Glad you were able to get the old girl working again and thanks for the shout-out! The C128 remains my favorite 8-bit home micro. While there's not a ton of 128-specific software, there are some real gems in and amongst what is available. Lots of hardware upgrades too. With the right kit, you've could have had a budget terror that would have given the early Macintosh a run for its money for a fraction of the price, played all of the games in the C64 library, and went online at blazing (for the time) speeds :)
Girl... ? Seriously. This is a bloke. The PSU alone has more steroids than the Hulk. Off course, a C128 has multiple personality dissorder, maybe the Z80 inside is girlish, it must be Cinderella burried in a dark pit with humming machinery. I have it here on my desk, and no matter how hard I try, no lesbian feelings coming up. It is the weirdest piece of 8-bit shit ever built.
First time I was shouting at the screen when you opent the PSU with the 230v power still plugged in. LOOKOUT! Second time I was shouting at the screen when the keyboard was missing some keys in a pattern IT IS THE CIA!😂. Well done. I really like your repair video’s. 👍🏻
Another superb video! I don’t fix old computers, I don’t even play games. I’m not an electrician or anything similar yet I find these videos so good to watch!
It has transformed how I diagnose faults now. That's not to say its always going to be the tool that gives you the answer, sometimes the fault isn't a short. But, especially on Commodore machines and MOS silicon, it has really made the difference.
Great job. My brother traded in our C64 for a 128, I remember getting excited about all the extra power, but then being underwhelmed because our software was all still C64.
Yeah, but with 128k! I can imagine that might have been a bit of a let down. Its a shame as the 128 really is a technical marvel. "They" reckon the 128 cost Commodore more to manufacture than the Amiga 500!!!
I had the exact same issue with my c128. After replacing the CIA chips it has worked like a charm ever since. But they where a real pain to desolder from the C64 parts board...
Great. I wonder if I keep forgetting to send the comment. Lol. Good to see another Versa64Cart in the wild. I have jupiter lander as well as dead+diag test on mine, but i struggle with the jumpers😅 Sven Petersen made a diagcart that is based on the Versa, but is optimized with sliders to automatically set the memory mapping jumpers when switching between diag and dead test.
My dead test and C64 diagnostics cart is that exact Sven Petersen one! I ordered a bunch of Versa cart boards plus some of Svens Diag64 boards to make some variations up and give some away to friends.
MT DRAM. If it hasn't gone bad yet it will. If I see them in any machine I replace them, they are that prone to failure. In my experience the C128 is fairly reliable for a C= build computer, faults most often occur with DRAM or MOS made logic chips.
Love the video. This is why you never carry your brick of death by the wires. Or swing it around by the wires. Its ok if you are fighting a burglar or something. LOL. Those MT ram chips are sketchy at best. Most of us start waving a cross over them and start prying. Then call a exorcist to rid the evil they do! LOL. Anyways...you got a new sub from me!
@@MoreFunMakingIt Literally just got it booting by reseating all the socketed chips. A lot of the plastic is cracked but you can barely see that when it's on a desk. Just don't pick it up!
Dodo 🦤 that’s my nickname has been for most of my life. My godson and goddaughter also call uncle dodo 🦤 My friends and I laugh, we wonder how old they’ll be before they ask if that’s really my name.😂They are no 4 and 2 so I’ll be known as uncle dodo for some more time. And I find it really endearing 😂 And concerning the C128, I bought one a year ago. And it’s a weird little beast. I’ve never owned it in the past and I hardly use the 128 mode but u do really like it.
I love the Commodore 128. My dad bought one around 1987 and it saw pretty much continuous use for over a decade. Then it started failing and now it has mainly be collecting dust the poor thing. I am determined to get it fixed however, so hopefully one day that will happen. Like many other C128s ours was mainly in C64 mode. A shame really but the C128 was then and is still now really underrated and there is still so little native software for it, as in games of course. Ultima V had a native C128 port (it adds music during game play which the C64 does not have) and even The 8-Bit Guy's Attack of the PETSCII Robots has a native port. Great video, Lee!
Smooth repair! Bravo, keep it up! :-) The C128 is high on your wish list, you fix one for Paul, send it back to him and expect him to sell it on eBay? Kind of backwards/sad.
