@@The8BitGuy I think Bil would probably just be happy that people are still enjoying his computer. Especially that particular model, which I believe he's mentioned is his favorite. Correct me if I'm wrong.
@@The8BitGuyPlease tell me you did an interview with him...... if so, there are others that might be worth interviewing and having a chat with, such as Jonathan Dunn, Matt Gray, Jeroen Tel, etc
Damn, right? Wish we could have heard a few words from him, he was like a demi-god to me when I was a kid. If Rob Hubbard had turned up as well I think I would just have uninstalled TH-cam after that, nothing left to see here.
Couldn't agree more. Galway, Hubbard, Daglish, Gray, Whittaker, Hüelsbeck and so on, legends. If i had been there when Galway showed up, i would've bend the knee. 👍😊
Nice work. I have a MSEE degree from UMich but am not able to “fix electronics”. I think most college grads like me. I would like to learn someday. Wow, Martin is a different person!
@@AnthonyRBlacker I get a sense that he wanted to give something back, on behalf of the retro-computing community perhaps. Maybe he's just thought "Meh, I'll get another one, save him having to come back." 🙂
@dantootill I think he loves finishing the job, getting it to work, more than he loves his own stuff. And they way he credits his helper is so unselfish and beautiful. No wonder we love his repair videos...
When you get older, you realize what you missed when you were young... I was 16 when I worked with Martin at Origin. Worked with him on U7 and everything from 91 to 95. I always loved listening to his music when I walked by his office (at Wild Basin Office). Never did I know he had such a great history even before that...
So many things I wish I'd kept around... relevant to this channel, the first PC I built. 40mhz 386. Caddy CD rom drive. The thing was amazing for teenage me and while a little outdated, it was really not bad at all for the early 90s. Held up well against some cheaper 486 systems.
Great work David, and I totally understand why you couldn't repair everything Gal the Wayyy. Seriously though lovely job and Martin is an absolute legend. What an honour! 🔊🎶
2:00 SCART is fantastic, some of the pins correspond to analog signal so with an adaptor you can connect RCAs. It bundles in and out analog and digital video plus stereo audio as long as the device implements them.
@@iCuzZ Also, IIRC, SCART could be used to transfet all the TV channel settings from one unit to another (mostly between VCRs and TVs) so you don't have to tune them all manually. That was a gamechanger for me.
@@Damien.D Let's put it the other way around, most devices used at home didn't need the extra functionality. So a cheap cable with half the pins missing was enougth. If the devices supported the extra stuff and you wanted to use it, you would basically just source a more expensive cable. It's really the same situation with HTMI/DP.
Such a cool repair project. Nice cooperation with Jeann. Awesome. It is so cute working on old computers and getting them back to life. It is so satisfying to watch you guys working and succeeding. Keep up the good work.
A bit late, but in the UK, we have a tonne of RCA to SCART "blocks", Using a SCART connection was only ever 1:1 from a VCR or set-top box. So when we had the Xbox 360, which came with an RCA cable for SD video, It came with an Xbox/Mucrosoft branded SCART block in the same grey as the Power and Video cables, But in a sleeker looking case with holographic sticker of authenticity...
You could get proper RGB SCART cables but they were sold as accessories, i remember having to explain to someone that the SCART dongle with RCA plugs on the back that came with his Gamecube wasn't really "SCART".
@@Nukle0nnot RGB SCART, no, which is obviously the best quality you'll get over that connection. But SCART was designed for flexibility so composite, and left and right audio can still be 'SCART'
@@TheErador right. Just he thought he was already getting the best signal and I explained that no, it was pretty much the worst aside from RF. Tho I'm not really sure if the little compact TV he had even did RGB over SCART.
I remember having a lot of those RCA to Scart blocks laying around. Most of our TVS in the Uk usually only had the single Scart port. It was kind of a pain in the ass half the time.
Great video and awesome channel! My ten year old son is into computer history now and we're working through your history of Commodore videos. I broke out the old 128DCR and it's set up in the basement. Currently exploring the old floppy collection and enjoying some old favorites. It's in great condition and runs like a champ, but I dread the day that it might ever fail.
Mine showed up on Tuesday! It was really amazing seeing it in person. I work at an ISP owned PC service and sales shop, and we recycle lots of computers. Found a nice looking boxy Lenovo case to put it in before the day was out.
@richfiles It is kinda weird seeing something you've only seen on 'TV' suddenly in your hands isn't it? I'm kind of stuck on case.. I kind of want to put it in my empty P500 case.. but I want to be able to admire it at the same time. Decisions..
@@evanbarnes9984It's such a wonderfully bizarre fusion of different things. I'm not a programmer so it's more of an art/appreciation piece for me. Definitely not disappointed!
His music in Rambo was awesome. The loading screen music especially was brilliant. I also just found out he comes from Northern Ireland, so he's an Ulsterman like myself. Great video.
