(Some of the following information is also available in the AppleLink Tech Info Library.)
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1. GENERAL TIPS
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1.1 Troubleshooting Strategy
The best advice is: Don’t jump to conclusions! Run all available tests before making a diagnosis. Take all the symptoms into account, and look at test results as “symptoms.”
Example :
Sometimes what looks like a logic board failure can actually be caused by something else. In one reported case, the “ALL” logic board test on a Mac II reported an ADB test failure with a “Check prior functions” message. But when the video card test was run, it couldn’t detect a video card that was installed—so the tech suspected that the video card might be causing the ADB test failure. Sure enough, when the video card was swapped, the “logic board problem” disappeared.
NOTE: Although this is the best general rule, SIMMs are an exception. If the SIMMs are misconfigured, mismatched, or bad, you should correct that condition before running other tests — otherwise, results are unpredictable.
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1.2 External Device Problems
If you have trouble testing a system, disconnect external devices from the CPU and test each device separately. For example, disconnect all SCSI devices and test the CPU and the external drive(s) separately.
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1.3 Bundle Your Cables
Use tie wraps to bundle your Apple TechStep cables together into a “single” cable for ease of handling. (But remember to mark both ends of the modem and ADB1 cables before you bundle them!)
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1.4 Stereo (Audio) Cable and Tones
Plugging the stereo (audio) cable into the Mac stereo port disables the Macintosh speaker. Therefore, if the Stereo cable is connected to the Mac, you won’t hear any boot tone or error chimes when you boot up or enter Test Manager. (That doesn’t indicate a problem -- it’s standard behavior.)
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2. TECHNICAL Q & A
This section refers to the following ROM Packs:
1- CPU TESTS, VOL. 1 (for testing Macintosh SE, SE/30, II, IIx, IIcx, Classic computers);
2- SCSI HD TESTS (for testing Apple SCSI Hard Disk Drives)
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2.1: I can’t get the Mac into Test Manager mode. What’s wrong?
There are several possible causes for this problem. Here’s what to do:
a) Check for 4•8, 8•24, or 8•24GC video cards. If they are present, disconnect the monitor cable from the card before trying to use the TstMd (“Test Mode”) feature or trying to enter Test Manager manually. (When these cards are connected to monitors, they make it impossible to enter Test Manager, even manually.)
Some third party cards may cause similar problems: If in doubt, disconnect or remove them.
b) Check the SCSI, ADB, and modem cable connections between Apple TechStep and the Unit Under Test (UUT). All three cables must be connected for Apple TechStep’s tstMd feature to work.
c) Remember that the Test Manager code resides in the Macintosh ROM: A problem entering Test Manager could indicate a ROM failure or some other problem preventing access to ROM. For instance, the ROM jumper on the IIcx logic board could be missing, or ROMs could be mis-seated, especially after a ROM upgrade. [Another symptom of a ROM problem would be an absence of any boot tones or error chimes. But remember that attaching a stereo cable to the Macintosh will cause the same symptom! See item 1.3.]
For more information, read the document "Test Mode Entry Problems" in the "Apple TechStep™" folder on Service Source.
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2.2: Can I test the Apple 4•8, 8•24, and 8•24GC video cards with Apple TechStep?
No. The Apple 4•8, 8•24, and 8•24GC video cards are not supported in the Apple TechStep video card test; they may also prevent Test Manager entry (see item 2.1a, above).
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2.3: Can I test third party hard drives with Apple TechStep?
Probably. Since we have not tested all non-Apple drives, we cannot guarantee that they meet Apple and SCSI standards, nor that the SCSI HD Tests will function as designed. However, we have no reason to believe that Apple TechStep’s SCSI HD tests will not be usable with non-Apple SCSI hard drives.
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2.4: Can I test third party video cards with Apple TechStep’s Video card test?
No, third party video cards cannot be tested by the video card test. (See also item 2.1a, above: it’s possible that third party cards could cause test manager entry problems. If in doubt, disconnect or remove them.)
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2.5: Can I test third party SIMMs with Apple TechStep?
Again, the answer is “probably.” We have not tested all third party SIMMs with the SIMMs tests, so we can give no guarantees. However, we have no reason to think that the Apple TechStep SIMMs test should not be able to test them.
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2.6: Does Apple TechStep diagnose 4-megabyte SIMMs?
Yes.
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2.7: What do “Mismatched” and “Misconfigured” mean in RAM size test results?
• “Mismatched” means that SIMMs of more than one size are in the same bank. When a mismatch or failure is detected, the RAM size test puts a question mark (“?”) after the RAM size.
(The RAMsz and SIMMs tests calculate memory size based on the largest SIMM in a bank. Then they test for that size memory. If there is a mismatch, the SIMMs test will fail and mark the smaller SIMMs with an “X” — because they look like “bad” larger SIMMs.)
• “Misconfigured” means that RAM Bank A holds less memory than Bank B. (Misconfiguration does not apply to the Mac Classic.)
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2.8: If SIMMs are “Misconfigured,” what shows up on the Apple TechStep screen?
