jhansen@convex.com (James Hansen) (03/26/91)
In <1991Mar25.233916.21520@agate.berkeley.edu> bclee@.berkeley.edu (Bob C. Lee) writes: > If it's any help, I've got a IIci running 6.0.7 and DeskWriter > driver 2.1. 80MB HD 80MB RAM. ^^^^^^^^ > So, what do you think is the problem? Maybe it's the excess memory you have in your machine!! :-) -- "Two guys, one cart, fresh pasta; you figure it out" -- Suzanne Sugarbaker (Designing Women) jhansen@convex.com (214)497-4802
neff@hp-vcd.HP.COM (Dave Neff) (03/27/91)
Regarding the DeskWriter 10864 Error Trap: You have run into the infamous faulty resistor pack problem on your Mac IIci. There is a "deglitch" circuit on both the printer and modem ports that use some resistor packs that can degrade over time. The DeskWriter "sees" the faulty resistor pack as a LocalTalk isolation transformer and comes up in AppleTalk mode, and then gets confused by the serial data. Although the DeskWriter gets very confused when the resistor pack fails, if you were to try to use your printer port on a LocalTalk network I would expect you to get a fairly high error rate due to the resistor pack problem. The solution is to get your mother board fixed on your IIci. I would hope your Mac is still under warrantee -- if so, Apple should cover it (I can't speak for HP, let alone Apple however). Otherwise you can just keep using the modem port to print -- but its resistor pack might fail over time as well. The DeskWriter does not cause this failure, its just that is automatic AppleTalk/serial sensing circuit reveals the problem. Its my understanding the Apple has changed their process and is using different resistor packs that don't have this problem, but I have just heard this 3rd hand. I also heard that HP used to use the same resistor packs in some of our LaserJet printers until we also started having them fail over time. I have no idea of what Apple's policy is on Macs out of warranttee. A board level replacement of the resistor packs (replace the ones on both the modem and the printer ports) shouldn't be too hard, but you want to be sure to use the right parts :-). Fortunately, most of the resistor packs fail when the Mac is under warantee, but the customer might not notice it until he hooks his Mac up to a DeskWriter or possibly a LocalTalk network (and on LocalTalk he might just get poor performance). Most modems and RS-232/422 printers don't get confused about the resistor pack problem -- although the interface is out of spec when the resistor packs fail. If you have more questions about this problem call our printer support line at (208)-323-2551. I am not a support person but I was involved in diagnosing the problem so I know something about it :-). Dave Neff neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM
long@mcntsh.enet.dec.com (Rich Long) (03/27/91)
In article <1991Mar25.233916.21520@agate.berkeley.edu>, bclee@.berkeley.edu (Bob C. Lee) writes... > and ready lights blinking sequentially. Oh, and before everything > stopped, a page came out with this line on the top of it. > > 10864 Error Trap This problem sounds like one I recently heard about, in which the Macintosh serial port does something to make the Deskwriter think that it is in Appletalk mode. Apparently, other peripherals may function OK. Switching to the other port may help, but only temporarily. The fix is to swap the Mac's logic board (nice, eh?). According to what I was told, the problem affects a "small number of machines", including SEs and IIcis. If your machine is in warranty or Applecare, no sweat. If not, your dealer is supposed to call "Apple Technical Support" (who will probably refer the dealer to HIS dealer ;-). Two questions: How old is your Mac? Have you tried running in Appletalk mode (I'm just curious). Good luck! Richard C. Long * long@mcntsh.enet.dec.com * Selfware:If you like --------------- * ...!decwrl!mcntsh.enet.dec.com!long * this program, send A First Edition * long%mcntsh.dec@decwrl.enet.dec.com * yourself five bucks!