Never played the game, listened to the music a thousand times. How anyone could squeeze that out of an early 80s 8-bit machine is still beyond me. But it wasn't just brilliant within the context of the technology or gaming. It was awesome as a composition and in terms of sound, all on its own.
@@jh5776-i8j The game was fun for the time. Not hard to beat once you get it down. Short game overall, but still fun. Did you know Galway put morse code into the intro of the song?
It's so cool that so many of our 8 bit heros are still alive and kicking. It would be even cooler if we can give them some long lost credit and feedback.
I really enjoy your videos, they are always informative, entertaining and also quite relaxing. But I especially appreciate you being so candid when you mentioned that you were nervous about the first try of power up the power supply, because you've seen things go south before. From the small projects I do, I know the feeling well. I wouldn't have expected someone with your vast experience to feel that way too. Thanks for sharing that!
Your videos are so cathartic to me. I was born in 1992, most of these systems were out of production almost a decade before I was even born, I've never owned any of these systems, I've never opened up a system or have any idea how to do any repairs to electronics. Yet I find myself watching your videos on repeat for the past few years Keep up the good work
Martin Galway's music for Rambo II still stands as some of my favorite C64 music of all time. The first time I loaded that up on my C64 back in the day me and a friend of mine just sat there with our jaws hanging down because the music was so incredible. To me, he's right up there with Rob Hubbard.
This is a change from your previous video style but still like it. Very informative for the maintenance of retro stuffs that I have in my own stock xD Please do not stop publishing such video. Actually just continue to publish what you like to do ;-)
Your perseverance I'm fixing machines like this is unbelievable. This repair looked like it was nothing but a nightmare and I could see why it would take weeks and weeks and weeks. Congratulations on a job well done.
well that's one person. I fail to see how two " experts" didn't understand that a machine that requires 2 Different voltages required *shocker* both voltages. One look at the power specs ona few of the chips ( all available and well documented BTW) would have told you everything.
Amazing. If Martin made any of his masterpieces on this machine, if has to be one of the rarest computers in the world. Martin Galway's and Rob Hubbard's tunes are going to be relevant forever. They truly inspired a whole generation.
I'm a computer scientist very much into retrocomputing and C64 music so Martin Galway is one of my heroes. But I'm also a flutist so his uncle, James Galway, is also one of my heroes.
That cut at @3:12 with the music was harsh man, i was so ready for that drop! :D Great repair, good to see that computer operational again! Thanks David!!
I bet when Martin told David that he didn't want it retrobrighted, the first thing David thought was, "Whew!" I hit "Like" while the opening music and screen were rolling, because I knew it would be good. I was not disappointed! Thanks, David, for another enjoyable, informative episode. And yes, I'll certainly be checking out Time Rift Arcade!
One of the best channels on You Tube. I frequently rewatch older videos. Its not just nostalgia. Viewers learn and are entertained. Thank you "8 Bit Guy" (David). 😊
@@zognaldblormpf5127 Not sure if you're saying this because she's trans (I don't know that she is) but some women do absolutely have interest in vintage computing. If you had studied computer engineering or computer science instead of being a basement dweller with no higher studies you'd know that many professors are female and studied for the degree when personal computers were just becoming a thing, or even before that. You'll definitely see a lot of interest and fond memories of vintage computers from those women.
I had exactly that same machine growing up - and spent countless hours as a kid opening it up to fix it (basically cleaning it) since I was so disappointed it didn't work anymore. Looking at this video was such a blast, I had goosebumps remembering those moments exactly, including the smells! And knowing Martin used the same, wow, what an amazing video!
It is shocking how little PAL support there is in the US. I thought analog video processing chips would have been standardized by now (hence the phase-out of the beloved SCART) and PAL decoding support would be _really_ cheap to implement anyway. We’ve had tri-standard TVs and VCRs with NTSC playback since the 90's.
It's funny because here in Argentina even though we used PAL-N, during the 90s it was very common for TVs to be "binorma", basically, they supported both NTSC and PAL. So it's quite easy to find TVs that work in both cases. SCART was still a complete rarity here, I don't think I've ever seen one of those in person.
Hello there, fellow Argentinian. I think that there were some Grundig brand TVs (Expensive, but the best! was their motto) that had these connectors but certainly I never saw someone using it.
I lived in Australia and it's similar there. It's usually safe to assume that any SD video equipment made after around 2000 will accept NTSC in addition to PAL. Even much older TVs would generally support "PAL60" (NTSC frame rate and resolution with PAL colour), so only a very cheap converter box was needed to shift the colour signals from NTSC to PAL.
Most TVs here in Finland have supported both PAL and NTSC since the 90s. I think that's the same in most if not all PAL countries. Even my VHS VCR has NTSC playback capability
I have a C128D (US version). It was having 1571 read/write problems. In the end, I replaced the drive heads and it's been fine since. I think I purchased the replacement 1571 heads on ebay, many years ago.
