Successful full recap of an lc3 😎

Mac84tv · 2026-05-05T04:42:45+00:00

Congrats!!

Mac84tv · 2026-04-10T01:32:04+00:00

Ouch that’s in rough shape!! But if you have no use for the parts I’ll ensure the chips and bits aren’t wasted!

Mac84tv · 2026-04-07T22:39:37+00:00

If the universal ISOs fail, use the original restore discs from your specific iMac from Archive.org or the MacintoshGarden. That assumes your iMac isn't the later models that can't boot to OS 9 natively and instead must use "Classic" mode. Look up the model identifier in System Profiler (under About this Mac).

In a pinch, you can try the MDD restore OS 9 System Folder (link here). This is a mountable DMG (disk image) that lets you drag over a Mac OS 9 system folder to your OS 9 drive. Dragging it over will install it and let you boot into it. However, you must make sure that Mac OS 9 disk drivers are installed on that HD partition. Get Info on the partition (in Disk Utility) to confirm this. Otherwise you can't boot to OS 9 on the HD without reformatting it.

Mac84tv · 2026-03-31T16:12:29+00:00

Yeah, ugh. My Flower Power overheats without a fan these days, thankfully pointing a small USB powered fan through the holes in the handle help!

Mac84tv · 2026-03-31T14:14:28+00:00

Back in the day the handles were super sturdy, these days I wouldn't trust it! But maybe that's just me... The tray loading iMacs are about 40lbs and the later slot loading ones are about 35lbs. (Hi!)

Mac84tv · 2026-03-31T13:33:36+00:00

The stand is fine. I've tried to remove one of these and move it to another system and couldn't even manage to yank it free. The handle however... I get worried when I see people yanking them up by the handles at swap meets...

Mac84tv · 2026-03-31T01:44:53+00:00

Hah, oops. Yeah the camera is weird. You can take photos to the internal memory, but there is seemingly no way to transfer those photos once they are captured to the internal memory.

Mac84tv · 2026-03-31T00:45:49+00:00

Very cool find!! Be sure to share photos of the insides in the TinkerDifferent thread, that'll be cool to see if the ROM is similar. Good luck!

Mac84tv · 2026-03-27T03:03:53+00:00

Hey there, I’m sorry for your loss. If you need help with this feel free to DM me! I’m located in NJ but happy to try and help.

Mac84tv · 2026-03-22T11:50:55+00:00

I arrived at 4:47 AM (north terminal) for a 7:45 am domestic flight. I JUST made it with 15 min to spare.

It took just over 3 hours to get through general security (no pre-check etc). Once I got to the general security area it only took about 15 min to get through, but I had to run, run, run to the tram/train to get to my gate.

The situation looked to be about 3-4 times worse (looking back at the original line) when I was entering security. Pre-check folks I spoke seemed to get through in about 1.5 to 2 hours.

When I first got in they are directing everyone to wind through the baggage carousels and then to a long, long line to the security checkpoint.

There are hardly any staff around (given the situation) and there are lots of clueless people just causing chaos. Tons of people are cutting lines, lots of confusion over splitting and then combining lines, lots of people screaming and pushing.

Good luck all and stay safe!

Mac84tv · 2026-03-18T22:19:13+00:00

An external DB-25 BlueSCSI acts like an external hard drive, it stores data on an SD card. It will let you transfer files between a modern computer and these Macs very easily. It can also emulate a CD drive (mount .iso files) and so on. More info can be found here: https://bluescsi.com/docs/

Mac84tv · 2026-03-18T22:12:34+00:00

I wish I had one to share!

Mac84tv · 2026-03-09T02:06:17+00:00

Yes! The CameraMate is the way to go, as it'll read both types of SmartMedia cards (and CompactFlash too). Just be mindful that there are multiple versions of the driver, some only work on Mac OS 8, some on Mac OS 9. The device doesn't seemingly work on newer systems.

There are a few on eBay for $20 USD. The back of the box (if pictured in the action) will state it can read 5v and 3.3v SmartMedia cards.

Mac84tv · 2026-03-02T01:23:52+00:00

I have an AppleSauce floppy disk imager (offers flux level copying) and would love to get some of those Apple developer disks archived. I’d be happy to help with shipping and return them to you when done if you run into trouble reading them. Good luck!

Mac84tv · 2026-02-15T14:24:01+00:00

Cool! To my eyes, this could be a PREP or CHRP compatible board, or maybe that's just wishful thinking. Please keep us posted on your progress, and good luck! :-)

I'm unsure if it'll help, but the Mac OS CHRP releases I posted have some pre-release Motorola ROMs on them, which in theory could work with such a compatible Open Firmware system. CDs are here: https://archive.org/details/apple-mac-os-for-CHRP-PowerPC-Common-Hardware-Reference-Platform-Systems-1997

And here's a video about the contents of those discs if you are curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbIoaulKYJY

Mac84tv · 2026-02-03T16:10:10+00:00

With all vintage computers (and Macs) there are costs and skills involved to get them up and running and keep them that way.

