Apple Lisa 2/5
 | |
| Apple Lisa 2/5 with external ProFile drive | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | Personal Computer |
| Released | January 1984 |
| Discontinued | January 1985 |
| Intro price | US$3,495 (with ProFile) |
| CPU | Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz |
| Memory | 512 KB RAM (expandable to 2 MB) |
| Storage | 400 KB 3.5" floppy drive, external 5 MB ProFile hard drive |
| Display | 12" monochrome CRT (720×364 pixels) |
| Sound | Mono, via a continuously variable slope demodulator (CVSD) |
| Dimensions | 15.2" H × 18.7" W × 13.8" D |
| Weight | 48 lbs (22 kg) |
| OS / Firmware | Lisa OS, Lisa Office System, MacWorks |
| Predecessor | Lisa 1 |
| Successor | Apple Lisa 2/10 |
| Model no. | Apple part numbers: power supply 661-93108, motherboard 661-93106, I/O board 661-93198 |
The Apple Lisa 2/5 was a configuration of the Lisa 2 bundled with an external 5 MB ProFile hard drive, released in January 1984.[1] It replaced the original Lisa (Lisa 1) with its troublesome Twiggy floppy drives, offering a more reliable 3.5-inch Sony floppy drive and lower price point.
Overview
The Lisa 2/5 represented Apple's effort to make the Lisa more affordable and reliable. The "2/5" designation indicated the Lisa 2 hardware configuration paired with a 5 MB external ProFile drive. This configuration was the more affordable option compared to the Lisa 2/10, which included an internal 10 MB Widget drive.
Hardware Specifications
Processor and Memory
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Motorola MC68000 @ 5 MHz |
| Data Bus | 16-bit external |
| Address Bus | 24-bit |
| Base RAM | 512 KB |
| Maximum RAM | 2 MB (via memory board upgrades) |
| ROM | 16 KB of bootstrap and self-test code |
Storage
| Device | Specification |
|---|---|
| Floppy Drive | Single 400 KB 3.5" Sony SS/DD drive |
| Hard Drive | External 5 MB ProFile (parallel connection) |
| Floppy Format | GCR multi-speed encoding |
| Floppy Eject | Software-controlled |
The Lisa 2/5 used a single 400 KB Sony 3.5-inch floppy drive, replacing the dual Twiggy 5.25-inch drives of the Lisa 1. The Sony mechanism was more reliable and used the same format as early Macintosh computers.
The external ProFile drive connects to the parallel port on the rear of the unit. Apple's error code 51 is "Parallel port VIA", which confirms the port is driven by a VIA and points the first replacement at the I/O board.[2]
Display
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 12" diagonal |
| Resolution | 720 × 364 pixels |
| Display Type | Monochrome CRT (black and white) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz vertical |
| Contrast | Software-controlled, plus a hardware contrast adjustment on the video board that Apple's own fault table tells the technician to set to mid-range before condemning anything[2] |
| External Video | RCA jack (non-standard composite output) |
Input/Output
| Port | Description |
|---|---|
| Serial Ports | 2 × RS-232C (25-pin). Apple names them RS232 port A and RS232 port B in its error codes 55 and 56[2] |
| Parallel Port | External ProFile/printer connection |
| Keyboard | Coiled cord to the I/O board; Apple part 661-93109[2] |
| Mouse | DE-9 connector, single-button mechanical-optical |
| Expansion Slots | 3× proprietary Lisa slots |
Power Supply
The Lisa 2/5 uses the same supply as the Lisa 1: Apple part 661-93108 for the US machine and 661-93149 for the European one. The Lisa 2/10 uses a different part, 661-73172.[2]
Apple publishes no rail tolerance and no power-supply adjustment procedure for the Lisa. The only adjustments in the Level 1 procedures are video ones — horizontal phase, brightness and contrast, yoke and trim magnets.[2] Note also that Apple's video fault table lists "a sizzling noise coming from Lisa" and "power supply trips (turns off and on)" with brightness and contrast adjustment as the first two remedies, ahead of replacing the supply — so a Lisa that trips is not automatically a supply fault.
