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Verify against Apple's Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures (hosted): DELETED the banded error-code table (there are no codes in the 10s; 22/23/25 are diskette faults, CPU-board codes are 40-49, and 82 is not a 'generic Widget failure' - Apple groups 80-85 as ProFile errors) and replaced it with Apple's full Appendix D table with its own replacement order; deleted the '24+ hours' discharge interval (verify with a meter instead), the unverified RIFA brand attribution, and the unsourced focus-on-f...
Rebuild on Apple's Lisa Troubleshooting Guide: power repair order, start-up error tones table, video repair table, mouse/keyboard/hard disk procedures; error code 60-69; remove uncited cause columns, foam-pad keyboard, TA7259, Widget/emulator and community-ref claims; correct 'trips' (brightness/contrast first) vs 'sizzling' (supply first)
 
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Troubleshooting is essential for diagnosing and resolving issues with your '''Apple Lisa'''. This guide covers the most common problems encountered with Lisa systems.
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[[File:Apple Lisa (photo).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Apple Lisa]]
Apple's troubleshooting procedures for the '''Apple Lisa''', Lisa 2 and Macintosh XL are in the ''Lisa Troubleshooting Guide'', part of its Level I technical procedures. They work by module swapping: each procedure lists the modules to replace, in order.<ref name="lisatp" />


== Preliminary Checks ==
== Before you start ==
* Remove the I/O board battery pack from any machine that has been in storage; see [[Apple Lisa General Maintenance#Battery pack|Battery pack]].
* The CRT anode holds about 15,000 V DC after power-off; see [[CRT Discharge Procedure]].<ref name="lisatp" />
* Remove expansion cards and other attachments and press the reset button before diagnosing start-up faults. If the fault goes away, refit the cards one at a time, restarting after each, until it returns.<ref name="lisatp" />
* Apple's first troubleshooting step clears parameter memory: remove the back panel and switch SW1 on the I/O board off for about 5 seconds, then back on. This erases the preference settings. The Lisa 2/10 I/O board has no switch.<ref name="lisatp" />


Before detailed troubleshooting:
== Normal start-up ==
* Verify power outlet is working
Apple's description of a healthy start-up:<ref name="lisatp" />
* Check that all cables are properly connected
* Ensure the power supply voltage selector (if present) is set correctly for your region
* '''Discharge the power supply and verify with a meter''' that the primary reservoir capacitors have actually come down before touching the board. Waiting a fixed number of hours proves nothing — a supply with a failed bleed path can hold rectified mains indefinitely. The CRT needs discharging separately; see [[CRT Discharge Procedure]]


== No Power / Dead System ==
# The on/off lamp lights.
# The Lisa is silent for about 3 seconds, then gives a single click.
# About 30 seconds after power-on, as the picture tube warms up, four icons appear for the CPU, I/O, memory and expansion cards, each highlighted in turn as the boot ROM tests it.
# A card that fails is shown with a large X through its icon and error tones sound; or an error icon and error code are displayed.


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If the lamp does not light, go to the power repair procedure. If there is no click or unexpected tones sound, press reset on the back panel and, if it still will not boot, go to the start-up repair procedure. If there is no picture after 30 seconds, go to the video repair procedure.<ref name="lisatp" />
[[File:Apple Lisa (photo).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Apple Lisa. Source: Wikimedia Commons.]]
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|+ '''No Power Diagnostics'''
|-
! Symptom !! Possible Cause !! Recommended Action
|-
| No response when power switched on || Failed mains safety capacitor || Inspect and replace the class-X capacitor across the mains input
|-
| Clicking or ticking from power supply || Power supply overload or short || Check for shorts on motherboard; replace power supply capacitors
|-
| Trips circuit breaker || Shorted mains safety capacitor || Replace the class-X capacitor. But note Apple's own table puts '''brightness and contrast adjustment''' ahead of the supply for a Lisa that trips on and off<ref name="lisal1" />
|-
| Power supply smokes || Mains safety capacitor failure || Disconnect immediately; replace the safety capacitors
|-
| Intermittent power || Failing electrolytic capacitors || Full power supply recap recommended
|-
| Powers on briefly then shuts off || Power supply protection circuit triggering || Check for shorts; verify output voltages
|}


=== The mains safety capacitor ===
On the Lisa 2 and Macintosh XL the boot ROM and I/O ROM codes appear in the upper right corner of the screen after the icons have been tested: H and A8 on a Lisa 2 or 2/5, H and 88 on a Macintosh XL, with 3A in place of H once the Screen Modification Kit is fitted.<ref name="lisatp" />
The class-X capacitor across the mains input is the part most likely to fail dramatically in a
supply of this age:
* The epoxy body absorbs moisture over decades, cracks, and fails with smoke, a bang and a
  fish-market smell
* Inspect it before first power-on after long storage; any crazing, cracking, swelling or brown
  staining means it goes now
* Replace with a modern '''X2-rated''' part of the same value. Once replaced with a current part
  it does not need doing again on any schedule
* Mains voltage and stored charge are the hazards here, not the act of opening the supply. See
  [[Capacitor Failure Symptoms]] and [[Recommended Tools]]


