Task: Backup a Compact Flash or SD Card Hard Drive Image Needed: Compact Flash or SD Card with an Hard Drive Image Time: 10-15 Minutes Introduction I recently picked up an Amiga 4000 that came with an installed IDE compact flash hard drive. The CF card had a nice install
Read postDisplay Video from an IBM PS/2 Model 30 in HDMI by Installing a PicoMem 2 ISA Card With PicoGraph Firmware and a DisplayLink USB Adapter (30-60 mins)
Task: Display Video from an IBM PS/2 Model 30 in HDMI Needed: ISA PicoMem 2 Card, PicoGraph Firmware, and DisplayLink Adapter Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about my challenges getting the IBM PS/2 Model 30 to display in HDMI. My first solution was to install a VGA
Read postErase a 40-Pin AM27C400 Programmable EPROM With Ultraviolet Light for Upgrading the ROMs of Retro Computers Such as the Amiga 600 and 1200 (30-60 mins)
Task: Erase a 40-Pin AM27C400 Programmable EPROM With Ultraviolet Light Needed: AM27C400 EPROM, UV light source, TL866 universal programmer Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about burning 40-pin AM27C400 EPROM chips for upgrading the ROM of an Amiga 1200. Unfortunately, several of my EPROMs were not fully blank
Read postAdd USB Joystick Support to Your Retro PC via the PicoMEM Card in the 8-Bit ISA Slot (15-30 mins)
Task: Add USB Joystick Support to Your Retro PC Needed: PicoMEM 2 Card, Compatible USB Joystick Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I recently installed a modern PicoMEM 2 card in the 8-bit ISA slot of my IBM PS/2 Model 30 that expands the machine in several important ways including modern joystick support via a USB-A
Read postAdd an Emulated AdLib Sound Card to Your Retro PC via a PicoMEM 2 Card in the 8-Bit ISA Slot (15-30 mins)
Task: Add an Emulated AdLib Sound Card to Your Retro PC Needed: PC with an 8-Bit ISA Slot (e.g. IBM XT/AT/PS2) and a PicoMEM 2 Card Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction The AdLib Music Synthesizer Card was one of the first sound cards to make IBM PC-compatible games feel truly musical.
Read postAdd Modern Storage, Networking, Audio, and Peripheral Support to Your Vintage PC With the Raspberry Pi Pico-Based 8-Bit ISA PicoMEM 2 Card (30-60 mins)
Task: Add Modern Storage, Networking, Audio, and Peripheral Support to Your Vintage PC With the PicoMEM 2 Card Needed: PicoMEM 2 card, micro-SD card, Vintage PC with an 8-Bit ISA Slot Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction There have been a variety of modern solutions for upgrading the RAM of your vintage PC,
Read postPurchase a ViewSonic VA1655 16-Inch 1080p Portable LED Monitor for Displaying Upscaled Retro Computer Video (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a ViewSonic VA1655 16-Inch 1080p Portable LED Monitor Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I recently posted about my efforts to get an IBM PS/2 Model 30 with MCGA graphics displaying in HDMI. This required adding an ISA VGA card with upscaling using an OSSC. I noted
Read postDisplay Video from an IBM PS/2 Model 30 in HDMI by Installing an ISA VGA Card and Upscaling with an OSSC (30-60 mins)
Task: Display Video from an IBM PS/2 Model 30 in HDMI Needed: ISA VGA Card and OSSC or Similar Upscaler Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I recently purchased a nice IBM PS/2 Model 30 that was released in 1987 as the first in this line of computers. The original PS/2 came
Read postPurchase and Install a 1MB Chip RAM Expansion Board for Your Amiga 600 (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase and Install a 1MB Chip Ram Expansion Board for Your Amiga 600 Needed: Amiga 600, 1MB Chip Ram Board Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I recently purchased an Amiga 600 and upgraded with a PiStorm CPU accelerator. While the PiStorm adds a ton of fast RAM, it does not
Read postPurchase and Install a PiStorm to Provide CPU Emulation, Extra Fast RAM, and a Virtual Hard Drive for Your Amiga 600 (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase and Install a PiStorm for Your Amiga 600 Needed: Amiga 600, Amiga 600 PiStorm, Compatible Raspberry Pi, MicroSD Card, Philips and Hex Screwdrivers Time: 30-60 minutes or longer Introduction I recently purchased an Amiga 600 computer and immediately ordered a PiStorm device to expand its capabilities. I have
Read postPurchase an Amiga 600 16-Bit Computer (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase a 16-Bit Amiga 600 Computer Needed: Web Browser Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about purchasing Amiga 500 and 1200 computers. These are accessible and essential Amiga computers for any retro computer collection. The Amiga 500 came out in 1987 and featured a 16-bit 68000 CPU
Read postPurchase an IBM PS/2 Model 30 with an 8086 CPU (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase an IBM PS/2 Model 30 with an 8086 CPU Needed: Web Browser or Local Source Time: 30-60 minutes online or several hours for local sourcing Introduction Introduced in 1987, the IBM PS/2 Model 30 marked the beginning of a new era in personal computing for IBM. Powered by
