Good stuff. Do you have the mouse yet? If so can you open and run the Apps? You probably already know, but if you hit right CTRL + Right SHIFT and F12 it will go into shutdown mode.HigashiJun wrote: 30 Nov 2023 10:31Yes, the onboard IDE is somehow limitated...rubber_jonnie wrote: 30 Nov 2023 10:23 Don't forget the IDE supports a limited number of drives unless you use something like Wizzo, mine is just a 128MB IDE flash drive, I use SCSI for most stuff.
You'll need !hform IIRC to prep any IDE drives you want to use.
I plan to get myself a ZIDEFS IDE, and I already have the special !hform.
ACORN A5000 inbound
-
rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 14888
- Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
- Location: Essex
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
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...
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...
-
HigashiJun
- Posts: 2381
- Joined: 19 Jun 2020 07:21
- Location: Tokyo
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
The mouse was released from the customs and should reach me tomorrow if I'm lucky.rubber_jonnie wrote: 30 Nov 2023 10:54 Good stuff. Do you have the mouse yet? If so can you open and run the Apps? You probably already know, but if you hit right CTRL + Right SHIFT and F12 it will go into shutdown mode.
Yes, I know this key combination. Very useful indeed.
-
rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 14888
- Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
- Location: Essex
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
:)HigashiJun wrote: 30 Nov 2023 11:06The mouse was released from the customs and should reach me tomorrow if I'm lucky.rubber_jonnie wrote: 30 Nov 2023 10:54 Good stuff. Do you have the mouse yet? If so can you open and run the Apps? You probably already know, but if you hit right CTRL + Right SHIFT and F12 it will go into shutdown mode.
Yes, I know this key combination. Very useful indeed.
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...
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...
-
HigashiJun
- Posts: 2381
- Joined: 19 Jun 2020 07:21
- Location: Tokyo
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
Thought I had finished all the traces repair today:
One on the side.
Two on the backside of the motherboard...
And two from the 74HCT245T buffer
but I realised that there is no continuity here (see the red circle):
I need a smaller solder tip to perform this repair, and if it doesn't work, then I will have to de-solder the connector...
The tip is already ordered on Amazon and should be delivered soon, so I will be silent for 2 or 3 days.
One on the side.
Two on the backside of the motherboard...
And two from the 74HCT245T buffer
but I realised that there is no continuity here (see the red circle):
I need a smaller solder tip to perform this repair, and if it doesn't work, then I will have to de-solder the connector...
The tip is already ordered on Amazon and should be delivered soon, so I will be silent for 2 or 3 days.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 14888
- Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
- Location: Essex
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
I feel really bad for all my previous repairs now and want to do them all like yours, they are so neat, I love it.
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...
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...
-
HigashiJun
- Posts: 2381
- Joined: 19 Jun 2020 07:21
- Location: Tokyo
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
@rubber_jonnie
Thanks you very much.
I always try to do the best I can, for me and even for others in case I plan to sell my machines.
What would you prefer to buy ? A retro computer with crap repairs or something decently fixed ?
I opt for the second solution.
Even if it takes more time, I think these old machines deserve it.
Thanks you very much.
I always try to do the best I can, for me and even for others in case I plan to sell my machines.
What would you prefer to buy ? A retro computer with crap repairs or something decently fixed ?
I opt for the second solution.
Even if it takes more time, I think these old machines deserve it.
-
rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 14888
- Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
- Location: Essex
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
For me it has so far been about making things work, as I am a little 'clunky' so fine work is a bit harder, but I am trying to improve as it increases satisfaction levels when you fix or mod something beautifully :)HigashiJun wrote: 01 Dec 2023 11:24 @rubber_jonnie
Thanks you very much.
I always try to do the best I can, for me and even for others in case I plan to sell my machines.
What would you prefer to buy ? A retro computer with crap repairs or something decently fixed ?
I opt for the second solution.
Even if it takes more time, I think these old machines deserve it.
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...
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...
-
stephen_usher
- Site sponsor

- Posts: 7376
- Joined: 13 Nov 2017 19:19
- Location: Oxford, UK.
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
I admit that I just use bodge wires between the end targets of the traces. At least that shows where the fixes have been made.HigashiJun wrote: 01 Dec 2023 11:24 @rubber_jonnie
Thanks you very much.
I always try to do the best I can, for me and even for others in case I plan to sell my machines.
What would you prefer to buy ? A retro computer with crap repairs or something decently fixed ?
I opt for the second solution.
Even if it takes more time, I think these old machines deserve it.
Given that manufacturers used the same techniques in production for hot fixes to PCBs I don't see that it's a shortcut or messy.
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.
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.
-
HigashiJun
- Posts: 2381
- Joined: 19 Jun 2020 07:21
- Location: Tokyo
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
Yup, I totally agree.rubber_jonnie wrote: 01 Dec 2023 11:31 ..., but I am trying to improve as it increases satisfaction levels when you fix or mod something beautifully :)
8-)
-
HigashiJun
- Posts: 2381
- Joined: 19 Jun 2020 07:21
- Location: Tokyo
Re: ACORN A5000 inbound
I also like the visual aspect of such repairs, that's why aesthetics matters for me.stephen_usher wrote: 01 Dec 2023 11:46 I admit that I just use bodge wires between the end targets of the traces. At least that shows where the fixes have been made.
Given that manufacturers used the same techniques in production for hot fixes to PCBs I don't see that it's a shortcut or messy.
Bodge wires can also look nice, but it depends on how they are routed.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot and 21 guests