'''The specific brand fitted has not been verified''' for the Lisa supply and is not asserted
== Power repair procedure ==
here; the failure mode is a property of the construction, not the label.
Apple's order for a Lisa with power problems:<ref name="lisatp" />


== Self-Test Error Codes ==
# Check the cables and power cord.
# Check that the front and back panels are fitted securely so the interlock switches are closed.
# Check the wall outlet.
# Check the ribbon cable from the motherboard to the soft-switch/keyboard assembly.
# Check there is 2 inches (5 cm) of ventilation space around the Lisa.
# If the Lisa may have overheated, unplug it and let it cool for an hour.
# Swap modules in this order: power supply, I/O board, soft-switch/keyboard assembly, front interlock switch, disk drive to card cage connector, motherboard, video board.


The Lisa boot ROM runs its self-test on every power-up. Apple's own account of a healthy
The supply's outputs and their permitted variation are tabulated on [[Apple Lisa General Maintenance#Power supply|Apple Lisa General Maintenance]], and the capacitor lists are on [[Apple Lisa Capacitor Replacement Guide]].
start-up:<ref name="lisal1">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 Illustrated Parts Lists.</ref>


# The on/off lamp lights.
== Start-up repair and error tones ==
# '''Silence for about three seconds, then a single click.'''
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:left;"
# '''About 30 seconds after power-on''', as the picture tube warms, the screen shows '''four
|+'''Start-up symptoms and error tones'''<ref name="lisatp" />
  icons''' — CPU, I/O, Memory, Expansion — each highlighted in turn as it is tested.
! Symptom !! Probable failure, in Apple's order
# A failing card produces '''error tones''' and its icon is drawn '''with a large X through
  it''', and testing stops. Reseat, power up again, swap the board out if it repeats.
# Otherwise an '''error icon and a numeric code''' appear.
 
'''Thirty seconds of blank screen is normal''' — Apple's flowchart only goes to the video repair
procedures if there is no picture '''after''' 30 seconds. Do not chase a video fault before then.
 
'''LisaTest will not run at all unless two memory boards are fitted''', in any Lisa 2
configuration. '''APPLE-SHIFT-S''' moves it from Customer Level to Service Level, where
individual modules can be tested.<ref name="lisal1" />
 
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{| 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 message for the "bad diskette" icon
| Incorrect or no video, no clicks, no error tones || CPU; I/O; video (go to video repair); motherboard
|-
|-
| '''23''' || Unable to read diskette || As above
| No clicks, and the display shows the boot ROM test found no problems || Speaker connections; I/O; speaker
|-
|-
| '''25''' || Unable to unclamp diskette || As above
| Blank screen with the start-up clicks || Go to video repair
|-
|-
| '''38''' || No boot file on diskette || As above
| Tones: Lo || CPU; memory 1; memory 2
|-
|-
| '''39''' || Disk controller timeout || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
| Tones: Lo, Lo || Memory 2; CPU
|-
|-
| '''40''' || HMU || CPU board
| Tones: Lo, Hi || Card cage (swap boards one at a time)
|-
|-
| '''41''' || CPU selection logic || CPU board
| Tones: Lo, Lo, Hi || CPU
|-
|-
| '''42''' || Video circuitry || CPU board
| Tones: Lo, Hi, Lo || I/O
|-
|-
| '''43''' || Parity circuitry || CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2 → motherboard
| Tones: Hi, Hi, Hi || Peripheral card
|-
|-
| '''44''' || NMI error || CPU board → I/O board → motherboard
| Tones: Lo, Hi, Hi || Memory 1; memory 2
|-
|-
| '''45''' || BUS error || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
| Tones: Hi, Lo, Lo || Expansion boards
|-
|-
| '''46''' || Address error || CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2
| Tones: Hi, Lo, Hi || Keyboard
|-
|-
| '''47''' || Exception || CPU board → motherboard
| Tones: Hi, Hi, Lo || Keyboard or mouse disconnected
|}
 
