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| release date  = January 1984
| release date  = January 1984
| discontinued  = April 1985 (rebranded as Macintosh XL)
| discontinued  = April 1985 (rebranded as Macintosh XL)
| price          = US$3,495 (Lisa 2/5)<br>US$5,495 (Lisa 2/10)
| price          = US$3,495 (Lisa 2/5)
| units_sold    = ~60,000 (including Macintosh XL)
| units_sold    = ~60,000 (including Macintosh XL)
| cpu            = Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz
| cpu            = Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz
| memory        = 512 KB RAM standard (expandable to 2 MB)
| memory        = 512 KB RAM standard (expandable to 2 MB)
| storage        = '''Lisa 2/5:''' 1 × 3.5″ floppy (400 KB) + 5 MB ProFile HDD<br>'''Lisa 2/10:''' 2 × 3.5″ floppy + 10 MB Widget HDD
| storage        = '''One''' 3.5″ 400 KB floppy in every Lisa 2 configuration<br>'''Lisa 2/5:''' + external 5 MB ProFile<br>'''Lisa 2/10:''' + internal 10 MB Widget
| display        = 12″ monochrome CRT, 720 × 364 pixels
| display        = 12″ monochrome CRT, 720 × 364 pixels
| graphics      = Integrated raster display controller
| graphics      = Integrated raster display controller
| sound          = Internal piezo speaker
| sound          = Mono, via a continuously variable slope demodulator (CVSD)
| os            = Lisa OS 2.0–3.1; MacWorks XL (optional)
| os            = Lisa OS 2.0–3.1; MacWorks XL (optional)
| input          = Detachable keyboard, one-button mouse
| input          = Detachable keyboard, one-button mouse
| connectivity  = 2 × RS-422 serial; parallel printer; optional AppleTalk
| connectivity  = 2 × RS-232 serial (Apple calls them RS232 port A and port B); parallel printer
| expansion      = 3 × internal Lisa slots; 2 MB RAM expansion board
| expansion      = 3 × internal Lisa slots; 2 MB RAM expansion board
| dimensions    = 15.2″ H × 18.7″ W × 14.4″ D
| dimensions    = 15.2″ H × 18.7″ W × 13.8″ D
| weight        = 48 lb (21.8 kg)
| weight        = 48 lb (21.8 kg)
| predecessor    = [[Apple Lisa]]
| predecessor    = [[Apple Lisa]]
| successor      = [[Macintosh XL]] (rebrand)
| successor      = [[Macintosh XL]] (rebrand)
| codename      = "Pepsi" (Lisa 2/5), "Coke" (Lisa 2/10)
| model          = A6S0300 (Lisa 2/5), A6S0400 (Lisa 2/10)
}}
}}


Line 61: Line 59:
| Maximum RAM || 2 MB || colspan="2" | 2 MB
| Maximum RAM || 2 MB || colspan="2" | 2 MB
|-
|-
| Floppy drives || 2 × Twiggy (871 KB) || 1 × Sony (400 KB) || 2 × Sony (400 KB)
| Floppy drives || 2 × Twiggy (871 KB) || 1 × Sony (400 KB) || 1 × Sony (400 KB)
|-
|-
| Hard drive || External ProFile 5 MB || External ProFile 5 MB || Internal Widget 10 MB
| Hard drive || External ProFile 5 MB || External ProFile 5 MB || Internal Widget 10 MB
|-
|-
| List price || US$9,995 || US$3,495 || US$5,495
| List price || US$9,995 || US$3,495 || Reported variously as US$4,995 and US$5,495; neither could be confirmed against an Apple document
|}
|}


