest points where it could start but i would be sure before trying to turn on. Even a multimeter read could be useful for me.
Regards.
C9, 47 uf/16V is the bypass to ground for -12V coming in on J12-7. So the positive side goes directly to a ground feedthru exactly between C9 and C8 and nearly on the centerline of C9 and C8. On the bottom side artwork you will see it hit the corner of two perpendicular traces connecting to ground mesh artwork that surrounds and connects to C48. Ohmmeter reads to ground only the resistance of the test leads.
Greeeeeeeeeat.
The best explanation i've ever read.
I've drilled a little hole along the feedthru to reach those perpendicular traces connecting to ground mesh you were referring to, i've uncovered them and i soldered each arm to better secure the connection. Now multimeter says ground.
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/563/motherboarddrilledmg6.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/472/motherboarddrilled0mf9.jpg
Wally,i'm afraid but i would be glad to know if i can reach C5 and C6 positive trace destination on a chip or other component: C4 and C5 positive trace unglued from the motherboard (still connected to new capacitors) but i would like to reach their destination with a bridge to better secure the connection. Or if it isn't possibile what's the best way to secure unglued traces? Glue? silicon? cyanacrilate? paraffine?
Tomorrow when i'll try i hope it doesn't explode! [
] ]'>
The best explanation i've ever read.
I've drilled a little hole along the feedthru to reach those perpendicular traces connecting to ground mesh you were referring to, i've uncovered them and i soldered each arm to better secure the connection. Now multimeter says ground.
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/563/motherboarddrilledmg6.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/472/motherboarddrilled0mf9.jpg
Wally,i'm afraid but i would be glad to know if i can reach C5 and C6 positive trace destination on a chip or other component: C4 and C5 positive trace unglued from the motherboard (still connected to new capacitors) but i would like to reach their destination with a bridge to better secure the connection. Or if it isn't possibile what's the best way to secure unglued traces? Glue? silicon? cyanacrilate? paraffine?
Tomorrow when i'll try i hope it doesn't explode! [
] ]'>
Drilling a solder filled feedthru can cause the inner plane connection(s) to be lost if the drill removes the feedthru barrel. So if you have really tiny drills, accurately centered, ok. Better to suck it out with a antistatic solder sucker, solder braid, or melt it and punch thru with a stainless steel wire that the solder will not wet. However in this case I think there are other grounds and you will be ok. That feedthru probably went to the inner ground plane and probably did not ground any inner layer traces.
C5 positve bypasses two sound chip voltage reference pins to ground. So the positive end of C5 connects to UB10-15 and UB11-15. Once the pad is gone or even lifted, that really skinny trace is the devil to connect to even with the finest copper wire (flexible power cord is a source for fine bare wire).
C6 positive goes to UB11-7, a sound chip pinout that needs a 1 uf bypass to ground.
C4 positive goes to UB11-10. This is the right channel sound output on its way thru the blocking capacitor C4 , series resistor R12, EMC supressor L2 out to the phone jack J1.
I have had some success resecuring lifted pads with 5 minute quick setting epoxy. But when you hit a freshly glued pad with the hot iron, who knows what the chemicals emitted will do to you, so have some good cross ventilation going. Soldering first then sticking down the pad might be better if the arrangement of things allows this. Clean the board and pad surfaces with denatured alcohol before gluing. If the pad is corroded away you can make a new pad from copper foil or even a smashed down bare wire, epoxy it in place and then you have a somewhat secure place to anchor the replacement part. But when at solder temperature, both the epoxy glue and the epoxy in the PC board is practically liquid under the pad, so a gentle touch with the iron is necessary. No harm in applying a bit more epoxy after the soldering is complete if necessary.
C5 positve bypasses two sound chip voltage reference pins to ground. So the positive end of C5 connects to UB10-15 and UB11-15. Once the pad is gone or even lifted, that really skinny trace is the devil to connect to even with the finest copper wire (flexible power cord is a source for fine bare wire).
C6 positive goes to UB11-7, a sound chip pinout that needs a 1 uf bypass to ground.
C4 positive goes to UB11-10. This is the right channel sound output on its way thru the blocking capacitor C4 , series resistor R12, EMC supressor L2 out to the phone jack J1.
