I’ve listed below some links that I have found useful or interesting whilst I’ve been getting into vintage computer restorations, in case they may be of use to you too.
YouTube
- Adrian’s Digital Basement – assorted advanced digital electronics repairs.
- Adrian’s Digital Basement ][ – assorted computer / peripheral teardowns and trivia.
- Jan Beta – assorted advanced digital/analogue electronics repairs.
- Mr Carlson’s Lab – assorted advanced digital/analogue electronics repairs.
- Shango066 – vintage tube/transistor TV and radio repairs.
- More Fun Making It – assorted computer restorations and pinball builds.
- Lee Smith’s Workshop – assorted computer restorations and 3D printing.
- GadgetUK164 – assorted advanced digital electronics repairs.
- Retro Man Cave – assorted advanced digital electronics repairs.
- Rod Hull @ TFW8b – video game playthroughs and TFW8b projects.
- Noel’s Retro Lab – assorted computer restorations and trivia.
- Graham Tinkers – assorted computer and gadget restorations.
- Commodore Cave – updates on Graham Binder’s Commodore collection.
- 8-bit Guy – assorted computer / peripheral teardowns and trivia + basic repairs.
General Repair Information
- Tynemouth Software blog – useful and interesting general repair information.
- TFW8b blog – useful and interesting general repair & project information.
- Retroleum blog – useful and interesting general repair information.
- Jan Beta’s website – useful and interesting general repair information.
- Ray Carlsen’s repair articles – a useful resource for fixing Commodore computers.
- Sven Petersen’s website – a useful resource for fixing Commodore computers.
- Hackaday blog – interesting repairs, projects, and general hacks.
- RetroHax blog – useful and interesting general repair information.
- Breadbox 64 blog – useful and interesting general repair information.
- Nightfall Crew blog – useful and interesting general repair information.
- Not in Mame blog – useful and interesting general repair information.
- HackJunk blog – useful and interesting general repair information.
- World of Jani blog – useful and interesting general repair information.
- More Fun Making it blog – useful and interesting general repair information.
- Signal11 blog – useful and interesting Oric repair information.
- RetroKit ‘s website – useful and interesting Acorn repair information.
Specific Repair Information
- Zimmers.net – ROM files, user manuals, and schematics for Commodore computers.
- Pictorial C64 Fault Guide – a useful diagnostic guide for the Commodore 64.
- Commodore 64/128 hardware failure cheat sheet diagnostic guide.
- SpectrumForEveryone – useful information on all variants of the ZX Spectrum.
- World of Dragon – software and documentation archive for Dragon computers.
- Acorn Things blog – useful and interesting Acorn repair information.
- Amiga PCB Explorer – a useful diagnostic tool for the Commodore Amiga.
- Amiga error codes – a useful diagnostic reference for the Commodore Amiga.
- Acorn Archimedes POST codes – diagnostic reference for Archimedes repairs.
- Apple reference information – including very detailed repair books.
- Vintage component datasheets – including specific proprietary parts.
General Guides
- How to build 23XX to 27XX EPROM adaptors.
- ROM chart for EPROM types used in Commodore machines.
- How to erase and burn an EPROM.
- How to dump the contents of 2364 mask ROMs.
- How to make ROMs for the Acorn BBC Micro.
- How to make ROMs for the Commodore Amiga.
- How to make boot disks for the vintage Apple Macintosh.
- How to install System 7.5.5 on a vintage Apple Macintosh.
- Beginner’s guide to owning a Sinclair ZX Spectrum.
- How to upgrade a ZX Spectrum 16K to 48K.
- How to modify a ZX Spectrum 48k for composite video output.
- How to replace the keyboard membrane on a ZX Spectrum+.
- How to fix common video quality issues on the ZX Spectrum 128k range.
- How to fix common SCART video issues on the ZX Spectrum 128k range.
- How to fix audio distortion on the ZX Spectrum 128k+3.
- How to service the ZX Spectrum +2 tape deck.
- How to service the ZX Spectrum +3 floppy drive.
- How to re-felt ZX Microdrive cartridges.
- How to copy ADF files from a modern PC to an Amiga over serial.
- How to read Amiga disks on a modern PC.
- How to improve accelerator card reliability on the A1200.
- How to convert ZX Spectrum tape programs to TZX files.
- How to convert Commodore 64 tape programs to D64 files.
- How to read and write Commodore disks from a PC.