Great video David. You always bring interesting topics to us. I recommend that, to test sources and devices connected to the AC electrical network, you make a series lamp circuit (only use incandescent or halogen lamps), because in the event of a short circuit, the resistance of the lamp will protect the object to be tested from greater damage and will also protect you from pops and sparks.
Wow, what a surprise! Margin Galway gave you his C128D to repair? Supercool. :) Also, it's super nice and empathetic that you've swapped his bad drive for your own, good one. Congrats on the repair and greeting to your friend. Nice Rigol oscilloscope. :)
I know flat panel monitors are not popular here. But several 2000 to 2008 monitors sold in North America support PAL. I have a 2008 VIZIO and two Insignia monitors that do.
Ocean Loader is one of the greatest tunes ever written, on any computer. God only knows how many thousand times I've heard that tune, and never ever got sick of it. Some times i loaded games just so i could listen to it, and then turned off the game. Galway is a giant, so glad to see he is healthy and doing well.
I would be careful using a piece of card as an insulator, I did that once and the voltage arced through the cardboard setting fire to it, best use plastic
Have you seen the 8 bit guy restoring the Apple II of the Game Chasers? It's from 2 months ago: th-cam.com/video/xEn06Z0fCP8/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TheGameChasers
Ok… another REALLY BAD repair attempt: - leaving the golden ROEDERSTEIN caps in the psu is absolutely silly (they always go bad. ALWAYS.) - disk drive: no speed check/adjustment? no head adjustment? no real diagnostic? sorry, you are really good at programming- but please do not attempt repairing hardware. it‘s not gonna work.
Sir, my name is Noah and I'm from Oklahoma and I just wanted to give you a "hat's off" for restoring/repairing Mr. Galway's Commodore 128. I grew up with his music and still to this day adore it. Just thank you.... you have done the world of music a great justice..... carry on!!!! ~NMB
Adding mechanical reinforcement before soldering by interlocking the wires is a great way to increase strength and reliability of a wire splice. J-hooking, which is what you did with the disk drive wiring, is a good method that was recommended in some of RCA’s factory service handbooks for TV and radio service/repair shops in the 50’s and 60’s. Today, the best method of splicing wires is by using the Lineman’s splice, also known as the Western Union splice, which is the splice technique specified in the NASA Required Workmanship Standards. If twisted correctly, the Lineman’s splice is stronger than the wire it is made of. I’m glad you are adding mechanical reinforcement to your soldered wire splices!
wow David, this was a lot of work ! I appreciate you showing us the whole process, it was awesome : ) too bad Martin didn't want to do the retrobriting too, because that's my favorite part for some reason, but great video anyway !
This video was released right on my birthday! English is not my native language, but you explain everything so clearly that I do not use the translation. I'm glad to see that this machine running! Greetings from Russia) (Sorry if I made mistakes)
Man the lack of content on this channel is the reason I unsubscribed I'll check back in like every 6 months and there's maybe 2 at most 3 videos in that time frame
I love the 8 bit guy, and have really grown fond of when he rants about what the haters are going to put "down in the comments" .... cracks me up every time.
Since I heard no mention of it, did the voltage converter also convert 60 Hz to 50 Hz. That might be the main reason the CRT is not working properly. I remember @RetroRecipes was having a similar issue when he brought his old C-64 back to life.
1:55 Do PAL CRT monitors have a different phosphors recipes than 60Hz CRT onitors? Presumably they would want a slightly longer afterglow to compensate for the longer delays between refreshes. If that monitor can autosync to NTSC, an NTSC Amiga in interlace mode might look very nice. Let us know please Dave.
Very cool repair. I've seen this kind of C-128D only once back in the day, and another time the flat style C-128. All others I knew had C-64, the breadbin model, I was the only one with C-64 C model in the neighbourhood.
I wore out the plotter. It was perfect for plotting airfoils for my model planes. Didn't get retired till I got a E size plotter in the 90's, then an ink jet model as well. Still miss the price of paper rolls and pens though.
It is good to see you again. I miss your content. But, I understand that life happens. Way cool that your working on Martin's C128, a legend in his own right.
Well in the rare chance you stumble upon another oiled up Vic-20 or roadkill n64 - I look forward to the next 😬. You do restoration vids better than anyone on TH-cam!
Great video! You almost did a Lineman Splice or Western Union Splice except after you hook the two wires together, you start to wind the free end of the wire around the opposing wire, essentially creating two interlocking "nooses". This joint is stronger than the original wire, even without solder.
Some people have comfort food, I have this channel (and similar ones). I love computers, and it's nice to be reminded of why I started liking computers so much. I'm jaded on my current job as a software engineer, even though I am working for the company I've always wanted to work for (be careful what you wish for), and sometimes I wonder what TH I'm doing, but seeing this content reminds me of where I started.
