Retro Computers and Status

Over the years I’ve purchased quite a few retro computers. I thought maybe if I list them and their associated status, maybe it would encourage me to get off my backside and start fixing them as quite a few of them are in various states of disrepair (or just completely broken).

TRS-80 Model III

#1: Video completely out of adjustment. Also, internal “ribbon” cables are completely junked. Have replacements but never got them to work since video is crap.

#2: Video completely out of adjustment. Won’t power up properly.

Apple IIe Platinum

#1: Works properly, needs RTC installed but otherwise works fine.

Apple IIe

#1, #2, #3: Various states of disrepair, keyboards missing keys, video outputs flaky, etc. Actually no plans to repair at this time since Platinum works

Apple IIGS

#1: Power supply trashed, changed RIFA caps, still not working

#2: Works great, has 8 MB, SCSI, lots of stuff but CP/M board not working

#3: Recently purchased ROM0 off Facebook group, need to test and possibly update RIFA caps

Apple IIc

#1: Irish keyboard, seemed to work okay when tried but video connector needs repair

Apple II+

#1: Forgot about this one, needs to have video connector replaced. Otherwise, need to test and learn more about it.

  • Additional testing found that the video cables included with the Viewmaster board were in very poor condition 2022-06-17
  • Replaced RIFA in power supply 2022-06-18
  • Disk II drives neither work, possibly 74LS125 chip in the drives, suspect they were incorrectly plugged in 2022-06-20; Additional testing on 2022-06-21 found that Titan Accelerator IIe was possibly causing problems with drives, need to retest
  • ADTPro works great with the SSC in slot 1 [edit] for Bootstrapping only, cannot get it to operator in DIR or RECEIVE mode with MacBook running Catalina. Switching over to IIe Platinum to see if it behaves differently.

TRS-80 CoCo II

#1, #2: Untested, both in very good condition along with several drive controllers

Multi-expansion unit: 1 works, 1 flaky due to compatibility issues

TRS-80 CoCo I

#1: Need more testing, has floppy and multi-expansion, all need more testing

Heathkit H89

#1: Works, also have external dual floppy (hard sector on all 3 drives)

#2: Pacific Scientific: Needs recap, blew cap when first started, has 2 builtin drives but torn down and now I don’t remember a damn thing about it

Heathkit H-8

#1: Boards for H-8 backplane, CPU, etc., to build, need to order parts

TI-99/4A

#All: Lots of these, most of them seem to work. However, very disappointed with design, probably going to sell most of them

Peripheral Expansion Box: Untested, has memory board, 1 floppy, serial board, extra floppy but nothing to install yet

HP 9816

#1: Sweet unit, also 9131 and 9133. Need repair on one of the 3-1/2″ drives. Need to copy 9133 hard drive, maybe with MFM emulator board from PDP/8 projects. Have memory card not yet tested.

  • Machine doesn’t start properly, cycling power quite a few times may result in working fan and, ultimately, machine might show video. 2022-06-11
  • Found 5 RIFA safety capacitors on power supply, all showing cracks and signs of impending death. Removed, planning to order soon. 2022-06-11

Atari 800XL

#1: Basically untested, have a 1050 drive to go with it but power rectifiers were blown. Replaced but haven’t tested

Amigas

#1: Amiga 500: Boots but essentially untested as I don’t have disks, etc.

#2: Amiga 2000: Battery cut out (no apparent damaged), needs reassembly and testing

#3: Amiga 1000: Untested, no video adapter or keyboard/mouse, extra external floppy

Bridgeboards: Have 3 of these, need to test

PC-based Stuff

Lots of these systems need testing. Have 2 XT clones, 1 of which worked when stored but didn’t have good storage at the time.

Lots of unassembled CP/M and other systems, mainly newer projects

Some items I plan to just sell off as I don’t have much desired to repair (TI-99/4A stuff particularly).

Amdek COLOR-I Composite Monitor

This monitor came with the Apple IIe Platinum mentioned above. It had gotten buried in a pile of stuff and had been an attraction for a group of mice at some point.