Csm Hardware Faq
Csm Hardware Faq
Hardware Guides · 1993 · TXT
| Filename | csm-hardware-faq-221.txt |
|---|---|
| Size | 0.10 MB |
| Year | 1993 |
| Downloads | 8 |
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Contents
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 1994 08:39:48 +0700
From: eharold@sunspot.noao.edu (Elliotte Harold)
Subject: update hardware faq
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware,comp.answers,news.answers
From: elharo@shock.njit.edu (Elliotte Rusty Harold)
Reply-To: elharo@shock.njit.edu (Elliotte Harold)
Organization: Department of Mathematics, NJIT
Summary: This document answers several of the most frequently asked
questions about Macintosh hardware on Usenet. To avoid
wasting bandwidth and as a matter of politeness please
familiarize yourself with this document BEFORE posting.
Subject: Macintosh hardware frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Keywords: FAQ, Macintosh, mac, macintosh, Mac, hardware
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.edu
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Archive-name: macintosh/hardware-faq
Version: 2.2.1
Last-modified: June 12, 1994
Frequently Asked Questions about Macintosh Hardware
===================================================
comp.sys.mac.faq, part six:
comp.sys.mac.hardware
Copyright 1993,1994 by Elliotte Harold
Please see section 5.8 of the general FAQ if you wish to
redistribute, revise or republish this document in any way.
Archive-name: macintosh/hardware-faq
Version: 2.2.1
Last-modified: May 18, 1994
What's new in version 2.2.1:
----------------------------
4.1: What kind of memory should I use in my Mac?
The Mac IIvx can use 2 megabyte SIMMs.
5.2: All monitors are not created equal.
I've added a small table of the WYSIWIG resolutions for common
monitor sizes.
Appendix A: I've added info about the new Powerbook 520 and 540
and the Duo 280 models.
Table of Contents
==================================================================
I. Maintenance
1. How do I clean a keyboard?
2. How do I clean a screen?
3. How do I clean a mouse?
4. How do I clean a floppy drive?
5. How do I clean the inside of my mac?
II. Problems And Repairs
1. How do I open a compact Mac?
2. Now that I've opened my Mac how might I electrocute myself?
3. Where can I get my Mac fixed?
4. Can you recommend any good books about Mac repair?
5. The screen on my compact Mac is jittering.
III. Upgrades
1. What Macs will be upgradeable to the PowerPC?
2. Can I increase the speed of my Mac by accelerating the clock?
3. Can I add an FPU to my Mac?
4. Can I replace the 68LC040 with a 68040?
IV. Thanks for the Memory
1. What kind of memory should I use in my Mac?
2. Can I use PC SIMM's in my Mac?
3. What vendors have good prices on memory?
4. Do SIMMdoublers work?
V. Video
1. What's VRAM?
2. All monitors are not created equal.
3. There's a horizontal line across my monitor.
VI. Floppy Disks
1. What kind of floppy disks do I need for my Mac?
2. Why can't my Quadra (SE/30, Iici, etc.) read the disks from my Plus?
3. Does punching a hole in a double-density disk make a high-density disk?
VII. SCSI Troubles
1. How do I put my old internal hard disk in an external case?
2. What's the cheapest/fastest/most reliable/most common removable drive?
3. What's the best CD-ROM drive?
VIII. Printers
1. What's a good printer?
IX. Miscellaneous hardware FAQ's
1. What power adaptor do I need to use my mac in another country?
2. How can I fix the sound on my IIsi?
A. Models
RETRIEVING THE ENTIRE FAQ
=========================
The file you are reading now contains only hardware
information. This is the SIXTH part of this FAQ. Many other topics
of interest to comp.sys.mac.hardware readers are covered in other
FAQ lists in the Macintosh newsgroups. The first part of this
document is also posted to this newsgroup under the subject heading
"Introductory Macintosh frequently asked questions (FAQ)" and
includes a complete table of contents for the entire document as
well as information on where to post, ftp, file decompression,
trouble-shooting, and preventive maintenance. The second part is
posted to comp.sys.mac.system and features many questions about
system software. The third part is posted to comp.sys.mac.misc,
the fourth to comp.sys.mac.apps and the fifth part to
comp.sys.mac.wanted. All answer many questions that often
erroneously appear in comp.sys.mac.hardware. Please familiarize
yourself with all five sections of this document before posting.
