Task: Troubleshoot the 6502 Processor on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board Using an Oscilloscope Needed: Atari 8-bit computer, oscilloscope Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Nothing is more frustrating than a beloved Atari 8-bit computer that isn’t booting properly into Memo Pad on the 400/800 or
Read moreReplace Faulty RAM on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board (30-60 mins)
Task: Replace Faulty RAM on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board Needed: New DRAM and perhaps sockets, desoldering iron, hot air rework station, soldering iron and solder Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I recently received two nonworking Atari 800XLs that would boot straight to the RAM
Read moreReplace Faulty Capacitors on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board (30-60 mins)
Task: Replace Faulty Capacitors on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Board Needed: New capacitors, desoldering iron, hot air rework station, soldering iron and solder Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction Electrolytic capacitors are notoriously unreliable on retrocomputers. The capacitors used in 1970s and early 1980s on the
Read morePurchase Sockets to Make it Easy to Seat Chips on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase Sockets to Make it Easy to Seat Chips on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Web Browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have been posting about tools and technology that can be used to assist with the repair of non-working Atari 8-bit computers.
Read morePurchase Contact Cleaner for Reseating Chips and Cleaning Contacts on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase Contact Cleaner for Reseating Chips and Cleaning Contacts on Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Contact Cleaner Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have been posting about tools and technology that can be used to assist with the repair of non-working Atari 8-bit computers.
Read morePurchase a Hot Air Rework Station for Removing Bad Chips from Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase a Hot Air Rework Station for Removing Bad Chips from Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Desoldering Iron, Circuit Board, Hot Air Rework Station Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I previously posted about purchasing and using a desoldering iron to remove bad chips from
Read morePurchase a Desoldering Iron for Removing Bad Chips from Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase a Desoldering Iron for Removing Bad Chips from Atari 8-Bit Computer Circuit Boards Needed: Desoldering Iron, Circuit Board, Hot Air Rework Station Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction Repairing Atari 8-Bit Computers inevitably requires removing and replacing bad chips. Some 800XLs, such as those made
Read morePurchase an Oscilloscope for Troubleshooting Problematic Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase an Oscilloscope for Troubleshooting Problematic Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: An oscilloscope Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction As I reviewed in my previous post about multimeters, I have been learning how to troubleshoot and repair Atari 8-bit computers. Central to this effort is an oscilloscope
Read morePurchase a Multimeter for Troubleshooting Problematic Atari 8-Bit Computers (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase a Multimeter for Troubleshooting Problematic Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: A multimeter Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction The Atari 8-bit line of computers were well-made and remarkably resilient even after more than 40 years. I have had several dozen 8-bits pass through my hands over
Read morePurchase a RetroTINK 5X Pro for Connecting an Atari 8-Bit Computer to an LED Display (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a RetroTINK 5X Pro for Connecting an Atari 8-Bit Computer to an LED Display Needed: Atari 8-bit computer, RetroTINK 5X Pro Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the RetroTINK 2X Pro for converting the composite video from an Atari 8-bit
Read moreBoot the CP/M Operating System Using the 1090 XL Expansion System for the Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers (15-30 mins)
Task: Boot the CP/M Operating System Using the 1090 XL Expansion System for the Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers Needed: Atari XL computer, new 1090 XL expansion board, CP/M card for the 1090 XL, 80-column card for the 1090 XL Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction
Read morePurchase a New XF351 3.5″ Floppy Drive for Your Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a New XF351 3.5″ Floppy Drive for Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: 8-Bit Atari Computer, Web Browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction The Atari XF351 was a planned 3.5″ floppy disk drive for the 8-bit line of computers. The drive was never released to