The IR camera really helped point out that dodgy switch. Funny how many high resistance faults I've seen lately; switches, contacts and especially crappy USB cables that drop a volt over less than a metre.
It really has proved to be a very useful addition to my toolset. Saves me a lot of time. I've managed to get it hooked up to the bench laptop now too. Makes using it even more convenient.
Those pins on the board for the keyboard connector are an absolute nightmare to connect the test harness to :( They are slightly to small for most DB25 sockets
Great video thank you. Looks like the thermal camera saved you a lot of time chasing your tail. I can imagine with out it you would have been pulling your hair out.
Excellent video and work! Now you are a 128 expert! Good on you. My first 128 repair, I had to do the same mod to the power supply. I'm not sure if this is a common issue. Thanks for sharing
well done kind sir. I think everyone wants a C128 it's a very desirable computer, but then is it really better than a C64 when you look at the software ?
Glad you were able to get the old girl working again and thanks for the shout-out! The C128 remains my favorite 8-bit home micro. While there's not a ton of 128-specific software, there are some real gems in and amongst what is available. Lots of hardware upgrades too. With the right kit, you've could have had a budget terror that would have given the early Macintosh a run for its money for a fraction of the price, played all of the games in the C64 library, and went online at blazing (for the time) speeds :)
Thank you for your excellent and super useful content!
Girl... ? Seriously. This is a bloke. The PSU alone has more steroids than the Hulk. Off course, a C128 has multiple personality dissorder, maybe the Z80 inside is girlish, it must be Cinderella burried in a dark pit with humming machinery. I have it here on my desk, and no matter how hard I try, no lesbian feelings coming up. It is the weirdest piece of 8-bit shit ever built.
First time I was shouting at the screen when you opent the PSU with the 230v power still plugged in. LOOKOUT!
Second time I was shouting at the screen when the keyboard was missing some keys in a pattern IT IS THE CIA!😂. Well done. I really like your repair video’s. 👍🏻
The PSU is okay ONLY if you know exactly what you are doing, and are fully concentrating. Otherwise NEVER DO IT! 😁
😆 Sorry to make you shout! PSU was powered down. Stuff like that doesnt always get through the editing stage.
Another superb video!
I don’t fix old computers, I don’t even play games. I’m not an electrician or anything similar yet I find these videos so good to watch!
Love seeing your comments J! 😍
I remember chatting about those topdon cameras the other week, this has convinced me. Splendid!
It has transformed how I diagnose faults now. That's not to say its always going to be the tool that gives you the answer, sometimes the fault isn't a short. But, especially on Commodore machines and MOS silicon, it has really made the difference.
Great job. My brother traded in our C64 for a 128, I remember getting excited about all the extra power, but then being underwhelmed because our software was all still C64.
Yeah, but with 128k!
I can imagine that might have been a bit of a let down. Its a shame as the 128 really is a technical marvel. "They" reckon the 128 cost Commodore more to manufacture than the Amiga 500!!!
I had the exact same issue with my c128. After replacing the CIA chips it has worked like a charm ever since. But they where a real pain to desolder from the C64 parts board...
Fortunately I have a few C64 boards hanging around here with socketed chips :D
Another great video again keep them coming 👏👏
Cheers Richard! :D
1:22 ugh, ISMET power supply!
What about the X/Y caps in the PSU? Weren't they unsafe ones from the paper cap era?
I believe these are the Philips ones and therefore not a problem.
Great video (this is a test comment)
YAY!
This is nice and all. But where's your narrator???
He's taking some time off for bad behaviour.
Dont fear though, he will be returning in future videos!
@@MoreFunMakingIt Cheers! I was a bit worried that he accidently touched a hot wire while plugging in a commodore PSU ^^
Good video 👍
Great. I wonder if I keep forgetting to send the comment. Lol. Good to see another Versa64Cart in the wild. I have jupiter lander as well as dead+diag test on mine, but i struggle with the jumpers😅 Sven Petersen made a diagcart that is based on the Versa, but is optimized with sliders to automatically set the memory mapping jumpers when switching between diag and dead test.
My dead test and C64 diagnostics cart is that exact Sven Petersen one! I ordered a bunch of Versa cart boards plus some of Svens Diag64 boards to make some variations up and give some away to friends.
Great vid. Well done!