Nice work, David. I wonder if the issue with the 1571 was a twisted upper head perhaps? The way the head is only supported on one side, if you leave a 1571 for any length of time without a disk or transit card in it (with the latch "open"), the upper head twists. This can often be corrected by giving it a "gentle" twist in the opposite direction. To help confirm, you could try switching it to 1541 mode (OPEN15,8,15,"U0>M0":CLOSE15) and testing lower head.
I like that the first thing Martin did when he saw the C128 was to put it in C64 mode.
Indeed.. we laughed about that when he was here and he said Bil Herd would be rolling his eyes or something watching us do that!
@@The8BitGuy I think Bil would probably just be happy that people are still enjoying his computer. Especially that particular model, which I believe he's mentioned is his favorite. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I must be one of the only people actually loving C128 mode :)... GEOS128 and also programming :)...
That's what we all did back then.
@@The8BitGuyPlease tell me you did an interview with him...... if so, there are others that might be worth interviewing and having a chat with, such as Jonathan Dunn, Matt Gray, Jeroen Tel, etc
Martin Galway is a freaking legend!! It’s like Jimi Hendrix asked you to fix his wah pedal
Damn, right? Wish we could have heard a few words from him, he was like a demi-god to me when I was a kid. If Rob Hubbard had turned up as well I think I would just have uninstalled TH-cam after that, nothing left to see here.
Couldn't agree more. Galway, Hubbard, Daglish, Gray, Whittaker, Hüelsbeck and so on, legends. If i had been there when Galway showed up, i would've bend the knee. 👍😊
@@FabledGentleman Both Grays, both Fred and Matt were awesome musicians, and let's not forget Jeroen Tel.
Nice work. I have a MSEE degree from UMich but am not able to “fix electronics”. I think most college grads like me. I would like to learn someday.
Wow, Martin is a different person!
Yeah I hope you kids realize that "Martin came over to my house-" isn't something to be said so casually
14:18 you took the mech from your own working drive because you didn't want to let Martin down? That is such a kind gesture, well played Sir.
I thought exactly the same thing. Super kind.
@@AnthonyRBlacker I get a sense that he wanted to give something back, on behalf of the retro-computing community perhaps. Maybe he's just thought "Meh, I'll get another one, save him having to come back." 🙂
@dantootill I think he loves finishing the job, getting it to work, more than he loves his own stuff. And they way he credits his helper is so unselfish and beautiful. No wonder we love his repair videos...
When you get older, you realize what you missed when you were young... I was 16 when I worked with Martin at Origin. Worked with him on U7 and everything from 91 to 95. I always loved listening to his music when I walked by his office (at Wild Basin Office). Never did I know he had such a great history even before that...
Wow! Someone should write all this down. It's history, and we should definitely keep it alive. Thank you for sharing! Would *love* to know more.
So many things I wish I'd kept around... relevant to this channel, the first PC I built. 40mhz 386. Caddy CD rom drive. The thing was amazing for teenage me and while a little outdated, it was really not bad at all for the early 90s. Held up well against some cheaper 486 systems.
Martin galway is the man along with Mr Rob Hubbard.
No, you didn't. I asked Martin and he said I don't know this guy.
Now I'm looking forward to an Adrian Black video fixing the monitor..
Only problem is shipping the monitor from Austin to Portland.
well, it wouldn't hurt if Adrian got out of his basement and take a little excursion to Austin
Wait, what if it does hurt?
He should have handled the whole damn thing .
@@donbot5000indeed. 8 bit guy did basically nothing except swapping things.
Great work David, and I totally understand why you couldn't repair everything Gal the Wayyy. Seriously though lovely job and Martin is an absolute legend. What an honour! 🔊🎶
King the puns right here, folks.. lol
Hahaha! Very punny, Perifractic! 😂
2:00 SCART is fantastic, some of the pins correspond to analog signal so with an adaptor you can connect RCAs. It bundles in and out analog and digital video plus stereo audio as long as the device implements them.
Yeah, scart was the hdmi of the 90's. Audio both ways, and all sorts of video signals, auto source select etc.
@@iCuzZ Also, IIRC, SCART could be used to transfet all the TV channel settings from one unit to another (mostly between VCRs and TVs) so you don't have to tune them all manually. That was a gamechanger for me.
Most of SCART advanced features were never used, sadly.
@@Damien.D Let's put it the other way around, most devices used at home didn't need the extra functionality. So a cheap cable with half the pins missing was enougth.
If the devices supported the extra stuff and you wanted to use it, you would basically just source a more expensive cable. It's really the same situation with HTMI/DP.
Wans't the connector too heavy for the cords?
Such a cool repair project. Nice cooperation with Jeann. Awesome. It is so cute working on old computers and getting them back to life. It is so satisfying to watch you guys working and succeeding. Keep up the good work.
A bit late, but in the UK, we have a tonne of RCA to SCART "blocks",
Using a SCART connection was only ever 1:1 from a VCR or set-top box.