I have had some success resecuring lifted pads with 5 minute quick setting epoxy. But when you hit a freshly glued pad with the hot iron, who knows what the chemicals emitted will do to you, so have some good cross ventilation going. Soldering first then sticking down the pad might be better if the arrangement of things allows this. Clean the board and pad surfaces with denatured alcohol before gluing. If the pad is corroded away you can make a new pad from copper foil or even a smashed down bare wire, epoxy it in place and then you have a somewhat secure place to anchor the replacement part. But when at solder temperature, both the epoxy glue and the epoxy in the PC board is practically liquid under the pad, so a gentle touch with the iron is necessary. No harm in applying a bit more epoxy after the soldering is complete if necessary.
I would suggest you hot-glue those replacement caps as soon as possible. From the look of your photo, the least bit of pressure on those caps could snap one or both of the traces off the logic board. In my own case, I used hot-glue to ensure that even if I bumped a cap while handling the board it would not snap the traces.
Thanks Wally, i've had to uncover and lift C5/C4 remaining traces (hair like diameter) and i had to solder them to capacitor. Annoying but not so difficult...
I checked:
-UB 10-15 and UB 11-15 grounded thru C5+,
-UB 11-10 has continuity with C4+
I've some concerns if it's better to make new wire bridges bypassing these original unglued thin traces or leave them as are and glue. I guess it would be better to bypass but i could do it in the future if any intervention will be necessary. I think epoxy the best choice, better than hot glue but who knows. That being said, I hope it will start, without simasi pattern and SOUNDING!
[
] ]'>
I checked:
-UB 10-15 and UB 11-15 grounded thru C5+,
-UB 11-10 has continuity with C4+
I've some concerns if it's better to make new wire bridges bypassing these original unglued thin traces or leave them as are and glue. I guess it would be better to bypass but i could do it in the future if any intervention will be necessary. I think epoxy the best choice, better than hot glue but who knows. That being said, I hope it will start, without simasi pattern and SOUNDING!
[
] ]'>
Epoxy might be too strong, and hard to remove later should you have to rework anything in the bonded area. Good for pad repairs, maybe too good for parts support! Imagine trying to break an epoxy bond loose years from now and peeling off some traces underneath in the process...
One approach is to get it to work first, with VERY careful handling of the unsupported parts. When it works, you can consider refinements such as securing stuff better, or more compact self supporting caps such as tantalum radial leaded or SMT parts.
One approach is to get it to work first, with VERY careful handling of the unsupported parts. When it works, you can consider refinements such as securing stuff better, or more compact self supporting caps such as tantalum radial leaded or SMT parts.
Unfortunately something has gone wrong. It doesn't start at all, nor the monitor neither the power supply. I guess something on the main connector (12, 5 or -12) is shorted to ground leading powersupply to autoprotect. With the main connector disengaged PS starts; instead when i connect the mobo hd and fan don't start. Indeed isn't a big loss for me cause it was firmly stuck on simasi pattern: During latter times it hadn't been sounding, then overall conditions suddenly worsened, so before this recapping attempt i had no much hope.
That being said i would like to exclude evident and stupid mistakes with C8 and C9 positive and negative and their relation with main connector.
I suspect one of them the problem, i must have done an error. C9 positive seems well grounded but i'm unsure about the negative lead.
i 've also some concerns about C8 traces where do they connect? I wouldn't appear boring so if you could suggest a place to download schematics i would try a basic troubleshooting before i sell it for parts.
That being said i would like to exclude evident and stupid mistakes with C8 and C9 positive and negative and their relation with main connector.
I suspect one of them the problem, i must have done an error. C9 positive seems well grounded but i'm unsure about the negative lead.
i 've also some concerns about C8 traces where do they connect? I wouldn't appear boring so if you could suggest a place to download schematics i would try a basic troubleshooting before i sell it for parts.
Please do not power up the switching power supply without any load connected to it's output. SPSs of older make sometimes toast themselves when powered without load, causing some "Sparks and Noxious Odours".With the main connector disengaged PS starts; instead when I connect the mobo hd and fan don't start.
It's altogether too easy to short a supply to ground when doing the sorts of operations you've been doing. You may want to do a quick ohmmeter check to see if that happened somewhere along the way. Check +5 to ground; +12 to ground; and +5 to +12. I don't know if the SE/30 has -12V, but if so, check continuity between it and the others.
To avoid forward-biasing junctions that can confound the measurements, I recommend using the ohmmeter in "ordinary" mode (i.e., not "diode-check" mode).
To avoid forward-biasing junctions that can confound the measurements, I recommend using the ohmmeter in "ordinary" mode (i.e., not "diode-check" mode).