- How to make physical disks for Atari 8-bit computers.
- How to fix squashed cardboard “big box” video game boxes.
- How to use a vintage “dumb” terminal with a Raspberry Pi.
Aftermarket Kit for Retro Computers
- SD2IEC – Commodore 8-bit (64/128) SD card adaptor.
- SD2BBC – Acorn BBC Micro & Master SD card adaptor.
- DivMMC Future – Sinclair ZX Spectrum SD card adaptor.
Software
- Amiga Test Kit for the Commodore Amiga from Keir Fraser.
- DiagROM for the Commodore Amiga from John Hertell.
- Diag264 for the Commodore 16/116/Plus4 from Rob Clarke.
- SID Tester for the Commodore 64 from Andrew Challis.
- 64 Tester for the Commodore 64 from the Compucats.
- Tape-File Copy for the ZX Spectrum from Arnost Vecerka.
- Tiratok test demo for the ZX Spectrum from Demarche.
- MMBImager for Windows from Martin Mathers.
- MacDisk for Windows from Pierre Duhem.
- HexCmp2 for Windows from Fairdell Software.
- Commodore computer software archive.
- Commodore diagnostic software archive.
- Commodore demo/test disk software archive.
- Dragon computer software archive.
- Acorn Atom software archive.
- Amiga installer software archive.
- Amiga general software archive.
Hardware Designs
- Sven Petersen’s GitHub page – very useful for open-source diagnostic equipment.
- SukkoPera’s 23XX-27XX EPROM adaptor – for replacing vintage mask ROMs.
- PCBWay Shared Projects – very useful for retro computing PCB designs.
Forums
- Lemon Amiga – very useful for Amiga information.
- VIC-20 Denial – very useful for Commodore VIC-20 information.
- Lemon64 – very useful for general Commodore information.
- Forum64 – very useful for general Commodore information.
- Amibay – useful for retro computer buy/sell/trade.
- StartDot – very useful for general Acorn information.
- Spectrum Computing – very useful for general Sinclair information.
- 68kMLA – very useful for general Apple information.
- Reddit (r/retrocomputing) – very useful for general computer information.
- Reddit (r/commodore) – very useful for Commodore information.
- Reddit (r/amiga) – very useful for Amiga information.
- Reddit (r/zxspectrum) – very useful for ZX Spectrum information.
Social Media
- Commodore 8-Bit Repair & Upgrades on Facebook.
- Commodore & Amiga Group UK on Facebook.
- Acorn Computer & BBC Micro Enthusiasts on Facebook.
- Spectrum for Everyone on Facebook.
- Amstrad for Everyone on Facebook.
News
Registries
Equipment
- Duratool D00672 80W 230V 480C desoldering station.
- Yihua 8786D 2-in-1 soldering and hot-air rework station.
- General-purpose digital multimeter.
- General-purpose digital clamp meter.
- General-purpose DC logic probe.
- Hanmatek DOS1102 dual-channel 110MHz oscillioscope.
- FY6900-60M 60MHz multi-functional digital signal generator.
- 24MHz 8-channel USB logic analyser.
- Single-channel 30V 3A adjustable benchtop power supply.
- PSU and test lead set (banana plug & crocodile clip).
- PEAK Atlas ESR70 ESR capacitance meter.
- Jonard Tools EX-2 IC extractor tool.
- 44-piece screwdriver set with stand.
- Dymo LabelManager 160 handheld label maker.
- MiniPro TL866II Plus USB EPROM/EEPROM programmer.
- UV EPROM eraser.
- Bronson++ MII 300 300W isolation transformer.
- UK mains power meter for consumption monitoring.
- Wire terminal crimping tool with 700pcs crimp connectors.
- Dupont crimping tool with 1550pcs Dupont/JST connectors.
- TOMLOV DM9 1200x digital microscope with 7″ LCD.
- CompuCleaner ESD-safe high-power corded air duster.
- 3.5″ floppy drive head cleaning disk.
- Anti-static ESD-safe earthing wrist-strap with UK mains plug.
- Anti-static ESD-safe magnetic silicone soldering mat.
- Small needle-nose pliers, round pliers, and snips.
- ESD-safe brushes.
Display & Cabling
- LiNKFOR SCART to HDMI converter upscaler (with RGB SCART).
- 3-way SCART switch box.
- Amstrad CPC 464 / CPC 6128 RGB SCART video cable.
