Dave's tinkerings

[DaveC]

Well since I've had my STe back I've done some tinkering, got my gotek working. The external keyboard mod was done about 22 years ago, probably should've found something sturdier to mount the connector on, but it works.

Well as the STe has both internal drive selects on the internal cable, I decided to make myself an adapter and modified a twisted PC floppy cable so it'd actually allow use of both drives.
Floppy cable was nice and easy to change, though maybe not the neatest job!

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This thing was probably more effort than it was really worth but did allow me to image some of my old disks that aren't as reliable as they once were.

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And to finish off a drive swap switch using a butchered usb cable so I can still boot games off the actual floppy drive if I want.

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Was good practice soldering and learnt a few things from it and I haven't had to poke a soldering iron anywhere near the STe motherboard at least. I could probably do with a similar solution for external drives

[DaveC]

Might have a few extra bits to tinker with now. A second STe and 2 STfm motherboards without cases.

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I think this definitely needs a replacement, somehow the psu is still working though!

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[exxos]

Looks like the classic Rifa explosion! I would at least remove that capacitor as it is possibly mains live!

[DaveC]

I'm wondering what it should be replaced with, most of the useful information on the outside seems to have disappeared with what was inside it!

[exxos]

https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/last/ ... tm#PHIHONG

[DaveC]

Checked both the STfm motherboards, one seems to be working fine at least.
The C070789-001 Rev. D board produces this interesting display!

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Shame as out of the 2 boards I would have preferred to have modded this one. I don't I have the skills or equipment to figure out what's going on with this one.

[stephen_usher]

Shifter problem? Tried reseating it?

[DaveC]

Not yet, think it might be a bit late to ask Santa for an IC extractor tool this year :lol:
I'd rather not risk making more of a mess of things with the tools I have to hand.

[stephen_usher]

Not yet, think it might be a bit late to ask Santa for an IC extractor tool this year :lol:

You mean an electrical screw driver? That's all I ever use to extract ICs (carefully).

I'd rather not risk making more of a mess of things with the tools I have to hand.

[DaveC]

I might have been slightly heavy handed with my new STe dual TOS board :o As noted on the store the pins are very fragile!

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Though after some careful work with a stanley knife and pliers I replaced the broken pins and all working happily

Hopefully lesson learned to not rush things... Until the next time :?
And just to show it's no longer running TOS 1.06.

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