Okay, so has anyone else watched Part 1 and Part 2 of this restoration more than a couple hundred times? Maybe it’s just me but I love this particular one so much!!
Soumyadeep Bhattacherjee it would have been very sad to see him restorating full-time a week tu end up with a super clean keyboard that misses a single goddamm plungers.
These restoration vids gave me a serious case of nostalgia watching them. The VIC 20 was the first computer I ever owned. So I understand the feeling completely.
The Obsolete Geek And a feeling of happiness knowing that it was saved from one of the worst possible fates a computer can have. Good job finding this one in the first place. Without you, who knows what could've happened to it.
Nice video. I would have like a few before and after shots at the end. I really enjoyed the detail you put in, especially the circuit board diagnostics.
@@GeminiWoods Work a modern computer? Do you even think before you type? And plenty of seniors use smart phones these days, the easiest ones have that little "i" in front to signify Idiot Phone, there is nothing smart about a smart phone and the term is actually an oxymoron.
@Wolfchacer The smart thing about smartphones is that they are pocket-sized computers. Ideally they'd be more customization-friendly but that doesn't take away from them being the Swiss knife of digital gadgets, combining phone, camera, recorder, music player, books, games, TV, internet browser, GPS, and a plethora of other miscellaneous things - all available in a device so ludicrously small that you can fit it in a pocket. If I had heard someone describe a smartphone when I was ten years old, I would have sorted it among the flying cars and other sci-fi gadgets I didn't think I'd ever own. There's a whole backpack's worth of stuff that used to carry around during high school that I can now fit in the palm of my hand. Even if you don't like them, you should respect the leaps of innovation they represent.
My favorite videos from 8-Bit Guy are whenever he restores and tests an old computer. These Worst VIC 20 videos are probably the best ones I've seen. It's oddly inspiring for someone who doesn't have extensive experience with electronics, let alone computer repair. As long as someone has the will and the intellect, anything can be accomplished. That's the feeling I get watching these anyway.
Sir, I applaud you for your efforts, and take pride in your work. I used to be an authorized Commodore Computer Warranty Repair technician, and you would have been a valuable addition to the team back in the days. Good job!
Tommy Helgevold Sure, if I ever decided to revive Commodore, it would likely restore support for the classic computers too, like this one. I'm surprised it turned out the way it did.
Indeed very satisfying to see badly neglected, poor shape computer restored back to life and looking like new again :) Love to watch car repair videos as well and while watching the part 1 of this Vic-20 series, I was wondering if brake cleaner would help removing the oil and yessss!, he did use some brake cleaner in it :D
Thank you so much. After watching these, I got the idea to scrub off gunk from my broken doorknob. I got out the toolbox, really using the tools for the first time, and something clicked. My dad, his brother, and his father have been working in construction and carpentry for years. Nobody ever let me touch the tools. I always had this desire to help people and take things apart, but I never got a chance to. Now, because of you and other people who do what you do, I unlocked something in myself that brings me joy. I enjoy getting my hands dirty, which I’ve never enjoyed before. Thank you.
To think that VIC-20 was all covered in dirt, oil, and stuff in the previous episode. I really enjoyed watching these videos, and it's satisfying to see that computer back in working condition
I know someone has probably already mentioned this, but it's extremely dangerous to operate a grinder with gloves. If you slip your glove will get caught in the wheel and pull it into the grinder along with your hand. If you slip with no glove the worst the will happen is you get a cut but your hand won't get sucked in.
@@nicolasf.molina5684 with gloves on, you risk losing your hands because the glove won't tear before it sucks your hand in and grinds it. Without gloves, your skin might tear but at least it won't be pulled into the grinder and possibly get torn off.
@@nicolasf.molina5684 No, you're wrong. @semtech is correct, if you wore gloves near a rotary tool in a machine shop you'd have your ass chewed out by a shop manager and likely have an OSHA occurrence report. No gloves near rotary equipment!
speedytech7 Mmmm ok well it make sense I think, I’ll do it then without gloves next time 🧤 this summer I want to build my own wood kayak so good to know it, thanx mate!!
Holy wow, I thought it was a waste of time to check each individual chip, that chips themselves don't actually break that often and it was just going to be a capacitor. I was blown away when you actually fixed it with a new RAM chip!
I suspect the fact a RAM chip failed was WHY the machine was junked from its original use in the first place. No one at the machine shop (or auto repair shop) wanted to spend the time and labor to figure out what went wrong when another VIC-20 could probably be had for a literally dirt cheap price at the time.
Capacitors don't fail as often as people seem to think, especially in equipment this new. Usually capacitors fail in high heat/high stress (crappy OEM Pentium 4 motherboards nobody cares about) and in very, very old electronics. Think 1940s televisions left in the desert for 40 years that end up with about 5 bad total.
@@AiOinc1 also, from 1999 to 2008 there was a huge batch of bad capacitors on the market. A lot of dead TVs from that era can be fixed by recapping it.
Indeed. A tool (for that is what a computer is) that someone put blood, sweat & tears into making; to make it work and use it as it was meant to be used; to do so gives honor and dignity to the men who made it.
It was beautiful to see that VIC20 power up and work after replacing the faulty RAM chip. It should be a crime to let computers like this get into such a state.
