I just got back from a drive to Lafayette (Louisiana) to collect the following items:

Commodore 1902 monitor
Commodore 8050 floppy drive
MSD SD-2 floppy drive
Commodore C2N cassette drive
Enough 5.25" floppies to sink a battleship

I picked up a C128D off eBay a while back, so the 1902 was the ideal solution to access 80 colum mode. I've had it switched on for a couple of hours and it hasn't flickered yet:


I also got a PET off eBay, but missed out on the floppy drive. Now I've managed to pick up a genuine 8050 floppy to match my 8032 and also a MSD SD-2 which will connect to either a PET or to a C64/128:


I'd forgotten just how big the 8050 was and now I'm stuck for somewhere to put it. It might have to sit ontop of the C128D with the monitor on the 8050 until I can clear some more space. They guy also threw in a C2N cassette drive for free and the disks are loaded with old software. I think I'm going to be busy for a while...

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AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

Wow... when you see it sitting next to the C2N, it's only then you realise just how big the thing is...

Mind you back in the 80's it looked small compared to the haircuts...

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@Darrin

Speaking of old CBM stuff, I just found these very neat little SD card devices on eBay the other day for the VIC20, C64, C128, C16 & Plus 4...

SD Card - Reader Writer For C2N Datasette...

SD Card - Reader Writer Internal Version...

I've ordered one of the unwired boards myself to install it inside one of my C64s, if it works as good as the old MMC SD card device I currently use I'm going to order some more and install them in all my VIC20's and C64's as you can no longer buy the MMC board anymore...

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@Franko

Nice find on the net! Let us know how it works out. I have a floppy disk emulator for the PET ordered that uses a SD Card.

Like you, I can't recall the CBM floppy being this big! Damn thing is huge and the top lifts up like the hood on a car. The guy has added some switches to I can toggle it between device #8, 9,10 or 11. The MSD drive is set as #8 at the moment, but there are some jumpers on the mobo. I'll track down some switches during the week and attach them. I'll probably use the MSD with the C128D and IIRC the internal drive for the C128D cannot be changed from #8.

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AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

Nice collection you have there mate. I'm really interesting of acquiring one C128D for myself too, but my space is occupied by Amigas.

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@Phantom

I'm out of space myself. I'm off to buy anonther desk later from Walmart as my poor old A4000 has been shifted to the floor and my FPGA arcade has 2 keyboards ontop of it.

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AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

Aaargh, once I finish fixing my new flat I'm going to hunt for 128D. This was my dream computer when I was a kid. I have to own it. NOW.

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@opi

Mine too. I always wanted one and then I spotted the one I bought on eBay. The price was rather steep, so I sent the seller an offer stating I wasn't a collector and it was going to a good home where it would be used and they accepted it. :)

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AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

BTW: do you know if a floppy drive can be fixed? There's one C128D waiting for me, but my friend is not sure if it's OK. She can't test it (it's boxed, she moved to smaller flat) so I'd have to take a gamble. Can you replace internal drive? I don't want clutter my desk with 1451.

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@opi

No idea. The problem with the internal C128D drive is that it has to be device #8 and I'm not sure if it can be disabled. I have no idea if the internals of another Commodore drive can be used to replace it either.

Just keep your fingers crossed. I wonder if Amigakit do drive repairs if you remove the parts from the case and mail it to them.

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AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

Nice find, Im jealous :)

I had a c128 very briefly about a decade ago. It cost me $1 at a local auction house (before retro computer gear was collectable). Regretabley (in hindsight) I left it at a trainstation. I was visiting with friends for a few days at the time and had gone along with them to the auctions, and lo and behold there was a c128 there that I was the only person interested in. When it came time to go home the next day it just seemed too much effort to carry the computer on the trains (2 of them and a bus) home while hung over. I still have the power supply and a 1541-2 floppy drive that fit in my bag though.

The next day after waking up I started kicking myself about leaving the computer at the trainstation, so called them hoping maybe one of the people who worked there had put it aside (people often leave/lose things at trainstations), only to find out the "mystery item" (was wrapped in plain brown cardboard) had caused quite some commotion and the police even came out to investigate. Somehow the c128 had aroused suspicion and people thought it was a bomb :)
Dont ask me how a c128 wrapped in plain brown cardboard was confused for a bomb, but apparently it was :)
The bloke I spoke to said he'd put it aside for me, but I didnt visit the area for a few months (where I now live coincidently), so unfortunately when I returned the c128 was gone.

@fishy_fis

The poor C128! I hope it ended up somewhere safe.