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The Sony MP-F51W drives offered:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.applefritter.com/content/lisa-2-floppy-drive-information |title=Lisa 2 Floppy Drive Information |publisher=Applefritter |access-date=2025-01-25}}</ref>
The Sony MP-F51W drives offered:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.applefritter.com/content/lisa-2-floppy-drive-information |title=Lisa 2 Floppy Drive Information |publisher=Applefritter |access-date=2025-01-25}}</ref>
* 400 KB formatted capacity (single-sided)
* 400 KB formatted capacity (single-sided)
* Variable speed rotation (394-590 RPM)
* Variable-speed rotation (the zoned scheme Apple also used on the 400 KB Macintosh drive)
* Automatic disk ejection mechanism
* Automatic disk ejection mechanism
* Enhanced reliability over Twiggy drives
* Enhanced reliability over Twiggy drives
Line 89: Line 87:
* 10 MB capacity (compared to 5 MB ProFile)
* 10 MB capacity (compared to 5 MB ProFile)
* Integrated controller board
* Integrated controller board
* Faster seek times (65 ms average)
* Connected on the parallel interface, which is why the Lisa 2/10 has no external parallel port. Apple lists the whole thing as hard disk assembly '''661-93176'''<ref name="lisal1">Apple Computer, ''Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures'' (hosted here: [[Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures Mar85]]): Lisa Set-up section 2.6 "Checking the Battery Switch"; Lisa 2 Diagnostics section 5 "Interpreting the Boot ROM"; Lisa Troubleshooting Guide section 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.</ref>
* Direct connection to Lisa's parallel port
* Built-in diagnostics ROM
* Built-in diagnostics ROM


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The Lisa 2 maintained the original's connectivity while adding AppleTalk support:
The Lisa 2 maintained the original's connectivity while adding AppleTalk support:


{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:95%;"
|+'''Lisa 2 Port Specifications'''
|+'''Lisa 2 ports'''
|-
|-
! Port !! Connector Type !! Protocol !! Maximum Speed
! Port !! Notes
|-
|-
| Serial A || DB-25 || RS-422/RS-232 || 57.6 kbps
| Serial A, Serial B || '''RS-232''', DB-25. Apple's error codes call them "RS232 port A" and "RS232 port B" (codes 55 and 56)<ref name="lisal1" />
|-
|-
| Serial B || DB-25 || RS-422/RS-232/AppleTalk || 230.4 kbps
| Parallel || For a ProFile or a dot-matrix printer. '''Absent on the Lisa 2/10''', where it is used internally for the Widget; a Parallel Interface Card in an expansion slot restores it<ref name="lisal1" />
|-
|-
| Parallel || DB-25 || Centronics/Widget || 500 kbps
| Mouse || DE-9
|-
|-
| Mouse || DE-9 || Quadrature encoding || N/A
| Keyboard || Coiled cord to the I/O board
|-
| Keyboard || RJ-11 style || Proprietary serial || 4800 bps
|}
|}
'''Maximum data rates and an AppleTalk capability were sometimes tabulated for it and are not
supported by anything held on this wiki.''' The Lisa has no AppleTalk hardware; its serial ports
are RS-232. The figures have been removed.


== Software Compatibility ==
== Software Compatibility ==
Line 140: Line 139:
=== Lisa 2/10 ===
=== Lisa 2/10 ===
The premium configuration featured:
The premium configuration featured:
* Dual 3.5″ floppy drives
* '''One''' 3.5″ floppy drive — Apple's service manual states plainly that "Lisa 2, 2/5, and
  2/10 have only one disk drive"<ref name="lisal1" />
* Internal Widget 10 MB hard drive
* Internal Widget 10 MB hard drive
* 512 KB RAM standard
* 512 KB RAM standard
Line 148: Line 148:
=== Upgrade Paths ===
=== Upgrade Paths ===
Apple offered official upgrade programs:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/lisa_2_upgrade_manual |title=Lisa 2 Upgrade Manual |publisher=Apple Computer |date=1984 |access-date=2025-01-25}}</ref>
Apple offered official upgrade programs:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/lisa_2_upgrade_manual |title=Lisa 2 Upgrade Manual |publisher=Apple Computer |date=1984 |access-date=2025-01-25}}</ref>
* Lisa 1 to Lisa 2/5: US$595 (included I/O board swap)
* Lisa 1 to Lisa 2/5 (I/O board and drive module swap)
* Lisa 1 to Lisa 2/10: US$2,495 (included Widget drive)
* Lisa 1 to Lisa 2/10 (Widget drive as well)
* Lisa 2/5 to Lisa 2/10: US$1,298 (added second floppy and Widget)
* Lisa 2/5 to Lisa 2/10 (the Widget drive and the 2/10 I/O board, motherboard and power supply)


== Manufacturing and Quality Control ==
== Manufacturing and Quality Control ==
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* Streamlined assembly process
* Streamlined assembly process