So when we had the Xbox 360, which came with an RCA cable for SD video,
It came with an Xbox/Mucrosoft branded SCART block in the same grey as the Power and Video cables,
But in a sleeker looking case with holographic sticker of authenticity...
Unless you had a computer like the MATRA Alice or BBC Micro which supported genlock.
You could get proper RGB SCART cables but they were sold as accessories, i remember having to explain to someone that the SCART dongle with RCA plugs on the back that came with his Gamecube wasn't really "SCART".
@@Nukle0nnot RGB SCART, no, which is obviously the best quality you'll get over that connection. But SCART was designed for flexibility so composite, and left and right audio can still be 'SCART'
@@TheErador right. Just he thought he was already getting the best signal and I explained that no, it was pretty much the worst aside from RF. Tho I'm not really sure if the little compact TV he had even did RGB over SCART.
I remember having a lot of those RCA to Scart blocks laying around. Most of our TVS in the Uk usually only had the single Scart port. It was kind of a pain in the ass half the time.
I loved the disassembly of the C128 - It was like watching The A Team go to work.
After the bumpy ride it took across the pond, the C128D will be like "Ain't gettin' on no plane, fool"
😂 best montages in the history of television!!
Looking forward to Adrian saying "It works, it freakin' works!" when he gets the monitor working
Who is Adrian?
Where do I find that channel??
@@cf105cp Adrian's Digital Basement
Great video and awesome channel! My ten year old son is into computer history now and we're working through your history of Commodore videos. I broke out the old 128DCR and it's set up in the basement. Currently exploring the old floppy collection and enjoying some old favorites. It's in great condition and runs like a champ, but I dread the day that it might ever fail.
An 8 Bit Guy video on the day my Commander x16 arrived. Nice!
Mine showed up on Tuesday! It was really amazing seeing it in person. I work at an ISP owned PC service and sales shop, and we recycle lots of computers. Found a nice looking boxy Lenovo case to put it in before the day was out.
Oh cool! I want to get one when I have more space after a move
@richfiles It is kinda weird seeing something you've only seen on 'TV' suddenly in your hands isn't it? I'm kind of stuck on case.. I kind of want to put it in my empty P500 case.. but I want to be able to admire it at the same time. Decisions..
@@evanbarnes9984It's such a wonderfully bizarre fusion of different things. I'm not a programmer so it's more of an art/appreciation piece for me. Definitely not disappointed!
@@TechTimeTravellerYou could try learning some Basic, it is incredibly fun. I'm not a programmer either, but I'm learning Basic since I got a C64.
His music in Rambo was awesome. The loading screen music especially was brilliant. I also just found out he comes from Northern Ireland, so he's an Ulsterman like myself. Great video.
Never played the game, listened to the music a thousand times.
How anyone could squeeze that out of an early 80s 8-bit machine is still beyond me. But it wasn't just brilliant within the context of the technology or gaming. It was awesome as a composition and in terms of sound, all on its own.
@@jh5776-i8j The game was fun for the time. Not hard to beat once you get it down. Short game overall, but still fun. Did you know Galway put morse code into the intro of the song?
Yeah I just learned he's from Ulster too! It's always nice finding out legends like him came from our little section of the world.
Martin Galway is a stone cold C64 legend.
It's so cool that so many of our 8 bit heros are still alive and kicking. It would be even cooler if we can give them some long lost credit and feedback.
All I can say Is I loved the Rambo music, and our family just happened to listen to it just a few weeks ago, just for the enjoyment.
Martin still looks quite youthful don't you think? Don't worry, he knows how much we love his tunes.
I really enjoy your videos, they are always informative, entertaining and also quite relaxing. But I especially appreciate you being so candid when you mentioned that you were nervous about the first try of power up the power supply, because you've seen things go south before. From the small projects I do, I know the feeling well. I wouldn't have expected someone with your vast experience to feel that way too. Thanks for sharing that!
Your videos are so cathartic to me. I was born in 1992, most of these systems were out of production almost a decade before I was even born, I've never owned any of these systems, I've never opened up a system or have any idea how to do any repairs to electronics.
Yet I find myself watching your videos on repeat for the past few years
Keep up the good work
David forgot he owns one of the most expensive retro gaming upscaling solutions.
which one
@@dsnein The RetroStink.
It's a 2X Pro, they still sell them for $140.
that one isn't that expensive. The new one is. The 4k one is like $500 or something crazy like that.
@@dantootill maybe now, but what about when it first came out?
Awesome collaboration with June! Great teamwork!
Martin Galway's music for Rambo II still stands as some of my favorite C64 music of all time. The first time I loaded that up on my C64 back in the day me and a friend of mine just sat there with our jaws hanging down because the music was so incredible. To me, he's right up there with Rob Hubbard.
I even recorded the loader music on tape so I could listen to it on my walkman. That's how great it was.
@@tommysund4704Ha! Me too! The high score music and title screen music were both inspired. Still are.
Commando by Rob Hubbard. 👍😄
@@minnielee3399Also great. Ben Daglish's work on The Last Ninja (part 2 I think) is also amazing.