*I'm not crying, you're crying!* I remember watching this when it first came out, but I have been rewatching your videos again recently, and this one just has a really emotionally satisfying conclusion and it's just so wholesome and pure and awesome :')
I agree. The RF shield corroded, and the residue stained the case below it, so it happened with the computer upright and level. It could have been left sitting in water used to fight that fire. This Commodore died at its post.
I don't know why, but it was almost emotional and a huge dose of satisfying to see that T key slot in there at the end. So many memories with the Vic-20. It was the first computer we had, and we got it almost a decade after popularity had ended. It's where I started programming, as a 7 year old. I could barely read English (as I'm not a native English speaker), but I managed to read the programming manuals. By the time I was 13 (and we had gone through 2 more modern computers), I was programming music on it. First thing I programmed entirely from scratch, with no assistance or any manuals, was the Imperial March tune from Star Wars. I programmed it entirely by ear. That was one of the greatest moments of my childhood. And to see one be taken in from that broken state and restored to its glory feels just like he said at the end, it's like an abused animal had been taken to a shelter, patched up and is now healthy and awaiting a happier life.
Nostalgia can do something like that to you. However, I have no emotional ties to the VIC20, but that did not stop me from feeling relief when it was restored to working order.
My brother had one and would tinker about with the user/cartridge port and control things via it, he was a genious back then. Don't know what he's up to now as we've lost touch. I had a C16 and hacked the games and learned assembly language.
I don't know how you manage to make something that could be so monotonous and technical so interesting and watchable, but you do every single time. Amazing work!
you mean he tells the truth. and not lie like 99% of youtubers that get payed to tell every one its the best thing in the world. just so u go out and buy it and then find out its a load of crap.
I am absolutely amazed that you were able to get this thing back to working condition, let alone looking better than 90% of other machines left to rot away like this one was. Seeing electronics resurrected like this is literally the reason why I never am willing to toss away any computer i care about that isn't working properly.
It's so inspiring to see someone with such respect and love for these classic computer systems go through all that effort to restore a machine that the majority of people would just completely write off. The transformation of this particular machine made me tear up a bit, LOL. Mainly because the VIC-20 was the first computer I ever owned, when I was a kid, and to see the love and attention he lavished on it to make it better than it was before was just incredible.
Also they were easy to write programs for. My first was the vic-20 as well but only the computer. No dataset to save on. Trying to type the program in the back of the book took awhile and then you would have to lose it when you turned it off.
While not a computer, about 8 years ago the company I was working at was doing a refurbishing of the offices, and in a bin were all kinds of peripherals, including an ancient looking Compaq keyboard. It looked like it had caught fire and I could see cigarette ash and either soda or coffee or both in-between the keys. I asked my manager if I could take it and he said it was all just broken junk so why not. It was really heavy and looked like it had been hooked up to a server unit with a thick PS2 cable. I took it home and managed to dismantle it, and it was even worse inside than I could guess. There were potato chip bits, crumbs, various colored hairs and lint and all of it stuck onto a bed of ash and sticky black goo. It took me 3 days of moistening, scrubbing and rinsing, cleaning the small circuit board with brushes and soft cloth, drying it out and re-assembling it, till it came time to see if it made any difference. It looked way better, although it was still yellowed from years of someone smoking next to it, but when I plugged it in and the PC seemed to boot with no issue (don't ask, but my MB still has 1 PS2 port on it) it felt like the greatest thing ever. And with all the crud out of it, it now made a satisfying clacking noise like an old type-writer. With the artificial weight (which I discovered was a literal piece of steel in a groove on the back of the case), it felt super-solid and I just left it on. I've had it since then, standing out from all the other parts on the PC like some grumpy old man refusing to pass quietly into his age-group. And every time I get home and sit down at my PC, I just look at it and smile, thinking how this was something people just dismissed, but that was still trying to stubbornly do its job if only someone would tend to it a bit. This was how I felt watching this computer being restored.
WOOwww... I Love Happy Endings. Watching this is like watching an action movie, and rooting for the good guy to win at the end. And it happens. Congrats. Very Satisfying.
cheetahlip ...me too, I love to watch all sorts of things I can’t do. Farming, loggers and tree pruning, modern sharecroppers, fishing and camping. But only if they are experts, and not full of themselves. Just regular guys! 😁
I just came across The 8 bit Guy, watched part 1 and 2 of this. Brings back a lot of good memories from days gone by. My first computer was an Apple IIe. After that, I bought a Commodore 64 so it was fun watching this restoration video. Plus I have it for reference if I ever need it in my shop. Thanks for posting, keep up the good work!
Nice save! My first computer was a VIC-20. I think that when I upgraded to the C-64, my mother gave it away. I spent hours and hours on those machines. (Mostly waiting for the games to load from the Datasette.) I'd love to have both of them back now.
I loved that part at the end about how a computer restoration is like a pet rescue! You should use that as your channel introduction. It's a moving and beautiful sentiment.
James Vejar heeee. I see what you did there. I often see PET SUPPLIES on stores and get excited for 500 uSeconds before I realize its not what I want it to be.
That was such a beautiful two parter to watch. Some of the crappy electronics I've (badly) restored makes me happy to look at as they are far more proudful in their new state than what they once were, I'd be absolutely beaming just looking at this VIC20 if I were you. Truly awesome.