=== Serial Number Identification ===
=== Identifying which Lisa you have ===
Lisa 2 units can be identified by their serial number format:
Apple's own identification method is a picture, not a serial number: the ''Lisa 2 Diagnostics''
* '''A4Sxxxxx:''' Early Lisa 2/5 (January-June 1984)
section prints line drawings distinguishing the three machines by what is attached — a bare
* '''A4Txxxxx:''' Late Lisa 2/5 (July-December 1984)
3.5-inch Microdisk drive (Lisa 2), that drive plus an external 5 MB ProFile (Lisa 2/5), or that
* '''A5Sxxxxx:''' Lisa 2/10 (all production)
drive plus a built-in 10 MB hard disk (Lisa 2/10).<ref name="lisal1" /> Page 3 of the
[[Apple Lisa 2 Owners Guide 1984]] is Apple's customer-facing version of the same question.
A further check: '''the Lisa 2/10 I/O board has no switch''' where the earlier boards do.<ref name="lisal1" />
 
Serial-number prefix ranges sometimes listed for it could not be traced to any Apple document and
have been removed.
 
== Apple's start-up self-test ==
On power-up the Lisa runs a self-test from the boot ROM on the CPU board. Apple's own
description of what should happen:<ref name="lisal1" />
 
# The on/off lamp lights.
# '''The machine is silent for about three seconds, then emits a single click.'''
# '''About 30 seconds after power-on''', as the picture tube warms up, the screen shows
  '''four icons''' representing the '''CPU, I/O, Memory and Expansion''' cards, each highlighted
  in turn as the boot ROM tests it.
# If a card fails you hear '''error tones''' and its icon appears with '''a large X through
  it''', and testing stops. Reseat the board, power up again, and swap it out if the same error
  returns.
# Or an '''error icon and a numeric error code''' are displayed — see the table below.
 
'''Thirty seconds of blank screen is normal.''' Apple's own flowchart only sends the reader to
the video repair procedures if there is '''no''' picture after 30 seconds.<ref name="lisal1" />
 
'''LisaTest needs two memory boards fitted''' to run at all, in any Lisa 2 configuration, and
'''APPLE-SHIFT-S''' switches it from Customer Level to Service Level, where individual modules
can be tested.<ref name="lisal1" />
 
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:95%;"
|+'''Apple's start-up error codes — Appendix D, Lisa Troubleshooting Guide'''<ref name="lisal1" />
! Code !! Apple's description !! Apple's action, in order
|-
| '''22''' || Unable to clamp diskette || See the start-up error messages for the "bad diskette" icon
|-
| '''23''' || Unable to read diskette || As above
|-
| '''25''' || Unable to unclamp diskette || As above
|-
| '''38''' || No boot file on diskette || As above
|-
| '''39''' || Disk controller timeout || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
|-
| '''40''' || HMU || CPU board
|-
| '''41''' || CPU selection logic || CPU board
|-
| '''42''' || Video circuitry || CPU board
|-
| '''43''' || Parity circuitry || CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2 → motherboard
|-
| '''44''' || NMI error || CPU board → I/O board → motherboard
|-
| '''45''' || BUS error || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
|-
| '''46''' || Address error || CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2
|-
| '''47''' || Exception || CPU board → motherboard
|-
| '''48''' || Illegal instruction || CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2
|-
| '''49''' || 1010 or 1111 trap || CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2
|-
| '''50''' || COPs VIA || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
|-
| '''51''' || Parallel port VIA || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
|-
| '''52''' || I/O board COPs || I/O board
|-
| '''53''' || Keyboard COPs || Keyboard → I/O board → keyboard cable → motherboard
|-
| '''54''' || Clock error || I/O board
|-
| '''55''' || RS232 port A || I/O board
|-
| '''56''' || RS232 port B || I/O board
|-
| '''57''' || Disk controller || I/O board → disk drive → disk drive cables → CPU board → motherboard
|-
| '''58''' || I/O board access || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
|-
| '''59''' || I/O board COPs code || I/O board
|-
| '''60''' || I/O or keyboard error || Keyboard → I/O board → keyboard cable → motherboard
|-
| '''70''' || Memory data || Replace the memory board '''named by the icon displayed'''
|-
| '''71''' || Memory parity || As above
|-
| '''75''' || Boot failure || See the start-up error messages for the icon shown
|-
| '''80–85''' || ProFile errors || See the start-up error messages for the "bad ProFile" icon
|-
| '''90–93''' || Expansion card error || See the start-up error messages for the "bad expansion card" icon
|}
 