Thank you! 😁
MT DRAM. If it hasn't gone bad yet it will. If I see them in any machine I replace them, they are that prone to failure. In my experience the C128 is fairly reliable for a C= build computer, faults most often occur with DRAM or MOS made logic chips.
My favorite computer. Coupled with a 1024? Monitor for 80 column display. CPM FTW. The other was my TI99/4A.
Delighted to see contact cleaner being used
"Dave Juice"
You can fix the strain relief by threading a nylon or fiber washer over the cable and locking it in place with the cable tie.
Love the video. This is why you never carry your brick of death by the wires. Or swing it around by the wires. Its ok if you are fighting a burglar or something. LOL. Those MT ram chips are sketchy at best. Most of us start waving a cross over them and start prying. Then call a exorcist to rid the evil they do! LOL. Anyways...you got a new sub from me!
Maybe tie two of these together to make a really deadly bolas!
Thank you and welcome to the channel!
@@MoreFunMakingIt Use two 64 bricks for that. That would be even more solid and heavier!
Appreciate this as I took delivery of a C128D that had been dropped from a great height yesterday!
Oh no! Hopefully you can piece it back together. Maybe make a feature of the damage.
@@MoreFunMakingIt Literally just got it booting by reseating all the socketed chips. A lot of the plastic is cracked but you can barely see that when it's on a desk. Just don't pick it up!
Dodo 🦤 that’s my nickname has been for most of my life.
My godson and goddaughter also call uncle dodo 🦤 My friends and I laugh, we wonder how old they’ll be before they ask if that’s really my name.😂They are no 4 and 2 so I’ll be known as uncle dodo for some more time. And I find it really endearing 😂
And concerning the C128, I bought one a year ago. And it’s a weird little beast. I’ve never owned it in the past and I hardly use the 128 mode but u do really like it.
Dodo is a great name for an uncle!
Nice repair, she lives again. One of the few machines I have never missed with.
Thank you!
It was nice to work on. I'm glad it wasn't a more complicated fault though 😆
I love the Commodore 128. My dad bought one around 1987 and it saw pretty much continuous use for over a decade. Then it started failing and now it has mainly be collecting dust the poor thing. I am determined to get it fixed however, so hopefully one day that will happen. Like many other C128s ours was mainly in C64 mode. A shame really but the C128 was then and is still now really underrated and there is still so little native software for it, as in games of course. Ultima V had a native C128 port (it adds music during game play which the C64 does not have) and even The 8-Bit Guy's Attack of the PETSCII Robots has a native port. Great video, Lee!
Lucky you! I would love a 128.
Good luck getting it fixed 😄
Smooth repair! Bravo, keep it up! :-)
The C128 is high on your wish list, you fix one for Paul, send it back to him and expect him to sell it on eBay? Kind of backwards/sad.
I dont mind. I get to fix and play around with lots of machines I couldnt afford to buy for myself.
The IR camera really helped point out that dodgy switch.
Funny how many high resistance faults I've seen lately; switches, contacts and especially crappy USB cables that drop a volt over less than a metre.
It really has proved to be a very useful addition to my toolset. Saves me a lot of time. I've managed to get it hooked up to the bench laptop now too. Makes using it even more convenient.
Those pins on the board for the keyboard connector are an absolute nightmare to connect the test harness to :( They are slightly to small for most DB25 sockets
Even the actual keyboard connector is super tight. Can't imagine what tighter that that would be!
Great video thank you. Looks like the thermal camera saved you a lot of time chasing your tail. I can imagine with out it you would have been pulling your hair out.
I hope I might have got there eventually 😆 But the camera really does help me skip a few traditional steps.
Excellent video and work! Now you are a 128 expert! Good on you. My first 128 repair, I had to do the same mod to the power supply. I'm not sure if this is a common issue. Thanks for sharing
Hey Rudy! Thank you :D Nice to know I got the PSU repair right too
@More Fun Making It Right is when it's safe and working 🤣
well done kind sir. I think everyone wants a C128 it's a very desirable computer, but then is it really better than a C64 when you look at the software ?
Its bigger! Must be better! 😆
@@MoreFunMakingIt More RAMZ
I really want to spend some more time playing around in the Commodore world. Never had thee chance to play on a 128. Nice fix as always!