Some Macs just won't die... (with pictures)

[Defiant]

I got my hand on an old Performa 630 last month.

http://www.imageshack.us/files1/ai_performa_001.jpg

I set it all up, and gave the old machine a nice flush with some current. Even though pretty old, it booted flawlessly. After checking out the old system (7.5.5), I shut it down, and prepared it, so I could give it to my brother.
As I was disconnecting the cables, I saw that there was something brown on some connectors. Intrigued by it, I decided to open the case and see what it was.

http://www.imageshack.us/files1/ai_performa_002.jpg

I opened the case, and pulled out the motherboard.

Backside: Nothing to see of brown stuff.

http://www.imageshack.us/files1/ai_performa_003.jpg

I turned the motherboard around, and... uh.. my heart skipped a beat.

http://www.imageshack.us/files1/ai_performa_004.jpg

Yes. It looks like this.

http://www.imageshack.us/files1/ai_performa_005.jpg

http://www.imageshack.us/files1/ai_performa_006.jpg

http://www.imageshack.us/files1/ai_performa_007.jpg

The whole motherboard is completely covered with dried mud. Yes. Dried mud.

Apparently the Mac was part in a flooding, and when the water level went down again, all mud the water brought stayed in place.

The Mac still works, though he gets a little bit hot after some time of use.

What a marvel. Completely covered with mud, flooded with water, but still working.
That's truly a Macintosh.

[Pumpkintosh]

You owe it to the little guy to restore it to a new condition.

[Wrong Robot]

Same thing happened to an old g3 box like that we used to have. When Driving home one day(from the computer shop) my brother just stuck the thing out of the window for a second, that did the trick.

[johnq]

Originally posted by Wrong Robot
Same thing happened to an old g3 box like that we used to have. When Driving home one day(from the computer shop) my brother just stuck the thing out of the window for a second, that did the trick.

It's mud not dust, Robot

[crazychester]

Originally posted by Wrong Robot
Same thing happened to an old g3 box like that we used to have. When Driving home one day(from the computer shop) my brother just stuck the thing out of the window for a second, that did the trick.

Hee, hee, hee....

There's a garbage hopper at the block of units I used to live at, that's been spitting out olds Macs for the last 18 months or so. All pretty ancient stuff. About every 6 - 8 weeks a new (old) Mac appears in the hopper. I guess we've dragged out around a dozen or so. We have no idea where they're coming from but so far I think only one has not worked. Needles to say, we counsel them to help them through the harrowing experience and then find them a loving home.

[M.O.S.T]

Still works after flood damage....


Thats why they called it "Performa"

[\/\/ickes]

WoW!!!

Now can you post from it? That would be neat...

[DMBand0026]

That is truly amazing! After water damage, it still worked. Wow. I'd like to see a PC do that. ;) :lol:

[Defiant]

Yeah, it's really amazing. I'll take it to work tomorrow, and brush it off with compressed air. At least I'll try to do it. If it won't work, I'm going to brush it off with something else.

[BuonRotto]

You might try to use some artist's brushes, horsehair or synthetic or something is the comrpessed air doesn't work. Just don't break the bank, those brushes can get expensive. :)

[Stoo]

Bonus points if you can get a comms slot or PDS ethernet card to work in one of those slots. :wow:

[Beige_G3]

This is very inspirational!

[Randycat99]

This unit is "special". Clean it up, put a medal on it, and call it R2D2. It may be destined to play a vital role in the future... You can be sure you are on the right track if you encounter some Sith Lord of sorts one day that has traveled back in time to destroy your Performa. ...and your sister doesn't look like Natalie Portman, does she? If so, can you fix us up? She is such a sweet, sexy little ducky! :smokey:

[billybobsky]

Originally posted by Randycat99
This unit is "special". Clean it up, put a medal on it, and call it R2D2. It may be destined to play a vital role in the future... You can be sure you are on the right track if you encounter some Sith Lord of sorts one day that has traveled back in time to destroy your Performa. ...and your sister doesn't look like Natalie Portman, does she? If so, can you fix us up? She is such a sweet, sexy little ducky! :smokey:

dude. take a cold shower...

[Randycat99]

What are ya? Dead down below? She's legal now- what's the big deal? :p

[billybobsky]

Originally posted by Randycat99
What are ya? Dead down below? She's legal now- what's the big deal? :p

she was 'legal' before i even knew she existed.

i was more responding to your projection of natalie portman on defiant's sister. if i had a younger sister i wouldn't want anyone who uses the words sweet, sexy little ducky to even think about her let alone project some other fantasy woman on her...

it was all in jest...