'''There are no codes in the 10s, and none between 60 and 70.''' A banded table of the form
"10–19 = CPU board, 20–29 = I/O board" circulates for this machine and is not Apple's: 22,
23 and 25 are diskette-handling failures, and the CPU-board codes are 40–49.<ref name="lisal1" />
 
== Apple part numbers ==
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:95%;"
|+'''Apple part numbers, from the Illustrated Parts Lists'''<ref name="lisal1" />
! Assembly !! Lisa 1 / Lisa 2 !! Lisa 2/5 !! Lisa 2/10 and Macintosh XL
|-
| Power supply || '''661-93108''' (US), '''661-93149''' (European) || '''661-93108''' || '''661-73172'''
|-
| Motherboard || '''661-93106''' || '''661-93106''' || '''661-93170'''
|-
| I/O board || '''661-93104''' (Lisa 1.0) || '''661-93198''' || '''661-93171'''
|-
| CPU board || colspan="3" | '''661-93103''' throughout; the Macintosh XL modified CPU card is '''661-0298'''
|-
| Memory board || colspan="3" | '''661-93105'''
|-
| Video board || colspan="3" | '''661-93107'''
|-
| Flyback transformer || colspan="3" | '''076-0106'''; CRT/yoke assembly '''076-0150'''; yoke trim magnets 159-0015, 159-0020 (yellow), 159-0021 (red), 159-0022 (green), 159-0023 (blue)
|-
| 3.5-inch Microdisk assembly || colspan="3" | '''661-76156'''; Microdisk Adapter PCB '''661-93194'''
|-
| Internal hard disk assembly || colspan="2" | — || '''661-93176'''
|-
| Keyboard / mouse || colspan="3" | Keyboard '''661-93109'''; mouse '''661-93111''' (Lisa 1.0/2.0) or '''661-96155''' (Macintosh-Lisa 2/10); mouse ball '''699-8001'''
|}
 
'''The one-line answer to "is the Lisa 2/10 supply different?"''' Yes — Apple lists it as a
different part, '''661-73172''' against '''661-93108''' for the Lisa 1 and Lisa 2. So is the
motherboard and so is the I/O board. Current ratings quoted elsewhere for these two supplies
could not be sourced and are not given here.<ref name="lisal1" />


== Common Issues and Maintenance ==
== Common Issues and Maintenance ==


=== Power Supply Problems ===
=== Power Supply Problems ===
The Lisa 2 power supply, while improved, still suffers from age-related failures:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/lisa-2-power-supply-repair.25847/ |title=Lisa 2 Power Supply Repair |publisher=68kMLA Forums |access-date=2025-01-25}}</ref>
The supply is a known weak point and a full recap is the usual remedy. Two points of caution:
* '''Capacitor degradation:''' Replace all electrolytic capacitors
 
* '''Voltage drift:''' Adjust potentiometers R38 (5V) and R39 (12V)
* '''Apple publishes no rail tolerance and no voltage-adjustment procedure for the Lisa.''' The
* '''Thermal stress:''' Add heat sinks to voltage regulators
  Level 1 procedures cover video adjustments — horizontal phase, brightness and contrast, yoke
  and trim magnets — and nothing else.<ref name="lisal1" /> Designators for "+5 V" and "+12 V" adjustment
  potentiometers circulate for this machine; they are not in any Apple document held and have
  been removed rather than left for someone to turn.
* Apple's video repair table lists '''"a sizzling noise coming from Lisa"''' and '''"power supply
  trips (turns off and on)"''' as symptoms whose first two remedies are '''brightness and
  contrast adjustment''', before replacing the supply, video board or flyback — so a tripping
  supply on a Lisa is not automatically a supply fault.<ref name="lisal1" />


=== Widget Drive Failures ===
=== Widget Drive Failures ===
Line 182: Line 317:


=== Memory Expansion Issues ===
=== Memory Expansion Issues ===
Common memory-related problems include:
The Lisa has '''no SIMMs''' — memory is on plug-in '''memory boards''', Apple part
* '''SIMM socket corrosion:''' Clean with contact cleaner
'''661-93105''', in the card cage. Common problems:
* '''Addressing errors:''' Check memory controller PALs
* '''Edge-connector oxidation''' on the memory boards — clean the contacts
* '''Codes 70 and 71''' name the failing board by icon; try each board on its own
* '''Compatibility:''' Some third-party RAM incompatible
* '''Compatibility:''' Some third-party RAM incompatible


