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Text File | 1991-04-09 | 21.0 KB | 658 lines | [TEXT/EDIT]

GREETINGS AND WELCOME TO THE USER GROUP FORUM CONFERENCE Our weekly chat with other user group leaders about user group management. Tonight's Conference: >>March 10th author and Mac repair guru Larry Pina as we discuss inexpensive ways to keep your computer and printer running smoothly. AFA Shwkr : ........ WELCOME TO THE USER GROUP FORUM ........ .......... SUNDAY, February 10th, 1991 ........... .............. Tonight's Conference: ............. ............ Larry Pina - Repair Guru ............ AFL DonR : Jim nice to see you, you hvent been around for a while KathyR : Hi all Markm19 : <-- Mark Middleton, Buckeye Mac Group Prez,Columbus Ohio Jim Alley : Don, I like the breakup (Mac/A2) much better. AFL DonR : Sign in please Britespot : <-- Linda Frechette SMALL ug-Bristol, Ct. AFA Shwkr : <---- INTRODUCE Yourself - & Your USER GROUP ----- AFA Shwkr : <--- Fred Showker, Shenandoah Mac Users Group ........(and Associate Editor, Mug News Service) FotoGeek : Hello from Baltimore! KathyR : <-- Kathy Ryan, America Online AFL DonR : <-- Don Rittner, UG forum leader, pres of MECCA, albany, NY, boss man of MUG News Service Mcmullen : John McMullen MarkUser : <-- Mark Millard Ambassador/New User Trainer, MacNexus, Sacramento. AFL DonR : and that says it all John :) Jim Alley : <- Jim Alley, Savannah MUG, Mac Monitor editor MarkH103 : <-- Mark Hesse, Big Apple Users Group, NYC (McMullen is the president) SKYW : <-- Wright, physicist. Louisville. FranG : FranG BizMac Westport, CT AFL DonR : Welcome everyone. Tonight we have a special guest, Larry Pina, author and Mac repair guru.I say Guru easily since he already has saved two of my hard drives that I gave up for dead, one over a two years old. Larry, give us a brief background and then we will let people start asking questions right away. First, though, let me tell everyone that Larry will become a regular member of thbe UGF staff here soon.He has his own folder called "This Old Mac" in the resource area and you can ask him anything! LarryP47 : I ran two audio video stores for 20 years or so. In all that time, we saw just about everything. Computers aren't that much differnt from audio video equipment. They're easy to fix. Background? 20 years audio video is my background. What kind of strange problems are you seeing? JonathanBi: How do you keep your Mac working well? Jim Alley : How about a stuck floppy? LarryP47 : On a Mac Plus, the most important thing is to unstick the pad from the J1 connector and move it The pad insulates the connection, causes it to run hot and cracks the solder joints Sticky floppies are a real problem. You have to clean the loading rails. JonathanBi: How do you clean a disk drive? LarryP47 : Disk drives have to cleaned very carefully. First you have to remove it, then blow out the dust JonathanBi: What about on an SE/30 LarryP47 : Just about any external speaker rated 4ohms or greater works fine on a plus. Speaker on an SE30? 4 ohms or greater should be OK 8 ohms is better. Markm19 : What kind of activities can a User Group be involved in we do Ram sales but no repair stuff LarryP47 : User Groups can do a lot! Install your own fan night. Readjust your own voltage night... AFL DonR : Larry has two great books, Macintosh Repair secrets and Macintosh Printer Secrets. We will try to get a good discount. Larry and Im will work on that! Jim Alley : I've got a Mac II with a stuck diskette in the floppy drive. When this has happened beforea little careful wiggling has freed it. Not this time. Blowing out the dust didn't help, either. GA LarryP47 : Jim, you have to remove the drive, clear any clogs and relube the loading rails. There's a pawl on the left side that holds the disk shutter. That's what usually sticks. LarryP47 : Jim, once the drive is out, remove it from the bracket and observe the shutter. You'll see the pawl. SKYW : Why do superdrives rattle? I have also been experiencing an high number of floppy format errors.GA LarryP47 : Sometimes it gets bent. Othertimes the upper head gets bent. If that's the case, you'll need new heads SKYW, are you using the 69 cent MEI micro disks? SKYW : YES!!!! LarryP47 : About 25% of those won't format under regular finder. But if you mass duplicate a good disk using Fast disk copy from SUM, they all format and seem to work fine! Surveyor X: I'm using MacII with internal & external hard disk. The system is on the external. Whenever I turn the Mac on the internal drive does not show on the finder. Only after using SCSI Probe the icon of the internal drive comes up. What could be the problem? LarryP47 : The external is coming up faster than the internal. Two things to try: Set Startup Device to the inter nal, even though no System software is on it. 2)Try turning on the Mac II before turning on the extern al -- wait for the blinking ?