This Amiga 4000 is completely devastated on both sides of the PCB by the leaked acid of the battery and kept in a humid room for at least 20 years.

There are still a couple of things to keep, but i will do it later if necessary.

First of all, a premise: All the repairs i do are for hobby purpose ONLY. It is NOT a job, and i fix stuff for a selected people group that i consider needs my help. All other people please ask somewhere else to get your items repaired back.

A guy contacted me asking help for a repair and after an exchange of messages i agreed to repair his Amiga 4000 which at boot only displayed a Black screen.

I immediately noticed a fairly important damage caused by battery and caps acid leakage.

After cleaned everything and replaced capacitors on motherboard / 3640 and PSU (the fault persisted, of course).

Next, i used the Chucky DIAGROM: the DIAGROM is useful to understand what might be that doesn’t work, and the output via RS232 is also very useful if nothing is displayed on the screen.

Unfortunately the DIAGROM worked partially because the mouse was completely dead and therefore i have used the output via Serial but this is also worked partially because evidently also the serial is dead but in some precarious moments i  have tried to run the Sound test and no sound was reproduced.

Moral: Partially working Serial port + Mouse not working + Audio not working = Paula.

Replaced the PAULA (U400) everything started to work correctly apart the FASTRAM with 4 x 4MB SIMM modules each the system sees only 2 in the U852/U853 positions for a total of 8MB.

The problem was a short circuit probably caused by the acid leaking from the battery, i had to clean the PCB for the tenth time and the problem was fixed.

No more other to say, except that i am happy i succeeded to repaired this Amiga 4000 for a person that needed my help.

Gallery of the repair:

12►

Video:

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:

• Toxic (2020 Edition) +3D
• Krakens V2 +
• Bucket Wars V1.2 +
• Evolution +7DGM
• Astro Panic +2
• Amok Preview +
• Dynasty Wars +5DGHI
• Alternate Reality – The City +11D [REU]
• Mario’s Cement Factory Preview
• Krakens V2 +2D
• My Life V1.4 +6HD
• Atic Atac +1D
• Megamania C64 +D
• Gyruss +7HDG Top Score Edition
• The Curse of Rabenstein +D [LAXITY]
• The Curse of Rabenstein +D [HF]
• 911 Tiger Shark +2DF
• Airwolf +2DF
• Freddy Hardest +2DF
• Netherworld USA +3
• Space Fire Preview +
• LogiTrumps
• Char Snake 64 +
• LogiTrumps (128)
• LogiTrumps VS (128)
• Chiller 2 Preview
• Chiller 2 Preview 2 +3H
• The Curse of Rabenstein +D
• Dragon Ninja +7D (IDE64)
• UN Squadron +6DFGI
• Nucleo 448 [seuck]
• Tiny Quest Preview +
• The Curse of Rabenstein +DS
• RodMän V1.2 +3
• Meteor Strike +2
• Koekoek-Koekoek +D [dutch]
• C64 Snail Maze +
• City Bomber 4k
• DKJ Game & Watch +1D
• Quiltrex64 Preview
• Merge 64 +1H
• Merge 64 +D
• Cosmic Balance
• Tiny Quest Preview 2 +3
• Giana Sisters Junior +2
• Hercules – Slayer of the Damned +5DMI
• Ghost Town 64 +1P
• Ghost Town 64
• Ghost Town 64 +1D
• Klett Training Spanisch +D [german]
• Ghost Town 64 +9D
• Quiltrex64 Preview 2 +
• Wurmspiel 20
• Tai-Pan +DG
• Ace of Aces +4D
• Kobo64 +5D [cartridge]
• Toilet Paper Stacker +1HD
• Toilet Paper Stacker
• Curse of the Aztec Temple
• TenDrive 10liner Game
• City Bomber 4K +HF
• C64 Early Goldies Classic Games Collection
• Neptune Lander Preview 2
• Pacemaker +T
• Fold’em Preview 2 +
• Quiltrex64 Preview V3
• Quiltrex64 Preview 3
• Flying Saucers Preview
• Rudy Hammer +3DH
• Amok +1F
• Amok
• Filled In
• Street Sports Football +D
• Street Sports Basketball +D
• Street Sports Baseball +D
• Street Sports Soccer +D
• Mancala +DG

Download: All Games in One Archive (5008)

source: csdb.dk

This is the official demo party results from Revision 2020. See also the CSDB Revision 2020 section for more informations.