Latest revision as of 12:35, 27 September 2026

Apple Lisa 2
Apple Lisa 2 with 3.5" Sony floppy drive
Specifications
DeveloperApple Computer, Inc.
ManufacturerApple Computer, Inc.
TypePersonal/business computer
ReleasedJanuary 1984
DiscontinuedApril 1985 (rebranded as Macintosh XL)
Intro priceUS$3,495 (Lisa 2/5)
Units sold~60,000 (including Macintosh XL)
CPUMotorola 68000 @ 5 MHz
Memory512 KB RAM standard (expandable to 2 MB)
StorageOne 3.5″ 400 KB floppy in every Lisa 2 configuration
Lisa 2/5: + external 5 MB ProFile
Lisa 2/10: + internal 10 MB Widget
Display12″ monochrome CRT, 720 × 364 pixels
SoundMono, via a continuously variable slope demodulator (CVSD)
GraphicsIntegrated raster display controller
InputDetachable keyboard, one-button mouse
Connectivity2 × RS-232 serial (Apple calls them RS232 port A and port B); parallel printer
Expansion3 × internal Lisa slots; 2 MB RAM expansion board
Dimensions15.2″ H × 18.7″ W × 13.8″ D
Weight48 lb (21.8 kg)
OS / FirmwareLisa OS 2.0–3.1; MacWorks XL (optional)
PredecessorApple Lisa
SuccessorMacintosh XL (rebrand)

The Apple Lisa 2 was Apple Computer's redesigned and more affordable iteration of the original Apple Lisa, introduced in January 1984. The Lisa 2 addressed the original's most critical flaws by replacing the unreliable "Twiggy" floppy drives with industry-standard 3.5″ Sony drives and reducing the entry price by 65%. Available in two configurations—the Lisa 2/5 with external ProFile drive and the Lisa 2/10 with internal Widget hard drive—the Lisa 2 represented Apple's final attempt to salvage the Lisa platform before its transformation into the Macintosh XL.

Development and Market Positioning

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Engineering Response to Lisa 1 Failures

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The Lisa 2 project began immediately after the original Lisa's troubled launch in mid-1983. Apple engineers, led by the Lisa hardware team under Wayne Rosing, focused on addressing the three primary complaints: the unreliable Twiggy drives, the prohibitive $9,995 price point, and limited software availability.[1]

Sony Drive Integration

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The transition from Twiggy to Sony 3.5″ drives required significant engineering effort. The new drive controller, designed by the team that would later create the Macintosh IWM (Integrated Woz Machine), provided compatibility with the emerging 3.5″ standard while maintaining backward compatibility with existing Lisa software through a ROM update.[2]

Price Reduction Strategy

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To achieve the dramatic price reduction, Apple:

  • Eliminated one floppy drive in the base model
  • Reduced standard RAM from 1 MB to 512 KB
  • Simplified the packaging and documentation
  • Leveraged economies of scale from shared components with Macintosh[3]

Hardware Specifications

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Core Architecture

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The Lisa 2 retained the original's fundamental architecture while implementing cost-saving measures:

Lisa 2 Hardware Comparison
Component Lisa 1 Lisa 2/5 Lisa 2/10
CPU Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz
Standard RAM 1 MB 512 KB 512 KB
Maximum RAM 2 MB 2 MB
Floppy drives 2 × Twiggy (871 KB) 1 × Sony (400 KB) 1 × Sony (400 KB)
Hard drive External ProFile 5 MB External ProFile 5 MB Internal Widget 10 MB
List price US$9,995 US$3,495 Reported variously as US$4,995 and US$5,495; neither could be confirmed against an Apple document

Memory Configuration

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The Lisa 2 introduced a new memory architecture to reduce costs:[4]

  • Base configuration: 512 KB using 256K×1 DRAM chips
  • Expansion options:

512 KB card (bringing total to 1 MB) 1.5 MB card (bringing total to 2 MB)

  • Memory map: Identical to Lisa 1, maintaining software compatibility

Storage Subsystem

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Sony 3.5″ Floppy Implementation

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The Sony MP-F51W drives offered:[5]

  • 400 KB formatted capacity (single-sided)
  • Variable-speed rotation (the zoned scheme Apple also used on the 400 KB Macintosh drive)
  • Automatic disk ejection mechanism
  • Enhanced reliability over Twiggy drives

Widget Hard Drive (Lisa 2/10)

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The internal Widget drive represented a significant advancement:[6]