Yes. Ben Daglish RIP 🙏@@JustWasted3HoursHere
I've been a huge fan of Martin Galway for almost 40 years, and it was nice to see June in an 8-bit guy episode.
Great stuff David! I'd have taken a picture of that SID chip - some are more equal than others! Martin Galway's SID chip!
One of the little stickers on the case says "Perfect SID chip"!
Wow, nice of you to donate _your_ drive mechanism to Martin for this!
He kept Martin's original drive mechanism.
@@Okurka.: Yeah, that's cool too, that he has Martin's old drive mechanism as a souvenir to repair and use as part of his drive now, if feasible!
An absolute master of C=64 music. Good to know he still has his original machine, and it is now in working order.
And Rob Hubbard, who also crossed the pond....
This is a change from your previous video style but still like it. Very informative for the maintenance of retro stuffs that I have in my own stock xD
Please do not stop publishing such video.
Actually just continue to publish what you like to do ;-)
"Il'l be glad to donate some of mY circuits"- C3PO
Your perseverance I'm fixing machines like this is unbelievable. This repair looked like it was nothing but a nightmare and I could see why it would take weeks and weeks and weeks. Congratulations on a job well done.
well that's one person. I fail to see how two " experts" didn't understand that a machine that requires 2 Different voltages required *shocker* both voltages. One look at the power specs ona few of the chips ( all available and well documented BTW) would have told you everything.
Amazing. If Martin made any of his masterpieces on this machine, if has to be one of the rarest computers in the world. Martin Galway's and Rob Hubbard's tunes are going to be relevant forever. They truly inspired a whole generation.
I'm a computer scientist very much into retrocomputing and C64 music so Martin Galway is one of my heroes.
But I'm also a flutist so his uncle, James Galway, is also one of my heroes.
No way!!! Are they from the same Galway family?
@@ctgriffi3899 Yeeees, uncle and nephew!
Interesting. Thanks for sharing. Martin’s melodies and musicianship really were excellent.
Over 60 credits for computer game music - his mother must be very proud
Sounds like a World Record
;-)
She’s been dead a while..
That cut at @3:12 with the music was harsh man, i was so ready for that drop! :D Great repair, good to see that computer operational again! Thanks David!!
I bet when Martin told David that he didn't want it retrobrighted, the first thing David thought was, "Whew!"
I hit "Like" while the opening music and screen were rolling, because I knew it would be good. I was not disappointed! Thanks, David, for another enjoyable, informative episode. And yes, I'll certainly be checking out Time Rift Arcade!
So you endorse him without even seeing the content? Fanboy to max. I watch everything forst then rate it
@@donbot5000 I have followed David for many years now. I know his content is always good. I wouldn't have followed him for that long if it wasn't.
Glad to see some repairs coming back. I love the history and documentaries but I also love seeing old machines come back to life.
I get so excited hearing the opening music. Silly I know, but that's my way.
I am also retarded.
Same!
Me too! The 8-bit guy's videos make me happy for some reason
Where’s that music from?
th-cam.com/video/nj9syHGdZ-s/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
It's my ringtone also 😂
Always a treat to watch you restore things.
Here's another treat: 8 bit guy restoring the Game Chasers Apple II computer! th-cam.com/video/xEn06Z0fCP8/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TheGameChasers
Galway has enormous talent and Wizball has some of the best game music on any system from the 1980s.
One of the best channels on You Tube. I frequently rewatch older videos. Its not just nostalgia. Viewers learn and are entertained. Thank you "8 Bit Guy" (David). 😊
You can tell June is a pro because she's using the nice probes for her meter.
You can tell June is a man because actual women have zero interest in vintage computing.
@@zognaldblormpf5127 Not sure if you're saying this because she's trans (I don't know that she is) but some women do absolutely have interest in vintage computing. If you had studied computer engineering or computer science instead of being a basement dweller with no higher studies you'd know that many professors are female and studied for the degree when personal computers were just becoming a thing, or even before that. You'll definitely see a lot of interest and fond memories of vintage computers from those women.
@@zognaldblormpf5127 Ah yes, pretending like you know anything about men or women.
@@zognaldblormpf5127 How many months is your abortion overdue? 300? 400?
@@ultraokletsgo
Biologically, he's got it nailed, but yes, there are definitely plenty of actual female nerds out there.
I had exactly that same machine growing up - and spent countless hours as a kid opening it up to fix it (basically cleaning it) since I was so disappointed it didn't work anymore.
Looking at this video was such a blast, I had goosebumps remembering those moments exactly, including the smells!
And knowing Martin used the same, wow, what an amazing video!
Nice video. But get Palled PAL up … you need to explore the BBC , SAM COUPE , DRAGON, ORIC ATMOS and AMSTRAD!!!!