I stumbled across this channel yesterday and I haven't stopped smiling since I watched this restoration. Loved the VIC-20. I played Jupiter Lander on mine for hours. Wish I still had it. It was amazing watching you work. I wish I had that same patience and focus. I would have stopped at the oily case.
Now THAT is the way I felt and I am amazed that ANYONE would have the stupidity to criticize this video at all. It's like Jesus raises Lazarus and the sisters go.. "Hmmm Jesus .. he had SHOES when he died"
Man, that VIC-20 is a trooper for being able to survive all that work and years, maybe even decades later, still work. Can't believe how much better that got fixed! That's some Wizard work right there! Nice job! 😀👍
@Nekogami-Crystal: Stop being a bad person (rude and sarcastic: an _evil_ combination). It is the job of the creator to make leisure for the viewer. If they have to do excessive amounts of work (too much for the task at hand), then it is more likely they will escape to greener pastures; AKA if the video is bad, viewers will watch something different. Had to edit; I forgot a comma.
You did perfect job here! What you did as fix then explain how different parts work and how to test them was better than all electronics repair channels i've seen! This combination of your software and hardware knowledge skills is outstanding. I wish you were my teacher in high school. Flawless part 1 and 2 videos!
The ending was kinda sad but happy, when i saw part 1's video i was like " Theres no way he's gonna get this thing working 100%" but you brought it back and otherwise that machine would have been lost and forgotten. it lives on in the hearts of us all
I really admire your passion and skill. It was a joy to see you apply yourself to this project and bring to life something that almost anyone else would not even glanced at. It is very inspiring, thank you.
Your technical knowledge about a decades old computer is absolutely astounding. I worked in a computer repair shop for 2 years and I would be completely lost if tasked with the same thing.
I don't even know what I like more: the restauration or the "beauty" of these old machines that remind me of my childhood years. Either way, your videos are always an inspiration to me. Thanks a lot!
VIC20 is "my era of computing"; In a throwaway society when things gets binned for being paint faded/scratched, it's great to see effort expended not just to save the vintage machine but also demonstrating your skills. Nice job!
Very cool video! I could spend hours doing troubleshooting and bench work. This reminds me of my days in the Navy troubleshooting SPS10 radar. Same vintage. Good job sir. Thanks for keeping the old school alive!
If he is able to repair anything, I expect to have a working desktop in my room. I may be able to do a few things with my commodore 64c (owned in future) thanks to his videos.
Hi, I was watching and you said you would not reuse the old oil covered cardboard. Have you ever heard of Gasket paper used in the motor industry? I come from the UK and so the name maybe a little different in the US. Gasket paper is used on old engines that companies do not make gaskets for anymore. You simply place the part on top draw around and cut it out. It is identical to the card used in the old computers and radio equipment.
I would have just washed the oil soaked cardboard in water-dawn dish soap solution, dried it, and ironed it flat. I am obsessive about keeping things as original as possible. It grinds my gears when I see people throwing parts, RF shields, and RFI line filter capacitors and inductors, etc. into the trash.
@@gregorymalchuk272 Dawn probably wouldn't have been strong enough...it's easier to just find the same type of cardboard, trace the original design, and cut it out by hand.
You should write up a short description of where, when, and how the machine was restored along with a link to these two videos and include it with the computer so that it has a history to go along with it now. Maybe stick it inside the case or tape it to the bottom.
Helium Road There's a long and glorious tradition of including service and ownership records with such objects, ranging from the formality of aircraft and ship logs to servicing history carefully scrawled on the inside of engine covers. Since this machine already predates TH-cam by at least a factor of 3, it would be prudent to include both the video files and a written transcript with the summary. Any digital records should be in equally long-lived formats, such as plain ASCII text and simplified MPEG1.
Its so funny that I have all the knowledge and tools needed to do this repair and diagnostics myself, but nobody demands this anymore. I enjoyed your video. Well done.
My goodness. I’ve never seen someone so passionate about things like this and it’s so lovely to see. You work so hard to restore these electronics and I admire it sooooooooo much!!!
I had a vic20 given to me by my grandparents when I was a kid. They thrifted it for probably almost nothing, and I could never get it to power on. It was a shame cause it looked brand new in the box... I threw it out after hanging on to it for several years. Wish I hadn't done that, but I was like 14 at the time. Now I miss my grandparents and think back to stuff like that because I had a lot of fun thrifting with them. I still remember all the old computers. There used to be a huge bin with old stuff like pets and c64's and other stuff just tossed recklessly inside. That would be amazing to see today.
Ah yes. The classic QWER⬆️Y layout.
*It kind of resembles the T key anyway*
Always look on the upside!
I see what you did there.
QWER↑Y
DebriS: ⬆️ha⬆️'s ac⬆️ually quie⬆️ clever wha⬆️ you did ⬆️here ;)
8 bit guy: *replaces t key with an arrow key*
vintage problems require vintage solutions
if the color bugs you you can alway's paint the T.
MoDeRn PrObLeM rEqUiRe MoDeRn SoLuTiOn.....,.......
@@kami-kun_va do they?
Years later in the future, Apple uses a technique to digitally marry keyboard buttons to the mainboard.
I'd like but hey 555 like the classic clock chip.
After a long life of hard work, this Vic 20 can finally enjoy retirement
It's gonna be all fun and games.
spotted
Had me at tears
Actually it was already retired and enjoying its stress free life. It now has to be pulled out of retirement and be a slave again.
