Apple ][ EuroPlus Repair.

Defects:

• Black screen.
• Power light off.
• Keyboard does not work.

Repair:

About the black screen it was enough to press all the IC in their seat, i have removed some and cleaned the IC's socket and the IC's pins.

The Power light off, the 5v micro bulb was faulty, replaced.

The keyboard had several problems;

The keyboard connector (socket) located on the computer motherboard side was faulty and consequently are missing the -12v for the keyboard encoder PCB.

The 3 TTL chips had been replaced on the keyboard encoder PCB but 2 x 74LS04 are erroneously soldered instead of 2 x 74LS00, the third TTL was correct but not working. Replaced all.

Now everything works reasonably well, unfortunately the bad keyboard has some problems, the internal slats are warped and tend out of their seat, as a result some keys do not work correctly.

I have tried to fix and clean, but the situation hasn't improved much.

Gallery of the repair:

Still in beta stage but interesting this software written by SLC that allows you to write and read C64 file formats (D64/G64) using a regular 360k Floppy Drive with the Greaseweazle interface.

To understand how this program works, you should first read the README found in the program archive.

I tried it personally and it works quite well, the only problem is the double sided management of Floppy Disks for Commodore 64, i don’t want to dwell too much on this question but in other words the Floppy Drive PCs do not allow you to turn the floppy disk to use also the other side of the Floppy Disk, the optical sensor is present only on the left side of the reader (the Floppy Drive of the Commodore 64 does not have this sensor).

There are MODs to get around this annoying problem, mods that are not exactly immediate and not for all Floppy Drive.

So let’s say it outspoken, if you want to read and write Floppy Disks for Commodore 64 what i recommend is the software OPENCBM + Hardware XUM (ZoomFloppy) or similar and a native Commodore 64 (1541/1541-II) drive. :-D … and everything is great.

Download: Disc Disk Revolution 64 v0.99B3

This is the official demo party results from BCC #17. See also the CSDB BCC #17 section for more informations and download.

C64 Demo:

• 1 – Strange New World by Delysid
• 2 – Battle Stations by Hokuto Force

C64 Music:

• 1 – Tales From The Crib by Toggle
• 2 – We’re all Hardcore Supermensch by Røly
  • Lángoló Delfineken Lovagolunk át a Boldogság Kráterein by dalezy    
• 4 – Saudade No. 3 by Mibri
• 5 – Undecided by Spider Jerusalem
• 6 – Evening Primrose Oil by GI-Joe        
• 7 – Atlantis Rising by Nordischsound        
• 8 – Midnight Strobes in the Sky by Xiny6581        
• 9 – Trapped! by Proton        
  • Summer Sunday by DJ Space        
• 11 – Let The Bass Rule by PowerTrace        

C64 Graphics:

• 1 – Hokuto Fox by Fabs
• 2 – Wartime by Grass
• 3 – Sparkle Tail by Fabs
• 4 – Galaga Alien by Slaxx
• 5 – ChatBot by Slaxx

WiLD Demo:

• 1 – Lotus SID Cover by Excess        
• 2 – Grimassenschneider by Prof. Pi^2    

C64 Fast Intro:

• 1 – Shake Memories by Hokuto Force
• 2 – Opticalcraptro4k by Excess
• 3 – Shadow-Intro by Genesis Project
• 4 – Lotus Radio by Excess
• 5 – Große Kunst by Hotstuffaz

Mixed Graphics:

• 1 – The White Dragon by Atlantis
• 2 – Petsciing Mantis by Hokuto Force
• 3 – Begin Your Journey by Hokuto Force

Mixed Music:

• 1 – Drunken Sailor by Mayday!
• 2 – Another One Bites The Dust by Finnish Gold
• 3 – Inside by Triad
• 4 – Wildberry Lillet by Excess
• 5 – Love Profusion (C64 Gone Wild) by Hokuto Force
• 6 – You’re Doing Well by Hokuto Force
• 7 – Child in Time (Dub Purple Remix) by Atlantis
• 8 – Never get Outta da Car by Hokuto Force
• 9 – Blazing the C16 Trail by Padua
  • Call of Magic by Manganoid

Download: BCC #17 Full Party Stuff (455)

source: csdb.dk

After the usual boring PSU recap i have decided to add two displays to monitoring the main voltages (+5,+12) and the amperage.