  • 10 MB capacity (compared to 5 MB ProFile)
  • Integrated controller board
  • Connected on the parallel interface, which is why the Lisa 2/10 has no external parallel port. Apple lists the whole thing as hard disk assembly 661-93176[7]
  • Built-in diagnostics ROM

I/O Port Configuration

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The Lisa 2 maintained the original's connectivity while adding AppleTalk support:

Lisa 2 ports
Port Notes
Serial A, Serial B RS-232, DB-25. Apple's error codes call them "RS232 port A" and "RS232 port B" (codes 55 and 56)[7]
Parallel For a ProFile or a dot-matrix printer. Absent on the Lisa 2/10, where it is used internally for the Widget; a Parallel Interface Card in an expansion slot restores it[7]
Mouse DE-9
Keyboard Coiled cord to the I/O board

Maximum data rates and an AppleTalk capability were sometimes tabulated for it and are not supported by anything held on this wiki. The Lisa has no AppleTalk hardware; its serial ports are RS-232. The figures have been removed.

Software Compatibility

[edit | edit source]

Lisa Office System 2.0

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The Lisa 2 shipped with an updated Lisa Office System optimized for the reduced memory configuration:[8]

  • Memory optimization: Applications redesigned to run in 512 KB
  • Disk handling: New floppy driver for Sony mechanisms
  • Performance improvements: Faster application switching
  • Bug fixes: Addressed over 200 issues from Lisa OS 1.0

MacWorks Compatibility Layer

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In late 1984, Apple introduced MacWorks, allowing Lisa 2 to run Macintosh software:[9]

  • Emulated Macintosh 64K ROM routines
  • Provided 400 KB RAM to applications
  • Supported most Macintosh software except games
  • Limited by lack of Macintosh sound hardware

Models and Configurations

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Lisa 2/5

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The entry-level configuration included:

  • Single 3.5″ floppy drive
  • External ProFile 5 MB hard drive
  • 512 KB RAM standard
  • Lisa Office System 2.0
  • US$3,495 list price

Lisa 2/10

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The premium configuration featured:

  • One 3.5″ floppy drive — Apple's service manual states plainly that "Lisa 2, 2/5, and
 2/10 have only one disk drive"[7]
  • Internal Widget 10 MB hard drive
  • 512 KB RAM standard
  • Lisa Office System 2.0
  • US$5,495 list price

Upgrade Paths

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Apple offered official upgrade programs:[10]

  • Lisa 1 to Lisa 2/5 (I/O board and drive module swap)
  • Lisa 1 to Lisa 2/10 (Widget drive as well)
  • Lisa 2/5 to Lisa 2/10 (the Widget drive and the 2/10 I/O board, motherboard and power supply)

Manufacturing and Quality Control

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Production Changes

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The Lisa 2 incorporated several manufacturing improvements:[11]

  • Simplified motherboard with reduced chip count
  • Improved power supply reliability
  • Better thermal management
  • Streamlined assembly process

Identifying which Lisa you have

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Apple's own identification method is a picture, not a serial number: the Lisa 2 Diagnostics section prints line drawings distinguishing the three machines by what is attached — a bare 3.5-inch Microdisk drive (Lisa 2), that drive plus an external 5 MB ProFile (Lisa 2/5), or that drive plus a built-in 10 MB hard disk (Lisa 2/10).[7] Page 3 of the Apple Lisa 2 Owners Guide 1984 is Apple's customer-facing version of the same question. A further check: the Lisa 2/10 I/O board has no switch where the earlier boards do.[7]

Serial-number prefix ranges sometimes listed for it could not be traced to any Apple document and have been removed.

Apple's start-up self-test

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On power-up the Lisa runs a self-test from the boot ROM on the CPU board. Apple's own description of what should happen:[7]

  1. The on/off lamp lights.
  2. The machine is silent for about three seconds, then emits a single click.
  3. About 30 seconds after power-on, as the picture tube warms up, the screen shows
 four icons representing the CPU, I/O, Memory and Expansion cards, each highlighted
 in turn as the boot ROM tests it.
  1. If a card fails you hear error tones and its icon appears with a large X through
 it, and testing stops. Reseat the board, power up again, and swap it out if the same error
 returns.
  1. Or an error icon and a numeric error code are displayed — see the table below.