== Start-up error codes ==
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%;"
|+'''Start-up error codes and Apple's replacement order'''<ref name="lisatp" />
! Code !! Apple's description !! Replace, in order
|-
|-
| '''48''' || Illegal instruction || CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2
| 22, 23, 25, 38 || Unable to clamp, read or unclamp diskette; no boot file on diskette || See the start-up messages for the bad diskette icon
|-
|-
| '''49''' || 1010 or 1111 trap || CPU board → memory board 1 → memory board 2
| 39 || Disk controller timeout || I/O board, CPU board, motherboard
|-
|-
| '''50''' || COPs VIA || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
| 40 || MMU || CPU board
|-
|-
| '''51''' || Parallel port VIA || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
| 41 || CPU selection logic || CPU board
|-
|-
| '''52''' || I/O board COPs || I/O board
| 42 || Video circuitry || CPU board
|-
|-
| '''53''' || Keyboard COPs || Keyboard → I/O board → keyboard cable → motherboard
| 43 || Parity circuitry || CPU board, memory board 1, memory board 2, motherboard
|-
|-
| '''54''' || Clock error || I/O board
| 44 || NMI error || CPU board, I/O board, motherboard
|-
|-
| '''55''' || RS232 port A || I/O board
| 45 || Bus error || I/O board, CPU board, motherboard
|-
|-
| '''56''' || RS232 port B || I/O board
| 46 || Address error || CPU board, memory board 1, memory board 2
|-
|-
| '''57''' || Disk controller || I/O board → disk drive → disk drive cables → CPU board → motherboard
| 47 || Exception || CPU board, motherboard
|-
|-
| '''58''' || I/O board access || I/O board → CPU board → motherboard
| 48 || Illegal instruction || CPU board, memory board 1, memory board 2
|-
|-
| '''59''' || I/O board COPs code || I/O board
| 49 || 1010 or 1111 trap || CPU board, memory board 1, memory board 2
|-
|-
| '''60''' || I/O or keyboard error || Keyboard → I/O board → keyboard cable → motherboard
| 50 || COPS VIA || I/O board, CPU board, motherboard
|-
|-
| '''70''' || Memory data || Replace the memory board '''named by the icon displayed'''
| 51 || Parallel port VIA || I/O board, CPU board, motherboard
|-
|-
| '''71''' || Memory parity || As above
| 52 || I/O board COPS || I/O board
|-
|-
| '''75''' || Boot failure || See the start-up error message for the icon shown
| 53 || Keyboard COPS || Keyboard, I/O board, keyboard cable, motherboard
|-
|-
| '''80–85''' || ProFile errors || See the start-up error message for the "bad ProFile" icon
| 54 || Clock error || I/O board
|-
|-
| '''90–93''' || Expansion card error || See the start-up error message for the "bad expansion card" icon
| 55, 56 || RS-232 port A, port B || I/O board
|}
 
'''Two things the old table on this page got wrong.''' There are '''no codes in the 10s''' and
none between 60 and 70, so a banding of the form "10–19 = CPU board, 20–29 = I/O board" cannot be
right: 22, 23 and 25 are diskette-handling failures and the CPU-board codes are '''40–49'''. And
'''82 is not a "generic Widget failure"''' — Apple groups '''80–85''' as ProFile errors on the
parallel interface, which is where the Widget also sits on a Lisa 2/10.
 
=== Code 57 (disk controller) ===
Apple's order is '''I/O board, then the drive, then the drive cables, then the CPU board, then the
motherboard'''.<ref name="lisal1" /> Before any of that, Apple's symptom 4 in the same section says: check
that the drive ribbon cable is properly secured to both the motherboard and the drive.
 
=== Codes 70 and 71 (memory) ===
'''The icon names the board.''' Apple: "replace the memory board specified by the icon
displayed".<ref name="lisal1" /> There are no SIMMs in a Lisa — memory is on plug-in boards, Apple part
'''661-93105''' — so clean the edge connectors and try each board on its own.
 
== Video Problems ==
 
<templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|+ '''Display Issues'''
|-
|-
! Symptom !! Possible Cause !! Recommended Action
| 57 || Disk controller || I/O board, disk drive, disk drive cables, CPU board, motherboard
|-
|-
| No display, system runs || CRT failure or analog board issue || Check CRT connections; test analog board
| 58 || I/O board access || I/O board, CPU board, motherboard
|-
|-
| Horizontal line only || Vertical deflection failure || Check vertical output IC and capacitors on analog board
| 59 || I/O board COPS code || I/O board
|-
|-
| Vertical line only || Horizontal deflection failure || Check horizontal output transistor and flyback
| 60-69 || I/O or keyboard error || Keyboard, I/O board, keyboard cable, motherboard
|-
|-
| Image shifted horizontally || Horizontal phase || Apple publishes a '''Horizontal Phase Adjustment''' for this machine, in the Video Adjustments section, alongside brightness/contrast, yoke and trim-magnet adjustments<ref name="lisal1" />
| 70, 71 || Memory data, memory parity || The memory board named by the icon displayed
|-
|-
| Garbled/checkered display || Memory or video RAM issue || Test with known-good memory cards
| 75 || Boot failure || See the start-up messages for the icon shown
|-
|-
| Bright flash or line at switch-off || Normal || The beam collapses as the supplies fall; it is not a fault and is not the CRT discharging itself — a switched-off Lisa is still dangerous inside until the tube is discharged deliberately. See [[CRT Discharge Procedure]]
| 80-85 || ProFile errors || See the start-up messages for the bad ProFile icon
|-
|-
| Dim or faded display || CRT aging or brightness adjustment || Adjust brightness; CRT may need replacement
| 90-93 || Expansion card errors || See the start-up messages for the bad expansion card icon
|}
|}