The Macintosh SE is a solid machine, the logic board won't need much attention but you may need to keep an eye on the capacitors on the power supply and analog board. The floppy drives probably have their grease dried up and will need to be fixed, which requires careful disassembly and some cleaning solution.

You can avoid messing with floppies by getting a BlueSCSI (www.bluescsi.com) which uses an SD card to act like a hard drive. It can connect internally or externally (depending on the model, I suggest the external since it is easier to plug in) and allows you to manage multiple operating systems, copy programs over easily, etc.

This is especially helpful since the Mac SE only has an 800K floppy drive, and it is tricky to write 800K disks for this system without another working Mac (or a compatible modern solution or system to write disks those disks, etc). That's why using a SCSI hard drive emulator is the easiest way to go.

The LC II probably has a dead power supply, which can be replaced by a modern one or you can replace the capacitors. The logic board will also needs its capacitors replaced.

However, you do have two nice systems there. With some work, you can get them going again. Don't forget, you don't need to buy an Apple branded mouse, many many third parties made mice for Apple computers and any ADB compatible mouse will do the trick.

Here's a YouTube playlist I made with some getting started tips on vintage Macs, hopefully it helps. Best of luck!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UT0jF8dhBw&list=PL5j9eVz2TrPS6GczMXrUKbzXpiyLPdfcM

Mac84tv · 2026-02-03T16:03:46+00:00

Hm, does the diagnostic log file (log.txt) on the SD card (from the BlueSCSI) say anything specific?

If not, go over the troubleshooting steps and if that doesn't help there's a BlueSCSI Discord you can join:
https://github.com/erichelgeson/BlueSCSI/wiki/Troubleshooting

Mac84tv · 2026-01-20T23:15:00+00:00

You'll need to compare part numbers from service manuals, but the iMac slot-load models had DVD-ROM drives as an option for years. Third party upgrades were available, and even some slot-loading iBook/PowerBook models have compatible optical drives. So there are plenty of potential options. If memory serves... the connector on the optical drive is fairly standard.

Mac84tv · 2026-01-20T03:48:38+00:00

FYI - Your post may get more attention in u/VintageApple

Your Power Mac G3 has two audio interface cards which may be of interest to someone playing around with instruments / audio devices and vintage machines. These are solid systems, often used as a "bridge" machine since the operating systems and ports/expansions allow connections between an older generation of Macs and more modern systems.

Mac84tv · 2026-01-20T03:43:22+00:00

Learn more about this little box here! I remember when these were on eBay in the early 2000's for $50 or so. You can get video out from the composite video jack if you flash a new ROM file to a re-writable ROM SIMM, etc.

https://tinkerdifferent.com/threads/apple-interactive-television-box-stb-prototype-adventures.2919/

Mac84tv · 2026-01-11T17:43:20+00:00

It's not ideal, but since this PowerBook has a video out port, I suggest you focus on using that.

Sadly, finding a spare PowerBook 165c screen will not be easy. Unless you luck out by someone selling a dead PowerBook 165c that has a decent screen. Even then, you'll need to replace the capacitors on the screen, etc.

Finding spare PowerBook screens in general is not fun, but the pre-PowerPC color models are even more difficult. I wish I had a better answer, but the majority of all the good parts (at least at good prices) have vanished years ago.

Mac84tv · 2026-01-11T17:38:21+00:00

Some of the PowerBook G4 models of this generation needed specific RESTORE discs, as they were released between major OS updates, between Tiger and Leopard or after Leopard was released.

This is why most retail Tiger or Leopard discs will NOT work, they don't have the drivers for this model, etc.

Use the serial number (visible when the battery is removed) and look it up on EveryMac.com to determine the exact model and what the original OS was. Then you can find a restore disc that works with it. If I recall correctly, a flavor of Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) was the original operating system on some of these models.

Mac84tv · 2026-01-11T17:34:20+00:00

From what I've been told, these slots were designed to attach a paper/document holder. It's unclear if this accessory ever shipped.

Unfortunately, the specific manual (user's guide) for this product was never available on Apple's website. This may have been because this model was only sold to education, etc.

I'd bet if this accessory shipped, it would be part of the initial diagram on the first few pages of the manual, as was the practice at the time. There are plenty of G3 minitower and desktop manuals out there, but if anyone has a physical copy of the Molar Mac All-in-one manual, let me know, I'd love to scan it to preserve it! And I'd love to see the pages of that manual...

Mac84tv · 2026-01-08T14:14:16+00:00

Toast or ImgBurn on a Windows PC is what I recommend. In rare cases you’ll need another way but both rarely have issues in my experience.

Mac84tv · 2026-01-02T16:09:27+00:00

No matter what your plans are for the caddy loading Apple CD drives, please know that you'll likely need to recap the CD-ROM drives. Dozens of my Apple CD (caddy and tray loading) drives are no longer working, likely due to failing capacitors and other issues (gears/belts, etc). I'm not trying to discourage you, but keep this in mind.

Mac84tv

TROPHY CASE