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Repair Commodore Amiga 3000 motherboard with Battery leakage

September 20th, 2014 1 comment

Repair Commodore Amiga 3000 Motherboard with Battery leakage

There was once a motherboard of an Amiga 3000/25 devastated of the Battery acid where missings all the socketed components and others are unsoldered and recovered for other things.

The situation was not exactly the best one, in other words … was going into the box of spare parts.

I made the impossible, i have cleaned, scraped and rebuilt many tracks of the pcb corroded by the battery acid and i must say that with lot of patience i have repaired the motherboard giving a new life to this Amiga 3000/25 that he had no many chance to come back to work

SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7 (Beta/Preview) released

September 19th, 2014 No comments

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

Full Changelog:

  • In-game button combinations are in effect. See the table below for the key mapping. Note that some games show glitches with the in-game functions in place. I added an additional feature to temporarily disable them in case of game glitches (e.g. Secret of Mana hangs at the Squaresoft logo, displaying only garbage). I’m not entirely happy with the button choice but it will do for now. ;)
  • LED blink codes for file system errors – e.g. in case the SRM file cannot be saved this will tell you that something’s gone wrong. The blink codes are yet to be listed.
  • Also the sd2snes will retry saving until it works so you have the chance to swap out the SD Card. In that case the directory structure must be present where the sd2snes expects to save the file.
  • “Screen saver” – in the menu, the screen is darkened after some idle time to reduce wear on CRT and plasma screens.
  • Memory sharing between SNES and the sd2snes CPU is greatly simplified (The FSM is reduced to only 5 states instead of 18) and timing is more relaxed. This should help with stability on a wider range of consoles.
  • On-the-fly file browsing. Also shows a little “loading…” window when loading directories/files.
  • Windows are now blue so they stick out better in front of yellow directory listings.
  • Cx4 data ROM is now embedded in the FPGA configuration – no more need for the external file cx4.bin.
  • Initial Satellaview clock is back to 18:00:00 from 18:05:30.
  • SD cards can be hotswapped. Currently there is no automatic refresh of the file list so tapping reset on the SNES or changing the directory is necessary to get the new contents.
  • The status line is moved upward a few pixels so hopefully it doesn’t get eaten by overscan.
  • Navigation: When scrolling page-wise with the right D-pad arrow, the end of the file list is now aligned to the bottom of the screen.
  • Navigation: The shoulder buttons can be used to jump to the beginning/end of a directory listing.
  • Bugfix: some compatibility issues with a number of games. (Super Play Action Football (S-RTC interference), GP1 Part II (WRAM initialization), Human Grand Prix (mapper detection bug))
  • Bugfix: properly initialize FPGA state machine (on some consoles the menu failed to start at all)
  • v0.1.7 final will contain menu items for various configuration settings and a cheat interface.

In-game button mappings:

  • L+R+Select+Start = Reset game
  • L+R+Select+X = Reset to sd2snes menu
  • L+R+Start+B = Disable cheats
  • L+R+Start+A = Enable cheats
  • L+R+Start+Y = Kill in-game routines (in case they interfere with game operation).
  • L+R+Start+X = Temporarily kill in-game routines (~10 seconds – if you need to get past a glitch but don’t want to lose in-game buttons)

Download: SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7 Beta/Preview (1350)

source: sd2snes.de

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

Apple IIe Power Supply Repair

September 15th, 2014 2 comments

Apple IIe Power Supply Repair.

Defect:

  • Dead with clicking noise in background (This power supply works even without load)

Replaced parts:

  • Replaced 1 x 200uF 10V Electrolytic Capacitor.

Removed as a precaution the RIFA filter capacitor.

Epson PX-4+ Easy Repair

September 14th, 2014 3 comments
Epson PX-4+ Easy Repair

Gallery:

Epson PX-4+ Easy Repair

Defect:

  • Dead.

Replaced parts:

  • Replaced 1 x Fuse 3A

Removed the internal Backup Battery (RB 301) 4.8v 90mA.

The donation of spare parts is always a good thing

September 14th, 2014 3 comments

I must thank my friends which have contributed to the growth of my Repair Laboratory with donations of spare parts.