=== CRT adjustments ===
Codes 43, 46, 48 and 49 point at the CPU board or a memory board; Apple's order is the CPU board first. The Lisa has no SIMMs: memory is on two plug-in boards (661-93105), and both must be fitted to run the diagnostic diskette.<ref name="lisatp" /> LisaTest starts at customer level; APPLE-SHIFT-S switches it to service level, where individual modules can be tested.<ref name="lisal1" />
Apple's Video Adjustments section for the Lisa covers '''horizontal phase''', '''brightness and
contrast''', '''yoke''' and '''magnet''' adjustments, with trim magnets supplied as separate
colour-coded parts (159-0015 trim, 159-0020 yellow, 159-0021 red, 159-0022 green, 159-0023
blue).<ref name="lisal1" /> Apple opens the section with its own warning: '''"If you have never been taught
how to adjust and replace the Lisa video modules do not attempt to do video repairs."''' The
adjustments must be made with power on, so read [[CRT Discharge Procedure]] first and work to the
one-hand rule.


A statement that focus is on the flyback, and that position and size controls sit on an "analog
== Video repair ==
board", was previously given here. The Lisa's video board is Apple part '''661-93107''' and its
Apple opens its video repair procedures with a warning: "If you have never been taught how to adjust and replace the Lisa video modules do not attempt to do video repairs." The adjustments are made with the power on.<ref name="lisatp" />
flyback '''076-0106'''; no control layout for either is documented in anything held on this
wiki, so nothing specific is claimed.<ref name="lisal1" />


== Keyboard Problems ==
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:left;"
 
|+'''Apple video repair table (extract)'''<ref name="lisatp" />
<templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
! Symptom !! Fixes, in Apple's order
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|-
|+ '''Keyboard Issues'''
| A sizzling noise from the Lisa || Replace power supply; adjust brightness; adjust contrast (hardware); replace video board; replace flyback
|-
|-
! Symptom !! Possible Cause !! Recommended Action
| Power supply trips (turns off and on) || Adjust brightness; adjust contrast (hardware); replace power supply; replace video board; replace flyback
|-
|-
| No keys working || Keyboard cable disconnected || Check cable connection to I/O board
| Blank screen, CRT filament not lit || Check connections; adjust brightness and contrast; replace video board, CPU board, I/O board, power supply, flyback, CRT, motherboard
|-
|-
| Most keys not working || Deteriorated foam pads || Replace capacitive foam and foil pads
| Blank screen, CRT filament lit || Check connections; set the hardware contrast to mid-range; replace power supply, video board, CRT, flyback, CPU board, motherboard
|-
|-
| Some keys work, others don't || Individual pad failure || Replace foam/foil on affected keys
| Unable to adjust brightness || Replace power supply, video board, CRT, CPU board
|-
|-
| Keyboard error on boot || Keyboard not detected || Check cable; verify keyboard controller chip
| Unable to adjust contrast by software || Replace I/O board, CPU board, video board; check the keyboard with keyboard diagnostics; replace motherboard
|}
 
=== Foam Pad Replacement ===
The Lisa keyboard uses capacitive foam pads that deteriorate with age:
* Purchase Lisa keyboard foam/foil replacement kit
* Each key requires a new foam pad and conductive foil
* This is the most common Lisa keyboard repair
 
== Floppy Drive Problems ==
 
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{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|+ '''Floppy Drive Issues'''
|-
|-
! Symptom !! Possible Cause !! Recommended Action
| Blurred screen || Adjust focus
|-
|-
| Drive won't accept disk || Seized eject mechanism || Clean and lubricate mechanism with isopropyl alcohol
| Unable to adjust focus || Replace power supply, video board, CRT; check connections; replace flyback
|-
|-
| No disk spinning || Motor or motor controller failure || Check TA7259 motor IC; may require spindle repair
| Rolling screen || Adjust vertical hold
|-
|-
| Read errors || Dirty heads or alignment || Clean heads; check for alignment issues
| Small picture || Adjust height and width; adjust brightness and contrast; replace video board, flyback
|-
|-
| Intermittent reads || Failing capacitors near drive controller || Check/replace associated capacitors
| Only a horizontal line on screen || Lower brightness and contrast; replace video board, CRT
|}
|}


=== Floppy Emu Compatibility ===
Let the Lisa warm up for 10-15 minutes before making video adjustments.<ref name="lisatp" />
* FloppyEmu can be used with Lisa systems
* Requires appropriate cable adapter
* External connection may require modification