The amperage displayed with the blue LEDs in the left display is the sum of all the voltages (+5,+12,-12).

I have also added three ventilation holes, i didn’t want to use any fans, i already have enough fans in the lab that are quite annoying.

Gallery:

The Greaseweazle USB device lets you to connect an old floppy disk drive to your modern computer to read/write floppy disks from any system with Shugart standard drives (Amiga, Atari, Commodore, Amstrad, Sinclair, PC, CNC machines, musical instruments, etc).

Greaseweazle allows versatile floppy drive control over USB. By extracting the raw flux transitions from a drive, any disk format can be captured and analysed – PC, Amiga, Amstrad, PDP-11, musical instruments, industrial equipment, and more.

The Greaseweazle also supports writing to floppy disks, from a range of image file formats including those commonly used for online preservation (ADF, IPF, DSK, IMG, HFE, …).

Gallery:

Greaseweazle GITHub Repository: https://github.com/keirf/greaseweazle
GreaseweazleGUI: https://desertsagesolutions.com/greaseweazlegui/
FluxMyFluffyFloppy: https://github.com/FrankieTheFluff/FluxMyFluffyFloppy

You can buy the Greaseweazle V4 from amigastore.eu

NEW TAG: C64 BIG GAME PACK

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

• Seawolf II +
• Blockie +1D
• Commodore Connection +3D
• Word Slide! &D
• Ster Weg (tel mee 4) [dutch]
• Op Naar De Top (tel mee 3) [dutch]
• Kegel Baan (tel mee 5) [dutch]
• Koppie Koppie (tel mee 2) [dutch]
• Kikker Sprong (tel mee 1) [dutch]
• Stunt Car Racer (SuperCPU)
• Commodore-Connection +1D
• Accuse 64 Preview &D
• Le Mans 2023 +4HP
• Turbo Charge +10DFHIR
• Seawolf II +1F
• Attacker +1G [HF]
• Super Sound System +D
• Blocback +
• The Quest +DIW [HF]
• Zelya – Slava Ukraini +4H
• Le Mans 2023 +2
• Dagon’s Awakening (Community Edition)
• Tritopia V1.1
• Memory Lane R2
• Tritopia V1.1 +D
• Nautilus +5DG
• Souls of Darkon +DW [HF]
• Mr Tester &D
• Nautilus +5DG [dutch]
• La Venganza Del Toro Preview +T
• Autoduel Enhanced
• Memory Lane R2.1
• Memory Lane R2.1 (C128)
• GP Cars
• Time and Magik +DIW [HF]
• GP Cars +2
• Duotris +2FDT
• GP Cars +4
• Ogre Enhanced (IDE64 Release)
• Cracky +3
• Cracky +2D
• Rambler
• Roguelike 10
• Rambler +3
• Greyfell +7DW +Map [HF]
• Grid Commander Preview
• Cracky +4HD
• Transylvania +DIW [HF]
• Krisp +3
• Sulphur Eye +TS [3dck]
• XBomber Rebuild Final +2D
• Hopprenn [norwegian]
• XShoot Rebuild Final +2D
• For Speed We Need 3
• Lost Realms of Murkasada Episode 2 +2
• The Institute +DIW [HF]
• Ron Preview
• Mots Magiques +1D [retail]
• Robocop +8DFHIR [bugfix] (EasyFlash)
• Missile Command +2HD
• Conway’s Game of Life Preview 2 +D
• Tritopia [french]
• Kiki +2HDT
• For Speed We Need 3 +5D
• Miner 2049er +5DGHJM 16in1
• The King +4T 100% [bugfix]
• Shisen Sho
• Shisen Sho +4
• Cacorm +4HDG
• Mad Monkey +4HDT
• Space Station 23 +3D
• Alter Ego (IDE64 Release)
• Boulder Dash Junior VIII +2H
• Lost Realms of Murkasada Episode 2
• Shisen Sho 100%
• Snake vs Bomb 2 – Canyon Chaos
• Snake vs Bomb 2 – Canyon Chaos +3D
• Serpland +4TD
• 8MIDAS
• Critical Mass +DFIW [HF]
• 8MIDAS +2
• 8MIDAS +
• Dino Nest Preview
• Dino Nest Preview 2
• GP Cars +4H (EasyFlash)
• NewsStand +3
• Adventure 1
• Zombie Evasion Through the Darkness
• Hide & Seek VCC $20 +2
• Karlsquell Zahlenraten Deluxe – Black Edition [german]
• Irrweg Meister
• Black on Black – The Card Game
• Black-man +3
• Hide & Seek VCC $20
• Electro World +4HDG
• Black on Black – The Card Game +
• Space Station 23 V2 +4D
• UDLRB Game +
• Irrweg Meister +1D
• The Castles of Doctor Creep (EasyFlash)
• Moon Cresta +6DHM [HF]
• Irrweg Meister +1D
• Dare Devil Denis +4DGHM
• Gruds In Space +DFW
• News Stand +4D (EasyFlash)