You might now have a parts unit, and a reference board at least for the non corroded areas.
register is right about the SE/30 power supply having a minimum load specification, but hard to say if any damage resulted from this one instance however.
Some might get the impression that replacing the capacitors is some kind of magic fix. The reality is that all the damage caused by capacitor fluid leakage must be located and reversed also, and some of this is shorts under connector bodies and ICs, as well as pads, feedthrus, and surface traces that have corroded away. The best candidates for cap jobs are those that show at most wetness but no corrosion of pads and traces. To do a good repair on a seriously corroded board, it's best to have a reference board, not necessarily working, so you can see where the traces once were that need to be put back. Even after doing all of this, there has been at least one case where the same screen symptoms were due to bad video ram, not caps.
C8 (and solder side ceramic C48) are bypass caps to ground for -5V from J12-6.
It is possible you made no wiring mistakes and one of the replacement caps is shorted. Temporarily lifting one leg of each might allow you to isolate it. Powering up with no caps is okay for shorts elimination purposes, but do not expect the computer logic to run consistently. But judging from the look of the C8, C9 area photo, there appears to be a possibly corroded area that might contain shorts. Where there is surface corrosion, the area between conductors needs to be mechanically scraped clean down to bare board to eliminate shorts that can be difficult to see even with a stereomicroscope. Toothbrushing and alcohol wipes are not enough because the short is plated thin film metal and other insoluble metal compounds. J12 itself might have corrosion underneath the nylon housing, look carefully with magnification from the sides.
+12V J12-14
+5V J12-12,13
-12V J12-7
-5V J12-6
GND J12-1,2,3,4,5,8
Video J12-9
Hsync J12-10
Vsync J12-11
register is right about the SE/30 power supply having a minimum load specification, but hard to say if any damage resulted from this one instance however.
Some might get the impression that replacing the capacitors is some kind of magic fix. The reality is that all the damage caused by capacitor fluid leakage must be located and reversed also, and some of this is shorts under connector bodies and ICs, as well as pads, feedthrus, and surface traces that have corroded away. The best candidates for cap jobs are those that show at most wetness but no corrosion of pads and traces. To do a good repair on a seriously corroded board, it's best to have a reference board, not necessarily working, so you can see where the traces once were that need to be put back. Even after doing all of this, there has been at least one case where the same screen symptoms were due to bad video ram, not caps.
C8 (and solder side ceramic C48) are bypass caps to ground for -5V from J12-6.
It is possible you made no wiring mistakes and one of the replacement caps is shorted. Temporarily lifting one leg of each might allow you to isolate it. Powering up with no caps is okay for shorts elimination purposes, but do not expect the computer logic to run consistently. But judging from the look of the C8, C9 area photo, there appears to be a possibly corroded area that might contain shorts. Where there is surface corrosion, the area between conductors needs to be mechanically scraped clean down to bare board to eliminate shorts that can be difficult to see even with a stereomicroscope. Toothbrushing and alcohol wipes are not enough because the short is plated thin film metal and other insoluble metal compounds. J12 itself might have corrosion underneath the nylon housing, look carefully with magnification from the sides.
+12V J12-14
+5V J12-12,13
-12V J12-7
-5V J12-6
GND J12-1,2,3,4,5,8
Video J12-9
Hsync J12-10
Vsync J12-11
Thanks everyone for support.
Wally your Se30 knowledge is amazing!
I've checked all capacitors four times: their bypass grounding seems fine.
Moreover i checked and rechecked those lines whose rework wasn't properly clean:
J12-6 -C8+ ground line is fine
J12-7 -C9+ ground line is fine
UB10-15/UB11-15 +C5- ground line is fine
UB11-10 +C4- ground line is fine
UB11-7 +C6- ground line is fine
Furthermore i checked with naked eye C1, C10, C12, C13, C7: their soldering was clean and troubleless. When i have some time i'll check better with a lens those areas inheriting audio and main connector.
Tomorrow i'll test resistance reading between voltage pins and ground and if necessary i'll check for shorted caps. I work as MD and this stubborn behaviour remembers me a sort of terminal patient overtreatment. :-(
I recapped succesfully 1 macintosh II, two nubus video boards: this was the first time i've met aluminum SMD capacitors with spot glued base. Moreover they seem more prone to leak than standard aluminum axial like those used on non SMD era. Anyway ...i'll let you know
Thanks
Greetings.
Wally your Se30 knowledge is amazing!