All pieces are available for anonymous ftp from rtfm.mit.edu
[18.70.0.209] in the directory pub/usenet/news.answers/macintosh.
Except for the introductory FAQ which appears in multiple newsgroups
and is stored as general-faq, the name of each file has the format
of the last part of the group name followed by "-faq", e.g the
FAQ for comp.sys.mac.system is stored as system-faq and the FAQ
for comp.sys.mac.misc is stored as misc-faq. You can also
have these files mailed to you by sending an E-mail message
to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the line:
send pub/usenet/news.answers/macintosh/"name"
in the body text where "name" is the name of the file you want as
specified above (e.g. general-faq). Send this server a message
with the subject "help" for more detailed instructions. For
access via Mosaic use the URL
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/macintosh/top.html
==================
MAINTENANCE (1.0)
==================
First a word about tools: many basic household items will
serve you well when taking care of a Mac but not all. Under no
circumstances should you use a Dustbuster or other common handvac to
clean electronic equipment. Instead you need a specially designed
vacuum cleaner with a conducting, grounded nozzle. These normally
cost about $40 in electronics supply stores. Most paper towels are
adequate for cleaning computer equipment. However Scott brand
towels do have lower rag content than any other commonly available
towel and are less likely to leave paper fibers behind on your
equipment.
HOW DO I CLEAN A KEYBOARD? (1.1)
---------------------------------
For basic cleaning a little isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol on a
Scott towel works well. Common household cleaners like Formula 409
also do a nice job. To perform a more thorough cleaning you'll need
to take the keyboard apart. Depending on the type of keyboard
you'll need one or more of a Phillips head screwdriver, a Torx T-15
screwdriver, and a special tool almost impossible to find when you
really really need it which goes by the technical name of "key
puller." Disassemble the keyboard, pull off all the keys, and use a
can of compressed air or an electronics vac to clean out all the
dust bunnies that have mated and grown and had children and mated
again and built apartment complexes and shopping malls inside your
keyboard. (I don't know why, but keyboards attract far more
detritus than any other computer component.) Finally if you spilled
Mountain Dew, coffee or some other liquid substance into the
keyboard, clean it with lukewarm water and a soft towel. Use
isopropyl alcohol on any remaining sticky spots.
HOW DO I CLEAN A SCREEN? (1.2)
-------------------------------
First turn off the monitor. Spray a small amount of Windex or
any other common glass cleaner onto a paper towel, NOT directly onto
the screen. Then wipe the paper towel over the screen. Finally
wipe the screen clean with a dry paper towel.
HOW DO I CLEAN A MOUSE? (1.3)
------------------------------
Poor mouse tracking is normally a sign of dirty contacts. To
clean them get a cassette tape head cleaning solution from any audio
store. Turn off the Mac. Then unplug the mouse. The bottom plate
of the mouse that holds the ball in place can be removed by pushing
down and twisting (like a child-proof medicine cap). The ball will
probably fall out when the plate is removed so be ready to catch it.
There's nothing quite so annoying as having to crawl around on the
floor looking under the furniture for a mouse ball. Dip a cotton
swab in the solution. Then rub it on the three ball contacts until
they appear clean to the eye. Finally clean the ball itself with
soap and water and dry it with a paper towel.
HOW DO I CLEAN A FLOPPY DRIVE? (1.4)
-------------------------------------
Normally you don't need to. Several companies sell floppy
drive cleaning kits that consist of nothing more than a disk and
some cleaning fluid for anywhere from five to twenty-five dollars.
These are almost as pointless as the CD cleaning kits sold to
overenthusiastic CD owners. I'd only use one of these if I was
already experiencing problems that were identifiably linked to the
floppy drive rather than individual disks. Cleaning a floppy drive
should not be part of normal maintenance. When you do need to clean
a floppy drive, Apple recommends the 3M floppy drive cleaning kit.
If you have a vacuum cleaner designed for electronic equipment,
you can always run it across the floppy slit, but even that is
rarely necessary. Or you can disassemble the Mac and use a can of
compressed air to blow the dust out of the floppy drive. Don't do
this without disassembling the Mac first though since otherwise
you'll just blow dust deeper inside your computer. And even when
the Mac is taken apart, be careful to blow the air AWAY from the
motor. If you blow air into the drive motor, you'll forcing dust
into it and make the drive more likely to fail.
