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 postSearch for and Download Amiga Games and Software Using the Turran FTP Site (10-15 mins)
Task: Search for and Download Amiga Games and Software Using the Turran FTP Site Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction Google searches for Amiga games and software can be frustrating when you are looking for a single file. This is partly because many files are part of large compilations
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
Read postPurchase Refurbished and IBM Formatted 3.5″ Floppy Disks for Your Retro Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase Refurbished 3.5″ Floppy Disks for Your Retro Computer Needed: Web Browser and Retro Computer with 3.5″ Floppy Drive Time: 10-15 Minutes Introduction I am more of an 8-bit guy and have found 5.25″ floppy disks to be quite reliable. For example, I have a collection of over 1000
Read postModify the Video Circuitry of Your Atari 1040STF to Make it Compatible with RGB to SCART to HDMI Conversion to Connect to an LED Screen (1-2 Hours)
Task: Modify the Video Circuitry of Your Atari 1040STF to Make it Compatible with RGB to SCART to HDMI Conversion to Connect to an LED Screen Needed: Soldering Iron, Desoldering Iron, Solder, Several Electrical Components Time: 1-2 Hours Introduction I have previously posted about purchasing an Atari 1040ST as one
Read postUpgrade a Macintosh LC Computer to 10MB of RAM (15-30 mins)
Task: Upgrade a Macintosh LC Computer to 10MB of RAM Needed: Two 4MB RAM SIMMs Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I acquired a Macintosh LC several years ago from a local contact. The first thing I did was replace the leaking capacitors that are common to all Macs of the 1990s. I
Read postConnect a Classic Macintosh to an LED Monitor by Converting VGA to HDMI (15-30 mins)
Task: Connect a Classic Macintosh to an LED Monitor by Converting VGA to HDMI Needed: DB15 to VGA converter, VGA to HDMI converter Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Getting classic Macintoshes such as the LC and Performa series to display video on an LED screen via HDMI can be frustrating. Fortunately,
Read postUpgrade a Macintosh Classic II Computer to 10MB of RAM (15-30 mins)
Task: Upgrade a Macintosh Classic II Computer to 10MB of RAM Needed: Two 4MB RAM Boards, Mac Classic II, Long T15 Torx Screwdriver Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I acquired a lovely Macintosh Classic II several years ago from a local contact. The first thing I did was replace the leaking
Read postWatch Amiga Format Magazine’s Introduction to the Amiga 1200 on YouTube (45 mins)
Task: Watch Amiga Format Magazine’s Introduction to the Amiga 1200 on YouTube Needed: Web Browser Time: 45 minutes to watch the full video Introduction Amiga Format was a popular British magazine covering all things Amiga from 1989 to 2000. They produced a nice beginner introduction to the Amiga 1200 that
Read postRead a Review of Workbench 2.0 in Amiga Computing Magazine from 1991 (10-15 mins)
Task: Read a Review of Workbench 2.0 in Amiga Computing Magazine from 1991 Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I did not have an Amiga and missed out on the excitement of each hardware and software update. I got a sense for that excitement from this article in Amiga
Read post3D Print a Case for Your Amiga Computer Mouse Adapter (30-60 mins)
Task: 3D Print a Case for Your Amiga Computer Mouse Adapter Needed: 3D Printer, PLA Filament, STL File for Case Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I previously posted about purchasing an adapter to connect a PS/2 optical mouse to an Amiga computer. The purchase I made was only for the bare
Read postPurchase a New PS/2 Optical Mouse and Mouse Adapter for Your Amiga Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a New Mouse and Mouse Adapter for Your Amiga Computer Needed: Mouse and Mouse Adapter, Amiga Computer Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction Original mice for the Amiga line of computers can be expensive, yellowed, and suffer from low performance. Fortunately, there are modern adapters that allow you to connect
Read postWrite a Simple Program to Move a Sprite on Your Amiga Computer Using AMOS Professional BASIC (30-60 mins)
Task: Write a Simple Program to Move a Sprite on Your Amiga Computer Using AMOS Professional BASIC Needed: AMOS Professional BASIC, Amiga Computer or Emulator Time: 30-60 Minutes Introduction I grew up programming on Atari 8-bit computers in the early 1980s and loved making sprites and moving them around the
Read postWatch the History of the Commodore Amiga – A 1992 Documentary (45 mins)
Task: Watch the History of the Commodore Amiga – A 1992 Documentary Needed: Web browser Time: 45 minutes Introduction The Commodore Amiga origin story is a wonderful part of computer history. The Amiga was developed by a really creative and determined group of hardware and software engineers. Their passion and
Read postPurchase an Atari 1040 ST to Experience Mid-1980s Computing and Gaming with the Motorola 68000 Processor (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase an Atari 1040 ST Needed: Atari 1040ST, mouse, monitor or some way to convert RGB to HDMI Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I previously posted about purchasing an Atari 520ST computer as an example of mid-1980s computing with the 68000 CPU. While the 520ST was released first in 1985,
Read postPurchase an UltraSatan Hard Drive Emulator for the Atari ST Computers (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase an UltraSatan Hard Drive Emulator for the Atari ST Computers Needed: UltraSatan, SD Card, Atari ST Computer Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction An essential accessory for any retro computing system is an SD card device that emulates a hard drive. There are several options available for the Atari ST
Read postDownload and Boot the Hatari Atari ST Emulator (15-30 mins)
Task: Download and Boot the Hatari Atari ST Emulator Needed: Hatari emulator, TOS OS file Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Emulators are important and useful tools for getting the most out of your retro computing experience. I recently posted about purchasing an Atari 520 ST computer. The Atari ST line can
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