🚀 go-pugleaf

jag <jag@hltpubs.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> I've tried Apple, DejaNews and comp.sys.mac.system with no luck/reply.
> 
> I'm trying to do a clean install of British OS 7.6.1 onto a Quadra 840AV
> with a re-initialised, totally blank HD with updated driver.
> 
> The furthest I get is an apparent OK install, but when I restart the Quadra
> it comes up with the black screen and the *very* sad Mac with two hex error
> codes (can't recall which at the moment) which I associate with hardware
> problems rather than software.

You're right - it probably is hardware rather than software.

The first thing I'd do with a Sad Mac is pop open the case and check
that the simms are correctly seated.

It's always worked in the past for me.

rgds, Alan

jag <jag@hltpubs.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> I've tried Apple, DejaNews and comp.sys.mac.system with no luck/reply.
> 
> I'm trying to do a clean install of British OS 7.6.1 onto a Quadra 840AV
> with a re-initialised, totally blank HD with updated driver.
> 
> The furthest I get is an apparent OK install, but when I restart the Quadra
> it comes up with the black screen and the *very* sad Mac with two hex error
> codes (can't recall which at the moment) which I associate with hardware
> problems rather than software.
> 
> Can anyone out there help me?

Maybe - find out the codes and let's take it from there.

Rowland.

-- 
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In article <1d15gv9.v6299e1bzi90kN@p15.nas2.is2.u-net.net>,
real-address-in-sig@flurbletigibbet.rhubarb.foobar (Rebecca and wrote:


>
>Maybe - find out the codes and let's take it from there.
>
>Rowland.
>


I had assumed it wasn't hw related because the Q840 was booting fine from
CD and under Sys 7.5.5, however, I followed Alan's suggestion, opened the
case, tried the SIMMS which seemed firmly seated anyway, did another clean
install of 7.6.1, had my paper and pen ready to note down the error codes
but didn't them, it's working fine now, thanks a lot everyone.

Cheers,

James


James Grenier
IT Director
The HLT Group Ltd

jag <jag@hltpubs.demon.co.uk> wrote:

[snip]

> I had assumed it wasn't hw related because the Q840 was booting fine from
> CD and under Sys 7.5.5, however, I followed Alan's suggestion, opened the
> case, tried the SIMMS which seemed firmly seated anyway,

This isn't conclusive - the contacts (if not gold) will tarnish over
time, and that can make for a poor electrical contact.  It doesn't take
much movement to destroy a thin film of tarnish, and that's often all it
takes.  It's not a bad idea (if you get this problem again) to take the
SIMMs out (one at a time, taking static precautions), and clean the SIMM
and socket contacts with switch cleaner.

> did another clean
> install of 7.6.1, had my paper and pen ready to note down the error codes
> but didn't them, it's working fine now, thanks a lot everyone.

Best news :-)

Rowland.

-- 
Remove the animal for my email address:   rebecca@astrid.dog.u-net.com
Sorry - the spam got to me.          
PGP pub key A680B89D; fingerprint: F5605EAE F56F2C0B 818F3319 5227767F
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Rebecca and Rowland <real-address-in-sig@flurbletigibbet.rhubarb.foobar>
wrote:
> jag <jag@hltpubs.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> [snip]
> > I had assumed it wasn't hw related because the Q840 was booting fine from
> > CD and under Sys 7.5.5, however, I followed Alan's suggestion, opened the
> > case, tried the SIMMS which seemed firmly seated anyway,
> 
> This isn't conclusive - the contacts (if not gold) will tarnish over
> time, and that can make for a poor electrical contact.  It doesn't take
> much movement to destroy a thin film of tarnish, and that's often all it
> takes.  It's not a bad idea (if you get this problem again) to take the
> SIMMs out (one at a time, taking static precautions), and clean the SIMM
> and socket contacts with switch cleaner.
                           ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^
Or a rubber.
- the little ones on the end of pencils are good, but the gritty
ones for rubbing out ink are better. :-)

rgds, Alan

Alan W. Frame <alan.frame@acm.org> wrote:

[snip]

> Or a rubber.
> - the little ones on the end of pencils are good, but the gritty
> ones for rubbing out ink are better. :-)

Hmm.  I wouldn't use anything that was even slightly abrasive sounding
on plated connectors.  The gold plating is typically 0.3 - 2.5 microns
thick; not hard to scrape through.

If you can't get switch cleaner, alcohol (meths, isopropyl alcohol, or
vodka in a pinch) is probably best.

Rowland.

-- 
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Sorry - the spam got to me.          
PGP pub key A680B89D; fingerprint: F5605EAE F56F2C0B 818F3319 5227767F
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In article <19971217132638383999@newtechd.demon.co.uk>,
alan.frame@acm.org (Alan W. Frame) wrote:

>Or a rubber.
>- the little ones on the end of pencils are good, but the gritty
>ones for rubbing out ink are better. :-)

Oh Lord... Memories of Amstrad CPCs (totally wonderful machine in case
anybody feels even remotely inclined to curl the lip...)

-- 
Peter

Rebecca and Rowland <real-address-in-sig@flurbletigibbet.rhubarb.foobar>
wrote:
> Alan W. Frame <alan.frame@acm.org> wrote:
> [snip]
> > Or a rubber.
> > - the little ones on the end of pencils are good, but the gritty
> > ones for rubbing out ink are better. :-)
> 
> Hmm.  I wouldn't use anything that was even slightly abrasive sounding
> on plated connectors.  The gold plating is typically 0.3 - 2.5 microns
> thick; not hard to scrape through.

True, but I don't *think* the edge connector for a 16K[1] ZX81
ram-pack was gold-plated.... :-)

rgds, Alan
[1] 50 quid for 16*Kb*  - BWWWWAAAAAHHHHAAAA!

In article <199712241705341220687@newtechd.demon.co.uk>,
alan.frame@acm.org (Alan W. Frame) wrote:

>True, but I don't *think* the edge connector for a 16K[1] ZX81
>ram-pack was gold-plated.... :-)

You betcha. Looked more like pewter. *Old* pewter.

-- 
Peter

Alan W. Frame <alan.frame@acm.org> wrote:

> Rebecca and Rowland <real-address-in-sig@flurbletigibbet.rhubarb.foobar>
> wrote:
> > Alan W. Frame <alan.frame@acm.org> wrote:
> > [snip]
> > > Or a rubber.
> > > - the little ones on the end of pencils are good, but the gritty
> > > ones for rubbing out ink are better. :-)
> > 
> > Hmm.  I wouldn't use anything that was even slightly abrasive sounding
> > on plated connectors.  The gold plating is typically 0.3 - 2.5 microns
> > thick; not hard to scrape through.
> 
> True, but I don't *think* the edge connector for a 16K[1] ZX81
> ram-pack was gold-plated.... :-)

I think they are - I don't have mine with me at the moment, but I do
seem to recall gold-plating on the RAM pack socket *and* the ZX81's edge
connector.

I recall a very strongly-worded letter to one of the PC magazines back
in 1981 dealing with this very point - one of the magazine's writers
suggested cleaning the ZX81's edge connector with a bit of emery paper,
and got shot down in flames the following issue.

> rgds, Alan
> [1] 50 quid for 16*Kb*  - BWWWWAAAAAHHHHAAAA!

I seem to have acquired mine somewhat cheaper than that...

Rowland.

-- 
Remove the animal for my email address:   rebecca@astrid.dog.u-net.com
Sorry - the spam got to me.          
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                                   What?  Don't ask me - I don't know.