HOW DO I CLEAN THE INSIDE OF MY MAC? (1.5)
-------------------------------------------
I don't advise taking a Mac apart just to clean it; but if
you've already dismantled it as part of another upgrade or repair,
blowing accumulated dust away with a can of compressed air won't
hurt. You can also use a specially designed computer vacuum
cleaner, but don't use a normal hand vac like a Dustbuster as
there's a small chance of damage to your Mac from the static
electricity it builds up.
On the other hand if during one of those late night football
games through the halls of your office someone drop-kicked a
half-full can of Mountain Dew straight through the uprights of your
cubicle onto your Mac (or if you've spilled a soda or some other
messy substance into the Mac in some less creative fashion), you
will need to clean it out. Unplug the Mac and let it sit for at
least an hour. It is essential to give all the parts of your Mac
time to discharge since you'll be cleaning it with water. Take the
Mac apart as described in the next section. Then clean it with
lukewarm tap water. Use a soft toothbrush to clean anything that
doesn't come off with water alone. Let the disassembled Mac air dry
for a couple of days, (Don't even think about using a hair dryer.)
and then put it back together.
===========================
PROBLEMS AND REPAIRS (2.0)
===========================
HOW DO I OPEN A COMPACT MAC? (2.1)
-----------------------------------
You need a Torx T-15 screwdriver, at least eight inches long,
available from any decent electronics supply shop, and a special
tool referred to as a "Mac Cracker." (In a pinch you can use a
spring loaded paper clip or even a three-sided ruler.) Before
starting clear off a large, flat work area and get an ash tray,
glass, or other container to hold the various small screws you need
to remove.
First disconnect all cables, most especially the power cable.
For maximum safety you should only work on your Mac after it's been
turned off for an hour so that various high-voltage capacitors have
had time to fully discharge. Lay the Mac face down on a soft towel
in your work space. If you're working on a Plus or earlier Mac
remove the battery cover and battery. Then unscrew all the screws
with the T-15 screwdriver. There are four of them on SE's and
Classics, two hidden inside the handle and two above the ports on
the bottom of the Mac. The Plus and earlier Macs have five screws
including one under the battery cover. After the screws are
removed, wedge the cracking tool into the seam and pry the two
pieces of the case apart. Then carefully lift the back cover off
and place it down in your work space. Finally inside you'll find a
metallic RF shield covering the ports which can easily be removed.
NOW THAT I'VE OPENED MY MAC HOW MIGHT I ELECTROCUTE MYSELF? (2.2)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Like most computers a Macintosh contains lots of exciting
high voltage equipment that can deliver shocks ranging from mildly
surprising to motherboard-frying to lethal. Since compact Macs cram
the high voltage picture tube and power supply into the same cramped
space shared with the motherboard, they're particularly dangerous.
If you're intent on committing computer-assisted suicide, here
are a few simple procedures that will greatly enhance your chance
of success:
* Be sure the computer and all cables are plugged in when you
work on it. It's difficult (though not impossible) to get a good,
solid shock without at least 120 volts of AC surging through the
works.
* Wear lots of metal jewelry. Long, dangling gold bracelets make
the most effective unexpected electrical contact between the picture
tube and your heart.
* Naturally you yourself want to be nice and clean before working
on your Mac so take a long shower. Don't bother to dry off though.
The heat from your Mac should dry you just fine.
* Pay special attention to the picture tube and flyback
transformer. Fondle them. Know them. Love them. If you're still
conscious take apart the power supply. (That's the silver box with
the big red warning letters on it.)
* Invite all your pets and small children to watch you work.
However there's no reason to invite an adult who might have the
presence of mind to call 911 should you be injured.
WHERE CAN I GET MY MAC FIXED? (2.3)
------------------------------------
If it's been less than a year since you bought the Mac, then
by all means bring it to a local Apple authorized dealer to get it
fixed under warranty for free. Not all dealers are created equal,
and you don't have to get your Mac repaired by the same dealer you
bought it from. Ask around locally to find out which one has the
best reputation for fast, dependable, hassle-free service.