C64 4K Intro:

• 2 – Morte Subita by Resource, Royal Belgian Beer Squadron
• 5 – 4korona Intro by Excess
• 8 – BEE#1 Invitation by Brainstorm
• 9 – Hebrews 12:2 by LoveJesus

Mixed:

• 4 – Space Dude by Malmix (Graphics)
• 7 – Bone-headed by Titus (Graphics)
• 14 – Meeting by Nosfe (Graphics)

Mixed Graphics:

• 7 – Patron of Crowns by Censor Design
• 10 – Lambo by Imaginarium
• 12 – Retooama by The 7th Division

Mixed Music:

• 4 – Microgroove by LMan
• 5 – Radio Free Truth [2sid] by Atlantis, MultiStyle Labs, Proxima
• 10 – Scruffy by Darklite, Dekadence, Hoaxers
• 15 – B13 by Russian Massive Digital Aggression
• 17 – Joyfilled Aleluya by LoveJesus

Mixed Demo:

• 3 – Fight! by Atlantis

Download: Revision 2020 Party stuff (718)

source: 2020.revision-party.net

What can I do with this?

With the new Ultimate 64 firmware (>=1.1c) there is an option to receive video frames & audio over a network connection at 50fps.

You can use this tool to capture those frames into an image, audio or video file.

Changelog v1.22 (09/04/2020):

• ~ Added FQDN support to start U64 stream, so IP & FQDN addresses are now both accepted.
• + video & audio listen port added to settings.
• ~ changed ip/fqdn tester timeout to 500ms.
• + Added NTSC support.
• + PAL/NTSC auto switcher.
• ~ Changed (capture) image size field to zoom factor in the setting window.
• + Added image capture diaglog, option to capture to file, clipboard or both.
• + Added CTRL+C to do a quick capture to clipboard.
• ~ Moved FPS / video mode text to statistics window. Changing title bar will prevent OBS form finding right window.
• + Added filedialog to open PRG or D64 with the stream tool.
• + Drag and Drop PRG & D64 images, Drag and drop on video window to mount & run them.   To only do a mount of a D64 file, drag and drop while holding CTRL pressed
• + Added U64 Reset command
• + Basic keyboard input. The input will be put into the u64 keyboard buffer, not into the matrix buffer.
• So it will work with basic and kernal based prg’s, so it doesn’t work everywhere.
• + Custom colour palette can be defined in the settings window, for the purists.
• + Import and export function to save and share your purist palettes.

Download: U64 Streamer v1.22 (617)

source: u64streamer

A new version of the firmware for the Ultimate-64 / U2/U2+ by Gideon is released.

Difference with previous release V1.26 / V3.6a:

• Debug stream over Ethernet, which logs CPU / VIC access real time, also possible to log C64 CPU and 1541 CPU alongside. U64 only.
• ACIA (MOS 6551) emulation.
• Modem Layer emulation (6551 <-> LAN), supporting both outbound and inbound connections.
• REU load / save commands from UCI, using the preload settings.
• File append mode for Software IEC.
• Support for SuperGames cartridge.

Bug fixes:

• Issue #121: 1541C ROM seemed faulty. Track 0 sensor reconnected.
• Issue #119: Fixed network host name illegal chars.
• Issue #127: Fix for Epyx Fastload at boot U64 (consider DMA to stop discharging the cap.)
• Fix for KCS cart at boot of U64.
• Fixed DMA load delay, to let 1541 initialize before running PRG.
• Fixed 1541 address decoding (RAMBOard was faulty!)
• Fixed Closing telnet connection caused U64/U2+ to freeze.
• Stability issues fixed in configuration manager.
• Corrected NMI / IRQ routing for internal cart. (U64)
• Timing corrections to make external 1764 REU work. (U64)
• Some U64 factory test improvements. Invisible to you.

