I got this Commodore 1541 disk drive at ZZap! Live 2024, but it’s got a common failure: it spins constantly when powered on! That’s a sure sign the logic board is borked. Join me on the workbench as I dive into this vintage hardware! Using my oscilloscope to diagnose chips, tracing signals, and hunting down the exact component failure. Will I save this drive? Find out in Chapter 3 of my epic quest to finally play Wasteland on my C64/128!
Category: RetronautTech
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C64 Longevity: Switch & Heatsink Install (A Must-Do Upgrade!)
My mission continues! To get closer to playing Wasteland on my beloved Commodore 64, it’s time for some serious upgrades! In this chapter, I’m installing a new power switch and strategically placing heatsinks to boost the C64’s longevity and reliability. It’s essential maintenance for my vintage 80s treasure! But the retro gods had other plans… a small, unexpected lightning bolt struck! What went wrong? Watch on to find out what interrupted my upgrade!
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Testing & Renovating & my Atari ST Mega 4
In this chapter we start the renovation of my new Atari ST Mega 4 by breaking it down and washing its case and floppy drive fascia. Then we move on to testing its power supply and then the moment of truth… Will it boot and will the new monitors I bought specifically for it, actually work with its unusual 15khz colour VGA signal?
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Unboxing my new Atari ST Mega4
In this video I unbox my new Atari Mega ST 4 and then take a quick peek inside to see if all is good with my new hardware. The Atari ST is a new machine to my collection, indeed it is my FIRST ST ever! Watch on to see if the Mega 4 survived shipping from Germany and to see what state it is in externally and internally.
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Commodore 64 & 128 Ch01: The Harsh Realities of Retro
Today was going to be relaxing dive into the game which went on to spawn the Fallout series. I had Wasteland racked up and ready to play on my Commodore 128D and then something happened. But no fear, its stunt double the C64 was at hand to save the day, or…. was it.. Watch and to find out about the harsher side of retro computing, its not all chip-tunes and pixel popping fun.
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Retronaut Log Cabin Build – CH02: The Construction
It’s now September 15th 2023 and I eagerly await the delivery of my new log cabin. Join me and follow its construction, including its main build, fitting its insulation boards, preserving its timber, painting it to preserve it from the weather and its roof build.
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Retronaut Log Cabin Build – CH01: The Foundation
In late June 2024 work finally kicked off on building the new Log Cabin, where future Retronaut videos will be filmed. This new space would allow for projects simply not possible in the old studio space. The foundation needs building, so lets get that done first!
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News: Retronaut is about to change forever!
Retronaut has been very quiet of late. But that does not mean we have gone away. Absolutely not! In fact we have been doubling down on the Channel and we hope the news we have will make you as excited about its future as we are!
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SWAG: South West Amiga Group Event – October 12th 2024
Once again I am flying across the UK in my Retromobile, to visit the SWAG event down in the Cotswold town of Chipping Sodbury. This time I had a table to perch, and the show promised to be bigger than previous events. Watch on to see interviews with Amiga Kit, Addict Magazines and more!
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Kickstart Amiga User Group Event – September 29th 2024
The September 2024 Kickstart event in Ottershaw has swung into view. No BBQ this time, but still the promise of meeting up with fellow minded retronauts to see what Amiga and other retro computers would be on show. I brought two emulated machines to mix things up a little. Watch on to see what this even held in store!