I've checked all capacitors four times: their bypass grounding seems fine.
Moreover i checked and rechecked those lines whose rework wasn't properly clean:
J12-6 -C8+ ground line is fine
J12-7 -C9+ ground line is fine
UB10-15/UB11-15 +C5- ground line is fine
UB11-10 +C4- ground line is fine
UB11-7 +C6- ground line is fine
Furthermore i checked with naked eye C1, C10, C12, C13, C7: their soldering was clean and troubleless. When i have some time i'll check better with a lens those areas inheriting audio and main connector.
Tomorrow i'll test resistance reading between voltage pins and ground and if necessary i'll check for shorted caps. I work as MD and this stubborn behaviour remembers me a sort of terminal patient overtreatment. :-(
I recapped succesfully 1 macintosh II, two nubus video boards: this was the first time i've met aluminum SMD capacitors with spot glued base. Moreover they seem more prone to leak than standard aluminum axial like those used on non SMD era. Anyway ...i'll let you know
Thanks
Greetings.
Thanks you for help even by mail! [
] ]'> That's a nice community.
J12-12 and J12-13 +5v lines are shorted to ground: it could be everywhere along the board because C11 bypass seems fine.
I'll try to remove C9 capacitor wire lead placed along the feedthru i drilled: i could have met a sort of 5V line or mesh on intermediate layers even if the hole was centered. Nevertheless short could be everywhere over the surface and its really difficult to find: +5 is widespread along the board.
The search is discouraging, requires time, acute sight and nevertheless a lot of patience! Perhaps the board demonstrates multiple signs of corrosion. I'll try removing C9 but I guess it's better to find another MB. I've a curiosity, are mac classic Moboards SE compatible?
] ]'> That's a nice community.J12-12 and J12-13 +5v lines are shorted to ground: it could be everywhere along the board because C11 bypass seems fine.
I'll try to remove C9 capacitor wire lead placed along the feedthru i drilled: i could have met a sort of 5V line or mesh on intermediate layers even if the hole was centered. Nevertheless short could be everywhere over the surface and its really difficult to find: +5 is widespread along the board.
The search is discouraging, requires time, acute sight and nevertheless a lot of patience! Perhaps the board demonstrates multiple signs of corrosion. I'll try removing C9 but I guess it's better to find another MB. I've a curiosity, are mac classic Moboards SE compatible?
no, you cant plug a mac classic board into an se.
Check also C1, C7, C12, C13 which are also +5V bypasses to ground that you probably recapped (47uf/16V). There are also a ton of .1 and .01 SMT caps on the underside that bypass +5v, however these rarely short unless mechanically disrupted....J12-12 and J12-13 +5v lines are shorted to ground: it could be everywhere along the board because C11 bypass seems fine...
The recapping process involves a lot of board handling and soldering which can scatter bits of solder, broken pad and trace copper, capacitor lead clippings and such into bad places, like between IC leads. When power is applied the shorts can weld or solder themselves in place and be resistant to being dislodged by compressed air, vacuum, or shaking. On the underside there are lots of metal stubs that can get bent over, possibly shorting to the ground grid artwork that surrounds a lot of them.
Also, take a close look at the sheetmetal deck and card guide metal for metal whiskering, a kind of velvet fuzz growing out of the metal surface consisting of pure metal whiskers that can break off, drop onto the MB below and short out stuff. I had one SE/30 chassis that was growing this stuff. I cleaned it off with steel wool but never really trusted it again and eventually it became a parts unit.
If you decide to blow or vacuum the PC board be aware that the nozzle can develop a static charge from the airstream friction. If you hold the board ground and the nozzle near the tip with your two hands the static will pass harmlessly thru you rather than jumping from the tip to burn out the components.
Wally you'r so precise ! This evening i tested all capacitors you suggested: it seems that C13 had been ground shorted. There was a lifted and broken plate so when i tried to connect C13 to the remaining "underlevel" ground point i guess i've intercepted a +5 line on the upper surface. I rerouted C13 ground lead to C11, the nearest ground point known and i obtained 233 ohm reading between J12-12,13 and ground. No more ground short.I still have some concerns about the continuity of this 5V line, we'll see.Check also C1, C7, C12, C13 which are also +5V bypasses to ground that you probably recapped (47uf/16V). There are also a ton of .1 and .01 SMT caps on the underside that bypass +5v, however these rarely short unless mechanically disrupted.