Download: All Games in One Archive (2393)

source: csdb.dk

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Changelog:

• Well decided to release 1.3 far too many people are still using 1.2.1 so this is now the releaseversion.
• Read the text “FuturePlans.txt” for more info.
• three might be updates. as V1.3 please check the date. but it will be bugfixes only.
• Now default also produces a CD32 image to be burned on 27C800 Proms.
• Fixed issue with ghostfastmem found on AA3000+ boards (detectes fastmem that isn’t there)
• Fixed Addresserrorissue while playing testmodule on 68000 machines.
• Fixed issue with Autoconfig printing forever (actually 65535 times) if there was no cards detected.
• On RGB test. added white bars at every colorchange to make it more easy to count out what color is shown.
• RTC test: added a adjustfunction telling how many frames between everytime RTC changes (second) to help adjusting RTC.
• Added function to constantly monitor one memaddress. This is for dev of new hardware and not to diagnose issues.
• Fixed addresserror crash on audiotest using 68000/010 CPU
• Changed memorytestroutines to the new updated.
• Fixed autoconfig so it would not end in a endless loop if no autoconfigcards was detected.
• Fixed autoconfig with outside checking from github to handle boards with an illegal configuration better.
• Simple Audio waveformtest now supports volumechanges and also HOPEFULLY oddbyte-bug in Sinuswaves are fixed
• Some minor undocumented bugfixes.
• Now the new memtestroutine actually seems to work “x” is just hardcoded testareas, but the manual option “7” now lets you
• select what area to test and the depth of check (how many longwords between all tests 1 being every byte checked) (higher=faster test)
• AGAIN Long pause.. ERASED the memtestroutine I was working on redid it TOTALLY!. available as “x” in memtest menu!
• New Memtestroutine now should handle when colliding with workareas.
• Manualtest routine now swapped to the new testroutine. you can now enter selected area to scan AND change blocksize.
• higher blocksize=more accurate addresstest check.
• also if you enter wrong order of area to scan it will be handled. 0 byte scanarea will cancel.
• New experimental memtestroutine in the works. right now only doing a test of HARDCODED 16MB fastmem on A4k/3k
• Should be much faster, ASWELL as it should handle address-error issues! TEST IT HARD PLEASE!
• Also contains bug in Zorro handling asking boards to be shut down, issued via Github! (thanx!!)
• Noticed that CSPPC did not work on DiagROM. This as it seems the board needs time to startup (HEY P5.. handle it with RST??)
• so doing some waiting and resetmagic if a CSPPC is detected. not it starts OFTEN! (not always, if not. do a reset and it will start)
• Fixed bug so if no chipmem available at boot, it doesnt try to do a addresserrortest of that area anyway.
• Fixed scrollbug leaving traces of lowest pixelrow.
• Added function in Autoconfig mode that lists a summary of detected boards.
• Added About text.
• Added support for handling 2 different workmem areas: Chipmem and Fastmem, showing info about it in systeminfo screen.
• Systeminfo screen if detecting a 060 will show PCR registerbits.
• If A3000/A4000 motherboard memory or CPU slot memory is found scanning of A1200 CPU Slot memory is disabled, This will hopefully stop
• machine to crash with a 3640 installed and maprom enabled.
• Found a interesting behaviour on Amiga 4000. If you have no chipmem, and write something to any chipmemaddress and then
• read anything from any chipmemadress (not even same as you wrote to) THAT value will be read! so on an A4000 with no chip.
• the memorydetectroutine would say that it finds a shadowram. also the UDS/LDS test said “ok” even it it impossible could be.
• so fixed that by doing a write to chipmem with $ffffffff so it will read that if you do not have any chipmem. making the tests more true.
• A1k Version have not been working for a while due to spaceissues. removed more or less all “not important” tests tomake it fit into the
• very limited 64k bootrom. so it should work again.
• Fixed bugs when using a 68000 CPU (010 aswell?) that crashed IRQ/CIA tests and also Extended chipmemtest. (Addresserror etc)
• Also fixed more information in crashscreen.
• During Startup, UDS/LDS test was done by writing $ff to diferent places, this could be wrong as no memory can also
• show up as $ff changed value to $aa to be more “random” if memory is not present.
• At startup, chipmem is filled with its memoryaddress, while doing this you see a checkered-pattern on screen.
• After that, it verifies that the address contains that data, while doing this you see a distorded colorpattern on screen.
• if fail, it will show what memaddress it fails at, memaddress as binary and also what it actually contained (should be its same address)
• So no more telling ram is ok when thee was shorted/missing addresslines. Now check actually checks ALL memory and not only beginning.
• Doing Addresserrorchecks on Chipmem AND workarea.. if left mousebutton pressed at poweron.
• fastmem is chosen ar priority ram, if no fastmem found, chipmem will be used but screen turned off.
• if addresserror found in chipmem, chipmem will be discarded. will be handled different later
• New initcode in start. at memfail bits read will be written as green is correct, red if failed.
• Also during error, a dividertext will be printed every 512k block

