The restoration of the Sorcerer II of the Compudata (Exidy) was very simple, it was enough to replace all the tantalum capacitors with electrolytics one and make a good cleaning.

I tried the Sorcerer with the software downloadable at this link and to do a better understand the idea of the long loading (average 7 minutes) i have recorded the WAV file of the tape format on a Tape Cassette and used an old recorder to load the software, everything worked perfectly on the first try.

from Wikipedia;

The Sorcerer is a home computer system released in 1978 by the video game company Exidy.

It was comparatively advanced when released, especially when compared to the contemporary more commercially successful Commodore PET and TRS-80, but due to company focus on the coin operated video game marketplace resources were restricted for personal computer expansion and a separate division of the company was created.

Exidy Data Systems was headed by Paul Terrell to expand the product line to include small business computing with international distribution and technology license agreements to supplement corporate funding.

Distribution agreements with Dick Smith Electronics in Australia and Liveport in the UK as well as Compudata which included a manufacturing license to build, market and distribute the Tulip line of computers in Europe. Exidy sold the PC division to a Wall Street firm, Biotech, in 1983.

Gallery:

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This computer is of a dear friend; Paolo Cognetti.

Short story of the repair:

I have checked the voltages and are correct, although a couple of capacitors on the power stage need to be replaced.

I have tried to turn on the computer and i have see immediately a problem, the screen is full of random characters, with the oscilloscope i have tried to see if i have data stream on the CPU (Z80), interrupts and so on.., nothing, it seemed completely dead, replaced.

The computer has started better then before but with some video glitches, raster lines scrolls from bottom to the top and some characters scattered on the screen. I double checked the voltages and i have realized that the 12v are gone and the 7812 warmed a lot, about 80 degrees after 2 minutes.

Almost all tantalum capacitors of 1uf and 33uF on the 12v line are shorted, i have decided to replace them all (22 pieces)

After the replacement of all tantalum capacitors and two electrolytic capacitors on the power supply stage the computer has started to work correctly but with some video problems, characters scattered on the screen, after replacing two Static RAM 2114 everything works perfectly, including the Basic Cartridge that until now had never worked.

Works that have been made:

• Fixing broken Fuse Holder.
• Fixing a cold welding of a capacitor on the power supply stage.
• Testing Voltages.
• Replaced CPU Z80.
• Replaced 12 x Tantalum Capacitors (1uf)
• Replaced 10 x Tantalum Capacitors (33uf)
• Replaced 1 x Axial Electrolytic Capacitor (470uf)
• Replaced 1 x Axial Electrolytic Capacitor (1500uf)
• Replaced 2 x NMOS 2114 Static Ram.
• Fixed the botton cover with two missing screws.
• Cleaning the top cover using only water and a sponge.

Exidy Sorcerer II Repair Gallery:

Exidy Sorcerer II Gallery:

source: wikipedia