This appendix will assist you in procedures referred to in preceding chapters.
Hardware Tools
Not many tools are needed for basic Mac repairs but some of them are specific and not easy to find.
T - Wrenches
Torx wrenches are needed to open the case of Powerbooks. You will need a difficult to find size T-8. A Torx-wrench is star shaped. If you look at the bottom of a Powerbook computer you will see the screws that the wrench fits.
Hex Key Wrench
The case of compact Macs (SE, SE30, Plus's, and Classics) need a hex key wrench with a 7/64" tip and a 9" length. You will probably have to order one. They are available from most mail order vendors that sell RAM (memory) chips, as the wrench is needed to open the case to put the chips in.
Spring Clip
A spring clip can be ordered along with your hex key wrench for opening the case of compact Macs. You can also use a putty knife if you are careful or don't care about nicking the seam of your case. The spring clip is inserted into the seam of the case and even pressure around the case will get it open.
Phillips Screwdriver
If you are planning on removing anything inside
Small needle nose pliers
Small plastic screwdrivers
Commonly called alignment tools and sold at Radio Shack.
Multimeter
Not absolutely necessary but handy. In it's simplest use it is used to "ring" a cable to see if there are any breaks in it. Also, it can be used in it's AC voltage range to see if power is getting through the switch of a computer. On the more advanced side you can check for specific voltages. In this manner it is important you have one that has auto-polarity. This way you won't damage condensers if the (+,-) are mixed up. This document doesn't get into component level repair. If this sounds alien to you then you probably shouldn't bother with it.
Software Tools
Most problem can be traced to the operating system. Software tools are your first defense.
Emergency Floppy
On this disk along with this document you will need to have some other things. Because of legal issues, you need to put put them on yourself. The disk you make will be an emergency disk that you will need in case of hard drive failure. Here's How.
Installing the System
If you have a 1.44 meg drive in your computer copy the files to a formatted disk named emergency. You will need the space because you are probably using System 7
Open your system folder and copy the 1.System, Finder, Startup device, and Control panels folder (or General if system 6).
If System 6, Move SCSI Probe (available from user groups or online services) to the system folder.
If System 7 You can leave SCSI Probe out of the system folder.
Get out your set of disks that came with your Mac (later Mac models come with them installed on the hard drive, you have to purchase them separately on disk). Locate"Apple HD SC Setup" and "Disk First Aid". Copy them onto the Emergency disk.
Purchased Software
There are some very good data recovery and diagnostic tools aviallable if you want to pay the price.
File and data recovery, and software problems with the hard drive
I recommend Mactools by Central Point Software. Another good one is Norton Utilities By Symantec.
Hardware Diagnostics
These are not really necessary since you will know your computer is broken if it doesn't work but they are nicely done programs for checking out things in your computer while it is running.
MacEKG by Micromat Computer Systems
Snooper by Maxis Software
Operating System
The operating system of the Macintosh is what gets the computer to recognize and organize your hard drive. It acts as a liaison between the computer, you, and your software. It is what you see when you boot up your computer.
The operating system comes in two varieties. The older one but still in use is System 6. The latest one as of this writing is system 7.
System 6
An older system but still in use works nicely. The latest version that was stable was 6.7. It doesn't have some of the conveniences of System 7 but it is used by people who have Compact Macs that run at the slowest processing speed of all Macs (except for the SE30 which is faster). Also, if you have a compact Mac you have a maximum of 4 megs of memory. Even System 7 will run it 2 megs with 4 megs recommended. I recommend that unless you don't mind being cramped for memory and having a significant speed reduction you stick with system 6 for the Mac Plus, SE, and Classic.
System 7
The newest operating system (7.5 just released as of this writing) looks like system 7 but has some really nice features that many can't live without. I won't go into them here. The new System 7.5 is greatly enhanced but if you don't have 10-16 megs of memory I wouldn't switch out of 7.1.
If you are running a straight System 7 or 7.0.1 then upgrade to 7.1. It is cleaner and will cause fewer problems.
Extensions
An extension is a little program that you add to your system folder to enhance the operating system. In system 6 they reside in the system folder. in system 7 they reside in an "extensions" folder within the system folder. Extensions are commonly called INITS but there are other types named CDEV's to name one.
How to disable extensions
System 7: Hold down the shift key while starting or restarting your Mac.
System 6: Move them out of the system folder.
Another way is to get a program that will allow you to pick and choose which ones your want loaded at startup time. There are several. One is InitPicker. An excellent Freeware version by Apple computer and available from online services or users groups is "Extensions Manager"
Rebuilding the Desktop
One of the jobs of the operating system is to keep track of how many files there are on the hard drive and where they are located. Sometimes it loses track. You can force your computer to take a new and complete inventory of everything on your drive. In fact you should probably do so every month or so depending on how much you use your Mac. Rebuilding the desktop will in no way harm your computer or the data on it. It will reset any information in the "get info" boxes. If you don't know what that means then you don't have to worry about it.