@@Furnus105 i agree
Okay, so has anyone else watched Part 1 and Part 2 of this restoration more than a couple hundred times? Maybe it’s just me but I love this particular one so much!!
Not alone
same
o/ I watch it a 100 times and always come back
Me too. I wish he did more extreme restorations like this
but now no more restoration! This cannel is dead for me :(
Not all heroes wear capes.
So true!
i actually came here from one of your videos! im a big fan of your channel.
Some wear glasses
The Retro Future *yeah*
omg its elliot hey bro i was watching one of ur vids before i came here the one on the $20 screwdriver great vids by the way
Anyone else feel SUPER RELIEVED when he finally properly replaced that "T" key?
My OCD was appeased.
@For the Record: Yes. Very relieved!
@ShadowAngel: You wouldn't be saying that if you had OCDs.
Very satisfied but the letter “T” wasn’t white like the others and looked stained which sort of annoyed me. He should have cleaned it first
@ShadowAngel: You take that back before I block you for all eternity!
Edit: Already reported. Too late!
@Makla Bouhlel: I know, right?
That old computer would say "Thank you for believing in me!" if it could talk.
@@hgffmikimmon5293 don't be so rude.
@@hgffmikimmon5293 propably an 8-10 year old lol
@@bartekkakol1316 true
This is, for me, perhaps the most touching comment I've read. And I've lost track of how many times I've watched this video. 😢
Give it a speech synthesizer and it can!
I haven't teared up this much for a machine since the T-800 gave a thumbs up at the end of Terminator 2.
Skynet probably shed a tear, too!
I oddly had the exact same thought. This is the best of 8-bit guys vids by far.
So true
The end brought a tear to my eye.
Incredibly satisfying and even emotional.
I regret that I have but one up-vote to give to this guy!
ikr
i love seeing oily computers getting cleaned up and partnered up with a family ;)
It made me think of how the computer must feel. "Hey I'm working again! That was a long sleep."
"Is this the Commodore shelter?"
"thanks"
If old computers had feelings, this one would be crying out loud in tears of happiness. Excellent Job!!
You mean computers don’t have feelings?
@@KoopaMedia64 no computers do not have feelings at all as they are NON HUMAN
@@stephensnell1379 But there are things with feelings who are non human, like Animals
@@stephensnell1379 Kraftwerk disagrees
@@stephensnell1379 imagine being named Stephen Smell
The ending was so cute.
Hope that VIC-20 spends his lifetime!
dngineer
Idk why but that T-key replacement made me feel that the restoration was TOTALLY complete! ❤
Excellent work!
i know right, almost like he planned it out :) Very satisfying video
Soumyadeep Bhattacherjee it would have been very sad to see him restorating full-time a week tu end up with a super clean keyboard that misses a single goddamm plungers.
Finally the lowly "t key" can fulfil his vic20 word processing destiny. 😥
SAME
You mean "⬆o⬆ally comple⬆e"
That computer could have just as easily ended up in the trash, but instead it lives again. What a transformation, very impressive.
Spent days to repair it : TIME TO PLAY SOME CHEESE AND ONION
I dont know why im crying about a computer getting a new life. But i am... shut up.
These restoration vids gave me a serious case of nostalgia watching them. The VIC 20 was the first computer I ever owned. So I understand the feeling completely.
Saaaaame dude. I usually get computers from people, even if they are nonfunctional, and I do my best to get them working again.
I'm not crying...you're crying!
Exactly the same!
pansies
Brings a tear to my eye.
The Obsolete Geek And a feeling of happiness knowing that it was saved from one of the worst possible fates a computer can have. Good job finding this one in the first place. Without you, who knows what could've happened to it.
Colton Rushton The worst possible fate...? True, I guess no one installed iOS on there. *canned laughter*
Nice video. I would have like a few before and after shots at the end. I really enjoyed the detail you put in, especially the circuit board diagnostics.
Same here.
I was about to write the very same comment.
Someone watching this is going to recognize that vic20 and be like "am I really that gross?"
So true
That person is probably in there 70s and barely knows how to work a modern computer let alone a smartphone.
who knows the machines that have this kind of "old" pcs often get used a very long time.
@@GeminiWoods Work a modern computer? Do you even think before you type? And plenty of seniors use smart phones these days, the easiest ones have that little "i" in front to signify Idiot Phone, there is nothing smart about a smart phone and the term is actually an oxymoron.
@Wolfchacer
The smart thing about smartphones is that they are pocket-sized computers. Ideally they'd be more customization-friendly but that doesn't take away from them being the Swiss knife of digital gadgets, combining phone, camera, recorder, music player, books, games, TV, internet browser, GPS, and a plethora of other miscellaneous things - all available in a device so ludicrously small that you can fit it in a pocket.
If I had heard someone describe a smartphone when I was ten years old, I would have sorted it among the flying cars and other sci-fi gadgets I didn't think I'd ever own. There's a whole backpack's worth of stuff that used to carry around during high school that I can now fit in the palm of my hand.
Even if you don't like them, you should respect the leaps of innovation they represent.
"I live............... again!"
Well done, Dave. You did good by that VIC.
