Subject: Re: I have an old Apple II+ (my very first computer) in storage....
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From: Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
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Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000 23:22:23 -0500
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Lord Apollyon writes ...
> 
> Apple II+ 48K (with a 16K "language" card bringing it to 64K), Apple Cat
> // modem (without the Bell 212 1200 baud daughterboard), Mockingboard C,
> Timemaster II HO, and the Applied Engineering 80-col card - just a
> standard Apple Disk ][ and a Rana Elite 1 floppys [with the standard
> Amdek "Colour Monitor" that was often sold with these].
> 
> It's been about five years since I've switched it on - (it and all my
> floppies have been stored in floppy cases in a very temperature
> moderated environment, namely, my parents' house [they seem to have kept
> my bedroom like a shrine or something].
> 
> I last booted it up back in 1995 or so.  Worked fine.  But I imagine
> there are probably some precautions I should take before I do that again.
> 
> Any pointers to FAQs/etc, or advice... would be most welcome.  It's in
> mint shape (I'm sure the clock-card's lithium cell is dead of course - I
> wonder if it's Y2k tho! :) )
> 
 ....

     The main concern would be decline in voltage rating of the Power
Supply's large input capacitors and, perhaps, dust/corrosion leading to bad
connections on Slot cards and, maybe, a few IC's.

     A pretty good approach is to jot down the location of each Slot card.
With power OFF, remove all of the cards except the Drive Controller (Slot 6)
and Language Card (Slot 0).

     Pull and reinsert the two remaining cards, being careful to line up the
card contacts with Slot contacts. Disconnect and clean the Power Supply cable
connector (e.g. with an alcohol swab) and reconnect it. This is a good time
to clean the edge connectors of the other cards.

     Scootch-up and re-socket the 6502 and all of the ROM IC's.

     Five years is not an extremely long time for a power supply to be
inactive. I've used supplies pulled from equipment idled for longer than that
with no problem.

     So, my inclination would be to power ON the system with just the two
Slot cards mentioned earlier-- i.e. a setup which does not place a very heavy
load on the Power Supply. If 'nothing happens' and you hear a clicking sound
coming from the power supply, turn OFF the computer. (You may need to
consider replacing some capacitors on the power supply.)

     Probably, the machine will Beep, boot a disk, and run stuff okay. Play
some games, etc. for a few hours (or let the computer sit powered ON) to give
the Power Supply capacitors time to 're-form'.

     Later, turn OFF the computer and put the other cards into their correct
Slots.



Rubywand