My 1984 CPC 464 Reboot Project - Restoring an Old Friend (with faulty tape)

[spookspring]

My 1984 CPC 464 Reboot Project
Restoring an Old Friend (with faulty tape)

Hi, retro computer buffs! This is the story of love and loyalty between man and machine, the DIY restoration of a faithful binary companion, so others when they have tried all else, might reboot with success!

2012, earth. I decided to reboot my interest in my now vintage CPC 464, luckily stored in mother's clean house. This little chap served me well through my spartan college days not 10 years ago in writing up my thesis and solving crime in shanty town. So, still working decided it deserved a shrine with all the peripherals that might be floating around on ebay.


Bought new in 1984 to replaced the ZX81 which was being used as a frizbee. 'Oh jeez this game is...' exclaimed many times. Never mastered any complicated programming. Last game bought was 'Spellbound'. Neglected by 1990.
1993-1999 Used to write up botanical books, letters, thesis, projects, court cases.
1999-2004? Stored somewhere unknown, hopefully an attic.
2004 came to live with me again.
2006 used to create music for flash games on my game website.

2012 sat neglected in the corner, decided to boot up check. No games were loading! Well I thought, these are corrupt...and promptly threw them out...luckily there were all Amsoft. Decided to buy some more games to test from various sources. Nothing worked. So downloaded the repair manual and consulted the Wiki. Had a plan of action:

   
• Clean out the innards. Removed dust, spiders and borrowers. Check.
• Check the rubber tape drive. No indents or wear. Check.
• Clean tape heads and rollers. Slightly dirty. Clean with alcohol. Check.
• Clean with a tape cleaner. Buy tape on ebay. Check.
• Clean the tapes. By hand with an cotton bud. Check.
• Check all connections for loose wiring. All aok. Check.
• Align Azimuth screw. Eh well ok but no osilliscope here. Turned 1 1/2 CW. Check.
• Save simple program to tape.Saved and playback working. Check.

New tapes arrived and still nothing loaded. Only Spellbound was working so I knew there was hope, no justification for blaming ebay sellers, the knights quest must continue!
So I scoured the forums for days. Until I came across a living breathing expert on the CPC, Bryce on CPC Wiki. He suggested in his posts there may be leakage from capacitors. I carefully removed the board on the tape deck, and lo and behold! A miniature frothing can of...cap juice from the C3P0 on circuits? My computer had had a stroke.


I prepared for a long operation, my scalpel carfully scrapped off the calcification and after she had recovered...gave her some sedatives and rest.


Did it work...?!



Of course it did! Success. This starship is fully operational.
So thanks guys for lending your knowledge and helping me by proxy to carry on with the legacy of this fine workhorse that has outlived an Apple and 3 PCs. Will be updating with a mouse, joystick, few games, office soft. What I really would like is a ROM box, they look 'easy' to make I'm sure parts might be about. Maybe I might find someone here to make one!

Thanks Again, James

[Gryzor]

Man, what an awesome first post, thanks so much for sharing!
   
I almost can't believe you used the ol' 464 10 years ago for your thesis - can you share a photo of the outcome - or two?
   
Shame about the Amsoft titles, we all love them even when they're crap!

Really glad everything worked out fine. Bryce is a demi-god of sorts, but lots of other guys here with great knowledge and will to help, so anything you need, you're in the right place...

Bryce also produced the Megaflash, which is an amazing piece of hardware if you need to use ROMs. Unfortunately it's out of production, but who knows...

Oh, and welcome!

[Bryce]

Hi Spookspring,
         well written and great photos, also great to hear you got your 464 working again. Glad I could be of help.

The MegaFlash isn't out of production. I ordered a small second batch of PCBs, so it's still available for anyone who wants one (until those PCBs have ran out). I am also working on a RAM expansion, but due to lack of time, it's majorly delayed at the moment.

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

Ohhh somehow I missed that. Damn, now I want another one, "just in case"

[Bryce]

MegaFlash Released!

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

Ahhh yes....

[spookspring]

Thanks for the interest. I will buy that Flash card, w/e that is, but sounds like a cheat.

Arr, spent a year in a loft hand typing several thesis and books out with Easi-Amsword and a Star printer.

This particular tome has 237 pages, so I'd say at least 100 individual saves and 2 hours of tape. To cope with 15 min ROM delay, just went for a cuppa.

[Bryce]

but sounds like a cheat.

What's cheating about it?

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

This is awesome. Also, it looks soooo british


Easi Amsword... spent quite a few evenings with it back in the day. Even as a kid I could easily use it.

[Gryzor]

What's cheating about it?

Bryce.

I guess he means no real ROM chips.

[Bryce]

Ok, if that's what you like. I gave my last "Real" ROMBoard away sometime last year. It was just too much hassle burning / having / storing / swapping EPROMs all the time. Especially as most classic ROMBoards only take around 6 ROMs.

I still have most of the EPROMs though, if anyone is looking for some.

Bryce.

[CPCLER]

Great posting, nice photos!

I like the fact that you used your CPC464 for serious purposes until the late 90's  Nice going ..

I used my CPC464 for various calculation tasks at college also in the late 90's. Wrote some assignments on the CPC464 using Protext.

My CPC464 was eventually replaced by a NC100 (Protext and very powerfull BASIC(Aztech C)), which i considered to be an ultra portable version of the CPC464!! (allthough lacking the ability to play OH MUMMY)

Regards,
CPCLER

[arnoldemu]

I like the fact that you used your CPC464 for serious purposes until the late 90's  Nice going ..

I also used my cpc6128 throughout my 3 years of university (so up to around 1993). I wrote some pascal programs on it and typed my documents with protext.