Got my Commodore 64 out of storage! Anything I should know before trying to hook it up again?

[NinjaRabbit]

I retrieved my Commodore 64 C, Datasette, joysticks (including my trusty Annihilator, which was massively hyped on its box due to its use of microswitches ) and games, from the attic a while back, but now have the room to hook it all up and have a play around with it again.

It's been well-stored from 1997 'til last year, and other equally well-stored electronic devices using magnetic media have been retrieved from the same place and still work perfectly (the tapes in those cases still worked as good as new, which raised a smile given the nature of the media) - however, those were battery-operated, and the C64, of course, is not. So, I was just wondering if there's anything that I should know before plugging everything in and trying to use it again.

For example, are there any power supplies from particular manufacturing batches that are known to be particularly problematic with age, or stuff like that? How do I spot those? Or, will I need to obtain an RGB SCART cable first, since I don't have a CRT to hand right now? That sort of thing.

I've done this before with old consoles, and normally I wouldn't worry, but this C64 was my first computer, which I've had since I was five or six years old, and we all know how special first computers are.

So, yeah, I just want to be super-sure, here. Any tips, please, oh experts?

 

[Amiga Forever]

the longest title threads :O

you should be able to win Longest title year of awards this year

 

[Paradroid90]

C64 power supplies are quite prone to failure over time so you may want to check that with a voltmeter first to make sure it is still reading loud and clear.

 

[NinjaRabbit]

@Amiga Forever - Haha! I never even noticed! Sorry about that.

@Paradroid90 - Thanks for that - that's exactly why I figured it was best to check first. What do I do if I'm lacking a voltmeter, though...?

 

[fitzsteve]

Hi Mate,

I'm no expert only getting my first C64 last year but I bought a Scart lead from Amigakit and it was great value/works great on my LCD TV. I'm sure it will be acceptable over RF until you get one.

I think the brick PSU's are the better ones, i.e not the slanted plastic shelled ones, one of the real experts will confirm.

I bought an SD2IEC for mine which loads Disk images really easily, along with a fast loader cart it's a nice cheap solution to play Games without waiting for tapes to load!

See my thread's here:

https://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=46445

And here:

https://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=51452

Good luck & enjoy

 

[BluesBrothers]

Stand well back:explode

No seriously, you'll be fine. Just give the psu a good check first and take it from there.

What's the worst that could happen:shrug:

 

[Paradroid90]

Also forgot to add if you do run into trouble you can refer to this great guide from Ray Carlsen

Linky is below

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/cbm/c64/c64-ic.txt

If she black screen's then it could be one of many things but I am sure someone will offer some help to support you.

The black power units are the worst in experience - (Had one fry a 64 last year ..... was not happy :-( )

As Steve said you may want to invest in SD2IEC for your 64.

I will stop rambling on as I am a C64 Junkie

 

[ChrisUnionNJ]

I would say open it up and check all the socketed chips they do rise
over time from heat and cold expansion..

I just apply pressure as I run my finger down the chip if it's not set
you will hear a crunching sound if you get that do it one more time
and you should be good to go..

 

[Firthy2002]

If it's a brick PSU (which I think was the case for all C64Cs) it's unlikely to have gone bad. It's the older slanted PSUs you need to be wary of.

 

[Retrograde]

What others said about the power brick - check that.
You will need a composite or S-video to SCART cable for the 64, it doesn't have RGB out, just fyi.
The pic is generally just fine with either though, and much better than a dodgy RF antenna signal.

 

[Bryce]

Here's a few tips:

1 - Don't forget to take a break to eat.
2 - If it has been dark for a few hours then it's probably late, go to bed.
3 - If a whining sound starts after a while, it's not the PSU, it's most likely the other half asking when you are ever going to turn that "old keyboard" off.



Bryce.

 

[NinjaRabbit]

I think the brick PSU's are the better ones, i.e not the slanted plastic shelled ones, one of the real experts will confirm.

Joy of joys, the brick type is exactly what mine is!

I bought an SD2IEC for mine which loads Disk images really easily, along with a fast loader cart it's a nice cheap solution to play Games without waiting for tapes to load!

Been very tempted by one of these. Will have to look into it more once I hook it up and then get annoyed by loading from tapes.

I actually have a game here whose tape version does not appear to be preserved anywhere (only the disk version is, that I can find), incidentally. I wonder what I ought to do about that? Must remember to look into this.

See my thread's here:

https://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=46445

And here:

https://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=51452

Good luck & enjoy

Thanks much for the links - I'll give them a good look over now.

What's the worst that could happen:shrug:

Fried rabbit.

I've found that a relation of mine has a voltmeter, though, so I'll be borrowing that and definitely checking over the PSU first!

Also forgot to add if you do run into trouble you can refer to this great guide from Ray Carlsen

Linky is below

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/cbm/c64/c64-ic.txt

If she black screen's then it could be one of many things but I am sure someone will offer some help to support you.

Thanks very much for that one. Will bookmark it now!

It's good to know that folks here can be counted on to come through for this sort of thing.