Planned work for the upcoming release:

• CPU Speedup.
• Keystrokes to quickly enable / mute audio channels.
• A sample project for the ESP32, which can be used for others to port stuff like modem emulation.

Download:

• U64/Ultimate-64 v1.28 - U2/U2+ v3.7 (725)

Documentation updated:

• Lightweight modem emulation layer.
• Debug stream.

source: ultimate64.com github.com

Vampire GOLD2.12 Core Released.

Changelog:

• New 15/16Bit RTG modes (R5G5B5PC, B8G8R8A8)
• HW mouse improvements (sprite area size, x/y-position coords)
• VampireSupport 40.41.
• fpsp080_00f4000_07Mar20.
• Apollo specific CPU support library in ROM, named 68040.library (to be picked up by 3.1 and later SetPatch)
• New minimal boot pic with the new melody.
• SLOW CPU when PC in chipmem & rangermem (auto Turtle, select “ExpChip” with WHDLoad)
• Improved Turtle Mode compatibility.
• Enabled faster 32bit write for the IDE.
• Improved rebooting, when using a MAPROM.
• Updated EmuTOS ROM to 0.9.12 release (boot from uSD option added)
• Improved FMOVEM.

Download: Vampire Core (865)

source: apollo-accelerators.com

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Repair (1 of 6)

Defect:

• Black Screen and deafening sound in background.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x TMS 4732/2532 ROM (U610)

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Repair (2 of 6)

Defect:

• Black Screen and deafening sound in background.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x MCM 6810P (128 x 8-Bit Random-Access Memory TTL/DTL) (U608)

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Repair (3 of 6)

Defect:

• Black Screen and deafening sound in background.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x 74LS138 (U504)
• 1 x 74LS138 (U505)

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Repair (4 of 6)

Defect:

• Black Screen and deafening sound in background.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x TMS 9900NL CPU (U600)

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Repair (5 of 6)

Defect:

• Garbage Boot Screen.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x TMS4116-15 RAM (U106)

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Repair (6 of 6)

Defect:

• Various problems with audio playback.

Replaced parts:

• 1 x SN76494N – Digital Complex Sound Generator (U511)

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

A new firmware update for the ARM2SiD/ARMSID has been released by Nobomi.

News features and fixes in FW 3.8 & v2.10:

• Fixed a bug from older versions in the values generation of the register OSC3 during a noise waveform. Reported in the game Paradroid.

Download:

• ARM2SiD v3.8 (594)
• ARMSiD v2.10 (619)

source: dzi.n.cz/8bit/arm2sid dzi.n.cz/8bit/armsid

After many years i have found in my historical backups the developer kit for Gameboy that i have used to make Demo & Trainer for Gameboy (color) for Nightfall and then Nightfall^Eurasia.

The last time that i have used this compiler was the late 90′s.

I just had to replace the old no$gbm the GB emulator that didn’t run at 64bit and i don’t like the new version of this emulator with the Visualboy Advance and everything started working perfectly, including the compiler.

source: rednex.github.io/rgbds/ github.com/asmotor/asmotor

DirMaster is a Windows-based GUI application designed to help Commodore enthusiasts explore and manage their disk image collections.

DirMaster supports common (and uncommon) emulator disk image formats (such as .d64, .d81, .d2m, etc), almost every native Commodore archival format (such as .arc, .sda, .lnx, etc), and many native graphic formats (such as koala, doodle, amica, etc).

DirMaster was designed to give users a perfect blend of familiar appearance (e.g. natural looking disk image contents using the PETSCII character set) and modern GUI functionality (e.g. drag and drop, opening multiple disk images at once). The first version of DirMaster was released in 2006

Issues reported by users that were resolved in v3.1.5:

• BAM can display a file chain for an offset file depending on Show Deleted Files toggle [0200] (M. Huth)
• allow VIC-20 BASIC files to be viewed [0201] (S. Houdek)

Issues resolved due to user interest in v3.1.5:

DirMaster has supported 40 track disks since v3 in a limited read-only manner. Some users (most recently, hedning/G*P) expressed interest in better support for 40 track .d64; in response, v3.1.5 resolves these issues, with more features likely in a future version:

• PrologicDOS diskname and id are read from the wrong location [0176]
• improve detection of PrologicDOS, DolphinDOS and SpeedDOS [0208]
• blocks free doesn’t account for tracks 36-40 when an extended track DOS format is detected [0209]
• enable writing files to tracks 36-40 on extended DOS format d64 [0210]
• extending a disk from 35 to 40 tracks should initialize the extra BAM for a default extended DOS (default = DolphinDOS) [0211]

Thanks to all who made an effort to submit bug reports and feedback. If you sent a bug report and don’t see it addressed here, don’t worry, it’s in the queue.

Other issues resolved in v3.1.5:

• Can’t set a sector error to 29 [0202]
• a .cvt file that contained a .cvt file would unarchive back to the containing .cvt [0203]

Download: DirMaster v3.1.5 (667)

source: style64.org/dirmaster

There are not many interesting things to recover, for example the 256k x 4 ZIP Ram are absolutely useless.

So what i have recovered that could helpful (never) is the Motorola 68030RC20B CPU, the 68882RC25 math coprocessor and 3 x Clock Oscillator.

Gallery:

This monitor is the PAL predecessor to the Commodore 1802. It appears to be a contemporary of the CM-141 and the brown-casing 1802. They both have dual inputs (Composite video/audio, and chroma/luma/audio) with a switch in front to select between them.

The Monitor although in excellent condition don’t work correctly, the image displayed was in black and white.

The problem was the oxidation of a little trimmer (see photo / orange trimmer) and it was enough to turn it a bit and put it back in its original position.

Other small defects fixed:

• Bad geometry – Calibration of the Deflection yoke.
• Out of Focus – Calibration Trimmer Focus on Flyback.
• V-HOLD fine adjustment on the Monitor PCB.
• Glued a piece of plastic broken at the base of the monitor.

Gallery:

12►

Download: Commodore Monitor Model 1801 Instruction Manual (824)

source: gona.mactar.hu/Commodore/monitor/

The ZX Diag Cart by ByteDelight will visually show all kinds of details of your ZX Spectrum, which is both looking cool and useful at the same time!

It will make diagnosing defects a lot easier:

• Quickly check if voltages are present.
• If there is a dataline ‘stuck’
• If the M1 line is working…

The ZX Diag Cart automatically detects to which ZX Spectrum model it is connected, so it can control the ROM signals on ZX Spectrum 16/48K, 128K+, +2, +2A or +3, and many clones.

ZX Diag Cart Test and Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k Issue 2 Repair:

I wanted to try this nice but also useful interface with my historical Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k, not even doing it on purpose after several years of total inactivity the ZX Spectrum no longer worked.

The defect can i see is a total malfunction of the Basic interpreter with random errors and using the ZX Diag Cart i have see an error on all 16k RAM banks.

The voltage monitoring LEDs on the ZX Diag Cart show me that the -5v and the +12v are missing, consequently it was not a RAM problem but instead the transistor ZTX 650 (TR4)

Replaced the transistor it all work perfectly and passed all disgnostic test of the Diag Cart.

Gallery of the repair:

ByteDelight ZX Diag Cart Video:

Download:

• ByteDelight ZX Diag Cart Manual (1813)
• ZX Diiag Cart v2.15 +2A/+3 Fix (586)
• ZX Diag Cart Manual and Build Guide (834)

source: bytedelight.com

Two new mounting system for the optional RGB controllable 24 LED light strip for inside the 64c case.

Angled mount version:

This mounting design attaches to the top of the metal shield surrounding the cartridge port. Its angle allows the light of the RGB LEDs to exit through the ventilation slots of the C64c case.

Keyboard mount version:

This mounting design attaches to the back lip of the keyboard through existing factory holes using black oxide screws and heatsets. It is a two piece system with a left and right component.

Like the previous version, the RGB LED light comes out through the ventilation slots of the C64c case.

Note:

This version is not fully compatible with my keyboard mount that i’m using on the left side. I had to remove with the hacksaw a piece of plastic to solve the problem. (see photo)

Gallery:

source: corei64.com