Download: DiagoROM v1.3 Stable (382)

source: diagrom.com

I also wanted to try the ODV-II converter to be able to use the OSSC also with CVBS and S-VIDEO inputs (OSSC does not natively support this type of video inputs).

I have chosed this product and not others for three reasons:

• The cost.
• Video quality, absolute perfection wasn’t important.
• Signal output converted to YPbPr.

The result went above expectations, works well, the output of the ODV-II is in component (YPbPr) so the SCART-RGB and VGA inputs remain free on the OSSC, furthermore the ODV-II has a third YPbPr input.

The ODV-II also has the possibility of selecting some Video filters via a small button, filters which i find absolutely embarrassing in fact i have configured it in pass-through mode and another small button to select the video inputs.

Below are the photos of some tests with the Commodore 64 where i have used the S-Video output and also the photos of the PCB because i didn’t find them on the net, i also attach the datasheets of the integrated circuits that are used.

Gallery:

12►

Download:

Ikari has released a new firmware for the SD2Snes / FXPAK Pro Flash Cartridge (Super Nintendo/Famicom). The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Sorry for the delay, but it just escaped me to post it here.

Features added:

• First firmware release to support FXPAK Pro Rev. D
• [All] USB (usb2snes) support by RedGuy.
• [All] save state support (via USB/savestate2snes) by acmlm, total, Myria, RedGuy, FURiOUS, ikari_01
• [All] stand-alone save state features by FURiOUS
• [All] some compatibility improvements and optimizations for stand-alone save states by ikari_01
  • Add support for YAML list items for multiple savestate_fixes entries per game
  • Add support for simple bitwise operations on savestate_fixes patches
  • Add support for verbatim code execution on savestate_fixes patches – notably fixes Star Ocean (decompressed) save states (however the save state hook still needs CPU time optimization to prevent music glitches in Star Ocean.)
  • Add IRQ support on top of NMI for the save state hook – this enables save states on Out Of This World and possibly other games that only use IRQ. Also fixes controller input capture on a number of games so the game-specific input hacks could be eliminated.
  • Moved save state code outside of the USB hook area to make room for USB hook execution.
• [All] SGB support by Redacted173.
• [All] favorite games list by freelancer42

Fixes:

• [All] Fixed savestates crashing occasionally when loading (and sometimes saving)
• [All] Fixed Star Fox locking up during sortie sequence when in-game hooks are enabled.
• [All] Updated FURiOUS’s Savestates Readme to reflect changes pertaining to In-game hook.
• [All] Fixed data caching bug in MSU1 data extension which could cause wrong data to be streamed.
• [All] Savestates: do not try to capture data that is already in cartridge space anyway (e.g. SRAM). Fixes text distortion in Near’s Bahamut Lagoon translation when loading a state.
• [All] Fixed YAML config parser to support comment signs after list start items
• [All] Fixed SNES open-bus contamination (fixes sprite flickering in Near’s Bahamut Lagoon translation, certain speed runs that rely on open bus behaviour)
• [All] (hopefully) fixed rapid data line toggling sometimes resulting in address line glitches, causing random crashes in extreme cases, and occasional garbled graphics on SMRPG among others.
• [All] Fixed data integrity problems when loading BSX games.

