Nexxen wrote on 2024-03-17, 23:31:

Created a file with all the components I have to buy.
Not as long as I expected, not short either.

Just started the same thing!

I've got so many parts/components I have no idea what I got or how many. Figured it was time to catalog it all. 😜

Nexxen wrote on 2024-03-17, 23:31:

Created a file with all the components I have to buy.
Not as long as I expected, not short either.

Can we see the list? 😀

Shadzilla wrote on 2024-03-17, 18:48:

Made my first contribution to Archive.org! […]
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Made my first contribution to Archive.org!

If anyone from the UK remembers Tiny Computers, I just uploaded a system restore CD and floppy disc I found in my attic recently. Not even sure why I had them, but we did have a Tiny PC we bought new from one of their retail outlets in 1997, so it would have been to do with that despite being from 18 months later.

https://archive.org/details/tiny-computers-op … 95-restore-pack

a note of gratitude! whenever this is done it helps others in a practical way and also is an act of preservation

StriderTR wrote on 2024-03-18, 06:54:

Just started the same thing!

I've got so many parts/components I have no idea what I got or how many. Figured it was time to catalog it all. 😜

Done that and it took some time. Now to know what I have I just open my file and check.
Saves a lot of time.

zuldan wrote on 2024-03-18, 09:46:

Can we see the list? 😀

No, as it is full of personal notes. Maybe an edited list later on.
Anyway, there are just the latest things I need to repair some boards. Not boards or cpus, but smds and tht.

Crystals, resistances, roms... that kind.

So, an enhanced, fan-made port of Final Fight came out a few weeks ago and for the last couple of days I've been pondering a possible upgrade for the cheap Genesis/MegaDrive gamepad I use with my Amiga. I had bought it a while back to play those extremely rare games that utilize 2-button setups, but only 1 button worked, and Final Fight Enhanced requires a 2-button controller. After piecing together some info I had found on various forums and youtube, I figured I need a Genesis-Sega Master System adapter. I bought one and lo and behold - both buttons work now. The problem is, the d-pad and the buttons have a really mushy feel to them. Playing feels kinda like diddling haribos 🤣 So today, I've taken it apart and tried to replace the rubber domes with spares that I have from a dead usb gamepad, but there isn't much improvement. Oh well, maybe I can track down a better Genesis pad. Or rewire some other pad. Time will tell.

gerry wrote on 2024-03-18, 12:55:

Shadzilla wrote on 2024-03-17, 18:48:

Made my first contribution to Archive.org! […]
Show full quote

Made my first contribution to Archive.org!

If anyone from the UK remembers Tiny Computers, I just uploaded a system restore CD and floppy disc I found in my attic recently. Not even sure why I had them, but we did have a Tiny PC we bought new from one of their retail outlets in 1997, so it would have been to do with that despite being from 18 months later.

https://archive.org/details/tiny-computers-op … 95-restore-pack

a note of gratitude! whenever this is done it helps others in a practical way and also is an act of preservation

Does the CD contain the Tiny Computers logo for the system information?
I have one but the CD is a standard Windows 98 SE CD, same goes for the floppy. But I remember the system dialogue window did have a Tiny logo on it when we got it in the 90s.

Nexxen wrote on 2024-03-18, 13:47:

Done that and it took some time. Now to know what I have I just open my file and check. Saves a lot of time. […]
Show full quote

StriderTR wrote on 2024-03-18, 06:54:

Just started the same thing!

I've got so many parts/components I have no idea what I got or how many. Figured it was time to catalog it all. 😜

Done that and it took some time. Now to know what I have I just open my file and check.
Saves a lot of time.

zuldan wrote on 2024-03-18, 09:46:

Can we see the list? 😀

No, as it is full of personal notes. Maybe an edited list later on.
Anyway, there are just the latest things I need to repair some boards. Not boards or cpus, but smds and tht.

Crystals, resistances, roms... that kind.

Same as you, I want to save time.