Differences from Other Lisa Models
| Feature | Lisa 1 | Lisa 2/5 | Lisa 2/10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floppy Drive | Dual Twiggy 5.25" | Single Sony 3.5" 400K | Single Sony 3.5" 400K |
| Hard Drive | External ProFile | External ProFile 5 MB | Internal Widget 10 MB |
| Parallel Port | External | External | Internal (for the Widget) |
| Power supply (Apple P/N) | 661-93108 US, 661-93149 European | 661-93108 | 661-73172 |
| Motherboard (Apple P/N) | 661-93106 | 661-93106 | 661-93170 |
| I/O board (Apple P/N) | 661-93104 | 661-93198 | 661-93171 |
Apple's parts lists confirm that the Lisa 2/10 has a different power supply, motherboard and I/O board from the Lisa 1 and Lisa 2.[2] Supply current ratings and a "DataPower" designation are in circulation for this machine and could not be sourced; the part numbers above are checkable and the amperages were not.
A claim the Lisa 2/5 uses "a discrete Woz Machine" disk controller and only the 2/10 an IWM is not given here: nothing held here supports a split between the two Lisa 2 configurations on that point, and both read the same Sony 3.5-inch mechanism.
Software Compatibility
The Lisa 2/5 could run:
- Lisa OS — Original Lisa operating system
- Lisa Office System — Integrated office suite (LisaWrite, LisaCalc, LisaDraw, etc.)
- MacWorks — Macintosh compatibility environment allowing Mac software to run on Lisa hardware
- Xenix — Microsoft's UNIX variant (with appropriate configuration)
General Maintenance
For detailed maintenance practices including cleaning, PRAM battery management, power supply care, and CRT handling, refer to the Apple Lisa General Maintenance page.
The I/O-board battery switch
Before treating a Lisa that has lost its clock as faulty, check the switch. Apple's set-up procedure: remove the back panel, find the set of four batteries on the lower right side of the I/O board, and make sure the switch next to them is set to ON (toward the left).[2] A Lisa shipped or serviced with that switch off will not keep time and is not broken.
The pack itself should come out of any machine being restored — see Apple Lisa Troubleshooting and Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage.
Troubleshooting
A comprehensive troubleshooting guide addressing power issues, self-test error codes, display problems, and storage failures is available on the Apple Lisa Troubleshooting page.
Capacitor Replacement
The Lisa 2/5 contains electrolytic capacitors and a class-X mains safety capacitor that require replacement for long-term reliability. See the Apple Lisa Capacitor Replacement Guide for detailed specifications and procedures.
ProFile Hard Drive
The external ProFile drive included with the Lisa 2/5 was a 5 MB hard drive with its own Z8 microprocessor and error-sparing capabilities. ProFile drives were also prone to capacitor failures in their power supplies and should be recapped when servicing a Lisa system.
Modern alternatives to the ProFile include:
- X/ProFile — Uses CompactFlash storage
- IDEfile — Uses IDE drives or flash memory
Related Pages
- Apple Lisa
- Apple Lisa 2/10
- Macintosh XL
- Apple Lisa General Maintenance
- Apple Lisa Troubleshooting
- Apple Lisa Capacitor Replacement Guide
References
- ↑ Apple Lisa, Apple History—link(accessed 2026-02-09)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Apple Computer, Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures (hosted here: Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures Mar85): Lisa Set-up 2.6 "Checking the Battery Switch"; Lisa 2 Diagnostics 5 "Interpreting the Boot ROM"; Lisa Troubleshooting Guide 6 and Appendix D "Start-up Error Codes"; Video Repair Procedures; and the Lisa 1, Lisa 2, Lisa 2/5, Lisa 2/10 and Macintosh XL Illustrated Parts Lists.