My favorite videos from 8-Bit Guy are whenever he restores and tests an old computer. These Worst VIC 20 videos are probably the best ones I've seen. It's oddly inspiring for someone who doesn't have extensive experience with electronics, let alone computer repair. As long as someone has the will and the intellect, anything can be accomplished. That's the feeling I get watching these anyway.
Sir, I applaud you for your efforts, and take pride in your work. I used to be an authorized Commodore Computer Warranty Repair technician, and you would have been a valuable addition to the team back in the days. Good job!
This will be an honour for Dave to read.
Thank you!
Tommy Helgevold what a nice thing to say. I would love if everyone in TH-cam were as nice as this.
Agree completely!
Tommy Helgevold Sure, if I ever decided to revive Commodore, it would likely restore support for the classic computers too, like this one. I'm surprised it turned out the way it did.
David, it was so pleasurable to watch the whole restoration and debugging process - thank you so much!!!!
Geek Detour I completely agree. Watching the troubleshooting was the best part!
Although deep down I would have liked for it to work perfectly I'm glad it was broken for the troubleshooting lesson.
Indeed very satisfying to see badly neglected, poor shape computer restored back to life and looking like new again :)
Love to watch car repair videos as well and while watching the part 1 of this Vic-20 series, I was wondering if brake cleaner would help removing the oil and yessss!, he did use some brake cleaner in it :D
Thank you so much. After watching these, I got the idea to scrub off gunk from my broken doorknob. I got out the toolbox, really using the tools for the first time, and something clicked. My dad, his brother, and his father have been working in construction and carpentry for years. Nobody ever let me touch the tools. I always had this desire to help people and take things apart, but I never got a chance to. Now, because of you and other people who do what you do, I unlocked something in myself that brings me joy. I enjoy getting my hands dirty, which I’ve never enjoyed before. Thank you.
before and after pics of the door knob??
I love that you treat your computers like living things
To think that VIC-20 was all covered in dirt, oil, and stuff in the previous episode. I really enjoyed watching these videos, and it's satisfying to see that computer back in working condition
Wavetable Guy yes
At least it wasn't covered in jizz.
YOOOOOOO SUPERJET WAZZUP
Your troubleshooting skills have definitely improved since we were 7 and 10. ;-)
Ah yes, when I was a kid, I would hit any electronic stuff if it's not working properly.
whatifallpotsinzeldaarecuccos 😂 same
Sometimes all it needs is a good beating to work
Good old percussive maintenance
Your grammar skills have definitely not improved since you were 7 and 10.
I know someone has probably already mentioned this, but it's extremely dangerous to operate a grinder with gloves. If you slip your glove will get caught in the wheel and pull it into the grinder along with your hand. If you slip with no glove the worst the will happen is you get a cut but your hand won't get sucked in.
semtech you’re totally right, much better without globes so if you slip you just lose your hand
@@nicolasf.molina5684 who even wears globes on their hands to begin with?!
@@nicolasf.molina5684 with gloves on, you risk losing your hands because the glove won't tear before it sucks your hand in and grinds it. Without gloves, your skin might tear but at least it won't be pulled into the grinder and possibly get torn off.
@@nicolasf.molina5684 No, you're wrong. @semtech is correct, if you wore gloves near a rotary tool in a machine shop you'd have your ass chewed out by a shop manager and likely have an OSHA occurrence report. No gloves near rotary equipment!
speedytech7 Mmmm ok well it make sense I think, I’ll do it then without gloves next time 🧤 this summer I want to build my own wood kayak so good to know it, thanx mate!!
Holy wow, I thought it was a waste of time to check each individual chip, that chips themselves don't actually break that often and it was just going to be a capacitor. I was blown away when you actually fixed it with a new RAM chip!
I suspect the fact a RAM chip failed was WHY the machine was junked from its original use in the first place. No one at the machine shop (or auto repair shop) wanted to spend the time and labor to figure out what went wrong when another VIC-20 could probably be had for a literally dirt cheap price at the time.
@@gordontaylor2815 and also its fuckin nasty
Capacitors don't fail as often as people seem to think, especially in equipment this new.
Usually capacitors fail in high heat/high stress (crappy OEM Pentium 4 motherboards nobody cares about) and in very, very old electronics. Think 1940s televisions left in the desert for 40 years that end up with about 5 bad total.
@@AiOinc1 The capacitors that usually fail are electrolytics in power supplies. I see disk capacitors on the motherboard. Those hardly ever fail.
@@AiOinc1 also, from 1999 to 2008 there was a huge batch of bad capacitors on the market. A lot of dead TVs from that era can be fixed by recapping it.
I thought I would have to wait longer for part 2. This channel is great!
This is an unrelated comment, but I just wanted to say...
I like your avatar and user name. *Quack!*
Thanks!
Yes!
Same here, considering I just watched the first part... I'm an idiot lol
a happy outcome for the Vic 20 and a new home !
Your comparison with a rescued animal was great :-) happy little VIC 20 is jumping in the grass fields again!
yeah! i would like adopt him
same
Indeed. A tool (for that is what a computer is) that someone put blood, sweat & tears into making; to make it work and use it as it was meant to be used; to do so gives honor and dignity to the men who made it.
I wouldnt Adopt the vic 20 I guess becouse Its a US model and i live in europe and a vic20 are easier to come by here :)
It’d be more like “jumping in the BASIC fields again”.