Known issues:

• Due to integration of the savestate handler into the in-game hook, the SNES CPU cycle cost for the in-game hook has increased. This reintroduces some issues when in-game hook+savestates are enabled, such as a corrupted Equip menu in Final Fantasy III/VI. I am planning to do an overhaul of the savestate code which will address this issue as well.
• When in-game savestates are enabled and set to the default button combination, pushing the buttons to temporarily or permanently disable the in-game hook will result in a crash. This happens due to overlap with the savestate button combination.
• When in-game savestates are enabled and the “load state” button combination is pressed, the handler will try to load a state even if no state exists yet for the current game. This will lead to a crash and sometimes results in a still image being displayed from a previously played game’s savestate.

Download:

• SD2Snes Firmware v1.11.0 Final (502)

source: sd2snes.de

I have replaced my cheap SCART RGB to HDMI/DVI converter with the OSSC (Open Source Scan Converter)

I had been wanting to buy this interesting peripheral for some time and given the availability on Amazon with one day shipping with PRIME and the mature firmware and also the developing active, thanks to marqs, i did this crazy thing.

Some aspects of the software can certainly be improved but it already works just fine.

I’m not going to explain what this device does and doesn’t , you can find everything on the net.

Example:

Wiki: https://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/OSSC
Firmware: http://www.infocult.com/m/ossc/fw/
Beta Firmware: https://videogameperfection.com/forums/topic/ossc-v1-xx-series-beta-firmware/
GitHub: https://github.com/marqs85/ossc

Texas Instruments PHA 2037 Connector FIX

Defect:

• Black Screen but sounds works.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x 6 PIN DIN Male.

Gallery:

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Repair #1

Defect:

• Black Screen and deafening sound in background.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x TMS9900NL CPU (U600)

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Repair #2

Defect:

• Wave/Raster Lines.
• Garbage on Boot Screen.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x Inductor 2 -> 4.5 μH (L100)
• 2 x TMS4116-15 RAM

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Repair #3

Defect:

• Garbage on Boot Screen.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x MOSTEK MK4116N RAM

Video amplifier installation for Composite Video output including installation of the two female RCAs on the case.

I also made a simple fix of the metal PAD of the RESET that no longer stayed in place and consequently fell off inside the shell.

Gallery:

You shouldn’t turn on an Amiga that has been off for about thirty years without first running the usual Recap, but also following this simple rule it is not said that everything works as expected.

After the Recap i have realized that the RGB / Composite and RF output were not working properly.

From the RGB output the BLUE color was missing while the composite video and consequently RF show only a black screen.

After various measurements i came to the conclusion that the VP-101 (U30) DAC had to be replaced.

Once the DAC was replaced, the RGB output started working perfectly again, while the Composite/RF video signal they still didn’t work.

The failed component for the Composite/RF video output is the Z222 delay line, bypassing the delay line on the pins of the same one i have a “decent” composite signal but it’s not good, unfortunately this component is not easy to find, it could be solved by performing a “hack” i.e. by installing a different RGB Encoder that doesn’t need the delay lines and with some modifications on the PCB.

The game is worth the candle ? when will we use the Composite/RF video output ? probably never.

Gallery of the repair:

Commodore 64 (ASSY 250466) Repair

Defect:

• Black Screen and then Black Screen :-D

Replaced parts:

• 1 x Power Switch
• 1 x PLA 906114 (U17)

Commodore 64 (ASSY 250407) Repair

Defect:

• Garbled Screen and then No Sound.

Replaced parts:

• 2 x MOS 7708 [74LS257] (U13/U25)
• 1 x MOS 7709 [74LS258] (U14)
• 1 x MOS 6581 (U18)

Commodore 64C (ASSY 250469 REV-A) Repair

Defect:

• Garbled Screen.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x 4066 (U21)