Task: Purchase an Atari ST Needed: Atari 520 ST, Power Supply, Monitor, Mouse Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I grew up with Atari 8-bit computers in the early to mid-1980s but missed their next generation systems as I jumped to PC as many did at the time. Atari released the 520
Read postInstall the Amiga Game Selector as a Custom System for Booting Games and Software on Your AmigaKit A1200 NG Emulator (15-30 mins)
Task: Install the Amiga Game Selector as a Custom System for Booting Games and Software on Your Amiga A1200 NG Emulator Needed: A1200 NG from AmigaKit, Compact Flash card, AGS 3.0 or later Time: 15-30 minutes. Longer if you need to download AGS Introduction I have previously posted about the
Read postDownload and Run xSysInfo for Benchmarking Amiga Computers (15-30 mins)
Task: Download and Run xSysInfo for Benchmarking Amiga Computers Needed: xSysInfo, Amiga 680X0 computer or emulator Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the SysInfo utility for benchmarking and evaluating Amiga 680X0 computers. This is a useful tool for testing the speed of your CPU or quantifying the
Read postDownload and Run SysInfo for Benchmarking Amiga Computers (15-30 mins)
Task: Download and Run SysInfo for Benchmarking Amiga Computers Needed: SysInfo, Amiga 680X0 computer or emulator Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Ever wonder how fast your Amiga 680X0 CPU is compared to other models? Want to confirm how RAM is installed? These and other questions can be answered using the SysInfo
Read postDownload and Play the Castlevania Modern Remake for Amiga Computers with AGA Graphics (15-30 mins)
Task: Download and Play the Castlevania Modern Remake for Amiga Computers with AGA Graphics Needed: Amiga computer with AGA graphics (e.g. A1200 or later) or emulator (e.g. WinUAE) Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Castlevania is a side-scrolling video game developed by Konami for the Nintendo and later ported to lots of
Read postInstall AmigaOS 3.2 on a Hard Drive to Add Modern Workbench Support for Your 680X0-Based Amiga Computers (15-30 mins)
Task: Install AmigaOS 3.2 on a Hard Drive to Add Modern Workbench Support for Your 680X0-Based Amiga Computers Needed: 68K Amiga Computer or Emulator, AmigaOS 3.2 Time: 15-30 minutes for install Introduction I have previously posted about purchasing AmigaOS 3.2 that was newly developed and released by Hyperion Entertainment in
Read postExplore Christmas-Themed Games, Demos, and Wallpaper on the Amiga Christmas Tree Website (30-60 mins)
Task: Explore Christmas-Themed Games, Demos, and Wallpaper on the Amiga Christmas Tree Website Needed: Web browser, Amiga emulator or real hardware Time: 30-60 mins or less Introduction The Amiga community developed a ton of fun Christmas-themed software in the 1980s and 1990s. This includes games modded with Christmas content as
Read postPurchase AmigaOS 3.2 to Add Modern Kickstart and Workbench Support for Your 680X0-Based Amiga Computers (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase AmigaOS 3.2 to Add Modern Kickstart and Workbench Support for Your 680X0-Based Amiga Computers Needed: 68K Amiga Computer or Emulator, Web Browser for Purchase and Download Time: 15-30 minutes for purchase and download Introduction According to Wikipedia, the last release of Workbench by Commodore was version 3.1 in
Read postCreate and Change Icons in Workbench Using IconEdit on Your Amiga Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Create and Change Icons in Workbench Using IconEdit on Your Amiga Computer Needed: Amiga computer or emulator with Workbench Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I was not happy with the default floppy disk icons for my hard drives on the desktop of my Workbench 3.1 installs, so I decided to
Read postChange the Desktop Background Pattern in Workbench on your Amiga Computer Using WBPattern (5-10 mins)
Task: Change the Desktop Background Pattern in Workbench 3.1 on your Amiga Computer Needed: An Amiga computer or emulator with Workbench 2.0 or later Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction Workbench 2.0 and later versions have a nice simple grey and white color scheme with a clean simple look. The desktop in
Read postInstall iGame on Your Compact Flash Hard Drive for Booting Games on an Amiga 600 or 1200 Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Install iGame on Your Compact Flash Hard Drive for Booting Games on an Amiga 600 or 1200 Computer Needed: Amiga with IDE Support, Compact Flash Card with Workbench 3.1 and WHDLoad games installed, IDE-CF Adapter, WinUAE and Windows PC, iGame files Time: 15-30 Minutes Disclosure: Note that as an
Read postUpgrade the Kickstart ROM on an Amiga 500 Revision 5 Motherboard Using an EPROM and Socket Adapter (30-60 mins)
Task: Upgrade the Kickstart ROM on an Amiga 500 Revision 5 Motherboard Using an EPROM and Socket Adapter Needed: Amiga 500 With Revision 5 Motherboard, EPROM, EPROM Programmer, EPROM Programmer Adapter, Kickstart ROM Socket Adapter Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I purchased a stock Amiga 500 computer online within the last