It was beautiful to see that VIC20 power up and work after replacing the faulty RAM chip. It should be a crime to let computers like this get into such a state.
*I'm not crying, you're crying!*
I remember watching this when it first came out, but I have been rewatching your videos again recently, and this one just has a really emotionally satisfying conclusion and it's just so wholesome and pure and awesome :')
The oily black residue makes it look like it suffered through a fire, but wasn't burned itself.
I agree. The RF shield corroded, and the residue stained the case below it, so it happened with the computer upright and level. It could have been left sitting in water used to fight that fire.
This Commodore died at its post.
Part of the lower left was burned, He filed it down though.
"I'll be back."
Dank Memes yeah, I though the same thing, but it still counts as being burned
Exactly what I was thinking
I don't know why, but it was almost emotional and a huge dose of satisfying to see that T key slot in there at the end.
So many memories with the Vic-20. It was the first computer we had, and we got it almost a decade after popularity had ended. It's where I started programming, as a 7 year old. I could barely read English (as I'm not a native English speaker), but I managed to read the programming manuals.
By the time I was 13 (and we had gone through 2 more modern computers), I was programming music on it. First thing I programmed entirely from scratch, with no assistance or any manuals, was the Imperial March tune from Star Wars. I programmed it entirely by ear.
That was one of the greatest moments of my childhood.
And to see one be taken in from that broken state and restored to its glory feels just like he said at the end, it's like an abused animal had been taken to a shelter, patched up and is now healthy and awaiting a happier life.
Nostalgia can do something like that to you. However, I have no emotional ties to the VIC20, but that did not stop me from feeling relief when it was restored to working order.
May I ask you what kind of job you have today. Being able to teach yourself programming in the age of 7 is pretty impressing!
I work as a tech reviewer and webmaster for a webzine and freelancing as a web and app developer and marketing consultant.
LOVE this comment - I almost stopped the video because of my OCD!
not satisfying enough since the T is yellow
This video is a sort of pornography for computer geeks and engineers
i agree with you! it is so satisfying...
Yeah I nutted
@@MrKillRoy14 no pun intended
@@MrKillRoy14 oh boy
U r inaproporiate
My first computer was the ol' Vic 20! Man did I program with that many endless nights. Eagle Soft was our company. Omega Race was my first game also.
My brother had one and would tinker about with the user/cartridge port and control things via it, he was a genious back then. Don't know what he's up to now as we've lost touch. I had a C16 and hacked the games and learned assembly language.
What a wonderful happy ending. Excellent fixing skills there.
I don't know how you manage to make something that could be so monotonous and technical so interesting and watchable, but you do every single time. Amazing work!
Because technical stuff is damn interesting. Boredom is the fault of the one who is bored :)
1:24 where are your legs?!
The only word that comes to my mind now is: CONGRATULATIONS!!
This thing still looks better than my future
EpicLPer
Ur logo is soo cuuute.
I love ponies
me too
That's just because it exists
Yes, because bronies' futures aren't always that good.
still better than The Last Jedi
I stopped everything to watch this. not sure why I'm so excited about a nasty old vic20.
So did I. as soon as I saw the notifcation, I came here. :D
just watched it, really good job 8-bit guy!
Same! :)
The excitement was real after the first video
Same here :)
i learn more from 15 minutes of a guy desoldering a keyboard than 8 hours of school
I really think that 8-bit Guy has the best intro on TH-cam. It's so upbeat and fun, I look forward to it on every video.
When the robots finally take over they will remember this compassionate deed.
Vintage mineral oil cooled pc clean up part 2
linus tech tipss?
You can go to a channel and if you select options you can choose to no longer see it.
you mean he tells the truth. and not lie like 99% of youtubers that get payed to tell every one its the best thing in the world. just so u go out and buy it and then find out its a load of crap.
I think this is the best restore I've seen so far. Such great work. The ability to make this happen shows what Made In USA used to mean.
14:48 Best 10 second comment during a TH-cam video ever.
I am absolutely amazed that you were able to get this thing back to working condition, let alone looking better than 90% of other machines left to rot away like this one was. Seeing electronics resurrected like this is literally the reason why I never am willing to toss away any computer i care about that isn't working properly.
It's so inspiring to see someone with such respect and love for these classic computer systems go through all that effort to restore a machine that the majority of people would just completely write off. The transformation of this particular machine made me tear up a bit, LOL. Mainly because the VIC-20 was the first computer I ever owned, when I was a kid, and to see the love and attention he lavished on it to make it better than it was before was just incredible.
Also they were easy to write programs for. My first was the vic-20 as well but only the computer. No dataset to save on. Trying to type the program in the back of the book took awhile and then you would have to lose it when you turned it off.
While not a computer, about 8 years ago the company I was working at was doing a refurbishing of the offices, and in a bin were all kinds of peripherals, including an ancient looking Compaq keyboard. It looked like it had caught fire and I could see cigarette ash and either soda or coffee or both in-between the keys.
I asked my manager if I could take it and he said it was all just broken junk so why not. It was really heavy and looked like it had been hooked up to a server unit with a thick PS2 cable. I took it home and managed to dismantle it, and it was even worse inside than I could guess. There were potato chip bits, crumbs, various colored hairs and lint and all of it stuck onto a bed of ash and sticky black goo.