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/4899/627lh1.jpg
Then i tested some lines i thought fine
In particular UB10-15/UB11-15 +C5 line, whose reading wasn't properly 0 ohm but something between 1 and 2 ohm. The trace was lifted (not broken) but i guess neither this nor cold joint was the problem. May be it was corroded somewhere increasing resistance value: this leaded me to rework these audio circuits with some bypasses.UB10-15/UB11-15 +C5- ground line is fineUB11-10 +C4- ground line is fine
UB11-7 +C6- ground line is fine
http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=633zd6.jpg
Now overall +5 line to ground resistance has misteriously increased to 290 ohm.
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2342/637nr5.jpg
Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow when i have some time i'll try if it starts (i've Se30 remaining parts in my old house) and i'll let you know.
I'm really excited cause i'm waiting my fourth apple IIgs (SCSI card equipped) deliver from germany. Vintage apple computing is taking a lot of time in my life, i would avoid not to become haunted. [
] ]'>
Macbuk, first of all, congratulations on making the time to do things the right way. There is often a lot of "talk" in the online forums, but its refreshing to see the "walk" -- especially with nice clear photo, as you have so kindly provided.
If I can suggest one thing more it would be this. I see you placed your logic board on a carpeted surface. Beware of static because it will destroy chips, especially RAM. And even if you don't directly place your board on a rug, scooting your feet across the floor will generate enough static charge to zip something to oblivion. If you must work on a carpeted surface, I strongly suggest a ground wire around one of your wrists. Indeed, such a ground would be good when working even on an anti-static floor.
If I can suggest one thing more it would be this. I see you placed your logic board on a carpeted surface. Beware of static because it will destroy chips, especially RAM. And even if you don't directly place your board on a rug, scooting your feet across the floor will generate enough static charge to zip something to oblivion. If you must work on a carpeted surface, I strongly suggest a ground wire around one of your wrists. Indeed, such a ground would be good when working even on an anti-static floor.
A damp towel might do as a cheap antistatic mat. It also catches dropped parts, preventing them from vanishing.
I prefer something less aqueous. Aluminum foil works well. It's best to remove the battery, though, or otherwise prevent any possibility of short-circuiting its terminals.
Congratulations! Next time use an extension cord with a switch for remote operation, please ;-)
You'r right 8-o
i've have had a certain experience with apple 14 CRT monitors focus and geometry settings behind a mirror so in this evenience i was "just a little" more unprudent and less wise than i would have been. If you noticed i reached on off switch slowly but the use of extension cord for remote operation is a good rule to avoid injuries.
My best and sincere thanks to wally.
I wouldn't have addressed the situation if i hadn't had his help.
i've have had a certain experience with apple 14 CRT monitors focus and geometry settings behind a mirror so in this evenience i was "just a little" more unprudent and less wise than i would have been. If you noticed i reached on off switch slowly but the use of extension cord for remote operation is a good rule to avoid injuries.
My best and sincere thanks to wally.
I wouldn't have addressed the situation if i hadn't had his help.
Why not? I've done it. All that's required is to remap the pinouts of the logicboard connectors, an easy thing to do with those molex connectors. There's a fair amount of voltage adjustment to follow if you're going to use it that way and you'll no longer have software control over brightness, but everything else will work. The Classic IS an SE. Apple hardly re-invented the wheel there, right down to the ROM.no, you cant plug a mac classic board into an se.
After reading this repair tour-de-force, I would much rather tackle the logic board swap! LOL
Does that mean that one could put the Classic ROM in an SE and gain the ROM-resident OS 6.0.3 in an SE?The Classic IS an SE. Apple hardly re-invented the wheel there, right down to the ROM.
Not exactly. The Classic ROM is a single chip whereas the SE had two chips (like the Plus before it). In much the same way the Classic II had 2 chips on the early models and 4 chips on the later models. (Would be curious if those Classic II chips are swappable with an earlier Mac.) It almost seems like Apple intentionally varied the ROM configurations to prevent exactly this kind of thing.Does that mean that one could put the Classic ROM in an SE and gain the ROM-resident OS 6.0.3 in an SE?The Classic IS an SE. Apple hardly re-invented the wheel there, right down to the ROM.
