Apple Lisas

[tezza]

Hi,

I'm currently restoring a couple of Lisa 2s obtained for another member of this forum. I've managed to get one to the stage where there are no reported errors and the drive spins up (yay!). Problem is I don't have any software to test any further.

Does anyone have a copy of MacWorks XL (for the Lisa 2) the could send me? I'll pay postage and send disks of course.

[nama]

I may be completely wrong as I haven't touched my Lisa in about 4 years, but I was under the assumption you could make your own floppies by means of an old Mac with floppy drive (I use an old Wallstreet Powerbook with built in floppy) and some MacWorks XL floppy images:

http://www.repairyourmac.com/lisa/software/MacWorks/

...again, my memory may not be right here so apologies in advance.

Phil

[tezza]

Philip,

You are indeed right but it presupposes that you have a mac with an 800k drive. I don't unfortunately. Also, given that it's a resotration project and I'm not sure if the Lisa 2 actually CAN read a good floppy I'd much rather have a known good disk which definitely boots on a Lisa 2 (and was made on a Lisa 2) rather than an images that's gone through a lot of mechanisations to get into a 400k disk. The risk is if the machine doesn't boot it could be the machine...or it could be the floppy simply wasn't made correctly.

I'd rather have a floppy disk that I can definitely say is ok.

[Carcenomy]

Sometimes you've just gotta give in and go with the more normally beaten track and create some images from another machine. I can send ya an old Mac for the job if you like? I've had to go down this track with making images for some of my latest purchases - specifically the Atari ST and the Amiga 500, although the 500 was cake since I've already got my A1200 set up for ADF2DISK and the ST uses FAT format disks, so my P166 rig works for that.

It WOULD be ideal to use real Lisa disks, but there's pros and cons. Sure, they would originally have worked sweet with a Lisa, but who's to say they've been stored properly and aren't totally ruined? At least when you create from images you can use known good media...

[tezza]

It WOULD be ideal to use real Lisa disks, but there's pros and cons. Sure, they would originally have worked sweet with a Lisa, but who's to say they've been stored properly and aren't totally ruined? At least when you create from images you can use known good media...

With originals yes, but not with copies someone has just made on their Lisa (and checked). This would be the safest way but there are none forthcoming, Mac-made disk images it will have to be. Thanks for the offer of a loan of a machine. I've I can't find a generous benefactor in my quest I might take you up on it in the New Year!

[tezza]

Well, with the help of an Apple Classic 2, a 800k external drive, some software called Transmac and web-sourced -disk images I managed to make myself some Macwork disks for my Lisa 2.

The good news is that it boots sucessfully from the floppy drive! Yay! The bad news is that all THREE of my Lisa keyboards don’t work. A common problem with old Lisa keyboards but fixable.

Anyway, I’m getting there!

I’m also working on getting the Lisa 2/10 going as well. I hope to do more work on this second machine after Xmas.

[tezza]

I opened up one of the keyboards today and found that the pads and contact disks had indeed degraded. The good news is this is repairable.

[nama]

Are all the keys dead? That surprises me if it's just a contact issue.

P

[tezza]

On one keyboard the keypad "4" key works
On another keyboard the "/" key works
On the third keyboard no keys work.

Here is a picture of the mylar contacts in the first keyboard. You can see they are degraded and have lost their silver. The only pad with silver left is the "4" key on the keypad (i.e. the only working one).

http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blo ... a-pads.jpg

Here is the condition of the pads between the mylar contacts and the discs connected to the key plungers. As you can see, a pile of mush!

http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blo ... graded.jpg

No worries as there are ways and means of repairing/replacing these.

[nama]

Yeah, I've read the lisa keyboard fixit threads as I also have a spare lisa keyboard which seems totally dead. I haven't been bothered trying to fix it as my other keyboard is still working perfectly (or it was before I put it in storage 2 years ago, so who knows).

The process seems a little fiddly, so good luck, and good patience.

Phil

[tezza]

Yea, there were/are some pads for sale on the Erik Klien's Vintage Computer Marketplace. However, there is only enough for one and I want to ressurect at least two. It will cost around $100 to buy them and get them shipped out here.

I've been corresponding with the guy who wrote the FAQ about replacing those keypads and I've decided to give it a go. It will be fiddly and slow but I'm in no hurry. It's not like these Lisa's will be going anywhere soon.

[tezza]

Well, I managed to get one of the Lisas up and running. Those interested can read about it at the URL below.
http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blo ... -lisa2.htm

[lizardb0y]

I will admit to being a mite jealous of your Lisas. I've never found one I could afford, and the Lisa has been near the top of my hit list for years.

Good job getting them going. It's great to see photos of them in action!

[tezza]

Thanks, yes, a Lisa had been on the top of my wanted list for a few years. I honestly didn't think I'd ever own one. It's been fun to work on but quite a steep learning curve. Thank goodness for Google!

Still looking for an Edixy Scorcerer, a Compucolour, an Epson Qx and an (affordable) Jupiter Ace. Examples of the latter seem to be around but I think I'm priced out of that market.

[gavo]

Well, I managed to get one of the Lisas up and running. Those interested can read about it at the URL below.
http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blo ... -lisa2.htm

Good work Tez!!