It took me 3 days of moistening, scrubbing and rinsing, cleaning the small circuit board with brushes and soft cloth, drying it out and re-assembling it, till it came time to see if it made any difference. It looked way better, although it was still yellowed from years of someone smoking next to it, but when I plugged it in and the PC seemed to boot with no issue (don't ask, but my MB still has 1 PS2 port on it) it felt like the greatest thing ever.
And with all the crud out of it, it now made a satisfying clacking noise like an old type-writer. With the artificial weight (which I discovered was a literal piece of steel in a groove on the back of the case), it felt super-solid and I just left it on. I've had it since then, standing out from all the other parts on the PC like some grumpy old man refusing to pass quietly into his age-group. And every time I get home and sit down at my PC, I just look at it and smile, thinking how this was something people just dismissed, but that was still trying to stubbornly do its job if only someone would tend to it a bit.
This was how I felt watching this computer being restored.
"QWERTY"
Me, an intellectual: QWER↑Y
QWER⬆️Y
WOOwww... I Love Happy Endings. Watching this is like watching an action movie, and rooting for the good guy to win at the end. And it happens. Congrats. Very Satisfying.
Excellent work! Glad to see it all cleaned up and working!
I replaced all my chips with Cheetos, and now all it will play is Chester Cheetah: Too Cool To Fool.
This is one of the stupidest things that has ever made me laugh.
@@Selrisitai ikr
@@Selrisitai I'm boerd in quarantine so I'm reaching old videos,not like I have anything else to do
Just watched every minute of you restoring this thing....no idea why, but I liked it. Nice work.
cheetahlip ...me too, I love to watch all sorts of things I can’t do. Farming, loggers and tree pruning, modern sharecroppers, fishing and camping. But only if they are experts, and not full of themselves. Just regular guys! 😁
I just came across The 8 bit Guy, watched part 1 and 2 of this. Brings back a lot of good memories from days gone by. My first computer was an Apple IIe. After that, I bought a Commodore 64 so it was fun watching this restoration video. Plus I have it for reference if I ever need it in my shop. Thanks for posting, keep up the good work!
Very inspirational, giving love to and old and misused Home computer which was possibly on its way out a new life. ^_^
I'd very much like to write something to show my appreciation but I'm just speechless... Thank you for saving that VIC20! :)
Me To...
Nice save! My first computer was a VIC-20. I think that when I upgraded to the C-64, my mother gave it away. I spent hours and hours on those machines. (Mostly waiting for the games to load from the Datasette.) I'd love to have both of them back now.
How had I not found this one before. I thought I had watched all your CBM videos. This made me smile so much. Amazing work.
I loved that part at the end about how a computer restoration is like a pet rescue! You should use that as your channel introduction. It's a moving and beautiful sentiment.
Cy Nothing An excellent methaphor/simile for this occasion, ye.
Don’t you mean PET rescue? Lol
James Vejar heeee. I see what you did there. I often see PET SUPPLIES on stores and get excited for 500 uSeconds before I realize its not what I want it to be.
That was such a beautiful two parter to watch. Some of the crappy electronics I've (badly) restored makes me happy to look at as they are far more proudful in their new state than what they once were, I'd be absolutely beaming just looking at this VIC20 if I were you. Truly awesome.
I stumbled across this channel yesterday and I haven't stopped smiling since I watched this restoration. Loved the VIC-20. I played Jupiter Lander on mine for hours. Wish I still had it. It was amazing watching you work. I wish I had that same patience and focus. I would have stopped at the oily case.
Wow! This was so satisfying to watch. I’ll probably have to watch all of your restoration videos now.
That's just crazy. It looks like new. When watching the first part i wouldn't even thought that it's possible to clean and repair that thing at all.
Now THAT is the way I felt and I am amazed that ANYONE would have the stupidity to criticize this video at all. It's like Jesus raises Lazarus and the sisters go.. "Hmmm Jesus .. he had SHOES when he died"
Oh my god, the ending was just so kind and beautiful. I'm genuinely touched
Man, that VIC-20 is a trooper for being able to survive all that work and years, maybe even decades later, still work. Can't believe how much better that got fixed! That's some Wizard work right there! Nice job! 😀👍
I heard rumours about a unit working continously for 20 years until a rise of tension killed it about five years ago.
What a tear jerking narrative for this old vic-20.
Very impressive, but I miss a "before / after shot! I had to open 2 browsers and pause the video to get side-by-side view ^^
Same, lol!
+2
that must have been hard and cost you soo much work. LOL
@Nekogami-Crystal: Stop being a bad person (rude and sarcastic: an _evil_ combination). It is the job of the creator to make leisure for the viewer. If they have to do excessive amounts of work (too much for the task at hand), then it is more likely they will escape to greener pastures; AKA if the video is bad, viewers will watch something different.
Had to edit; I forgot a comma.
youre not any better, complaining the same way
chill a bit
Didn't expect this so soon.
Same
You did perfect job here! What you did as fix then explain how different parts work and how to test them was better than all electronics repair channels i've seen! This combination of your software and hardware knowledge skills is outstanding. I wish you were my teacher in high school. Flawless part 1 and 2 videos!
I was thinking about this creepy Commodore last night. Great work.
The ending was kinda sad but happy, when i saw part 1's video i was like " Theres no way he's gonna get this thing working 100%" but you brought it back and otherwise that machine would have been lost and forgotten. it lives on in the hearts of us all
Like a homeless dog.. This vic 20 comes to life again!
dude you nailed this video. the emotional sentiment at the end really hits home.well done!
