Power Macintosh 6100 Troubleshooting
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The tables below are Apple's symptom charts for the Power Macintosh 6100 family, from the Power Macintosh 6100/WS 6150 Service Source.[1] Apple lists the cures in order of likelihood: try the first, check whether the symptom persists, and refit the original module before trying the next (p. 39).
Before you start
[edit | edit source]Apple's troubleshooting tips for the Power Macintosh models (pp. 6–8):[1]
- If the computer does not power up, reset the logic board first: unplug it, remove the battery, press the power button, disconnect the power supply cable from the logic board for 5 to 10 minutes, then reassemble (pp. 107–111).
- RAM SIMMs must be noncomposite and fitted in like pairs of the same size and speed.
- Bad SIMMs do not cause death chimes on these machines. A dialog box reports the bad SIMM instead.
- If the system hangs soon after a NuBus card is fitted, check with the card's maker that it works with a Power Macintosh.
- The AV models use the same logic board as the others, with the Power Macintosh AV card in the processor-direct slot.
The clock battery is lithium; Apple's test is to replace it below 3.2 V on the 10 V DC range (p. 103). Apple's cure for losing settings is also to clear PRAM by holding Command-Option-P-R at startup, before "Welcome to Macintosh" appears (p. 41).[1]
Power and system
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Apple's cures, in order |
|---|---|
| System does not power up | Reset the logic board; reseat the ROM SIMM and cache SIMM; replace the power supply; replace the logic board. |
| System crashes or hangs intermittently | Check system software is 7.1.2 or later (6100/60, 6150) or 7.5 or later (6100/66, 6150/66); check the SIMMs are noncomposite and in like pairs; check the software is known-good and Power Macintosh compatible; clear PRAM; replace the cache SIMM, if fitted; replace the DRAM SIMMs; replace the logic board, keeping the SIMMs; replace the power supply. |
Source: pp. 40–41.[1]
Video
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Apple's cures, in order |
|---|---|
| Screen dark; audio and a drive work, fan running, LED lit | Adjust the monitor's brightness; replace the video cable; replace the monitor; replace the logic board. |
| Screen dark; audio and drive do not work, fan running, LED lit | Reset the logic board; reseat the ROM and cache SIMMs; remove peripherals; replace the DRAM SIMMs; replace the power supply; replace the logic board. |
| Part or all of the screen bright, audio present, no picture | Replace the video cable; replace the monitor; replace the logic board. |
| Screen dark, fan not running, LED off | Check the power cables; remove peripherals; replace the power supply; replace the logic board. |
| Multiple Scan monitor on a 6100/60AV shows ghosting or smearing | Replace the Power Macintosh AV card. |
Source: pp. 42–44.[1] A plain 6100 has no VRAM; its video comes from DRAM on the logic board through the HDI-45 port, and needs the HDI-45 to DB-15 adapter for most monitors (p. 30).
Floppy drive
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Apple's cures, in order |
|---|---|
| Audio and video present, floppy drive does not work | Replace the floppy drive cable; replace the drive; replace the logic board. |
| Disk ejects and the screen shows a Mac icon with a blinking X | Try another disk; replace the floppy cable; replace the drive; replace the logic board. |
| Disk does not eject | Switch on while holding the mouse button; eject the disk manually; replace the floppy cable; replace the drive. |
| Drive tries to eject but does not | Push the disk fully in; eject it manually; replace the drive; reseat or replace the top housing. |
Source: pp. 45–46.[1] See also Floppy Drive Repair.
Hard drive and CD-ROM
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Apple's cures, in order |
|---|---|
| Internal hard drive runs continuously | Update the drive's driver with HD SC Setup (Apple RAID on a WS 6150 RAID drive); reinstall system software; replace the SCSI data cable; replace the drive; replace the logic board. |
| Internal hard drive does not work | Replace the SCSI data cable; replace the SCSI power cable; replace the drive; replace the logic board. |
| CD-ROM drive does not accept a disc | Try another disc; replace the CD-ROM mechanism; replace the SCSI data cable. |
| No CD-ROM icon on the desktop | Check the CD-ROM extension is in the System Folder; replace the mechanism; replace the SCSI data cable. |
| Disc will not eject | Turn off file sharing; eject manually; press the eject button behind the front bezel if it can be reached; replace the mechanism. |
| AppleCD 600i stutters with CD+ or CD-R discs, or a disc will not mount | Replace the CD-ROM drive. |
Source: pp. 47–49.[1] On a Workgroup Server 6150 RAID drive, the RAID software must be reinstalled after a drive is replaced (p. 47). See also Hard Drive Maintenance and Repair.
Peripherals
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Apple's cures, in order |
|---|---|
| A SCSI device works internally or externally but not with both connected | Replace the external SCSI cables; check there is only one terminator on the external devices; check the external device IDs differ from the internal ones; check the internal hard drive is terminated and an internal CD-ROM is not; replace the terminator on the external hard drive; replace the SCSI select cable on the external device. |
| Cursor does not move | Restart; check the mouse connection; if the mouse was on the keyboard, move it to the computer's ADB port (if it works there, replace the keyboard); if it does not work on any port, replace the mouse; replace the logic board. |
| Cursor moves but the button does nothing | Replace the mouse; replace the logic board; test the mouse on the computer's ADB port as above. |
| Double-click does not open anything | Remove duplicate System files; clear PRAM; test the mouse on the computer's ADB port; replace the mouse; replace the logic board. |
| No response from the keyboard | Check the keyboard is on the ADB port; replace the keyboard cable; replace the keyboard; replace the logic board. |
Source: pp. 50–52.[1]
Miscellaneous
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Apple's cures, in order |
|---|---|
| About This Macintosh shows more or less memory than is fitted | Check the SIMMs are in matching pairs; replace the SIMMs. |
| Power button sticks | Realign the plastic button; reseat the power supply; enlarge the metal hole round the button by 1/16 inch; bend down the tabs that guide the button; replace the bottom housing. |
| Stack overflow errors in DOS or Windows, or a blank screen when the DOS Compatibility card starts | Remove the card and set the J10 jumper to "SX" (the two right-most prongs). |
| Global Village modem reports that it cannot find a modem, or that the port is busy | The TelePort control panel is corrupted when a 6100 restarts with AppleTalk inactive or LocalTalk not selected. Apply the GlobalFax 2.5.2P update with extensions off, or replace the TelePort control panel from the backup CD and set AppleTalk active on LocalTalk. |
Source: pp. 53–56.[1] The DOS Compatibility card is covered on Power Macintosh 6100 DOS Compatible.
Beyond module level
[edit | edit source]Apple's manual has no schematics or component values, and no rail voltages. The logic board's capacitors are listed on Power Macintosh 6100 Capacitor Replacement Guide. Startup tones and codes are covered on Sad Mac Error Codes.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Power Macintosh 6100
- Power Macintosh 6100 Specifications
- Power Macintosh 6100 General Maintenance
- Power Macintosh 6100 Capacitor Replacement Guide
- Power Macintosh 6100/ WS 6150 Service Source