68kMLA Classic Interface

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Why is this SE so unhappy?
Posted by: gratefuldave on 2023-12-05 09:57:55
Hoping to get some help. Local guy is selling this Macintosh SE and I am interested but don't know if I am equipped to get it up and running. What might be wrong with it? Thanks for any help. I search on the interwebs and couldn't find anything relating to this particular error code.

unhappy SE.jpeg
Posted by: cheesestraws on 2023-12-05 10:09:07
1 is a ROM checksum error, if I remember correctly.
Posted by: gratefuldave on 2023-12-05 10:44:53
So if this is the case and the ROM needs to be updated. Would you start the SE from floppy and then put new ROM on the HD? I'm just trying to understand if this is a simple procedure since I am such a newbie on this stuff.
Posted by: cheesestraws on 2023-12-05 10:47:42
It means that either the ROM chips on the logic board or some of the circuitry around them are probably stuffed. You should ask for pictures of the logic board to see whether there's any obvious damage 🙂
Posted by: gratefuldave on 2023-12-05 10:48:42
Ah. So not so simple. Thanks.
Posted by: Snial on 2023-12-05 11:03:53
Ah. So not so simple. Thanks.
Well, the first step could be to take the ROMs out and then check them directly, e.g. wire them up to an Arduino and then read them?
Posted by: cheesestraws on 2023-12-05 11:06:53
Ah. So not so simple. Thanks.

It's hard to tell just from that one error code, but you're certainly looking at a hardware repair, rather than just something you can do in software.
Posted by: dochilli on 2023-12-05 13:42:07
The ROMs should be taken out and checked for corrosion. Perhaps a cleaning may help.
You can burn new ROMs with an adapter an 27C010 Eeproms.

Macintosh SE EEPROM to ROM adapter

So, you have a Mac SE, or you're building up a Mac SE reloaded board using damaged donor that might have bad ROM chips (corroded legs, dead chip etc). Well through the magic of the internet I can bring you this, an adapter that replaces the stock Toshiba TC531000 mask ROMs with any 27C010's...
68kmla.org 68kmla.org
Posted by: gratefuldave on 2023-12-05 16:04:37
The ROMs should be taken out and checked for corrosion. Perhaps a cleaning may help.
You can burn new ROMs with an adapter an 27C010 Eeproms.

Macintosh SE EEPROM to ROM adapter

So, you have a Mac SE, or you're building up a Mac SE reloaded board using damaged donor that might have bad ROM chips (corroded legs, dead chip etc). Well through the magic of the internet I can bring you this, an adapter that replaces the stock Toshiba TC531000 mask ROMs with any 27C010's...
68kmla.org 68kmla.org
Thanks. I might look into that. Sounds promising. I'll have to ask for a picture of the board if he will send one.
Posted by: cheesestraws on 2023-12-05 16:11:48
If he won't send photos of the board, run away. That's rarely a good sign when buying a machine.
Posted by: joshc on 2023-12-05 23:14:34
and then put new ROM on the HD?
The ROM on these is on two chips, nothing to do with the hard drive.

Agree with @cheesestraws, if the seller is reluctant to be transparent about the condition of the logicboard inside the machine, then that's probably a good reason to not buy it.
Posted by: sstaylor on 2023-12-06 02:56:54
To be fair, many people don't have the long torx-15 required to open an SE.
Could be a dodgy seller, or just one who has an old computer they're not terribly interested in.
Posted by: cheesestraws on 2023-12-06 03:05:48
To be fair, many people don't have the long torx-15 required to open an SE.

Very true - I should have said "can't or won't" - but if, like the OP, one isn't used to repairing machines, buying a broken one without seeing what's inside it is probably still a bad idea. But I shouldn't have imputed dodginess to the seller when it may be impractical for them to get inside, you're right.
Posted by: dochilli on 2023-12-06 08:51:46
But a SE logic board is often in good condition. I did not see a SE with an exploded battery (like a lot of SE/30s).
Posted by: joshc on 2023-12-06 09:11:21
But a SE logic board is often in good condition. I did not see a SE with an exploded battery (like a lot of SE/30s).
I don't agree. SEs are just as well known to be battery bombed as other models; they often used Maxell batteries and even Vartas can leak. A few bombed SEs have passed through my hands, and I haven't owned many of them.
Posted by: LaPorta on 2023-12-06 14:37:45
The SE I use all the time now was one I repaired from a pretty serious battery bomb.
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