A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

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rubber_jonnie
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Since I have the FDD fixed and the PSU is awaiting new parts, I decided it was time to get the IDe looked at on the A5000.

Overall it was not the biggest bodge wire job I've had to do but it was time consuming buzzing everything out.

Topside looks like this:

PXL_20220608_191012498.jpg

And the underside looks like this:

PXL_20220608_201818966.jpg

Bear in mind some of the underside bodge wires are for the FDD fix. Also, I went for pin headers for the IDE connector because it made it easier to add in the topside wires. I'll fix it all up with lacquer once I know it works.

Unfortunately I had another casualty of the battery leak too. I was cleaning up flux topside with a cotton bud and bumped this fella off:


PXL_20220608_200920146.jpg
PXL_20220608_202021004.jpg

As you can see, it's in pretty poor condition, and the pads came off with it.

I had to make some new pads for it:

PXL_20220608_201846959.jpg

And of course it was yet another capacitor I didn't have to hand so had to order.

Looking forward to all the parts arriving so I can get things moving again.
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Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by stephen_usher »

More "fun" :-)
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 08 Jun 2022 22:16 More "fun" :-)
It seems that the 'fun' never ends...
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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atari030
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by atari030 »

Me thinks you like it. ;) I know how exciting it is to get a dead machine running.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

atari030 wrote: 08 Jun 2022 22:41 Me thinks you like it. ;) I know how exciting it is to get a dead machine running.
You got me!

I do like reviving these machines 😁
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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mrbombermillzy
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by mrbombermillzy »

rubber_jonnie wrote: 08 Jun 2022 23:29 You got me!

I do like reviving these machines 😁
I really hope so. It's been more work than I would have expected. :roll:
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

mrbombermillzy wrote: 09 Jun 2022 08:53
rubber_jonnie wrote: 08 Jun 2022 23:29 You got me!

I do like reviving these machines 😁
I really hope so. It's been more work than I would have expected. :roll:
Honestly it is. To understand this, you have to realise that I have been an engineer all my life, and diagnosing and fixing problems is what I've always done, though fixing computers is a much more recent thing for me.

I get a big thrill from bringing an old machine back to life, and as someone who is not an electronics expert, I feel like I have learned an amazing amount and it really does give me a buzz, partly because I can now help others with that knowledge.

Take Brett's STE. Not that long ago, possibly as little as 5 years ago, I wouldn't have known where to start. My experience has been gained partly down to the knowledge on this forum (And others), partly due to a willingness to try even if it looks impossible, and by just doing.

Everybody has to start somewhere and we all learn by doing.

As for being more work than expected, I could say that about at least 2 Mega STs I own and also my 600XL were more work than I would have expected, but I still got a buzz out of fixing them, and the A5000 will be no different.

I'm happy to be its new owner and I'm really enjoying the process of fixing it. Plus it gives me content for the forum :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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atari030
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by atari030 »

Sounds like my story, but you seem to have more patience. :-) My Mega's did my head in.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

atari030 wrote: 09 Jun 2022 12:45 Sounds like my story, but you seem to have more patience. :-) My Mega's did my head in.
:lolbig:

I enjoyed the Mega so much I did it twice!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: A5000 - diving in at the deep end!

Post by stephen_usher »

:lol:
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.

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