Thirty seconds of blank screen is normal. Apple's own flowchart only sends the reader to the video repair procedures if there is no picture after 30 seconds.[7]

LisaTest needs two memory boards fitted to run at all, in any Lisa 2 configuration, and APPLE-SHIFT-S switches it from Customer Level to Service Level, where individual modules can be tested.[7]

Apple's start-up error codes — Appendix D, Lisa Troubleshooting Guide[7]
Code Apple's description Apple's action, in order
22 Unable to clamp diskette See the start-up error messages for the "bad diskette" icon
23 Unable to read diskette As above
25 Unable to unclamp diskette As above
38 No boot file on diskette As above
39 Disk controller timeout I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
40 HMU CPU board
41 CPU selection logic CPU board
42 Video circuitry CPU board
43 Parity circuitry CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2 → motherboard
44 NMI error CPU board → I/O board → motherboard
45 BUS error I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
46 Address error CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2
47 Exception CPU board → motherboard
48 Illegal instruction CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2
49 1010 or 1111 trap CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2
50 COPs VIA I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
51 Parallel port VIA I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
52 I/O board COPs I/O board
53 Keyboard COPs Keyboard → I/O board → keyboard cable → motherboard
54 Clock error I/O board
55 RS232 port A I/O board
56 RS232 port B I/O board
57 Disk controller I/O board → disk drive → disk drive cables → CPU board → motherboard
58 I/O board access I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
59 I/O board COPs code I/O board
60 I/O or keyboard error Keyboard → I/O board → keyboard cable → motherboard
70 Memory data Replace the memory board named by the icon displayed
71 Memory parity As above
75 Boot failure See the start-up error messages for the icon shown
80–85 ProFile errors See the start-up error messages for the "bad ProFile" icon
90–93 Expansion card error See the start-up error messages for the "bad expansion card" icon

There are no codes in the 10s, and none between 60 and 70. A banded table of the form "10–19 = CPU board, 20–29 = I/O board" circulates for this machine and is not Apple's: 22, 23 and 25 are diskette-handling failures, and the CPU-board codes are 40–49.[7]

Apple part numbers

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Apple part numbers, from the Illustrated Parts Lists[7]
Assembly Lisa 1 / Lisa 2 Lisa 2/5 Lisa 2/10 and Macintosh XL
Power supply 661-93108 (US), 661-93149 (European) 661-93108 661-73172
Motherboard 661-93106 661-93106 661-93170
I/O board 661-93104 (Lisa 1.0) 661-93198 661-93171
CPU board 661-93103 throughout; the Macintosh XL modified CPU card is 661-0298
Memory board 661-93105
Video board 661-93107
Flyback transformer 076-0106; CRT/yoke assembly 076-0150; yoke trim magnets 159-0015, 159-0020 (yellow), 159-0021 (red), 159-0022 (green), 159-0023 (blue)
3.5-inch Microdisk assembly 661-76156; Microdisk Adapter PCB 661-93194
Internal hard disk assembly — 661-93176
Keyboard / mouse Keyboard 661-93109; mouse 661-93111 (Lisa 1.0/2.0) or 661-96155 (Macintosh-Lisa 2/10); mouse ball 699-8001

The one-line answer to "is the Lisa 2/10 supply different?" Yes — Apple lists it as a different part, 661-73172 against 661-93108 for the Lisa 1 and Lisa 2. So is the motherboard and so is the I/O board. Current ratings quoted elsewhere for these two supplies could not be sourced and are not given here.[7]

Common Issues and Maintenance

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Power Supply Problems

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The supply is a known weak point and a full recap is the usual remedy. Two points of caution:

  • Apple publishes no rail tolerance and no voltage-adjustment procedure for the Lisa. The
 Level 1 procedures cover video adjustments — horizontal phase, brightness and contrast, yoke
 and trim magnets — and nothing else.[7] Designators for "+5 V" and "+12 V" adjustment
 potentiometers circulate for this machine; they are not in any Apple document held and have
 been removed rather than left for someone to turn.
  • Apple's video repair table lists "a sizzling noise coming from Lisa" and "power supply
 trips (turns off and on)" as symptoms whose first two remedies are brightness and
 contrast adjustment, before replacing the supply, video board or flyback — so a tripping
 supply on a Lisa is not automatically a supply fault.[7]

Widget Drive Failures

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The Widget drive has specific failure modes:[12]

  • Servo failure: Replace servo control board components
  • Head crashes: Often irreparable, require drive replacement
  • Controller errors: Re-seat or replace controller board

