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Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 15 May 2023 14:57
by stephen_usher
I know. And I don't want to solder wires onto vias or anything else as these boards are mega fragile and the traces break or pull off the board even if you just look at them in a funny way.

Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 15 May 2023 15:13
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 15 May 2023 14:57 I know. And I don't want to solder wires onto vias or anything else as these boards are mega fragile and the traces break or pull off the board even if you just look at them in a funny way.
I also expect that given the battery damage, manhandling the board could have added problems such as vias cracking, more traces breaking etc.

Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 15 May 2023 20:23
by Tomswork
@stephen_usher

This is a excellent resource on mac repairs and recapping guides

Tom

@rubber_jonnie

https://www.youtube.com/@BranchusCreations/videos

Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 16 May 2023 19:20
by stephen_usher
Well, given that the system wouldn't bong until something warmed up I started testing using a hair dryer.

Warming the MMU made no difference.

Warming the RBV (video generator) allowed it to bong.

This suggests that it is the RBV chip which is faulty. Unfortunately it not only handles the video but is effectively the second half of the MMU so I don't think the system will run without it installed and with a separate graphics card.

Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 16 May 2023 21:50
by rubber_jonnie
Tomswork wrote: 15 May 2023 20:23 @stephen_usher

This is a excellent resource on mac repairs and recapping guides

Tom

@rubber_jonnie

https://www.youtube.com/@BranchusCreations/videos
Thanks Tom :)

Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 16 May 2023 21:50
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 16 May 2023 19:20 Well, given that the system wouldn't bong until something warmed up I started testing using a hair dryer.

Warming the MMU made no difference.

Warming the RBV (video generator) allowed it to bong.

This suggests that it is the RBV chip which is faulty. Unfortunately it not only handles the video but is effectively the second half of the MMU so I don't think the system will run without it installed and with a separate graphics card.
Oh, interesting. Can you get it to bong reliably, or is it still troublesome?

Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 17 May 2023 09:06
by stephen_usher
Now that I've disconnected the video cable and moved the memory into bank B, which isn't accessible by the on-board video sub-system, and warmed the RBV chip with my hand for about a minute then it will reliably bong and stop predictably, probably at the point where it scans for a video card.

So, "reliably" for certain values of reliable.

I've ordered a Nubus graphics card from eBay and we'll see what happens when I plug it in.

Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 17 May 2023 12:31
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 17 May 2023 09:06 Now that I've disconnected the video cable and moved the memory into bank B, which isn't accessible by the on-board video sub-system, and warmed the RBV chip with my hand for about a minute then it will reliably bong and stop predictably, probably at the point where it scans for a video card.

So, "reliably" for certain values of reliable.

I've ordered a Nubus graphics card from eBay and we'll see what happens when I plug it in.
Be interesting to see how the NuBus card pans out.

Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 18 May 2023 15:19
by stephen_usher
The Nubus graphics card is due to be delivered to work tomorrow. However, I won't be able to collect it until Sunday as I have to drive down to Cornwall tonight for a meeting with solicitors tomorrow to start the probate for my Dad's estate.

Re: The daemon Mac IIci: Can it be fixed?

Posted: 18 May 2023 15:56
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 18 May 2023 15:19 The Nubus graphics card is due to be delivered to work tomorrow. However, I won't be able to collect it until Sunday as I have to drive down to Cornwall tonight for a meeting with solicitors tomorrow to start the probate for my Dad's estate.
From our recent experiences, it wasn't the smoothest of processes, and not what you need when you're grieving. I hope the process goes more smoothly for you than it did for us.

Thankfully we are at the end of the road now, but the whole thing was very trying. Good luck.