I found a link to a hidden Easter Egg. Type SYS 32800,123,45,6 and a list of the developers pops up:


:)

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AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

Heh, that's cool, and further proof (to me at least) that modern computers have next to no character compared to these older machines. Not that I dislike modern machines, but they lack a certain charm of machines from yesteryear.

Perhaps its the picture, but that machine looks to be in really nice condition by the way, especially the keyboard :)

@fishy_fis

The C128 looks like it was just unboxed. I couldn't believe how well kept it was. Even the keyboard still has the rear pull-out feet intact to angle the keyboard. The monitor has some dust on it from storage, but a few wipes with a cloth and some cleaner have helped. The only issue with it seems to be the swich to move from one input to the other - the switch flickers if you touch it lightly. Apart from that it is a perfect setup.

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AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

Darrin wrote:
Quote:

...IIRC the internal drive for the C128D cannot be changed from #8.

Yes, it can, as evidenced by my C128DCR.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 28-29 Commodore Vegas Expo v8 =
http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

Darrin wrote:
Quote:

... I'm not sure if it can be disabled. I have no idea if the internals of another Commodore drive can be used to replace it either.

Yes, the internal drive can be disabled, again as evidenced by my C128DCR. And yes, the mech of an external 1571 can be used to replace the mech of the D's internal 1571. For further answers, go to http://www.commodore128.org/index.php?action=forum

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 28-29 Commodore Vegas Expo v8 -
http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

Last edited by RobertB on 26-Jun-2012 at 12:47 AM.

@Darrin

Quote:

Darrin wrote: the switch flickers if you touch it lightly. Apart from that it is a perfect setup.

A quick squirt of WD40 or contact cleaner should sort that...

The quality of of Commodore stuff never ceases to amaze me, in just over 30 years of using CBM machines I've only ever had one computer that needed a repair...

Still got my original VIC 20 bought in 1980, never failed once and still in use today along with 3 other purchased from eBay that are still going strong...

On the C64 side, it was a slightly different story as I went through 14 of them in a two year period. It wasn't the C64's fault though it was me "learning" electronics and hooking things up erm.. the wrong way to the user port to control things like motors and lights that blew them up...

Luckily the store where I bought my first C64 "Laskys" gave you a two years guarantee and replaced them on the spot when I used to walk in ever six or 8 weeks saying "it''s borked again "....

Thankfully once I'd learned a bit about diodes and things my remaining C64's are still going strong...

On the Amiga side the only repair I ever had to make was to a broken A500's floppy, was quoted �150 at the time to repair it, ended up fixing it myself using a piece of aluminium cut from an old beer can (Tartan Special) and carefully sanded down to make a replacement belt that on that particular model that moved the heads back and forth...

Never had any other Amiga need any repairs and all my A1200's are still going strong today...

Monitors are about the only things that have given problems with age but nothing that couldn't be fixed...

They sure as heck don't make stuff these days like they used too...

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@RobertB

Cheers for the clarification there. That will be handy if I ever have any issues with my internal drive.

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AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Franko

Yep, I know exactly what you mean. When I think about how many PC keyboards and mice I've replaced and yet here I am still using my original C64 and an A2000 keyboard and mouse.

Repairs and failures have been few for me too and usually self inflicted. My original C64 has a dead serial port because some idiot (OK, it was me) used to reset it by sticking a paperclip into the serial socket and one day I shorted the wrong holes.

I've got a C128 that only boots into C128 mode because I connected an Amiga PSU to it by mistake (same "brick", same connector, different voltages).

And I have a dead A1200 mobo because some idiot (guess who) pushed his FastATA adapter firmly into the socket while it was switched on... and pressed the rear of the mobo against the metal side of the tower case. Doh!

I had an old A1081 monitor which had a broken on/off switch. I just locked it in the "on" position and used the plug to switch it on and off.

Not bad for over 30 years of computing. :D

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AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

Quote:

by RobertB on 26-Jun-2012 0:46:16 Darrin wrote: Quote: ... I'm not sure if it can be disabled. I have no idea if the internals of another Commodore drive can be used to replace it either. Yes, the internal drive can be disabled, again as evidenced by my C128DCR. And yes, the mech of an external 1571 can be used to replace the mech of the D's internal 1571. For further answers, go to http://www.commodore128.org/index.php?action=forum Truly, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://videocam.net.au/fcug July 28-29 Commodore Vegas Expo v8 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

Robert Bernardo confirms that the internal drive of a C128 can be disabled and its mechanism replaced with an external one, citing his experience as proof. He also provides links for further information on Commodore-related topics.