-mark icon. If all else fails, take the external out of its case and swap it with the internal. Surveyor X: Isn't it dangerous to turn the computer on before the drive? LarryP47 : Surveyor--no, not at all. Fran G--my guess would be a loose ground. Turn everything off, wait till morning, disconnect the power cable, remove the covers, and tighten the circuit board screws. I'll bet you find one hanging by a thread! GA Surveyor X: Could this be a problem associated with my recent FX upgrade? LarryP47 : Mac IIfx? I doubt it. Surveyor X: There is some device that connects my internal drive with the cable??? It was not there before Any idea what could it be? LarryP47 : what cable Surveyor? Surveyor X: The cable that connects internal board to the internal drive. LarryP47 : Assuming you have a 3.5-inch drive with imbedded SCSI controller, not an external like Don's 40/40 then there's no difference between the drive inside your external case, and the drive inside your Mac. PACABA : I have a Mac lab with each 2 SE/30s AppleTalked to a single IW. About a week ago, one Image writer failed to connect to I have checked all cables, and the chooser. What wlse can I do? AFL DonR : For those new people. Larry will have his own folder herer in the UG resource area called "This Old Mac" and you can leave questions there an ytime! LarryP47 : either can replace the other. The cables are all the same. PACABA : Chooser does not show Image Writer when AppleTalk is selected. LarryP47 : PACABA, it's the multiiplexer chip on the AppleTalk card inside you're IWII. Leave me mail and I'll get back to you with the chip number. They're only a couple of dollars from Jameco or JDR. SKYW : I installed 4 meg simms on SE/30. Monitor problems...... PACABA : I'm not too handy with tools. Is this a complicated process? SKYW : How do I adjust the voltage, or am I fated to Apple repair? LarryP47 : As I recall, it's a 14 or 16-pin chip. The card is a two layer board. You need soldering skill, but it's not complicated. It's cheaper than buying A WHOLE NEW BOARD!!! SKYW, it's easy on a plus. But not easy to describe without pictures. Download the shareware version o Test Pattern Generator and look ubder the reference menu for instructions. You need a voltmeter and pl astic tools. GA AFL DonR : Larry, what is the thumping sound, thump, thump,. thump, in my 400k external drive? LarryP47 : When does it go thump? Also for SKYW, SE 30 voltage is supposed to be self regulating. Waht kind of SIMMS did you use? Where they CMOS? SKYW : No idea, got them from technology works. AFL DonR : When I turn it on. I cleaned it and it was fine, then all of sudden the rapid thump sound now. AFA Shwkr : QUE-> I'd like Larry to expand on the speaker thing (then BCS Frank) LarryP47 : Does it read and write DON? AFL DonR : no LarryP47 : Sounds like the disk is not dropping all the way down. When you cleaned it, did you separate (take off AFL DonR : worked fine a few times, then started the thumping. LarryP47 : the drive rail assembly the way I show in the Lisa Chapter. If you didn't, it's not going to work. AFL DonR : ok, ,will try that! cleaned it but did not take it all apart, will get it an other go! GA Frank LarryP47 : the right side of the drive is where the problem is BCS Frank : What regular maintenance does an ImageWriter II need? It works fine now. LarryP47 : II's are better than I's. The usual problem has to do with intermittent line feeds. Whatever you do, don't ever wind the platen back while the printer is on. That eventually takes out ZD3 on the Control PCB, and the CPU IC on the logic board. BCS Frank : Turn off the printer first then scroll back? LarryP47 : I'd keep the platen clean. That's about it. BCS Frank--Yes. BCS Frank : Thanks. AFA Shwkr : Larry, doesn't an external speaker need some kind of amplifier - or can one just be plugged in? tell us more. LarryP47 : You need an amplifier for a large group, but for your own personal use 4 to 8 ohm speakers work fine without amplication. Try it! AFL DonR : Back on the IM II, after mine prints a page and gets ready to set for the second, it will start making a grinding sort of noise, and then not set properly. Sounds really bad? LarryP47 : That's the CPU IC. Sorry, Don. Shouldn't