Bought a used Apple IIc but running into a few issues.

[matthewpomar]

Hi,

I picked-up an Apple IIc on Ebay. It came with an Apple Works and Disk Utilities, but they do not boot (the seller claims it all works).

I put the disk in and turn on power and I get "Check Disk Drive". I tried multiple times with different disks, and same result.

I then started the self test by pressing both Apple keys and turning unit on. It shows all kinds of patterns on the screen, but has been running for almost 45 minutes now. It appears to be suck in a loop.

Does anyone know how long the self test should run?

Also does anyone how can I boot into command prompt and boot from the external disk drive (incase the internal one is bad)?

Thank you.

 

[joevt]

There's some boot ideas at

Redirecting to Google Groups

self test info:

Redirecting to Google Groups

I don't know why it would take longer than a few minutes.

 

[MacTech68]

The Open-Apple + Closed-Apple - Reset key command is only a production exercise and bears no value to an end user. (according to the IIc Technical Reference Manual - Page 52 (PDF Page 80)).

The "test" never stops - unlike the IIe.

As for booting from disk, there are any number of reasons you may get that error. Dirty head, scratched disk, bad track zero alignment, bad alignment, dirty head assembly rails, poor speed adjustment, bad power supply.

There is also RFI problems with the original internal power supplies that caused bad reads on the floppy drive:

Apple IIc : Not Booting

Identifying which IIc you have may help with understanding later issues.

From the Technical Reference Manual:

 

[mi7chy]

Did the Ebay listing show it booting and running a disk? A lot of times sellers misrepresent the condition.

Try PR#7 to boot external drive. Short of that or buying a floppy emulator like wDrive or FloppyEmu you're kind of limited on the IIc with no easy way to format a disk to narrow down if issue is with media, alignment, drive or drive controller.

That's why I steer potential buyers to get a IIe first since the cassette audio in jack can be used to transfer and run programs or create bootable floppy disks from playing audio file from another device like phone, tablet or PC.

 

[djjeff]

Late to this party but if your Iic isn't booting then it's likely the drive heads are dirty. Clean them with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.

As for the self test it isn't present on the original ROMS and if you let it run for approximately 45 minutes then it's likely you have the original ROMS and it isn't present. To determine which ROMS you have:

Apple Iic ROM Versions

I do not believe the ROM test checks the floppy disk drive, just the memory.

 

[za9ra22]

Also late to the party, but open up the IIc, and check to see if the CPU and MMU are both fully and tightly socketed. A common problem with Apples of this age is that these chips 'walk' out of the sockets, and cause all sorts of odd problems.

I bought a IIc off eBay recently too. The seller claimed it worked, and supplied a bunch of original disks. It booted just fine except for the ProDOS Utilities disk, and crashed, at the same location, when running the originally-supplied 'A Look Inside' disk too.

When I opened it up, I found the CPU loose in its socket. Pressing it back down (carefully), and doing the same with the MMU above it on the motherboard (both under the keyboard), resolved the issue completely.

If you're interested in Apple IIc computing, you might want to consider getting a 'FloppyEMU'. An external device which contains a MicroSD card which can be used as a software repository - and can also be used to boot some Apple IIc systems (ROM version 0, 3 and 4, but not 255). I have one, and use it as a 32Mb hard drive.

Once you get your IIc working, you might want to look at ADTPro and a suitable cable to get software onto floppies for use - there are a lot of titles in places such as https://apple2online.com or the asimov archives.

 

[MichaelLAX]

I still have my Apple //c with external 3.5 drive, Z-RAM board installed, C-Vue LED screen and the Prairie Pack carrying case and battery power pack.

But to be honest, when it comes time to go back and research some of my home accounting files from that era (1984-1995), I use the Mac software emulator Virtual ][ and access it all on my Mac!