This page was actually really useful for matching old and new API names: https://web.mit.edu/macdev/Development/Documentation/ascii/NewRoutineNames.txt #retroApple

Does anyone remember what “re-verifying format” actually meant in the context of formatting a floppy? Is it checking all sectors and marking the bad ones so the floppy can still be used? I used to know all this stuff. #RetroApple

Is there any mirror of Macintosh Garden for really old Macs with a very simple web site? I have the idea someone built it but can’t recall the URL. #RetroApple

I should omit this but… there’s a boot sound as well. Gil Amelio saying “This is Apple. Expect the impossible”. Yes, I know. #RetroApple

Ok just got the heck of it I reconnected the old Quantum hard drive that was originally in this external case and… OMG! Yes that was my boot screen for the LC, now in 1-bit! It boots! It boots!!! All my stuff is still here! I’m giggling like a little kid. Gonna explore this! #RetroApple

Oh, a cat picture from the Norton Utilities screen test! #RetroApple

On top of this, I’m limited to what I can scavenge around here. So what we have: a Zip drive terminating the chain with a Zip disk that’s not being seen. A SCSI CD drive that was originally there just to provide termination power but it’s actually booting the Mac. A pass through terminator on the cable that goes to the laptop. And an external power supply to the CD because the one next to it is broken and can’t provide stable voltage. Somehow, it works! #RetroApple

SCSI chain: since the internal disk isn’t there, there is no internal termination. Therefore the chain needs to be terminated on both ends, using a pass through terminator on the cable that connects to the PowerBook (I’ll never understand how a pass through terminator actually works but it does). To complicate things more, termination needs termination power to work (5V in one of the pins) but neither this specific PowerBook nor the original Zip 100 provide it (I measured it). #RetroApple

The 6MB of RAM are working which is great news! And I had no idea this Mac could boot 7.6. Nice! #RetroApple

It booted! Not exactly the way I was expecting but it booted! I had prepared a 7.1 install “cd” in a ZIP drive, but it can’t see it. However since I had to have a CD ROM drive in the chain (more on why later) I tried a Norton Utilities CD (actually legit, original!) and IT BOOTED! Look at this 1-bit beauty!

Also, kids, if you’ve never seen a passive matrix display and how it “spreads” rectangles across horizontal and vertical areas, here’s your chance! #RetroApple

All right, unplugged the internal HD and we have blinking ? floppy disk Icon! Now let’s see if I can assemble a SCSI chain that boots this thing… #RetroApple

It works! Since the disk is broken, it can’t boot. Not sure why it’s not showing the missing OS icon but I assume the SCSI bus is stuck. But success so far! #RetroApple

New panel installed! Time to test it. #RetroApple

A bit of a cleaning on the keyboard and surrounding areas. I think that screen is suffering from a lot of things but not vinagre syndrome (at least does not seem like it). However in case it is, it’s highly contagious between panels, so I want to be sure no leftover particle that may have fallen from the old screen touches the new one.

Assembly and testing will be done after lunch! #RetroApple

The screen is out. Phew! I wish I had ordered the flat cable as well because it was glued to the screen in two points and it wasn’t easy to get it out. Lots of heat from a hair dryer and it final got loose enough. I think the flat cable survived (so far) so we’re good.

Also there seems to be some cap juice on the screen caps, no wonder it didn’t work at all. But it’s pointless to recap a screen in such a bad state anyway. #RetroApple

If you’re paying attention you’ll see the rated *input* voltage of the inverter board is different. However I actually measured it and at least without load, the inverter board seems to be powered at just slightly over 7V. So the 5V is a lie. #RetroApple