have wound it back with the power on! AFL DonR : hmm, expensive fix? BCS Frank : Thanks again, Larry! :) LarryP47 : The chip is about $26 wholesale. At least an hour to check out and replace. Markm19 : Now that Apple is introducing a InkJet, what problems might we see, or is the the "NO Maintenance" claim for real with them! (I'm thinking of past experinences with the HP Deskwriter) LarryP47 : I've been using a Kodak Diconix 150 and an HP DeskJet for some time. They've been much more reliable than any impact printer I've used. What kind of DeskJet problems are you having? Markm19 : so you're optomistic? I haven't heard of any problems really! AFA Shwkr : QUE--> SurveyorX, you got the floor. GA (9:45 PM) Surveyor X: When I upgraded to FX, there was a little plastic device connected to my internal hard drive The wide cable that normally plugs directly into the drive was connected to this plastic thing When I asked the technician what it is, he had no idea. He just said it should be there. When I asked another technician he said it shouldn't be there at all. Any idea what is it about? / LarryP47 : There aren't any to the best of my knowledge. Also, HP has a great service manual that you can buy cheap AFA Shwkr : good show! Markm19 : Thanks! AFL DonR : TONIGHT's RAFFLE! A copy of Larry's Macintosh Printer Secrets! In ten minutes! LarryP47 : Surveyor X. I'd have to see it. You've got me curious! Surveyor X: So am I. MarkNIDA : Larry...could that be a terminator, I know they changed termination devices on the FX LarryP47 : Surveyor, doesn't the IIfx require a special terminator? Mark, we're on the same wavelength! Surveyor X: It has the black terminator outside of the last SCSI device. MarkNIDA : :) LarryP47 : Yes, but this one would have to be inside. Surveyor X: But the internal hard drive is already terminated!!! ZenZa : I believe the little plastic thing plugged into the SCSI port on the fx m/b is a special terminator. I have seen machines (fx's) with it, and some without it. yes, internal is terminated. The thing is a mystery to me, too. LarryP47 : I believe it depends on other factors in the System. Rules regarding terminators seem to be flexable. BCS Frank : Larry, does your "Secrets" book cover upgrading IW II's with more memory? LarryP47 : Yes, Apple has a 32K card (cheap last time I checked with Sun Remarketing) that makes a big difference BCS Frank : How so, on the difference? LarryP47 : provided you print in draft mode. Here's some really big news. The nice folks at GDT softworks are bringing out a Better Imagewriter driver. Draft/NLQ actually works. Spaces are treated as spaces. No uneven word spacing. Also get this--25 to 400% scaling, reverse video, rotate left, right, etc. More stuff than currently on their PrinkLink Epson drivers v4.0.Surveyor X cannot currently receive Instant Messages. BCS Frank : Thanks, neat! done ZenZa : The IW/II with the M- marketing number can use the 32K option card. C- marketing no. IW/II's cannot. so before investigating the 32K card, check your printer's marketing number (on the bottom) LarryP47 : BCS Frank, with the 32K option card, you can quickly load in several pages of text. you don't need a spooler. the printer handles the job, nothing loading up the System. I haven't heard of any IW IIs not being able to take the 32K card, except that there's only room for one card. If you have an Apple Talk card, there's no room. AFL DonR : Larry, do you want to ask the q or me? LarryP47 : you ask Don AFL DonR : ok, hold on to your fingers! Previous month winners cannot apply nor UGF staff! sorry AFL DonR : Ready? First person to answer wins Larry's book! The winner can email their address to Larry What was one of the most common failures in early Macs? go MarkUser : power supply ZenZa : pwr supply Crythril : The powersupply Surveyor X: Power supplie FotoGeek : power supply BCS Frank : ran out of memory InSync JC : Sorry - I am holding a UGF Staff Jim Alley : power supply AFL DonR : Markuser Congrats! Didnt you win this past month? MarkUser : no MarkUser : 1st time AFL DonR : sure? MarkNIDA : No that was me! :) ZenZa : awww AFA Shwkr : \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ ............ Hooray for MarkUser!................ LarryP47 : What part of the power supply? MarkNIDA : Congrats markUser! Markm19 : I won in the past too! MarkUser : Must be other Mark, honest. Thanks! BCS Frank : Way to Go, Mark!!!!!! AFL DonR : oh,oh, Larry is going to get specific! Good going Mark! Congrats, give Larry your address! AFA Shwkr : Good chat tonight, folks! LarryP47 : Hey wait a minute. What part of the power supply? MarkUser : 1st time to win anything on AOL! Markm19 : "Mark"s Rule the Answers! AFL DonR : ok, back to Q&A, remember Larry will be here all the time in his folder "This Old Mac" MarkUser : I give up Larry. KathyR : Smart Marks around here! MarkNIDA : LOL! AFL DonR : flyback? MarkUser : Which part, Larry? BCS Frank : fuse? AFA Shwkr : See there folks - it always pays to join the Sunday night UGF chat! AFL DonR : Ask Q to Larry anytime in his folder in the UG resource Area folder. AFA Shwkr : Now if it could just figure how to hook this speaker up..... BCS Frank : Yup, I think Larry just saved my IW II. :) Markm19 : Bye bye! AFL DonR : Larry already saved me two hard drives!!!! BCS Frank : Night, Mark AFL DonR : bye mark MarkUser : Night Mark InSync JC : What part did fail Larry? AFL DonR : NExt week's CO is... AFL DonR : geeaz, I forgot? LarryP47 : Flyback is the correct answer!!! AFL DonR : well we will hve one! AFL DonR : Great, I win, give me that book back Mark :) Surveyor X: Is this the END? / AFA Shwkr : How many would like to see the "Fix your computer" chat a returning topic in the UGF chats? BCS Frank : Next week is.... the month in review? AFL DonR : The end for this CO Surveyor but we are here same time same station every Sunday night LarryP47 : There's nothing to hooking up the speaker. Use an 1/8-inch mini plug for older Macs. Use a CD to compo MarkUser : No, Don, you are holding a UGF Staff! BCS Frank : Fred, yes, for Apple II's as well as the "other" Apples. LarryP47 : ponent system plug for stero Macs. InSync JC : Will there be any Apple // family coverage? AFL DonR : I think Larry will be agreeable to make this a regular feature of the UGF? LarryP47 : Sounds ok to me. MarkUser : I hope so. MarkNIDA : Have to run... way to go MarkUser! See you all next week! BCS Frank : Well, the printer data already helps a few Apple II installations. :) MarkUser : Bye. AFL DonR : We are working on it Jerry, do you know of anyone who has published similar books like Larry's on AFL DonR : the Apple II side? BCS Frank : Night, MarkN Surveyor X: What is the forum to post questions about Mac? Upgrades, repairs & such. / BCS Frank : checking...... AFL DonR : It is a folder called "This old Mac" in the user group folder titled under the UG Resource Area AFL DonR : You can leave L:arry questions there anytime BCS Frank : Gene B. Williams, "How to Repair & Maintain Your Apple Computer." AFL DonR : Frank, can you get me his number? Surveyor X: DonR, I've never seen UG Resource Area. Where is it? How do I get there? BCS Frank : ... <was pre IIgs.> BCS Frank : No number... I have the book though. AFL DonR : well you are in the user group forum now. Once you quit you will see UG Resource area BCS Frank : Was a Chilton book. AFL DonR : how about an addreess Frank Pierre3, GA, although the forum is voer over Surveyor X: DonR. How stupid of me! BCS Frank : c/o Chilton Book Co, Radnor, Penn. LarryP47 : Don, I have Gene's address and tel. HAL 10000 : I thought this forum was just starting...it said 10pm EST. BCS Frank : Way to go, Larry! :) AFL DonR : Thanks Larry. You can send me eamil with it, I will give him a call. Hal, it should ahve sadi 9 eastern AFA Shwkr : Go ahead, Hal 10000 Pierre3 : AFL DonR non sequitur HAL 10000 : Oh...my loss then....oh well, the marquee was wrong I guess. Bye BCS Frank : The book is (c) 1985, but still quite useful. AFL DonR : sorry, I will check and see what happened go ahead Pierre, did you have a Q AFA Shwkr : Well folks - - - good chat tonight! Hope to see you all next week. Pierre3 : On the imagewriter II AFL DonR : Thanks everyone, real good chat! BCS Frank : Night, Fred and thanks AFL DonR : Larry is still here, GA Larry will you field one more Q Pierre3 : Is there a special way to install a new print head guide? LarryP47 : on which printer Pierre3 : imagewriter II AFL DonR : nope, I think he is still here InSync JC : That is a good question. AFA Shwkr : Pierre, post your question in "This Old Mac" folder in the User Group Resources area. It will get an answer AFL DonR : he's here Fred Pierre3 : thanks? MarkUser : Bye all, super chat. InSync JC : Where will it be placed? AFA Shwkr : WOA! wasn't in the "List People" window AFL DonR : Larry re you still here? Pierre3 : bye all AFA Shwkr : Main Level---> User Group Resource Area InSync JC : Thnks LarryP47 : Do you mean the plastic paper guide -- about four inches long. AFA Shwkr : Nite folks - I've got to hobble off to bed. AFL DonR : I think he left Larry KathyR : Night Fred! BCS Frank : Night Fed :)