In the RAMsz (RAM size) test, the word “Misconfigured” appears on the results screen. In the log, “M” appears at the end of the “RAMsz” entry. This is the surest way to spot misconfiguration in any of the computers tested by "CPU Tests, Volume 1."
The SIMMs test also shows misconfiguration, but less clearly:
a) In the SIMMs test for II, IIx, IIcx, or SE/30:
If SIMMs on a Mac II, IIx, IIcx, or SE/30 are misconfigured, the SIMMs test will fail and show:
• “Ms” after the RAM size on the test failure screen
• “XXXX” for the SIMMs in bank B. In this case, “X” does not necessarily indicate a bad SIMM. When any system is misconfigured, reconfigure the SIMMs correctly and retest before replacing any SIMMs.
b) On the Mac SE, if the SIMMs are misconfigured but not faulty, the SIMMs test will usually pass -- and misconfiguration is not shown on the SIMMs “Test PASSED” screen!
In this situation, the ALL test for Mac SE will also pass, and the misconfiguration will not be noted on the results screen. However, the log entry for “RAMsz” will indicate the misconfiguration by an “M” after the size.
Therefore, when testing the Mac SE, always run the RAMsz (“RAM size”) test by itself before you run the SIMMs or ALL tests, to check for misconfiguration -- or make sure to check the log for “RAMsz” after running the “ALL” test.
c) On the Mac Classic, there is no “misconfigured” condition. As for “mismatched” SIMMs: If two SIMMs of different sizes are installed on the Classic memory expansion card, the RAM and RAMsz tests will calculate memory size based on the larger SIMM, and the RAM test will fail and mark the smaller SIMM with an “X” — because it looks like a “bad” larger SIMM.
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2.9: The customer’s computer can’t “see” the hard disk. Can Apple TechStep tell me anything useful about this situation?
Yes. Try this procedure:
1. Run the SCSI Term Power and SCSI Term Check tests. If they fail, there may be a blown SCSI fuse or diode or a SCSI termination problem.
2. Run the SCSI Bus Scan. If the Apple TechStep SCSI Bus Scan can “see” the hard disk and can display info about it, then the electronics on the hard disk are probably OK.
3. Run the Random Seek test (in the “HD Check” menu). If it passes, the hard disk’s mechanism is probably OK. On the other hand, if a “Check prior UUT functions” message appears, it probably indicates a “stiction” problem. (See item 2.12, below.)
4. Test the host computer: The logic board may be at fault.
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2.10: I’m seeing a low SCSI Term Power reading on a Mac SE. What does that mean?
That depends on the voltage! A “LO” reading, down to about 4.16 v, is normal on many SE’s. This does not indicate any problem. [In some cases involving a Miniscribe internal hard disk, this low SCSI Term Power may also cause a false “failure” in the SCSI Term Check test and a “Termination Missing” message in the TstMd (“Test Mode”) function (see item 2.11).]
On the other hand, if the Term Power reading is under 1 volt, it probably indicates a blown SCSI fuse or term power diode on the logic board or in the drive (although it could also indicate other problems). In this case, repair is appropriate.
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2.11: I was testing a Miniscribe hard disk that appears to be OK, but it sporadically failed the SCSI Term Check test. Should I replace the drive?
No — at least, not unless the drive is exhibiting other problems! Miniscribe hard disks are known to occasionally fail the SCSI Term Check test, and by itself, this “failure” does not necessarily indicate a need for repairs. It is caused by peculiarities of the Miniscribe HDA and does not interfere with drive performance.
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2.12: Can you diagnose hard disk “stiction” with Apple TechStep?
Yes. If any of the “HD Check” or “HD Check & Fix” tests fails to complete and returns a “Check prior UUT functions” message, but the SCSI Bus Scan can “see” the drive and get information about it, this indicates a probable “stiction” problem.
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2.13: The customer’s system can’t see the floppy drive; neither can Apple TechStep. The logic board passes all tests. What should I do?
In some cases where a floppy drive does not show up on the Macintosh desktop and cannot be detected by the Apple TechStep Drive test, the logic board may pass all tests but still be at fault. If you follow the flowchart in the Troubleshooting Guide for CPU Tests, Vol. 1, you will not solve the problem. Here’s what to do.
•In a two-drive system:
If neither floppy drive is working, try swapping the logic board first. (It’s the most probable cause.)
•In a one-drive system:
a) In an SE, SE/30, Classic, or IIcx, attach an external floppy drive if available; if that drive also cannot be seen, try swapping the logic board. (If you can’t attach an external drive, try swapping the logic board first, before swapping the drive—just because it’s easier to do.)
b) In a II or IIx, swap the floppy drive first (it’s easier); if that doesn’t solve the problem, swap the logic board.
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2.14 What equipment do I need to run the "Apple TechStep Test" program?
Refer to the Read Me First file on the "Apple TechStep Test" disk and also to the online Help in the "Apple TechStep Test" application program for equipment requirements.
Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. and are registered in the United States of America and other countries. Apple TechStep and Apple Desktop Bus are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
