iFixit - Answers With Device "Classic Mac"

Macintosh plus: Rifa capacitor replacement on macintosh

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 15:02:16 -0700

Hey dudes, my rifa capacitors on my 1986 macintosh plus finally went up in smoke. I would like to know if there are any rifa cap replacments online. Playing the Oregon Trail on my Mac was one of my favorite things to do and I would love to start playing again. If you guys have any recommendations, I would be super grateful. Also, can I still use my Macintosh with blown rifa capacitors? Stupid question but just wanted to know!

⟐ Commented February 01, 2026 at 15:02 MST

Macintosh plus: My Macintosh plus floppy drive runs continuously and won’t eject

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:13:50 -0700

When I turn on my Macintosh, it makes a weird noise and every time it makes noise it the inside little thing spins around and stops for a second and then continue spinning around and stops, and when I try to put a system floppy disc in it it will not work and show the red X screen while the thing continue spinning and won’t eject

⟐ Answered January 22, 2026 at 18:13 MST

Macintosh IIx: Won't power on using the power button on the back of the unit

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:47:05 -0700

Hello,

I just picked up a Macintosh IIx that was being sold as recapped and working, but when I got it home to turn it on, it showed no signs of life. Nothing out of the power supply, and pressing the power button on the back of the unit did absolutely nothing. After some research, it was found that the power supply could be turned on by applying three volts to Pin 15, and doing so worked. The machine turned on without a problem, and made the startup chime. I checked both PRAM batteries, and they seemed to be fine. I also tried applying three volts from my bench power supply to the battery holders, but pressing the power button still did nothing. However, the power button does work for turning off the machine once it has already been started. I was wondering what could be going wrong, and how the issue can be fixed.

Thanks!

⟐ Commented August 25, 2025 at 10:47 MST

Macintosh plus: Dead Macintosh Classic M0420

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:19:07 -0700

I found in my cellar a Mac Classic M0420 (belonging to my dad).

I tried to restart it, but it won't give any sign of life.

I disassembled it, and the different boards do not show any signs of damage (no capacitors or battery leaking). It looks like something related to the power supply. Do you know how I could test the capacitors on the logic board without having to extract them?

⟐ Answered August 11, 2025 at 13:19 MST

Macintosh 128K: Sad Mac Error Code 042827

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 21:19:11 -0700

I have an original Macintosh 128K and it starts up with a "bong" and displays the sad mac icon with the number 042827. Can anyone tell me what this might mean, and what I need to do to fix it?

Thanks!

Patrick

⟐ Edited November 08, 2024 at 21:19 MST

Apple Macintosh LC: Can Apple Macintosh LC be converted into something else?

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:09:12 -0700

can Apple Macintosh LC be converted into something else?

⟐ Answered August 07, 2024 at 15:09 MST

Apple IIGS: There is no power light on the screen has power

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 06:00:38 -0700

Not booting or any light at all the screen powers on

Macintosh SE FDHD: Startup problem with floppy? blinking

Mon, 20 May 2024 17:05:31 -0700

Six months ago my Mac SE was running fine. Recently, when I start it up, I hear a bong sound and the screen lights up. Then there is a floppy disk with a ? on it. There's a lot of very good programs on this SE. What do I need to get it running? If I need startup disks, where can I get them?

⟐ Commented May 20, 2024 at 17:05 MST

Apple Lisa: Lisa new start - Screen line

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 20:12:24 -0700

I have recently restarted my Lisa, but the screen is dark except for a horizontal white line. I would like to get it ready to sell. Am I doing something wrong? Is this fixable?

⟐ Answered January 17, 2024 at 20:12 MST

Apple ImageWriter II: Apple ImageWriter II won't print from Macintosh Plus

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:43 -0700

Hello! My Apple ImageWriter, even when connected to my Macintosh Plus through the correct selected ports, will not print. After I ran the self-demonstration, it proved that there is not a mechanical failure, and it will print. Whenever I select print in a document, it says it is printing, but nothing happens. Eventually, the pop-up goes away.

⟐ Commented January 09, 2024 at 19:43 MST

Twentieth Anniversary Mac: What are the pinouts for the power supply/subwoofer?