== Widget Drive Problems ==
== Mouse, keyboard and hard disk ==
 
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:left;"
The Widget (internal hard drive in Lisa 2/10) has known reliability issues:
|+'''Apple's mouse, keyboard and hard disk procedures (summary)'''<ref name="lisatp" />
 
! Symptom !! Apple's procedure
<templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
|-
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
| No cursor || Remove and reinsert the mouse plug; replace the mouse
|+ '''Widget Issues'''
|-
|-
! Symptom !! Possible Cause !! Recommended Action
| Mouse movement or button does nothing || Reinsert the mouse plug; try the keyboard. If the keyboard works, replace the mouse; if neither works, replace the I/O board, CPU board, motherboard
|-
|-
| Widget not recognized || Cable connection or controller failure || Check cables; verify controller on I/O board
| Pointer moves only vertically or only horizontally || Reinsert the mouse plug; replace the mouse; replace the I/O board
|-
|-
| Error 82 on boot || Generic Widget failure || Drive may need replacement with ProFile emulator
| No keyboard input || Reinsert the keyboard plug; try the mouse. If the mouse works, replace the keyboard. If neither works, press the power button: if the Lisa turns off, reseat and then swap the I/O board, CPU board and motherboard; if it does not, go to the system hang procedure
|-
|-
| Widget spins but won't boot || Corrupted data or head issues || Attempt boot from floppy; consider drive replacement
| Some keys do not work || Replace the keyboard
|-
|-
| Clicking sounds from Widget || Head or mechanism failure || Drive likely requires replacement
| ProFile or internal hard disk error icon at boot || Check the disk is attached (never connect or disconnect a ProFile with either unit switched on). Switch off, power the disk up and watch its ready light: it flickers during the self-check and then stays on. If it does not, replace the disk. Test it with LisaTest
|}
|}


=== ProFile Emulator Options ===
A Lisa that ignores all input can usually be recovered without losing work: try the keyboard equivalents, press the disk-release buttons, press the on/off button once, and only then press reset. If it still hangs, unplug it, switch on again and listen for error tones.<ref name="lisatp" />
Modern alternatives to the Widget drive:
* '''X/ProFile''' — Drop-in Widget replacement using CompactFlash
* '''IDEfile''' — ProFile emulator using IDE drives
* Both provide higher reliability than original Widget drives
 
== The I/O-board battery pack — remove it now ==
 
The Lisa keeps its real-time clock alive with a '''4 × AA NiCd pack strapped to the bottom-right of the I/O board'''. These packs leak corrosive electrolyte and are the single most destructive Lisa fault &mdash; when they let go they can '''destroy the I/O board and the motherboard, and in rare cases the CPU and RAM boards'''. Apple's own set-up procedure locates it precisely — "the set of four batteries on the lower right side of the I/O board" — and notes the '''switch next to them''', which must be ON (toward the left) for the clock to keep time.<ref name="lisal1b">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 Illustrated Parts Lists.</ref> '''A Lisa that has lost its clock may simply have that switch off, which is not a fault.''' For everything else: '''remove the battery pack from any Lisa immediately''', and clean and repair any corrosion before powering up.<ref name="lisa">[https://lisafaq.sunder.net/single.html The Apple Lisa FAQ]; [https://tinkerdifferent.com/threads/lisa-2-repair-journey.1151/ Lisa 2 repair journey], TinkerDifferent; [https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2011-03-05-rejuvenating-a-lisa2-10.htm Rejuvenating an Apple Lisa 2/10], Tezza's Classic Computers; and the ''Lisa Do It Yourself Guide''. Community sources for the I/O-board battery-pack leakage, the power-supply weakness and the Twiggy-drive unreliability.</ref>


== Board swapping ==
== Battery pack ==
 
[[File:Apple Lisa I-O board battery pack.jpg|thumb|300px|A leaking I/O board battery pack]]
The card-based design makes diagnosis largely a matter of swapping the '''CPU board''' (661-93103),
The I/O board's 4.8 V NiCd pack leaks with age and corrodes the I/O board around it.<ref name="sch4008" /> Remove it before powering up a stored machine. A Lisa that loses its clock with a good pack may just have the battery switch off: Apple's set-up procedure has the switch set to ON, toward the left.<ref name="lisatp" />
'''memory boards''' (661-93105) and '''I/O board''' (661-93104 on the Lisa 1, 661-93198 on the
Lisa 2/5, 661-93171 on the Lisa 2/10), all of which Apple's own fault tables treat as
field-replaceable.<ref name="lisal1" /> The CRT and video board are the parts that are not.
 