After the warranty has expired an Apple dealer is generally not
the best (and certainly not the cheapest) place to have your Mac
fixed. A typical Apple authorized repair consists of swapping out
the entire malfunctioning subsystem. It's not at all uncommon for
Apple dealers to repair small problems by motherboard swaps that
cost almost as much or even more than a new Mac. For out of
warranty repairs your best bet is an unauthorized repair shop that
specializes in component level repairs. Be sure to find one that
specializes in Macintosh repairs, not a PC shop that does Macs
on the side. Again seek advice from local bulletin boards and
user groups.
If there are no reliable local repair shops, a number of
mail-order repair shops advertise in the back pages of MacUser and
MacWorld. Personally I find it horribly inconvenient to package and
ship a Mac just to get a flyback transformer replaced, but most of
these shops do offer reliable repairs at very competitive prices
and many people on the net swear by one or another.
CAN YOU RECOMMEND ANY GOOD BOOKS ABOUT MAC REPAIR? (2.4)
---------------------------------------------------------
Larry Pina has written several excellent guides to repairing
Macs. Mac Classic & SE Repair and Upgrade Secrets (Peachpit Press,
$28, ISBN #1-56609-022-9) covers the SE, SE/30, Classic, and Classic
II. This volume offers moderately detailed instructions for someone
with prior electronics experience to diagnose common problems, do
component level repairs and perform upgrades on compact Macs.
Macintosh Repair and Upgrade Secrets (Hayden Books $24.95, ISBN
#0-672-48452-8) is an earlier version of this book which covers
compact Macs from the 128K to the SE and the Lisa. Pina's sequel,
Macintosh II Repair and Upgrade secrets, $39.95, ISBN
#0-13-929530-5, offers similar coverage of the Mac II family of
Machines. All these books include valuable diagnostic software
on a bundled disk. Before delving into this volume you should
be comfortable wielding a soldering iron on expensive equipment.
Finally he's also written the somewhat less technical and more
detailed Dead Mac Scrolls (PeachPit Press, ISBN #0-940235-25-0, $32)
which offers symptom-based procedures for diagnosing and repairing
many common problems. This book includes good advice about how to
find and deal with a repair shop. All four books deserve a place
in the library of anyone who intends to wield a soldering iron on
their Mac.
THE SCREEN ON MY COMPACT MAC IS JITTERING. (2.5)
-------------------------------------------------
Nine times out of ten this is a symptom of a failing flyback
transformer. It may be accompanied by high-pitched whines and even
the smell of burnt ozone. This is a warning that the demise of the
Mac is imminent! Turn it off and don't use it again till the video
is fixed. If the flyback transformer is in this bad a shape,
chances are that other components either already have failed or
soon will. However many expensive parts of the video subsystem are
probably working just fine so this is one common problem that can
often be fixed much more cheaply by a component-level repair shop
than by an authorized dealer who'll likely swap out the entire
video board.
===============
UPGRADES (3.0)
===============
WHAT MACS WILL BE UPGRADEABLE TO THE POWERPC? (3.1)
----------------------------------------------------
Apple will provide logic board replacements for all Centris,
Quadra and WorkGroup Server models except the Quadra 700, 900 and
950. There should also be logic board replacements for the IIvx,
IIvi, LC 475, 520, 550, and 575, Performa 475, 476, 550, and 600.
Upgraded AV Macs will lose their special video capabilities, at
least initially. Apple will also make available PowerPC processor
upgrade boards that fit into the PDS slots of the Quadra 605, 610,
650, 700, 800, 900, and 950 as well as the Centris 610 and 650 and
the Performa 475 and 476. Macs upgraded via a PDS card run at twice
the speed of the system clock. Thus a 25 MHz 68040 Mac with a PDS
accelerator will become a 50 MHz PowerMac. You'll be able to
disable the accelerator if you have old software that's not PowerPC
compatible or that just plain runs faster on the older hardware.
68030 desktop Macs with expansion slots will be upgradeable via
third party accelerator cards. It is not yet known whether any
upgrade will be available for Powerbooks.
CAN I INCREASE THE SPEED OF MY MAC BY ACCELERATING THE CLOCK? (3.2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Apple engineers designed the Mac IIsi to run at 25 megahertz.
Apple marketeers made them reduce the speed by 20% so as not to hurt
sales of the IIci. Thus with various caveats it is generally safe
to accelerate a IIsi to 25 Mhz by changing the clock chip…
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