I suppose it would be possible to swap ROMs with a custom socket re-map, but you'd need the pinouts of both the SE & and the Classic to adapt the Classic's 40 pin ROM to the SE's combined 56 pins. Likely more trouble than simply swapping the logicboard. The embeded System is nice but not really a practical addition to an SE if you're just trying to keep PDS expansion options. Also, there may be a custom IC on the Classic's logicboard which is required by the ROM to boot. i.e. it might hang on the SE waiting for confirmation of the chip, then again it may not. It is a minor variation of code I am told by the Mini vMac Classic emulator developer specifically to support the backlight CDEV like the Portable. But otherwise they are identical.
EDIT:
I have only read that there were Classic II 2 & 4 chip ROM boards, however, I have NEVER seen one or seen any official Apple documentation that references them. Anyone who can confirm the existence of the 2 chip ROM board would be appreciated. This posting from Apple is as close as I've come, but it's way off showing the 2 & 4 chip variations for the original Classic which had only one chip. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=11609
Ah, we don't sweat two chip vs. four chip, nor one chip vs. two chip.Not exactly. The Classic ROM is a single chip whereas the SE had two chips (like the Plus before it). In much the same way the Classic II had 2 chips on the early models and 4 chips on the later models. (Would be curious if those Classic II chips are swappable with an earlier Mac.) It almost seems like Apple intentionally varied the ROM configurations to prevent exactly this kind of thing.
Those are hardware variations which do not affect the code and are easily worked around, in most cases.It would probably be easy enough to take a ROM image from a Classic and span it across a pair of 8 bit wide chips of the type which will fit in the SE. Chip programmers typically have spanning as one of their software functions, so that ROM images can be divided amongst several chips.
Is the Mini vMac developer approachable about such questions?It is a minor variation of code I am told by the Mini vMac Classic emulator developer specifically to support the backlight CDEV like the Portable. But otherwise they are identical.
The reason I ask is because of the Outbound Model 125. In addition to a Plus or SE ROM installed in the machine, it has a pair of EEPROMs on board which are programmed with Outbound specific code. I would love for someone to take a look at it for a couple of purposes. Primarily, I want to modify it to support other hard drives. As written the code in the EEPROM only supports three or four size of hard drive, and I suspect that it could be made to support other larger drives.
In the longer term, I'd love a primer on how to learn my way around the ROM. Does he read machine language, or use a disassembler, or even a decompiler?
It is unlikely you'll get a response out of him for anything other than the immediate projects he's working on, which at present is developing a fully functioning Mac II emulator. Mostly he is not concerned with real-world hardware applications, which means the Outbound is not likely to fall onto the radar of his virtual implementation. There are a number of tools on the Sourceforge website to help you disassemble the 68000 ROMs from the 128K through the PowerBook 100, the Mac II and a few others. Those tools might be a good starting point for your primer. But I would not expect a personal tutorial from the developer.In the longer term, I'd love a primer on how to learn my way around the ROM. Does he read machine language, or use a disassembler, or even a decompiler?
Now, if you were to make generous contribution to the Mini vMac project ... ;-)
Thank you, Mac128. I have heard of Sourceforge before but am not familiar with it. Is that the home website for mini vMac?
Alas, learning to solve software/firmware problems is not near the top of my queue yet. I still have too many easy to implement hardware projects ahead of it.
Ultimately, if I want to do any of the really interesting stuff like build a working USB NuBus card, then software will be in my future, but not yet, and possibly not ever.
Still, it would be cool to modify the Outbound. Also, the thing is only compatible through OS 7.01 and not with 7.1. It would be great to figure out what they were patching and what broke it in 7.1.
Oh, and there's the E-Machines Futura II SX/DSP video card with ethernet daughter card. The stinker only works with classic networking and not with Open Transport. It would be nice to fix that little bug-a-boo too. It's cool to get decent video and ethernet into one NuBus slot.
And there's the PDS IDE card idea for 68K macs... So many other interesting projects which would require software development.
Alas, learning to solve software/firmware problems is not near the top of my queue yet. I still have too many easy to implement hardware projects ahead of it.
Ultimately, if I want to do any of the really interesting stuff like build a working USB NuBus card, then software will be in my future, but not yet, and possibly not ever.
Still, it would be cool to modify the Outbound. Also, the thing is only compatible through OS 7.01 and not with 7.1. It would be great to figure out what they were patching and what broke it in 7.1.
Oh, and there's the E-Machines Futura II SX/DSP video card with ethernet daughter card. The stinker only works with classic networking and not with Open Transport. It would be nice to fix that little bug-a-boo too. It's cool to get decent video and ethernet into one NuBus slot.
And there's the PDS IDE card idea for 68K macs... So many other interesting projects which would require software development.