Read morePurchase a New Atari CX78+ Gamepad for Your 8-Bit Consoles and Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase a New Atari CX78+ Gamepad for Your 8-Bit Consoles and Computers Needed: Web Browser, 8-Bit Console, or Computer Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction Just about nothing beats the Atari CX40 joystick in my honest opinion. It is just about the perfect controller. However, there
Read moreUpdate the Firmware on Your Atari 2600+ (5-10 mins)
Task: Update the Firmware on Your Atari 2600+ Needed: Atari 2600+, web browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the modern Atari 2600+ console that plays original 2600 and 7800 cartridges through emulation. I nice feature is that it can be connected
Read morePurchase an Atari XF551 5.25″ Floppy Disk Drive (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase an Atari XF551 5.25″ Floppy Disk Drive Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction Like the Indus GT, the Atari XF551 is a much sought after 5.25″ floppy drive for the 8-bit computers. Attractive features include double-density data storage and the ability to
Read moreBackup Cartridges to Floppy Disk using the Super Cart (15-30 mins)
Task: Backup Cartridges to Floppy Disk using the Super Cart Needed: Web browser, Super Cart, Super Cart Program Disk, Super Card Data Disk Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I previously posted about “The Pill” that could be used to copy cartridges to floppy disk. The only
Read morePurchase a Rana Systems 1000 Floppy Disk Drive for your Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a Rana Systems 1000 Floppy Disk Drive for your Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction There were several different brands of 5.25″ floppy drives available for the Atari 8-bit computers. Each had their own unique advantages and disadvantages. For
Read moreArchive Atari 8-Bit Computer Disks from a Real Floppy to a Virtual Disk Using FujiNet (15-30 minutes)
Task: Archive Atari 8-Bit Computer Disks from a Real Floppy to a Virtual Disk Using FujiNet Needed: Web browser, 48K or 64K Atari computer, FujiNet, floppy disk drive, Atari DOS 2.5 or similar Time: 15-30 minutes Guest Author: Randall Kindig from Floppy Days and ANTIC
Read moreWrite Atari 8-Bit Computer ATR Files from Your PC to a Real Floppy Disk Using the RespeQT Peripheral Emulator Software and an SIO2PC Adapter (15-30 minutes)
Task: Write Atari 8-Bit Computer ATR Files from Your PC to a Real Floppy Disk Using the RespeQT Peripheral Emulator Software and an SIO2PC Adapter Needed: Web browser, 128K Atari computer, RespeQT software, SIO2PC adapter, floppy disk drive, micro-USB cable, Copymate software or similar Time:
Read moreConnect Your Atari 8-Bit Computer to a PC with the RespeQT Peripheral Emulator Software and an SIO2PC Adapter (15-30 minutes)
Task: Connect Your Atari 8-Bit Computer to a PC With the RespeQT Peripheral Emulator Software and an SIO2PC Adapter Needed: Web browser, RespeQT software, SIO2PC adapter, micro-USB cable Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction When I finished college and then graduate school in the late 1990s, I
Read morePurchase a Storage Box for Your Atari 5 1/4″ Floppy Disks (5-10 minutes)
Task: Purchase a Storage Box for Your Atari 5 1/4″ Floppy Disks Needed: Web browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction One of my favorite things to do with the Atari 8-bit computers is to load software from floppy disks using floppy drives such as the Atari
Read morePurchase an Atari 400 Mini for 8-Bit Computer Emulation (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase an Atari 400 Mini for 8-Bit Computer Emulation Needed: Web browser, HDMI display Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I have been envious of new products such as the Amiga 500 mini that provide emulated games and software in high-definition. The wait for Atari minis
Read morePurchase an A8PicoCart for Loading Cartridge ROMs on Your Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase an A8PicoCart for Loading Cartridge ROMs on Your Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser, Atari XL or XE Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction There are a wide variety of options for loading software onto your Atari 8-bit computers from SD card
Read morePower Your Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers with USB-C (5-10 mins)
Task: Power Your Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers with USB-C Needed: Web browser, Atari XL or XE Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction There are several different methods for providing power to your Atari 8-bit computers. You can use the old school power supplies from the
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