It is shocking how little PAL support there is in the US. I thought analog video processing chips would have been standardized by now (hence the phase-out of the beloved SCART) and PAL decoding support would be _really_ cheap to implement anyway. We’ve had tri-standard TVs and VCRs with NTSC playback since the 90's.
Well this was a nice surprise! Thanks, David!
It's funny because here in Argentina even though we used PAL-N, during the 90s it was very common for TVs to be "binorma", basically, they supported both NTSC and PAL. So it's quite easy to find TVs that work in both cases. SCART was still a complete rarity here, I don't think I've ever seen one of those in person.
Hello there, fellow Argentinian. I think that there were some Grundig brand TVs (Expensive, but the best! was their motto) that had these connectors but certainly I never saw someone using it.
I lived in Australia and it's similar there. It's usually safe to assume that any SD video equipment made after around 2000 will accept NTSC in addition to PAL. Even much older TVs would generally support "PAL60" (NTSC frame rate and resolution with PAL colour), so only a very cheap converter box was needed to shift the colour signals from NTSC to PAL.
Uruguayan here, we and the Brazilias did a wild thing TBH, using PAL with SECAM colors and NTSC teletext
Most TVs here in Finland have supported both PAL and NTSC since the 90s. I think that's the same in most if not all PAL countries.
Even my VHS VCR has NTSC playback capability
The holy grail of commodore loading music.
I have a C128D (US version). It was having 1571 read/write problems. In the end, I replaced the drive heads and it's been fine since. I think I purchased the replacement 1571 heads on ebay, many years ago.
That's a C128DCR.
Wonderful vodeo! So glad to see you getting back to computers!
Aw man, David AND June teaming up for this repair!? This was an awesome to watch, another great restoration project David.
It was certainly a fun project! :D
Great video David. You always bring interesting topics to us. I recommend that, to test sources and devices connected to the AC electrical network, you make a series lamp circuit (only use incandescent or halogen lamps), because in the event of a short circuit, the resistance of the lamp will protect the object to be tested from greater damage and will also protect you from pops and sparks.
Wow, so nice to see June with Nybbles and Bytes!
Thanks! :D
Wow, what a surprise! Margin Galway gave you his C128D to repair? Supercool. :) Also, it's super nice and empathetic that you've swapped his bad drive for your own, good one. Congrats on the repair and greeting to your friend. Nice Rigol oscilloscope. :)
That was fantastic! It looks like you and Martin are great PALs ;)
So excited to see a restoration video.
I know flat panel monitors are not popular here. But several 2000 to 2008 monitors sold in North America support PAL. I have a 2008 VIZIO and two Insignia monitors that do.
Ocean Loader is one of the greatest tunes ever written, on any computer. God only knows how many thousand times I've heard that tune, and never ever got sick of it. Some times i loaded games just so i could listen to it, and then turned off the game. Galway is a giant, so glad to see he is healthy and doing well.
Praying the 8-bit Guy doesn’t get his paper clip out
Awesome. Love these repair videos and seeing what it takes to get these old machines working again. Instant subscribe to that arcade channel B)
No-one can slide a SID note like Martin Galway 👍
Ultima 7 was amazing. Loved that game and the package it came with, with the maps and clues in the box.
Another great video, thankyou
I would be careful using a piece of card as an insulator, I did that once and the voltage arced through the cardboard setting fire to it, best use plastic
Daym. Martin Galway done some tunes. Parallax was fucking awesome.
Please don't swear or curse; this is a family channel and kids read the comments. Thanks.
@@jinxterx @triggered
@@theyamo7219 just trying to keep the internet clean 😂
@@jinxterx Thats an impossible task my friend
@@jinxterx Please seek help. No children care for old computers.
Good old Nibbles & Bytes :)... I know her videos since the first ones she released on the C128, always great to see collaborations.
Great to see you here!
@@NybblesandBytes :)
Wonderful! Glad you were able to fix it. Martin is one of the heroes of my youth.
No attempt to repair the drive mechanism? Clean, lubricate, realign.
MORE CONTENT DAVID! To long to wait. Love your videos!
Have you seen the 8 bit guy restoring the Apple II of the Game Chasers? It's from 2 months ago: th-cam.com/video/xEn06Z0fCP8/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TheGameChasers
@@Locomamonk I hadn’t seen it. Thanks for the link. The other guys are kind of weird, but fun to see more of the 8 bit guy.
Ok… another REALLY BAD repair attempt:
- leaving the golden ROEDERSTEIN caps in the psu is absolutely silly (they always go bad. ALWAYS.)
- disk drive: no speed check/adjustment? no head adjustment? no real diagnostic?
sorry, you are really good at programming- but please do not attempt repairing hardware. it‘s not gonna work.
Sir, my name is Noah and I'm from Oklahoma and I just wanted to give you a "hat's off" for restoring/repairing Mr. Galway's Commodore 128. I grew up with his music and still to this day adore it. Just thank you.... you have done the world of music a great justice..... carry on!!!!
~NMB
June rocks!