- Amstrad CPC 464+ / CPC 6128+ RGB SCART video cable.
- Texas Instruments Ti-99/4A component video cable (European models).
- Acorn BBC Micro / Model B / Master / Electron RGB SCART video cable.
- Commodore VIC-20 / C64 / C128 / C16 / Plus4 / C116 RCA video cable.
- Commodore C64 / C128 / C16 / Plus4 /C116 RCA video cable.
- Commodore C64 / C128 / C16 / Plus4 / C116 luma/chroma video cable.
- Commodore Amiga RGB SCART video cable.
- Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128k (toastrack) RGB SCART video cable.
- Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128k+2 (grey) RGB SCART video cable.
- Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128k+2A / +2B / +3 RGB SCART video cable.
- Sinclair QL RGB SCART video cable.
- Oric-1 / Oric Atmos powered RGB SCART video cable.
- Dragon 32 / 64 RCA video cable.
- Atari 520 STFM / 1040 STFM / 1040 STe RCA video cable.
- Atari 520 ST/STFM/STF / 1040 STFM/STF/ST / MegaST RGB SCART video cable.
Power Supplies
- Atari 800XL / 60XL / 65XE / 130XE / XEGS modern PSU.
- Amstrad CPC 464 modern PSU.
- Amstrad CPC 464+ modern PSU.
- Commodore Amiga modern PSU.
- Commodore 64 / VIC-20 modern PSU.
- Commodore 64 PSU to Commodore 128 adapter.
- Commodore 64 PSU to Commodore Plus/4 adapter.
Consumables
- Leaded general-purpose rosin solder.
- Rosin flux pens.
- Wire wrapping wire.
- ARCTIC MX-4 performance thermal paste (4g).
- WD-40 specialist contact cleaner (400ml).
- WD-40 specialist white lithium grease (400ml).
- 100% acetone (250ml).
- 99.9% isopropyl alcohol (1L).
- White vinegar (500ml).
- Baking soda (500g).
- Cillit Bang general purpose cleaner & degreaser.
- 3M heavy-duty double-sided mounting tape.
- CR2032 3V coin-cell batteries (20-pack).
- ESD-safe bubble wrap (500mm x 100m).
Suppliers
- Retroleum UK – Commodore and ZX Spectrum parts and accessories.
- Phil Ruston on eBay – general computers, parts, and accessories.
- RetroClinic – Acorn computer parts and accessories.
- CoolNovelties – display cables and adaptors for general computers.
- RetroPassion – Amiga computer parts, services, and accessories.
- RetroBench – Amiga computer parts, services, and accessories.
- Bambi Amiga – Amiga image file to physical disk service.
- The Future Was 8-bit – modern-made computers and accessories.
- Tynemouth Software – modern-made computers and accessories.
- Mutant Caterpillar Games – general computer parts and repair services.
- Mark’s Commodore Sales – Commodore parts and accessories.
- Dataserve Retro – general computer parts and accessories.
- Byte Delight – Sinclair computer parts and accessories.
- Console5 – general computer parts, capacitor kits in particular.
- Sell My Retro – general computer parts and accessories.
- CJE Micros – specialist Acorn machines, parts, and accessories.
- ZX Renew – modern-made Sinclair parts and accessories.
- RetroRevival – Sinclair computer parts and accessories.
- Sintech UK – Sinclair computer parts and accessories.
- AmigaKit UK – modern-made Amiga parts.
- Corei64 – general computer parts and accessories.
- Rude Dog Retros – general computer parts and accessories.
- AmigaStoreEU – general computer parts and accessories.
- RetroRewind – general computer parts and accessories.
- Retro 8-bit Shop – general computer parts and accessories.
- Retro Game Stuff – general computer parts and accessories.
- RetroHax – general computer parts and accessories.
- Plakativ Druck & Schrift – reproduction labels and boxes.
- AmigaScene – miscellaneous Commodore parts.
- PixelWizard – 3D printed parts.
- C64PSU – modern Commodore and Amiga PSUs.
- BackBit – miscellaneous diagnostic equipment and accessories.
- PCBWay – PCB manufacturing and assembly.
- RS Components – general electronics components supply.
- Mouser UK – general electronics components supply.
- Digikey UK – general electronics components supply.
- Farnell UK – general electronics components supply.
- Silicon Ark UK – general electronics components supply.
- Donberg Electronics – general electronics components supply.
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