My list is also full of components (crystals, resistors, capacitors, transistors, diodes, sockets and connectors, various ICs, etc.) and many notes to make things easier. That's the part I have the most trouble keeping track of. I took a tiny snippet of mine, seen below. I've got a way to go yet, I just got it started.

I have far more components for repairing old (and modern) boards than I do actual hardware. 😜

I also build retro homebrew computers like the Z80-MBC2 and PicoMite VGA, and use them for other electronic projects, so my component "collection" has grown significantly over the past few years.

StriderTR wrote on 2024-03-18, 17:38:

Same as you, I want to save time. […]
Show full quote

Nexxen wrote on 2024-03-18, 13:47:

Done that and it took some time. Now to know what I have I just open my file and check. Saves a lot of time. […]
Show full quote

StriderTR wrote on 2024-03-18, 06:54:

Just started the same thing!

I've got so many parts/components I have no idea what I got or how many. Figured it was time to catalog it all. 😜

Done that and it took some time. Now to know what I have I just open my file and check.
Saves a lot of time.

zuldan wrote on 2024-03-18, 09:46:

Can we see the list? 😀

No, as it is full of personal notes. Maybe an edited list later on.
Anyway, there are just the latest things I need to repair some boards. Not boards or cpus, but smds and tht.

Crystals, resistances, roms... that kind.

Same as you, I want to save time.

My list is also full of components (crystals, resistors, capacitors, transistors, diodes, sockets and connectors, various ICs, etc.) and many notes to make things easier. That's the part I have the most trouble keeping track of. I took a tiny snippet of mine, seen below. I've got a way to go yet, I just got it started.

I have far more components for repairing old (and modern) boards than I do actual hardware. 😜

I also build retro homebrew computers like the Z80-MBC2 and PicoMite VGA, and use them for other electronic projects, so my component "collection" has grown significantly over the past few years.

Same here. Not as nice though, just a TXT file.
Keeping track is difficult, as soon as one is used you should go and modify. Now, in my notes, I add what I used to avoid issues.

I'm also keeping track of all the BIOS chips that were used to build a database to purchase at a later time.

I'm about to buy two sample books of "res" and "caps", might make it a little easier.

Fighting with a Dell 2407WFP mobo + PSU. I get ticking noises as if there was a short... yet a multimeter test of anything I can think of revealed no shorts.

I know that model. The caps are likely dried out and non functional

luckybob wrote on 2024-03-18, 18:42:

I know that model. The caps are likely dried out and non functional

I replaced nearly all of them. The only ones I didn't touch are the small ones near the RGB output, a green 1uF 100v (C622 on the PSU), and 220uF 35v near the DC barrel jack. I did replace the big 450v cap already with one from a broken Samsung TV. (150uF instead of 120uF, does that slight bump in capacitance matter somehow?)
The ticking comes from the transformer closest to the output caps (as I see 2 transformers - one in the AC side marked 1J.20285.001, the other that's ticking is 1J.20289.001).

ElectroSoldier wrote on 2024-03-18, 15:41:

gerry wrote on 2024-03-18, 12:55:

Shadzilla wrote on 2024-03-17, 18:48:

Made my first contribution to Archive.org! […]
Show full quote

Made my first contribution to Archive.org!

If anyone from the UK remembers Tiny Computers, I just uploaded a system restore CD and floppy disc I found in my attic recently. Not even sure why I had them, but we did have a Tiny PC we bought new from one of their retail outlets in 1997, so it would have been to do with that despite being from 18 months later.

https://archive.org/details/tiny-computers-op … 95-restore-pack

a note of gratitude! whenever this is done it helps others in a practical way and also is an act of preservation

Does the CD contain the Tiny Computers logo for the system information?
I have one but the CD is a standard Windows 98 SE CD, same goes for the floppy. But I remember the system dialogue window did have a Tiny logo on it when we got it in the 90s.

I don't see anything like that. I've had a scan through the Ghost image that's in the ISO and there's no OEMLOGO.BMP or OEMINFO.INI in there, and there's no mention of 'Tiny' in a quick scan of system.dat either. There are links to the Tiny BBS on the desktop and in Hyper Terminal though. Not sure if the boot screen is customised. I think to be completely sure you'd need to restore it onto a system and see what's what.