14:42 I love everything you said about the VIC 20 after this point. Makes me smile ❤
Fantastic work. You were getting quite emotional at the end!
Weren't we all?
I know I was!
YEY!, Thought I was going to wait a couple of days for part 2
me too
more like a couple of months/years
I watched this couple of times and I still enjoy it :) Thanks for the great video 8-Bit Guy!
I love this so much!
I really appreciate the hard work that you have put into this project, so cool to see that VIC up and running again!
I started watching this channel knowing nothing about computers, and basic electronics. I've learned so much. Thanks
love me good happy ending!
I really admire your passion and skill. It was a joy to see you apply yourself to this project and bring to life something that almost anyone else would not even glanced at. It is very inspiring, thank you.
Your technical knowledge about a decades old computer is absolutely astounding. I worked in a computer repair shop for 2 years and I would be completely lost if tasked with the same thing.
After seeing David's dedication to a beat up VIC, I'm starting to feel really guilty about throwing away my perfectly good VIC all those years ago.
MugsyNJ2 This is why you keep around as many things from the past as possible - to have them last for our future, and for our descendants too.
Great video and cool tricks you revealed
*You just got yourself a new subscriber. I just found this channel yesterday from my recommended and was like "Ah, imma give it a shot"*
I don't even know what I like more: the restauration or the "beauty" of these old machines that remind me of my childhood years. Either way, your videos are always an inspiration to me. Thanks a lot!
That 4 key...
If he wanted to, he could just swap it out from the parts keyboard he got from his friend.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking too.
DemonfangTheDragon Lucky you, I still didn't notice it
It's seen some shit, man...
Baetnet, what about it?
That feel-good ending!
VIC20 is "my era of computing"; In a throwaway society when things gets binned for being paint faded/scratched, it's great to see effort expended not just to save the vintage machine but also demonstrating your skills. Nice job!
Very cool video! I could spend hours doing troubleshooting and bench work. This reminds me of my days in the Navy troubleshooting SPS10 radar. Same vintage. Good job sir. Thanks for keeping the old school alive!
what this guy does, is insane.
is there something he can't restore.
his hairline
and I can make that joke cause I share his pain
Y’all should eat McDonald’s fries then. I heard it reverses hair loss.
Pour some Kentucky moonshine on your head, the hair will be back within an hour or two.
My faith in humanity
If he is able to repair anything, I expect to have a working desktop in my room. I may be able to do a few things with my commodore 64c (owned in future) thanks to his videos.
Wow! 2.4K likes and no dislikes. This testifies to the amazing quality of your videos, David. Keep up the good work!
I am from the Philippines and I really love what you did with this vintage thing. I just subscribed for my updates on your works. Great job!
Hi, I was watching and you said you would not reuse the old oil covered cardboard. Have you ever heard of Gasket paper used in the motor industry? I come from the UK and so the name maybe a little different in the US. Gasket paper is used on old engines that companies do not make gaskets for anymore. You simply place the part on top draw around and cut it out. It is identical to the card used in the old computers and radio equipment.
Nah, we call it gasket paper too.
Could have used corkboard too, but yeah plenty of options here too.
I would have just washed the oil soaked cardboard in water-dawn dish soap solution, dried it, and ironed it flat. I am obsessive about keeping things as original as possible. It grinds my gears when I see people throwing parts, RF shields, and RFI line filter capacitors and inductors, etc. into the trash.
@@gregorymalchuk272 Dawn probably wouldn't have been strong enough...it's easier to just find the same type of cardboard, trace the original design, and cut it out by hand.
It's odd that I'm so excited for a video about a dirty 30 something year old computer.
I really feel you.
You should write up a short description of where, when, and how the machine was restored along with a link to these two videos and include it with the computer so that it has a history to go along with it now. Maybe stick it inside the case or tape it to the bottom.
Helium Road I feel like the history document could be in some museum case for the machine itself (god, it looks almost brand new now)
Hide a copy of the document IN the computer!
The Restart Point just like I used to do with system disks!
Helium Road There's a long and glorious tradition of including service and ownership records with such objects, ranging from the formality of aircraft and ship logs to servicing history carefully scrawled on the inside of engine covers. Since this machine already predates TH-cam by at least a factor of 3, it would be prudent to include both the video files and a written transcript with the summary. Any digital records should be in equally long-lived formats, such as plain ASCII text and simplified MPEG1.
He should sign it too.
Its so funny that I have all the knowledge and tools needed to do this repair and diagnostics myself, but nobody demands this anymore. I enjoyed your video. Well done.
My goodness. I’ve never seen someone so passionate about things like this and it’s so lovely to see. You work so hard to restore these electronics and I admire it sooooooooo much!!!
I had a vic20 given to me by my grandparents when I was a kid. They thrifted it for probably almost nothing, and I could never get it to power on. It was a shame cause it looked brand new in the box... I threw it out after hanging on to it for several years. Wish I hadn't done that, but I was like 14 at the time. Now I miss my grandparents and think back to stuff like that because I had a lot of fun thrifting with them. I still remember all the old computers. There used to be a huge bin with old stuff like pets and c64's and other stuff just tossed recklessly inside. That would be amazing to see today.