Read postTransfer Files to Your Amiga 600 or 1200 Using a Compact Flash to PCMCIA Card Adapter (15-30 mins)
Task: Transfer Files to Your Amiga 600 or 1200 Using a Compact Flash to PCMCIA Card Adapter Needed: Amiga 6oo or 1200, CF to PCMCIA Adapter, CF Card or SD to CF Adapter Time: 15 to 30 Minutes Introduction The Amiga 600 and 1200 featured a PCMCIA (aka PC Card)
Read postBoot the CP/M Operating System on You Apple II Computer Using a Microsoft SoftCard (15-30 mins)
Task: Boot the CP/M Operating System on You Apple II Computer Using a Microsoft SoftCard Needed: Microsoft SoftCard, Apple II, CP/M Software Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction The Control Program/Monitor (CP/M) operating system was developed by Gary Kildall of Digital Research, Inc. in the 1970s for 8088 and Z-80 CPUs. It was widely used
Read postPurchase an A2Pico Card for Emulating Multiple Devices on Your Apple II Computer (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase an A2Pico Card for the Apple II Needed: A2Pico card, Apple II computer Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction One of the joys of owning an Apple II computer is experimenting with the many varieties of cards that expand the functionality of the system. These can include cards for adding
Read postPurchase a BOOTI Hard Disk Emulator for Accessing Multiple Files from Your Apple II Computer (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase a BOOTI Hard Disk Emulator Needed: BOOTI device, Apple II computer Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction The BOOTI card is a storage device for the Apple II that provides solid-state disk access using an SD card or USB device. It installs in an expansion slot and presents itself as
Read postCase Studies in Retro Computing Repair #18: Replacing a Broken Power Switch on a Commodore 64
Introduction I picked up a Commodore 64 at a Vintage Computer Festival that the seller disclosed had a broken power switch that would not move. I was able to get it at a significant discount hoping that was all that was wrong with it. Fortunately, it was! Case Study Replacement
Read postCase Studies in Retro Computing Repair #17: Replace a Broken Power Supply in an Apple II Computer
Introduction I recently posted about purchasing an Apple IIe computer. Shortly after this the RIFA capacitor in the power supply unit (PSU) of my Apple IIe Platinum computer blew in spectacular fashion with load crackles and lots of smelly smoke. I had the computer one for an hour doing a
Read postChange the Color of the Text on a Commodore VIC-20 Using Keyboard Commands (5-10 mins)
Task: Change the Color of the Text on a Commodore VIC-20 Needed: Commodore VIC-20 Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about purchasing a Commodore VIC-20 computer. I have two and have not had the opportunity to spend much time with them. I learned recently that you change the
Read postUpgrade a Macintosh LCIII Computer to 36MB of RAM (15-30 mins)
Task: Upgrade a Macintosh LCIII Computer to 36MB of RAM Needed: Mac LCIII or Equivalent Performa Model, 72-Pin 32MB SIMM Card Time: 15-30 Minutes Introduction I acquired a Macintosh LCIII several years ago from a local contact. The first thing I did was replace the leaking capacitors that are common to
Read postConnect Your Apple II Computer to an LED Screen Using a RetroTINK 2X-Pro Composite to HDMI Converter (15-30 mins)
Task: Connect Your Apple II Computer to an LED Screen Needed: Apple II computer, composite cable, RetroTINK or similar, LED screen Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors are great for the full retro experience. However, they are heavy, take up a lot of space, and are not
Read postPurchase an Apple IIe Computer for a Classic 8-Bit Experience (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase an Apple IIe Computer Needed: Web Browser for Online Purchase Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction The 8-bit Apple II computer arrived in 1977 along with the Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80 and the Commodore Pet as the first home computers you could purchase in a store and take home. It
Read postClean the Heads of an Amiga 1010 Floppy Disk Drive (30-60 mins)
Task: Clean the Heads of an Amiga 1010 Floppy Disk Drive Needed: Q-tip / cotton bud, isopropyl alcohol, screwdrivers Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction All floppy disk drives need to have the drive head cleaned from time to time or they stop working. The drive head is the part that touches
Read postPurchase an External 1010 Floppy Disk Drive for Your Amiga Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase an Amiga 1010 External Floppy Disk Drive Needed: Amiga Computer (e.g. 500, 600, 1200) Time: 15-30 Minutes Online Introduction I really enjoy using floppy disks. It reminds me of my experience using floppies on my Atari 800 in the early 1980s. While there are lots of devices to
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