I might have a go at that with 86Box actually.

Kahenraz wrote on 2024-03-17, 21:34:

I have repasted several laptops. The thermal paste in these can degrade significantly with age. It might be as simple as that to fix.

I don't think it's the thermal paste. The heatsink is really getting that hot. Strangely, the temperature doesn't increase much under load (if anything, it actually decreases slightly), so it's probably not handling idle power reductions properly. I did see that CPU clock scaling is not working, even though the processor properties in Device Manager show that the amdk7.sys driver is loaded. I even tried installing the PowerNow! driver from HP, and it didn't change anything. I can still change the multiplier and voltage manually.

Anyway, since I'm apparently taking time off the week after Spring Break, I wanted to start up a computer that works. My allergies had other ideas (and this house is really dirty), and I'm coming to the sad realization that every hard drive is full unless it's ridiculously oversized (and even the 4TB in my main computer has less than 100GB free). I guess I'm doing a lot of cleaning.

Shadzilla wrote on 2024-03-18, 19:46:

ElectroSoldier wrote on 2024-03-18, 15:41:

gerry wrote on 2024-03-18, 12:55:

a note of gratitude! whenever this is done it helps others in a practical way and also is an act of preservation

Does the CD contain the Tiny Computers logo for the system information?
I have one but the CD is a standard Windows 98 SE CD, same goes for the floppy. But I remember the system dialogue window did have a Tiny logo on it when we got it in the 90s.

I don't see anything like that. I've had a scan through the Ghost image that's in the ISO and there's no OEMLOGO.BMP or OEMINFO.INI in there, and there's no mention of 'Tiny' in a quick scan of system.dat either. There are links to the Tiny BBS on the desktop and in Hyper Terminal though. Not sure if the boot screen is customised. I think to be completely sure you'd need to restore it onto a system and see what's what.

I might have a go at that with 86Box actually.

Can confirm, no customisations of any interest. Various bits of software pre-installed though and some links on the desktop.

Today I took a nice family photo of my keyboards. All of which actually have a computer available for native use barring the Model F.

I wish I had a reason to use my IIGS keyboard more, but it's like the Apple Monitor II that I have; Useful for special occasions.

BetaC wrote on 2024-03-18, 20:49:

Today I took a nice family photo of my keyboards. All of which actually have a computer available for native use barring the Model F.

I wish I had a reason to use my IIGS keyboard more, but it's like the Apple Monitor II that I have; Useful for special occasions.

Great set! I still STILL need to build one of those SUN-USB adapters for my 5c. Would make a great keyboard for my gaming machine.

Replaced the ugly HSF on my ASUS N6600 AGP. The fan isn't original to it, being sourced from a inno3D 7300GT PCI-E. Also repasted with Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut while at it - nice paste for a lot of stuff, nicer than MX6.

Installed Windows 3.11 on a Pentium 4. Even got Civilization II going with full audio (sound effects and CD).

Since I'm planning on at least 5 different Windows versions on this system, I suppose installing Civ 2 on each one would be fitting. 😁

Picked up a Sony 2X USB floppy for $8+$8 shipping, so $16 total.

I highly doubt the "Brand New" claim, but it physically looks good. Now I just hope it works. If so, good deal I think.

I don't think the seller knows much about it based on the listing. 😜

Wish me luck!

Shponglefan wrote on 2024-03-18, 23:56:

Installed Windows 3.11 on a Pentium 4. Even got Civilization II going with full audio (sound effects and CD). […]
Show full quote

Installed Windows 3.11 on a Pentium 4. Even got Civilization II going with full audio (sound effects and CD).

Since I'm planning on at least 5 different Windows versions on this system, I suppose installing Civ 2 on each one would be fitting. 😁

Windows 3_11 Startup.jpg

Civ 2 Win_311.jpg

I agree! CIV2 is a GREAT game! Need to find a way to buy it again (or find the CD-ROM "somewhere" in storage) 🤣