Hold down the Command and Option keys while restarting. You will be asked if you want to rebuild the desktop.
Resetting PRAM
PRAM or Parameter RAM is an area that always stays "electrified" even when you turn of your Mac. Normally when you shut down any data in RAM is gone. Only the data you saved to disk is saved. But there is a small area of RAM that is kept hot by a battery located on the circuit board inside your Mac (in a compartment on the back of Plus's. Replace it with an Everready 523BP, Ray-O-Vac RPX21, Duracell PX21 or Panasonic PX21, all of which are 4.5 volt batteries. You can find them at an electronics specialty store and through some Mac mail order houses). This area of memory remembers the time, control panel settings, etc. Sometimes flukey data in PRAM can cause problems. When this happens the PRAM data must be reset to it's default settings.
After you reset PRAM you will have to go into your general controls and reset your clock to the correct time, your screen background color, mouse speed settings, etc.
To reset PRAM
System 6: Hold down Command - Option - Control and choose the Control panel, on the Apple menu. (got three hands?).
System 7: Hold down Command - Option - P - R during restart of the Mac.
A couple of pointers: Be careful when installing simms in Macs that have little tabs to hold them in place. These plastic tabs that must be lifted up with a screwdriver break off easily. Also, if the computer doesn't work properly then check the placement of the simms (are they in the correct socket?) and reseat them. Once seated properly they won't move. Also, wear your grounding strap. (Appendix, "Hardware tools").
Take the lid off. It will be secured by a screw or or the lid may be removed by pressing tabs in the back. The SIMM banks are located in rows of upward slanting cards.
If you are replacing or mixing RAM sizes, like 1 meg and 2 meg SIMMS the same SIMM sizes must be in each RAM bank.
If your removing old SIMMS gently pull aside the tabs (don't break them!) holding each SIMM and push back the SIMM. It should reset itself at a 45ﾂｰ angle. Now you can just lift it out. If you feel uncomfortable about this get a SIMM remover. They are available from many mail order companies and probably from the place you purchased the new SIMMS.
Put in the new SIMMS by sliding them into the sockets at a 45ﾂｰ angle and pulling forward until you hear a click of the tabs locking them into place. Replace the cover.
Mac Plus, SE, SE/30, Classic, Classic II
Installing RAM on a compact Mac requires a little more work. First refer to the Appendix section "Opening Compact Macs, and Compact Mac Inside" and head the safety warnings. Remove the logic board (see appendix "Logic Board Removal".
Install the SIMMS as described in the previous section.
Adding RAM to the Mac Plus and some of the early SE's also requires the cutting of a resistor wire or the removal of a connetor. See the installation instructions that came with the SIMMS about your particular computer.
Note that on the Classic the SIMMS are located on a card mounted on the logic board.
Quadra 700
RAM on a Quadra 700 is located underneath the Floppy drive mechanism. You will have to remove the power supply and drive mechanism to get to the SIMMS.
Remove the lid and you will see a small plastics bracket pressing next to the power supply. Pull the bracket toward the front of the computer to elease the power supply, then pull it up and out of the Mac. Next undo remove the screw on the disk assembly with a phillips screwdriver. Unplug the drive cables and pull another bracket on the drive mechanism toward the front of the comuter and remove the drive mechanism. Remove or install SIMMS as described above and reassemble in reverse order.
Powerbooks (pre 500's)
Use the correct Torx driver to remove the screws fro the bottomof the unit plus the ond located under the port cover in the back of the unit. Carefully remove the cover halves.
Look at the PB from the back edge. You will see a long slot where the RAM expansion card goes. Seat the card carefully but completely in the slot. Note that some some models require a protective fiber or rubber pad to be placed on the card to prevent shorting to the case. This is true with 4 or 6 meg cards.
When you put the case back together make sure the video cable, a small cable attatching the top and bottom of the case is connected otherwise the computer will not start up.
Data Recovery Services
If you are here it means that none of the hard drive solutions worked. These data recovery services will recover your data and sometimes repair your drive...at a price..usually $100-$300.
DriveSavers 1-415-883-4232
Data Recovery / Disk Repair 1-415-306-1100
Ontrack 1-800-752-7557
Names, Numbers, and Addresses
Mousam Valley Computer Services (207) 324-1732
Diagnostics, cleaning, and servicing of Macintosh and Apple II Computers.
Apple Computer SOS 800-767-2775 (USA only)
[Apple repair and complaints]
APS 800-645-5401
[A good Storage device and accessories company]
Soft Solutions (503) 461-1136
Analog and logic boards and parts and component level repairs
Mac Sale International 800-729-7031
Analog and logic boards and parts and component level repairs
Preowned Electronics 800-274-5343
Analog and logic boards and parts
MacWarehouse 1-800-255-6227
Good source of peripherals, Inexpensive Macpoint replacement mouse, software, Reliable, fast, inexpensive delivery
