Memory test util for classic macs? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

1 Nov 2008

Josh,

If you can't boot the OS, you'd be hard-pressed to run a memory test.
As you already suspect, that error strongly suggests a hardware error.
Assuming the memory is not soldered to the motherboard, the first thing
I would do is to re-seat the memory.  If that doesn't work, I'd try  
removing
some of it, and try different combinations of memory cards to see
if some subset works.  Usually memory from that era needs to be
added and removed in pairs, and needs to positioned in the right slots.

--Tim

On Nov 1, 2008, at 5:09 AM, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote:

...
  Message: 26
 Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:24:54 -0400
 From: "Joshua Alexander Dersch" <derschjo at msu.edu>
 Subject: Memory test util for classic macs?
 To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
 Message-ID: <E1Kw1UE-0002Q9-LD at sys27.mail.msu.edu>
 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8"

 Anyone know of a decent memory test utility that runs on classic  
 macs (68k
 based)?

 I have an old Mac Portable that I'm struggling to get an OS on -- I
 consistently get "bad F-line instruction" traps when booting from  
 System 7
 disks (floppies and CD-ROMs), which from what I can tell probably  
 means bad
 memory.  I'd like to find out if it IS memory, and if so, whether  
 it's the
 onboard 1mb (I hope not) or on the 4mb expansion...

 My internet searches have come up dry (I've found stuff for OS X,  
 and early
 PowerMacs, but nothing for the 68k line).

 Thanks,
 Josh 