Memory test util for classic macs?

Josh Dersch derschjo at msu.edu
Sat Nov 1 19:44:57 CST 2008


I can boot the system from System 6 disks (guess its smaller footprint 
makes a difference) and my System 7.1 CD if I boot with Extensions 
disabled.  From there I can run some kind of diagnostic, if I can find 
one to run.

I only have one (working) memory card (and there's only one slot in the 
Portable).  Without it installed I can only boot System 6 (which works 
fine even with it installed).

Thanks,
Josh

Tim McNerney wrote:
> Josh,
>
> If you can't boot the OS, you'd be hard-pressed to run a memory test.
> As you already suspect, that error strongly suggests a hardware error.
> Assuming the memory is not soldered to the motherboard, the first thing
> I would do is to re-seat the memory.  If that doesn't work, I'd try 
> removing
> some of it, and try different combinations of memory cards to see
> if some subset works.  Usually memory from that era needs to be
> added and removed in pairs, and needs to positioned in the right slots.
>
> --Tim
>
> On Nov 1, 2008, at 5:09 AM, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
>
>> Message: 26
>> Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:24:54 -0400
>> From: "Joshua Alexander Dersch" <derschjo at msu.edu>
>> Subject: Memory test util for classic macs?
>> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
>> Message-ID: <E1Kw1UE-0002Q9-LD at sys27.mail.msu.edu>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8"
>>
>> Anyone know of a decent memory test utility that runs on classic macs 
>> (68k
>> based)?
>>
>> I have an old Mac Portable that I'm struggling to get an OS on -- I
>> consistently get "bad F-line instruction" traps when booting from 
>> System 7
>> disks (floppies and CD-ROMs), which from what I can tell probably 
>> means bad
>> memory.  I'd like to find out if it IS memory, and if so, whether 
>> it's the
>> onboard 1mb (I hope not) or on the 4mb expansion...
>>
>> My internet searches have come up dry (I've found stuff for OS X, and 
>> early
>> PowerMacs, but nothing for the 68k line).
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Josh
>
>
>


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