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 13:03:06 -0700

I have a TAM which was working last time I tried it several years ago. Since then it has been in storage. I just set it up again and get no response. I'd like to determine if it is the power supply so I need to know the pinouts.

Macintosh 128K: Does Anyone Know Where I Can get a Capacitor Replacement Kit

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 08:31:35 -0700

My old sources have dried up on finding these capacitor replacement kits. Does anyone know where I can get them or have them put together or a list of what I need to order from Mouser?

I also need a working 400k floppy drive.

⟐ Answer accepted October 20, 2023 at 8:31 MST

Macintosh plus: Sad face mac error 0143B8 on power up

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 09:41:44 -0700

I have a yard sale Macintosh Plus with external DirectDrive20 by Jasmine. When I turn it on, I get a sad-face Mac error code of 0143B8. I haven't been able to find this code on the internet. Can anyone tell be the bad news on this one?

⟐ Answer edited September 23, 2023 at 9:41 MST

Macintosh LC III: Two Apple hard drives not auto-mounting. Why? Solved

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 08:31:08 -0700

So I have these two drives: a 1GB IBM DPES 31080S. It’s marked with the Apple logo and it was the (perfectly working) internal drive of a 7500/100. I use it now as an external drive. SCSI ID is correctly set on both drive and case. It’s formatted as Standard since I’d like to use it on an older LC III and install an OS 7.1 or 7.5. Fact is, it won’t auto mount on the 7500, and it won’t even get recognized on the LC III, thus preventing any installation.

Same thing happens with a 350MB Apple Quantum ProDrive LT.

I’ve been fighting the whole day on my 7500 running OS 9.1, using HDSpeedTools and other vintage software in order to format it, take over the driver etc. Nothing seems to solve the issue and I don’t want to give up and use them as external drives, manually mounting them every single time! Drive Setup “sees” them, of course. I can format them, mount them, when I trash them it even tells me “the disk will reappear bla bla”, but they don’t. *sigh* There MUST be a way to get these bummers to show up and mount when they get power.

Any help is highly appreciated.

⟐ Answer accepted September 02, 2023 at 8:31 MST

Macintosh se 30: I have a Macintosh SE with a vertical line :(

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 04:59:09 -0700

I just got this old Mac SE and it worked before I took the case off to dust the inside. Now I have a vertical line. Anyone know how to fix this?

⟐ Answered August 10, 2023 at 4:59 MST

Macintosh Classic: Model M0001 Sad Error Code 042001

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:11:15 -0700

Code 042001 populates on screen upon flipping power switch on and appears directly after power on chime. Anybody know what this error represents and how to fix it? I bought the computer at a yard sale recently…

Macintosh se 30: What is causing a bright monitor with Horizontal Sweep Lines?

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 07:27:04 -0700

It’s a model # M5011 and when turning on the computer gives a normal boot tone and the hard drive is working but the screen is white with white lines. All capacitors on the motherboard were replaced and cleaned. It came with the ROM and all RAM slots filled.

Update: I have replaced both the Q1(2N3904) ic and U1(74LS38) ic no changes occurred.

⟐ Commented June 25, 2023 at 7:27 MST

Macintosh plus: The monitor is bright and has horizontal sweep lines?

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 07:23:08 -0700

Hi, i have Macintosh Plus with the same trouble. How did you managed with this problem?

⟐ Commented June 24, 2023 at 7:23 MST

Apple IIe: Keyboard typing random letters/numbers and repeats?

Mon, 29 May 2023 03:24:59 -0700

I’m working on an vintage apple iie, and I’ve encountered 1 snag that I cannot figure out. The keyboard works, yet no matter what keys are pressed, it only ever types k,y,x,1,3,:,/, etc. What do I need to fix in order to get it typing properly again?

⟐ Commented May 29, 2023 at 3:24 MST

Macintosh Classic II: Weird problem with Classic II

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 17:44:03 -0700

I have a weird problem with a Classic II I just purchased. Nothing happens when I turn it on. No fans...nothing. But after 5-10 minutes of just sitting there it starts up and runs normally.

The motherboard and power board look pristine. No leaking capacitors etc.

⟐ Commented April 24, 2023 at 17:44 MST