== Power supply ==
 
A Lisa that '''runs for a few minutes and then switches off''', or will not power on at all, has a failing power supply — a known weak point that should be serviced/recapped.<ref name="lisa" />


== Twiggy drives (Lisa 1) ==
== Twiggy drives (Lisa 1) ==
The original Lisa has two 5.25-inch FileWare ("Twiggy") drives, 871 KB formatted each; Apple's drive module part number is 661-93110.<ref name="lisaog" /><ref name="lisal1" /> The Computer History Museum describes the in-house Twiggy drive as unreliable; the Lisa 2 replaced it with a single Sony 3.5-inch drive.<ref name="chm">Hansen Hsu, [https://computerhistory.org/blog/the-lisa-apples-most-influential-failure/ "The Lisa: Apple's Most Influential Failure"], Computer History Museum, January 19, 2023.</ref>


The Lisa 1 used two Apple "Twiggy" 5.25-inch drives — Apple's drive module is part
== Documentation ==
'''661-93110'''<ref name="lisal1" /> and the capacity is usually given as 871 KB, not 860 KB — which were '''unreliable'''; most Lisa 1s were upgraded to the Lisa 2 with a Sony 400 KB 3.5-inch drive. Twiggy read errors and disk-boot failures are why so few Lisa 1s survive &mdash; a Lisa 2 conversion or a modern floppy emulator is the usual path.<ref name="lisa" />
* [[Apple Service Technical Procedures Lisa/Macintosh XL]]: the full Lisa Troubleshooting Guide (section 6) and the Lisa 2/Macintosh XL troubleshooting section.
* [[Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures Mar85]]: an earlier state of the same manual.
* [[Service Support Tranning Programs Laserwriter Technical Procedures Jan 1985]]: a training binder that includes a partial extract of the Lisa troubleshooting guide (rev. 5/17/83).
* [[Apple Lisa 2 Owners Guide 1984]]: the owner's troubleshooting procedures (chapter 2) and automatic start-up tests (Appendix B).


== References ==
== References ==
<references>
<ref name="lisatp">Apple Computer, ''Apple Service Technical Procedures: Lisa/Macintosh XL'' (Lisa Level I Technical Procedures, #072-0085, pages revised to June 1987): Lisa 1.0 Set-up §C p. 2.6; Lisa Troubleshooting Guide pp. 6.3-6.4 (troubleshooting steps), 6.11 (power repair), 6.12-6.13 (start-up repair and error tones), 6.19-6.21 (video repair), 6.24-6.28 (mouse, system hang, hard disk and keyboard); Lisa 2 Video Take-Apart p. 3.3; Lisa Video Adjustments p. 4.4; Diagnostics pp. 5.2-5.2.1; Lisa/Macintosh XL Troubleshooting pp. 6.16-6.18 (error codes). Hosted as [[Apple Service Technical Procedures Lisa/Macintosh XL]] ([[:File:Apple Service Technical Procedures Lisa-Macintosh XL.pdf|PDF]]).</ref>
<ref name="lisal1">Apple Computer, ''Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures'', #072-0085, March 1985: Diagnostics (LisaTest service level); Illustrated Parts Lists. Hosted as [[Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures Mar85]].</ref>
<ref name="lisaog">Apple Computer, ''Lisa Owner's Guide'' (1983), Appendix 5, "Hardware Specifications", pp. 119-120. Hosted as [[Apple Lisa Owners Guide 1983]].</ref>
<ref name="sch4008">Apple Computer, drawing 050-4008 rev. K, "Schematic, System I/O, Lisa", sheet 5. Hosted as [[:File:Apple Lisa I-O Board Schematic 050-4008-K.pdf]].</ref>
</references>


<references />
== Related pages ==
 
== Apple's own start-up error material on this wiki ==
 
Extracts from Apple's Lisa troubleshooting guide, stamped '''rev. 5/17/83''' and footed
"Page ''n'' of 51", are bound into the Service Support Training Programs binder held here and
described at [[Service Support Tranning Programs Laserwriter Technical Procedures Jan 1985]].<ref name="lwtp85">Apple Computer, ''Apple LaserWriter Printer Technical Procedures'', preliminary version for internal use only, sections stamped rev. Jan 85 and rev. Feb 85. Held on this wiki inside the Service Support Training Programs binder scan, described at [[Service Support Tranning Programs Laserwriter Technical Procedures Jan 1985]] ([[:File:Service_Support_Tranning_Programs_Laserwriter_Technical_Procedures_Jan_1985.pdf]]).</ref>
They cover '''start-up repair procedures and error tones''', a '''start-up error icon''' table naming
the module each icon implicates, '''Appendix D start-up error codes''', and '''video repair
procedures''' — which Apple opens with the warning "If you have never been taught how to adjust…".
 
The extract is '''partial''': the page footers show that only some of the 51 pages were bound in, so
it will not answer every code. Where it does not, [[Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures Mar85]]
is the fuller Apple document held here.
 