The black power units are the worst in experience - (Had one fry a 64 last year ..... was not happy :-( )

Ooh, ouch... Mine's the cream-coloured block that came with it originally. Going on other replies, hopefully it'll be ok...

I will stop rambling on as I am a C64 Junkie

Ramble away! The machine set me up with skills that I still use now, so I love to read about it.

I would say open it up and check all the socketed chips they do rise
over time from heat and cold expansion..

I just apply pressure as I run my finger down the chip if it's not set
you will hear a crunching sound if you get that do it one more time
and you should be good to go..

Thanks for the tips on this. I'm not sure I have the right size screwdrivers for it, though. Will have to have a root around... Is anything else needed to open it properly?

If it's a brick PSU (which I think was the case for all C64Cs) it's unlikely to have gone bad. It's the older slanted PSUs you need to be wary of.

It is a brick-type, thankfully. If my memory serves me correctly, it would've been manufactured around 1989 or 1990. I've never actually seen a slanted one, believe it or not...

What others said about the power brick - check that.
You will need a composite or S-video to SCART cable for the 64, it doesn't have RGB out, just fyi.
The pic is generally just fine with either though, and much better than a dodgy RF antenna signal. :laugh:

I honestly did not know that - thanks very much for the info. I just hope that my current TV has an RF input - I actually haven't had any need to look!

Here's a few tips:

1 - Don't forget to take a break to eat.
2 - If it has been dark for a few hours then it's probably late, go to bed.

3 - If a whining sound starts after a while, it's not the PSU, it's most likely the other half asking when you are ever going to turn that "old keyboard" off.

Haha! He collects old hardware and games too, though I actually might possibly be ever-so-slightly more geeky than he is, to be honest. I don't think there's any worries about whining, though!

Anyway, thanks for the replies, everyone. This is why I like it here - you guys are awesome, and awesomely helpful.

EDIT: And it seems my TV does have an RF input... Whether it works will be another matter, I'm sure.

 

[NinjaRabbit]

Very sorry for the double-post - I just have a quick progress report.

The power-supply is fine, and the C64 powers up fine, but... My old RF cable is missing! And of course, I haven't had a need for spares in many years. I'm going to hit AmigaKit after and order a SCART hookup from there. Then I'll be in business.

 

[fitzsteve]

You don't have an RF cable from another computer/console? Sega/Nintendo/etc all the same

Glad to hear it's working, the Amigakit Scart does a great job

 

[NinjaRabbit]

You don't have an RF cable from another computer/console? Sega/Nintendo/etc all the same

Astoundingly, I don't! I've been using composite and RGB with those for years.

Glad to hear it's working, the Amigakit Scart does a great job

Great to know. I'm really looking forward to this, now!

 

[Bryce]

Without an RF or SCART cable, how do you know it's working?

Bryce.

 

[Firthy2002]

I used to have a load of RF leads but I chucked most of them out as I have SCART leads for most of my stuff these days.

 

[Paradroid90]

PM Ninja I have a RF Lead you can have for the cost of postage

 

[roy_bates]

dont bother with an rf cable,just get a composite at least or make one there simple enough.

oh,and if your testing the power supply make sure its under load while testing.i dont mean using the c64 as the load.
ive seen the 5 volt rail on these raise to over 12 volts when they have been on for more than 20 minutes.
i have seen this happen on ALL the different models of power supply shipped with these not just the slanted ones that includes the black and grey models(black ones were the worst either they output nothing or overvoltage upto and beyond 12 volts...becasue there all sealed in resin and prone to overheating.
and also,just because the led comes on doesent mean its powered up and working.

just thought i would mention that.

 

[NinjaRabbit]

Without an RF or SCART cable, how do you know it's working?

Bryce.

I didn't say it was working, I said it powered up! I know there's a difference.

I used to have a load of RF leads but I chucked most of them out as I have SCART leads for most of my stuff these days.

Same here. It's typical that the one time I actually need one, they're all long-gone!

PM Ninja I have a RF Lead you can have for the cost of postage

Thanks very, very much for the offer, but it's ok - I've already got a SCART one on the way from AmigaKit as we speak.

oh,and if your testing the power supply make sure its under load while testing.i dont mean using the c64 as the load.
ive seen the 5 volt rail on these raise to over 12 volts when they have been on for more than 20 minutes.
i have seen this happen on ALL the different models of power supply shipped with these not just the slanted ones that includes the black and grey models(black ones were the worst either they output nothing or overvoltage upto and beyond 12 volts...becasue there all sealed in resin and prone to overheating.

Ooh, cripes. I did not know that.

So, how do I test this, please? Bear in mind that I'm borrowing the voltmeter and have never before used one in my life... I need complete "For Dummies"-type instructions, honestly!

and also,just because the led comes on doesent mean its powered up and working.

I know that doesn't mean that it's working. Just that some power is getting to it.

just thought i would mention that.:smile:

Thanks very much. It is much-appreciated, as I certainly didn't know about the voltage rising thing!