Memory Expansion Issues

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The Lisa has no SIMMs — memory is on plug-in memory boards, Apple part 661-93105, in the card cage. Common problems:

  • Edge-connector oxidation on the memory boards — clean the contacts
  • Codes 70 and 71 name the failing board by icon; try each board on its own
  • Compatibility: Some third-party RAM incompatible

Market Performance and Legacy

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Sales Impact

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The Lisa 2's price reduction had immediate effects:[13]

  • Initial sales surge in Q1 1984
  • Competition with Macintosh announcement
  • Inventory challenges with Lisa 1 units
  • Total Lisa 2/XL sales estimated at 60,000 units

Transition to Macintosh XL

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In January 1985, Apple rebranded remaining Lisa 2/10 inventory as the Macintosh XL:[14]

  • Included MacWorks XL boot disk
  • Marketed as high-end Macintosh
  • Discontinued April 1985
  • Final units sold through 1986

Historical Significance

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The Lisa 2 represents a crucial transition in Apple's history:

  • Bridge between Lisa and Macintosh platforms
  • Demonstrated Apple's ability to respond to market feedback
  • Established 3.5″ floppy as Apple standard
  • Influenced design of future Apple products

Technical Documentation

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Service Information

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Key service resources include:

  • Lisa 2 Owner's Guide (030-0839-A)
  • Lisa 2 Service Manual (072-0061-A)
  • Widget Service Guide (072-0089-A)
  • MacWorks XL Manual (030-1042-A)

Diagnostic Tools

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Apple provided several diagnostic utilities:[15]

  • Lisa Test Disk 3.0 (comprehensive hardware test)
  • Widget Diagnostic (hard drive specific)
  • NeoWidEx (third-party Widget tool)
  • Service Mode (built-in ROM diagnostics)

Preservation and Collecting

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Current Market

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Lisa 2 systems have become increasingly collectible:[16]

  • Working systems: US$2,000-5,000 (2024 prices)
  • Parts machines: US$500-1,500
  • Rare configurations command premium prices
  • Widget drives particularly sought after

Restoration Considerations

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Modern restoration typically involves:

  • Complete capacitor replacement
  • Battery removal (prevents corrosion)
  • Drive mechanism cleaning and lubrication
  • ROM updates for reliability
  • Modern storage solutions (SCSI2SD, X/ProFile)

Apple's own manuals for this machine on this wiki

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 part number 030-1240-A, © 1985. It gives the startup key combinations for a converted Lisa:
 hold the Apple key and type 2 on the main keyboard at the first click to boot from the
 3.5-inch disk, Apple key plus On/Off to restart MacWorks from the hard disk, and Option plus
 On/Off to start from a floppy. It carries no service information at all.

See Also

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References

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  1. ↑ Return to the Little Kingdom: Steve Jobs and the Creation of Apple Computer, Overlook Press
    ISBN 978-1590202036}
  2. ↑ Hide Under This Desk– Andy Hertzfeld, Folklore.org—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  3. ↑ Apple Lisa 2 product announcement, Computer History Museum, 1984-01-10—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  4. ↑ Apple Lisa Hardware Information, 68kMLA Wiki—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  5. ↑ Lisa 2 Floppy Drive Information, Applefritter—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  6. ↑ Apple Widget Hard Drive, Vintage Mac World—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 Apple Computer, Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures (hosted here: Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures Mar85): Lisa Set-up section 2.6 "Checking the Battery Switch"; Lisa 2 Diagnostics section 5 "Interpreting the Boot ROM"; Lisa Troubleshooting Guide section 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.
  8. ↑ Macintosh Revealed, Hayden Book Company
    ISBN 0-8104-6560-2}
  9. ↑ MacWorks Brings Mac OS to Lisa, Low End Mac, 2006-03-21—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  10. ↑ Lisa 2 Upgrade Manual, Apple Computer, 1984—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  11. ↑ Lisa Manufacturing Changes, Applefritter—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  12. ↑ Widget Hard Drive Service– Patrick Schäfer—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  13. ↑ The Lisa Computer System, BYTE, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 33-50, February 1984
  14. ↑ Apple Lisa 2/10 - Macintosh XL Specs, EveryMac.com—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  15. ↑ Lisa Diagnostics, Lisa FAQ—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  16. ↑ Why the Apple Lisa Is a Holy Grail for Vintage Computer Collectors, Cult of Mac, 2018-08-15—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
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