Adding mechanical reinforcement before soldering by interlocking the wires is a great way to increase strength and reliability of a wire splice.
J-hooking, which is what you did with the disk drive wiring, is a good method that was recommended in some of RCA’s factory service handbooks for TV and radio service/repair shops in the 50’s and 60’s.
Today, the best method of splicing wires is by using the Lineman’s splice, also known as the Western Union splice, which is the splice technique specified in the NASA Required Workmanship Standards. If twisted correctly, the Lineman’s splice is stronger than the wire it is made of.
I’m glad you are adding mechanical reinforcement to your soldered wire splices!
damn those Texan girls sure are built different................................
wow David, this was a lot of work ! I appreciate you showing us the whole process, it was awesome : ) too bad Martin didn't want to do the retrobriting too, because that's my favorite part for some reason, but great video anyway !
See you need the right person for the job - not the 8 bit guy.
This video was released right on my birthday! English is not my native language, but you explain everything so clearly that I do not use the translation. I'm glad to see that this machine running! Greetings from Russia)
(Sorry if I made mistakes)
Man the lack of content on this channel is the reason I unsubscribed I'll check back in like every 6 months and there's maybe 2 at most 3 videos in that time frame
I love the 8 bit guy, and have really grown fond of when he rants about what the haters are going to put "down in the comments" .... cracks me up every time.
_repairing?_ lmao
Finally, you put out a classic video. This is what we want!!
6:54 Thats not a "female's" laugh
Rude.
Martin is a true icon. It is good to see he still loves his old original equpment.
Finally, some UK love! Admire our plugs!
Since I heard no mention of it, did the voltage converter also convert 60 Hz to 50 Hz. That might be the main reason the CRT is not working properly. I remember @RetroRecipes was having a similar issue when he brought his old C-64 back to life.
Great video. As an 80's C64 enthusiast, this was a very fun watch.
Martin Galway is an absolute legend. That computer should be enshrined to a museum for all to see.
Brilliant work!
1:55 Do PAL CRT monitors have a different phosphors recipes than 60Hz CRT onitors? Presumably they would want a slightly longer afterglow to compensate for the longer delays between refreshes. If that monitor can autosync to NTSC, an NTSC Amiga in interlace mode might look very nice. Let us know please Dave.
Very cool repair. I've seen this kind of C-128D only once back in the day, and another time the flat style C-128. All others I knew had C-64, the breadbin model, I was the only one with C-64 C model in the neighbourhood.
I wore out the plotter. It was perfect for plotting airfoils for my model planes. Didn't get retired till I got a E size plotter in the 90's, then an ink jet model as well.
Still miss the price of paper rolls and pens though.
Oh boy, do I love a classic repair video. Thank you!
It is good to see you again. I miss your content. But, I understand that life happens. Way cool that your working on Martin's C128, a legend in his own right.
It was worth all the effort just to hear Martin's reaction when he saw his computer working.
Thank you for a repair vid! Havent watched the channel in so long. Ah, the good ol days
Glad to see a restoration video. Wasn’t expecting anymore after the update a few months back. Love these videos!
Well, technically I had committed to this back in like November of last year, so had to finish it.
Well in the rare chance you stumble upon another oiled up Vic-20 or roadkill n64 - I look forward to the next 😬. You do restoration vids better than anyone on TH-cam!
My heart sank when retrobright was turned down. It's one of my favorite parts, and I love when it looks like new again.
It makes the plastics brittle.
I love these retro computer repairs, they make me happy!
Great video!
You almost did a Lineman Splice or Western Union Splice except after you hook the two wires together, you start to wind the free end of the wire around the opposing wire, essentially creating two interlocking "nooses". This joint is stronger than the original wire, even without solder.
It's like watching a MasterClass episode. Just amazing work!
Some people have comfort food, I have this channel (and similar ones).
I love computers, and it's nice to be reminded of why I started liking computers so much. I'm jaded on my current job as a software engineer, even though I am working for the company I've always wanted to work for (be careful what you wish for), and sometimes I wonder what TH I'm doing, but seeing this content reminds me of where I started.
I'm in Geordieland, England. I like watching you work with UK plugs.
Good Job! Glad you keep using Anders' music for background :)
I like the shots of the final handshake and wave goodbye :)
Hey 8-Bit, thanks to you for all the things you are doing!
Rob Hubbard was the chip tune king.
Dragon's Lair II had an amazing soundtrack. Rob Hubbard is a legend.
Matt Gray is right up there as well.
Jeroen Tel?
Nice work, David. I wonder if the issue with the 1571 was a twisted upper head perhaps? The way the head is only supported on one side, if you leave a 1571 for any length of time without a disk or transit card in it (with the latch "open"), the upper head twists. This can often be corrected by giving it a "gentle" twist in the opposite direction. To help confirm, you could try switching it to 1541 mode (OPEN15,8,15,"U0>M0":CLOSE15) and testing lower head.