Donated items:

  • 2 x Sega Dreamcast
  • 1 x Sinclair 128+
  • 2 x Amiga 500 Memory Expansion
  • 1 x Amiga Powersupply
  • 1 x Philips Multi Voltage Power supply
  • 1 x Commodore CBM/PET Power supply (complete and working)
  • 1 x 8088 Motherboard (Clone)
  • 1 x Floppy Drive Controller (ISA Card)
  • 1 x MDA/Parallel Controller (ISA Card)
  • 1 x PC Clone (8088) Power supply
  • 6 x Unknown Adapter/Interface
  • 1 x Atari 7800 Motherboard
  • 1 x Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k Motherboard
  • 1 x Pong Clone Motherboard
  • 1 x Amstrad CPC 464 Motherboard
  • 1 x Commodore 6499
  • 1 x Power Supply C64/VIC20 (Clone)
Categories: Donations, News & Rumors, Today

C64 Game: Total Eclipse II / Spike’s Peak 101% +7DGM …

September 10th, 2014 No comments

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

Titles:

  • Bozo’s Night Out +7HDG
  • Vallation +6HD
  • Foren Huren +Docs [pal/ntsc]
  • Mag Max +8DGH +Pic
  • Burnin’ Pen ’64
  • Zappy Bird +2
  • Ugh! +5DGM
  • Eelona Preview +2
  • Beyond the Night Run +3H
  • Spike’s Peak 101% +7DGM
  • I Can Remember +D
  • Batman – The Caped Crusader USA + [ntsc/pal]
  • Space Action 2 Preview
  • Game Preview #1
  • Game Preview #2
  • Mad Ninja Preview
  • Slug +30D +Fix
  • King’s Valley Preview
  • Burnin’ Pen ’64 [bugfix]
  • Total Eclipse II -JEWEL-
  • Mission Omega +1D

Download: All Games in One Archive (2997)

Commodore VIC-20 Repair

September 10th, 2014 No comments

Commodore VIC-20 Repair

Defect:

  • Black screen … then black and white image.

Replaced parts:

  • Replaced 1 x 901486 KERNEL ROM (U12)
  • To fix the problem of the image in black and white i have adjusted the “RED” trimmer (C48)

Commodore 16 Power Supply Repair

September 10th, 2014 1 comment

Commodore 16 Power Supply Repair

Defect:

  • Output voltage in short circuit.

Replaced parts:

  • Replaced 1 x 4700uf / 16v Electrolytic capacitor.
  • Replaced 1 x 800mA Bridge rectifier.

Atari 2600 Repair

September 10th, 2014 No comments

Atari 2600 Repair

Defect:

  • The second joystick port doesn’t works properly.

Replaced parts:

  • Replaced 1 x 6532 RAM-I/O-Timer (RIOT)

MPS 6550 Commodore PET 2001 RAM Adapter by Matthew D’Asaro

September 1st, 2014 No comments

This is another adapter (here the previous one) to replace the MPS 6550 RAM. This adapter replace a single MPS 6550 RAM chip in a Commodore PET 2001 with a standard 2114 RAM chip.

source: dasarodesigns.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Commodore CBM 4032 (40 Columns) Repair

August 31st, 2014 No comments

Commodore CBM 4032 (40 Columns) Repair

Defect:

  • “Device not present” error when using the IEEE 488 port (Example Floppy Drive)
  • Sometimes the computer show the prompt of the TIM monitor (Machine Language Monitor program)

Replaced parts:

  • Replaced 1 x IC 6522 VIA (UB15)
  • Replaced 1 x IC 6520 PIA (UB16)

Commodore PET 2001-8C (Chiclet): Brothers of the same father

August 25th, 2014 No comments

These are my two Commodore PET 2001-8C (Chiclet). They are two different models, below i will list the differences.

On the left:

  • Different front Label.
  • PET Motherboard ASSY 320132
  • Different Copyright Label on motherboard (1978)
  • Uses the 2114 ram ic for the Main memory and for the Video ram.
  • CRT tube with green phosphor.
  • The transformer, the big electrolytic capacitor and the power connector are different.
  • Datassette Motherboard ASSY 320275-B (1978)

On the right:

  • Different front Label.
  • Motherboard ASSY 320008
  • Different Copyright Label on motherboard (1977)
  • Uses the MOS 6550 ram ic for the Main memory and for the Video ram.
  • CRT tube with white phosphor.
  • The transformer, the big electrolytic capacitor and the power connector are different.
  • Datassette Motherboard ASSY 320109.E (1977)

Commodore PET 2001-8C (Chiclet Keyboard) MOS 6550 Ram version

August 24th, 2014 No comments

This Commodore PET 2001-8C also includes a homemade Power Amplifier to hear the sound of some games that use the pin CB2 of the User Port as audio output.

Also is included a reset button and two mini-led (Red / Green) that display the data (Save / Load) when using the tape recorder.