[GreggWSmith]

I hate to say this but it looks like New York right after 9/11. I don't know why but it looks like a tiny city covered in ash. Sorry, I guess I am crazy.

[Randycat99]

Tell us about your mother... ;) (that's a Freudian reference, btw)

[GreggWSmith]

It could also be the Jack Daniels!

[Defiant]

Hey, nobody saying anything about my sister! She's too young for you guys anyways, so hands-off! :grumble:


Didn't had a chance to take it to work today, will try again tomorrow. But I won't do the medal thing. Back to work it goes, what else! No lying around in the sun for it! It's a Performa, so it better perform. :devil:

Btw, motherboards often look like cities, just look at some movies from the past... ahem. :D

I'll post pictures when I have it restored to working quality.

[Kenneth]

That's sad. At least the rainbow Apple logo is still in perfect condition.

I have a Performa 6116CD.. still working very good with Mac OS 9.1

[\/\/ickes]

Originally posted by Kenneth
That's sad. At least the rainbow Apple logo is still in perfect condition.

I have a Performa 6116CD.. still working very good with Mac OS 9.1

I have a Performa 6200CD and it is slow as hell... It seems to do fine as a file server with System 7.5.5 but slows right down with OS 8.1. It even has the cache card and ram maxed out.

[Outsider]

Put the motherboard in the dishwasher (after taking out the battery). Allow it to dry and it should be spiffy clean.

[Sailfish]

There is a specialty solvent that you can immerse most electronics in that will clean off the mud.

Ask at electronic repair shops if nobody comes up with the answer here first.

Super Jeopardy Bonus Question name that solvent!

:???:

[a_greer]

Originally posted by Outsider
Put the motherboard in the dishwasher (after taking out the battery). Allow it to dry and it should be spiffy clean. thats the goofyest thing i have heard, does it work????? i'm thinking shortout bigtime

[BR]

Originally posted by a_greer
thats the goofyest thing i have heard, does it work????? i'm thinking shortout bigtime
A current must exist for there to be a short.

[\/\/ickes]

What about rust?

[a_greer]

Originally posted by BR
A current must exist for there to be a short.
moisture lurks, 3,4,or 5 days later there still could be moisture in the IC's ti could get in between the pins and whala, moisture

[curiousuburb]

Originally posted by crazychester
Hee, hee, hee....

There's a garbage hopper at the block of units I used to live at, that's been spitting out olds Macs for the last 18 months or so. All pretty ancient stuff. About every 6 - 8 weeks a new (old) Mac appears in the hopper. I guess we've dragged out around a dozen or so. We have no idea where they're coming from but so far I think only one has not worked. Needles to say, we counsel them to help them through the harrowing experience and then find them a loving home.

maybe you've found the legendary lost murbot Mac Graveyard.
:p

[Defiant]

That didn't work with compressed air. The mud was very, very dry and I had no chance of getting it off with the air. It also was pretty thick. So took the little boy to a shower. He looks like new now, and will be out drying for some time.

Press your thumbs for luck, so that I can revive him one more time... :)

[alcimedes]

i have an SE that still works. stupid thing won't die.

[709]

Wow. I can see the headlines now:

"Life Found on Motherboard! Scientists Stunned!"


lol. Give her a good spray. She's seen water before...I'd say it wouldn't hurt her a bit.


[edit] Whoops. I didn't scroll to your last post. :embarrass ...hmmm, so it's a boy huh? Good luck my friend. All my male machines are real pains in the arse.

[Splinemodel]

Get a bottle of isopropanol (91%) at a local drug store. Should set you back about 2 bucks. It should take off the mud, and it probably won't damage the electronics.

[\/\/ickes]

...so you like taking little dirty boys to the shower???

[Defiant]

I also have an SE, still working like it always did.

Well, I'm not sure if it's a boy or a girl, because I haven't checked… but I think it's a dumb idea to say if a computer is a boy or a girl. I mean, yes, my computer has a name, but this Performa was one I just picked up. No need to get emotional about that.

Yep, I almost did that with isopropanol at work, but I decided against it because we didn't had much left, and the mud was really thick - It even took some time with the shower head. It was all very thick and dry, and stuck on it like some things on other things ;)

And no, I don't like taking little dirty boys to the shower, I always look that I change their diapers before that, you pervert. :p