== Related Pages ==
* [[Apple Lisa]]
* [[Apple Lisa]]
* [[Apple Lisa General Maintenance]]
* [[Apple Lisa General Maintenance]]
Line 300: Line 205:
* [[CRT Discharge Procedure]]
* [[CRT Discharge Procedure]]


{{Navbox-AppleVintage|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Apple Vintage Computers]]
[[Category:Apple Vintage Computers]]
[[Category:Apple Lisa]]
[[Category:Apple Troubleshooting Guides]]
[[Category:Apple Troubleshooting Guides]]
[[Category:Troubleshooting Guides]]

Latest revision as of 14:16, 30 September 2026

Apple Lisa

Apple's troubleshooting procedures for the Apple Lisa, Lisa 2 and Macintosh XL are in the Lisa Troubleshooting Guide, part of its Level I technical procedures. They work by module swapping: each procedure lists the modules to replace, in order.[1]

Before you start

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  • Remove the I/O board battery pack from any machine that has been in storage; see Battery pack.
  • The CRT anode holds about 15,000 V DC after power-off; see CRT Discharge Procedure.[1]
  • Remove expansion cards and other attachments and press the reset button before diagnosing start-up faults. If the fault goes away, refit the cards one at a time, restarting after each, until it returns.[1]
  • Apple's first troubleshooting step clears parameter memory: remove the back panel and switch SW1 on the I/O board off for about 5 seconds, then back on. This erases the preference settings. The Lisa 2/10 I/O board has no switch.[1]

Normal start-up

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Apple's description of a healthy start-up:[1]

  1. The on/off lamp lights.
  2. The Lisa is silent for about 3 seconds, then gives a single click.
  3. About 30 seconds after power-on, as the picture tube warms up, four icons appear for the CPU, I/O, memory and expansion cards, each highlighted in turn as the boot ROM tests it.
  4. A card that fails is shown with a large X through its icon and error tones sound; or an error icon and error code are displayed.

If the lamp does not light, go to the power repair procedure. If there is no click or unexpected tones sound, press reset on the back panel and, if it still will not boot, go to the start-up repair procedure. If there is no picture after 30 seconds, go to the video repair procedure.[1]

On the Lisa 2 and Macintosh XL the boot ROM and I/O ROM codes appear in the upper right corner of the screen after the icons have been tested: H and A8 on a Lisa 2 or 2/5, H and 88 on a Macintosh XL, with 3A in place of H once the Screen Modification Kit is fitted.[1]

Power repair procedure

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Apple's order for a Lisa with power problems:[1]

  1. Check the cables and power cord.
  2. Check that the front and back panels are fitted securely so the interlock switches are closed.
  3. Check the wall outlet.
  4. Check the ribbon cable from the motherboard to the soft-switch/keyboard assembly.
  5. Check there is 2 inches (5 cm) of ventilation space around the Lisa.
  6. If the Lisa may have overheated, unplug it and let it cool for an hour.
  7. Swap modules in this order: power supply, I/O board, soft-switch/keyboard assembly, front interlock switch, disk drive to card cage connector, motherboard, video board.

The supply's outputs and their permitted variation are tabulated on Apple Lisa General Maintenance, and the capacitor lists are on Apple Lisa Capacitor Replacement Guide.

Start-up repair and error tones

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Start-up symptoms and error tones[1]
Symptom Probable failure, in Apple's order
Incorrect or no video, no clicks, no error tones CPU; I/O; video (go to video repair); motherboard
No clicks, and the display shows the boot ROM test found no problems Speaker connections; I/O; speaker
Blank screen with the start-up clicks Go to video repair
Tones: Lo CPU; memory 1; memory 2
Tones: Lo, Lo Memory 2; CPU
Tones: Lo, Hi Card cage (swap boards one at a time)
Tones: Lo, Lo, Hi CPU
Tones: Lo, Hi, Lo I/O
Tones: Hi, Hi, Hi Peripheral card
Tones: Lo, Hi, Hi Memory 1; memory 2
Tones: Hi, Lo, Lo Expansion boards
Tones: Hi, Lo, Hi Keyboard
Tones: Hi, Hi, Lo Keyboard or mouse disconnected

Start-up error codes

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Start-up error codes and Apple's replacement order[1]
Code Apple's description Replace, in order
22, 23, 25, 38 Unable to clamp, read or unclamp diskette; no boot file on diskette See the start-up messages for the bad diskette icon
39 Disk controller timeout I/O board, CPU board, motherboard
40 MMU 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, 56 RS-232 port A, 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
60-69 I/O or keyboard error Keyboard, I/O board, keyboard cable, motherboard
70, 71 Memory data, memory parity The memory board named by the icon displayed
75 Boot failure See the start-up messages for the icon shown
80-85 ProFile errors See the start-up messages for the bad ProFile icon
90-93 Expansion card errors See the start-up messages for the bad expansion card icon

Codes 43, 46, 48 and 49 point at the CPU board or a memory board; Apple's order is the CPU board first. The Lisa has no SIMMs: memory is on two plug-in boards (661-93105), and both must be fitted to run the diagnostic diskette.[1] LisaTest starts at customer level; APPLE-SHIFT-S switches it to service level, where individual modules can be tested.[2]