Read postInstall an Internal BlueSCSI Hard Drive Emulator in a Macintosh LC or Performa Series Retro Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Install an Internal BlueSCSI Hard Drive Emulator in a Macintosh LC Series Retro Computer Needed: Internal BlueSCSI V2, Mounting Bracket and M6*8 Screws, SCSI Ribbon Cable Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the amazing BlueSCSI version 2 device that uses a RaspberryPi Pico to emulate a
Read postCase Studies in Retro Computing Repair #16: Diagnosing and Fixing an Atari 800XL Booting to the RAM Test
Introduction I recently received a nonworking Atari 800XL that would boot straight to the built-in RAM test instead of the Ready prompt. It failed the RAM test almost completely with a grade of âFâ. I discovered when I cracked it open that it was loaded with cheap Micron Technology (MT) DRAM 64Kx1 RAM chips
Read postCase Studies in Retro Computing Repair #15: Diagnosing and Fixing the Crystal Clock Oscillator Circuit in an Atari 800XL
Introduction I friend brought me his Atari 800XL that was not generating any video signal. I confirmed with a multimeter that the chips were all getting good voltages. None of the chips were overly hot, and I confirmed with a working machine that they were all good. Case Study Given
Read postCase Studies in Retro Computer Repair #14: Diagnosing and Fixing a Faulty Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI) Signal on an Atari 800XL
Introduction I recently received an Atari 800XL from a friend that was booting to a black screen. This required breaking out the oscilloscope to track down the problem. Case Study I started troubleshooting this computer by probing the pins of the 6502 with an oscilloscope after making sure all the chips were
Read postCase Studies in Retro Computer Repair #13: Fixing an Atari 800XL with a Stuck Key
Introduction I purchased this Atari 800XL locally. It was in decent condition and spruced up nicely after some scrubbing with 99% isopropyl alcohol (IPA). I did not know when I bought it whether it worked and was happy to see it boot right up to the Ready prompt with a
Read post3D Print a New Bottom Trapdoor to Ventilate the PiStorm32 Lite on Your Amiga 1200 (30-60 mins)
Task: 3D Print a New Bottom Trapdoor to Ventilate the PiStorm32 Lite on Your Amiga 1200 Needed: STL file, 3D printer Time: 30-60 mins Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases Introduction I previously posted about installing a PiStorm32 Lite on an
Read postPurchase and Install a PiStorm32 Lite CPU Accelerator for Your Amiga 1200 32-Bit Computer (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase and Install a PiStorm CPU Accelerator for Your Amiga 500 16-Bit Computer Needed: PiStorm, Raspberry Pi 3A or other compatible model, Amiga 1200, micro SD card Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I recently purchased an Amiga 1200 and was interested in adding an 8MB fast RAM expansion through the
Read postCreate a Diagnostic ROM Chip for Your Amiga Computer Using a 27C400 EPROM and a TL866 Programmer with Adapter (30-60 mins)
Task: Create a Diagnostic ROM Chip for Your Amiga Computer Using a 27C400 EPROM and a TL866 Programmer with Adapter Needed: 27C400 EPROM, TL866 Programmer, EPROM adapter, Diagnostic ROM file Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about building a diagnostic cartridge for diagnosing problematic Commodore 64s. A similar
Read postAssemble a 27C322/160/800/400 EPROM Programming Adapter for Creating New ROM Chips for Retro Computers Such as the Amigas and Classic Macs (30-60 mins)
Task: Assemble a 27C322/160/800/400 EPROM Programming Adapter for Creating New ROM Chips for Retro Computers Such as the Amigas and Classic Macs Needed: 27C322/160/800/400 EPROM Programming Adapter or kit requiring soldering Time: 30-60 minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases Introduction
Read postCreate a Hard Drive File (.HDF) for Booting in the Amiga WinUAE Emulator (15-30 mins)
Task: Create a Hard Drive File (.HDF) for Booting in the Amiga WinUAE Emulator Needed: WinUAE and Windows PC, Kickstart ROM Time: 15-30 Minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases Introduction I recently posted about preparing a compact flash (CF) or
Read postInstall WHDLoad on Your Compact Flash Hard Drive for Booting Games on an Amiga 600 or 1200 Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Install WHDLoad on Your Compact Flash Hard Drive for Booting Games on an Amiga 600 or 1200 Computer Needed: Amiga with IDE Support, Compact Flash Card, IDE-CF Adapter, WinUAE and Windows PC, Kickstart ROM, Workbench Install Disks (ADFs), WHDLoad, Installer Time: 15-30 Minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay
Read postInstall Workbench on Your Compact Flash Hard Drive for Use with an Amiga 600 or 1200 Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Install Workbench on Your Compact Flash Hard Drive for Use with an Amiga 600 or 1200 Computer Needed: Amiga with IDE Support, Compact Flash Card, IDE-CF Adapter, WinUAE and Windows PC, Kickstart ROM, Workbench Install Disks (ADFs) Time: 15-30 Minutes Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate,
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