+mksmith Posted September 12, 2019 Author Share Posted September 12, 2019 7 hours ago, The Strangest said: I was able to pick up a boxed Vic-20 for around $70 USD at a flea market. Unfortunately I can only get it to show a black screen. Hopefully you can get it working! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blindseer42 Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Sorry, but i sold my soul Microsoft a long time ago. once sold, not even satan can acquire it...and even hell uses Vista 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSchoolRetroGamer Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) 49 minutes ago, Blindseer42 said: and even hell uses Vista ?That is the funniest thing I read today because I can totally picture VISTA being the only OS in use in HELL ? and I say that as a Windows user who actually prefers it! (Win10 on all my machines) Edited September 12, 2019 by OldSchoolRetroGamer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Invader Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 20 hours ago, mksmith said: Hopefully you can get it working! That may be difficult (or non-cost-effective). The black screen usually means that the 6560/6561 VIC chip is defective and the only way that can be repaired is by soldering another chip from a working VIC-20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertB Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 Or buy from places like eBay. Writing from Salem, Oregon, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mksmith Posted September 13, 2019 Author Share Posted September 13, 2019 Finally got one! Just pickup up a working VC-20 (must have been transported to Australia) for $157 - looks in good condition with no major yellowing dings or gouges. The only thing I will replace is one of the keys which has the PETSCII gfx smudged. Going to check for a replacement from a breadbin 64 here: http://retroleum.co.uk/c64-keyboard once I get it to confirm (or any other recommendations). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 Good, and it also gives you AU$ 200 budget to accessorize it, compared to what the other one sold for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mksmith Posted September 13, 2019 Author Share Posted September 13, 2019 5 hours ago, carlsson said: Good, and it also gives you AU$ 200 budget to accessorize it, compared to what the other one sold for. Yes - definitely get a ram card ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mksmith Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 Got my Vic today. Gave it a really good clean and test - has come up really nice. Had to replace the 7406 Hex Inverter (UB4?) as the floppy disks wouldn't read (device not present) but working great now. Got a key puller coming as the keyboard needs a really good clean underneath and will probably look to replace a couple of keys with smudged PETSCII chars. Pretty happy! Picked up the Super Expander + 3K, Omega Race and Jupiter Lander on cart from the same guy so looking forward to getting those next week (had those as a kid). Will look to get one of the Penultimate Carts most likely soon to finish off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 (edited) Thanks for the troubleshooting report. I've got half (*) a VIC-20 (currently no keyboard) that has the exact same fault about the drive and I've also come to the conclusion about replacing the 7406 but never gotten to work on it. It inspires me to try it, now that someone else got his fixed that way. (*) Well, I've got another two loose + one boxed so that would be 3.5 mostly working VIC's. Edited September 20, 2019 by carlsson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mksmith Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 15 minutes ago, carlsson said: Thanks for the troubleshooting report. I've got half (*) a VIC-20 (currently no keyboard) that has the exact same fault about the drive and I've also come to the conclusion about replacing the 7406 but never gotten to work on it. It inspires me to try it, now that someone else got his fixed that way. (*) Well, I've got another two loose + one boxed so that would be 3.5 mostly working VIC's. Thankfully an easy fix for me! Hopefully the same for you ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mksmith Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 Actually the reason I thought it wasn't a main chip was it would cycle the floppy drive when I switched on the Vic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Yeah. I've read Ray Carlsen's troubleshooting guide and found it there as well. But (this) man is lazy and while I don't mind soldering in general, I rarely attack factory soldered PCBs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mksmith Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 Just now, carlsson said: Yeah. I've read Ray Carlsen's troubleshooting guide and found it there as well. But (this) man is lazy and while I don't mind soldering in general, I rarely attack factory soldered PCBs. Haha - same here. It seems almost wrong to touch them but it's fun. Got a UAV to put into my 7800 but been sitting there for a few months - almost afraid to touch it ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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