Video repair

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Apple opens its video repair procedures with a warning: "If you have never been taught how to adjust and replace the Lisa video modules do not attempt to do video repairs." The adjustments are made with the power on.[1]

Apple video repair table (extract)[1]
Symptom Fixes, in Apple's order
A sizzling noise from the Lisa Replace power supply; adjust brightness; adjust contrast (hardware); replace video board; replace flyback
Power supply trips (turns off and on) Adjust brightness; adjust contrast (hardware); replace power supply; replace video board; replace flyback
Blank screen, CRT filament not lit Check connections; adjust brightness and contrast; replace video board, CPU board, I/O board, power supply, flyback, CRT, motherboard
Blank screen, CRT filament lit Check connections; set the hardware contrast to mid-range; replace power supply, video board, CRT, flyback, CPU board, motherboard
Unable to adjust brightness Replace power supply, video board, CRT, CPU board
Unable to adjust contrast by software Replace I/O board, CPU board, video board; check the keyboard with keyboard diagnostics; replace motherboard
Blurred screen Adjust focus
Unable to adjust focus Replace power supply, video board, CRT; check connections; replace flyback
Rolling screen Adjust vertical hold
Small picture Adjust height and width; adjust brightness and contrast; replace video board, flyback
Only a horizontal line on screen Lower brightness and contrast; replace video board, CRT

Let the Lisa warm up for 10-15 minutes before making video adjustments.[1]

Mouse, keyboard and hard disk

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Apple's mouse, keyboard and hard disk procedures (summary)[1]
Symptom Apple's procedure
No cursor Remove and reinsert the mouse plug; replace the mouse
Mouse movement or button does nothing Reinsert the mouse plug; try the keyboard. If the keyboard works, replace the mouse; if neither works, replace the I/O board, CPU board, motherboard
Pointer moves only vertically or only horizontally Reinsert the mouse plug; replace the mouse; replace the I/O board
No keyboard input Reinsert the keyboard plug; try the mouse. If the mouse works, replace the keyboard. If neither works, press the power button: if the Lisa turns off, reseat and then swap the I/O board, CPU board and motherboard; if it does not, go to the system hang procedure
Some keys do not work Replace the keyboard
ProFile or internal hard disk error icon at boot Check the disk is attached (never connect or disconnect a ProFile with either unit switched on). Switch off, power the disk up and watch its ready light: it flickers during the self-check and then stays on. If it does not, replace the disk. Test it with LisaTest

A Lisa that ignores all input can usually be recovered without losing work: try the keyboard equivalents, press the disk-release buttons, press the on/off button once, and only then press reset. If it still hangs, unplug it, switch on again and listen for error tones.[1]

Battery pack

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A leaking I/O board battery pack

The I/O board's 4.8 V NiCd pack leaks with age and corrodes the I/O board around it.[3] Remove it before powering up a stored machine. A Lisa that loses its clock with a good pack may just have the battery switch off: Apple's set-up procedure has the switch set to ON, toward the left.[1]

Twiggy drives (Lisa 1)

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The original Lisa has two 5.25-inch FileWare ("Twiggy") drives, 871 KB formatted each; Apple's drive module part number is 661-93110.[4][2] The Computer History Museum describes the in-house Twiggy drive as unreliable; the Lisa 2 replaced it with a single Sony 3.5-inch drive.[5]

Documentation

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References

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  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Apple Computer, Apple Service Technical Procedures: Lisa/Macintosh XL (Lisa Level I Technical Procedures, #072-0085, pages revised to June 1987): Lisa 1.0 Set-up §C p. 2.6; Lisa Troubleshooting Guide pp. 6.3-6.4 (troubleshooting steps), 6.11 (power repair), 6.12-6.13 (start-up repair and error tones), 6.19-6.21 (video repair), 6.24-6.28 (mouse, system hang, hard disk and keyboard); Lisa 2 Video Take-Apart p. 3.3; Lisa Video Adjustments p. 4.4; Diagnostics pp. 5.2-5.2.1; Lisa/Macintosh XL Troubleshooting pp. 6.16-6.18 (error codes). Hosted as Apple Service Technical Procedures Lisa/Macintosh XL (PDF).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Apple Computer, Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures, #072-0085, March 1985: Diagnostics (LisaTest service level); Illustrated Parts Lists. Hosted as Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures Mar85.
  3. ↑ Apple Computer, drawing 050-4008 rev. K, "Schematic, System I/O, Lisa", sheet 5. Hosted as File:Apple Lisa I-O Board Schematic 050-4008-K.pdf.
  4. ↑ Apple Computer, Lisa Owner's Guide (1983), Appendix 5, "Hardware Specifications", pp. 119-120. Hosted as Apple Lisa Owners Guide 1983.
  5. ↑ Hansen Hsu, "The Lisa: Apple's Most Influential Failure", Computer History Museum, January 19, 2023.
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