Some photos of the Commodore PET 2001-8C:

Copyright label on the motherboard:

Some photos of the repairing and cleaning:

Commodore PET 2001 (Chicklet) Repair datassette.

Defects:

  • Doesn’t load any more.

Repair:

  • Replace motor.
  • Replace belt.
  • Azimuth adjustment.

Thanks to Manosoft for the spare parts (white datassette, the same model of the black one)

Commodore PET 2001 (Chicklet) Repair.

Defects:

  • Wrong chars on the screen.
  • Memory problems.

Repair:

  • Replaced all MOS 6550 main ram with an 6550 Ram Adapter by xAD & Manosoft (only 2 x MOS 6550 was faults)
  • Replaced 1 x MOS 6550 Video Ram with a spare one from the main ram.

Video of Galaxy Invaders with Sounds:

from Wikipedia homepage:

The Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) was a home/personal computer produced in 1977 by Commodore International. A top-seller in the Canadian and United States educational markets, it was Commodore’s first full-featured computer, and formed the basis for their entire 8-bit product line.

Read more…

Princess C64SD v3.0 by Manosoft

August 19th, 2014 No comments

Hi all, like one year ago Manosoft amazes us again, this time he did a great job of merging the ITS TAP Player module with the C64SD and from this merger comes the Princess, an interface with both previously released interfaces.
The Princess interface is elegant as only Manosoft can do, the box color has changed and is a white sand that matches perfectly with the whole 8-bit Commodore Home Computer series.

In addition to the color were also added new controls and visual led. Below the instructions of each command on the front/back side of the Princess interface.

Front side:

  • [1] Play/Stop switch for TAP file.
  • [2] Reset button.
  • [3] Disc Change button. (down/autoswap.lst)
  • [4] LED:
    • Yellow – Virtual Motor of the Tape.
    • White – Reading.
    • Red – General Error.
    • Green – Power.
  • [5] Floppy Drive Connector (IEC) Computer side.
  • [6] Connector Cassette side Computer
  • [7] Auxiliary Power 9v.

 

Back side:

  • [1] SD Card slot.
  • [2] Red Button – Setpoint tap file / (up/autoswap.lst)
  • [3] Dip Switch for selecting the Floppy drive Device (SD2IEC).
  • [4] Audio volume (monitor function) TAP Player.
  • [5] Mini DIN 8-pin connector to be connected to the tape port of the Commodore 264 series.
  • [6] Auxiliary Power 9v.
  • [7] Pass-through Floppy Drive Connector (IEC)
  • [8] Pass-through Tape connector to use with a Datasette 1530 or 1531 with a another adapter.

 

 

Like the previous C64SD v2.0 interface, the Princess has a pass-through connector for the cassette recorder and one for the Floppy Disk Drive.

I don’t forget to speak about the nice addition, a small Piezo Speaker to hear the sound of the bytes that are loaded with the TAP Player and also a nice “beep” that warn if the interface on power up working correctly.

Damiano alias “Manosoft” is a good manufacturer of 8 Bit peripherals and also a great friend. I take the opportunity of this article to greet Damiano and congratulate for this new interface for the 8-bit Commodore Home Computer series.

Soon will be available on the Manosoft website two new software packages (C64 and AIO)

“AIO” is an innovative system that will allow the creation of the SD Card of 4GB or higher in a few minutes from an image file created ad hoc.

On the Commodore 64 side was also written a new program called “MENU” with some utilities like the initialization of the SD Card for the Princess C64SD v3.0 interface.

The development of the TAP Player firmware with the SD2IEC protocol has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of Hawui1 promoter and developer of the ITS Module and some other things.

The Princess C64SD v3.0 interface will be available for sale in the next months on the Manosoft site.

Princess C64SD v3.0 Video Preview:

Commodore PET 2001 – 6550 Ram Adapter by xAD & Manosoft

August 19th, 2014 8 comments
Commodore PET 2001 - 6550 Ram Adapter by xAD & Manosoft

Gallery:

This adapter replaces all ram installed in the Commodore PET 2001 with a 6264 Static Ram and is useful when one or more ram are faulty. These type of ram are no longer available to purchase.

NOTE: This adapter will only work to replace a chip with a part number starting with MPS 6550. They will NOT replace other RAM types used in Commodore computers other than the original Commodore PET 2001.

The original design was done by Donni of the VCF forum (Vintage Computer Forums).

Unfortunately these pcb have a design problem, below the fix which needs to be done (i always forgot to post this fix, sorry)

Download: Original printable version by Donni (1264)