Really old newbe!

[scoopydo]

I just retrieved some of my Amiga gear from the attic after a 22 year slumber (I put everything away in the mid 90's). I've so far found a 2000 and a 4000/40 with a bunch of cards in them that I can't for the life of me remember their uses, except the Video Toaster 4000. Along with many boxes of Documents and software. I should still have boxed away an Amiga 1000 with SideCar loaded with an IBM card and a Mac card.

I did a lot of Industrial videos back in the day and most of my software and hardware are graphics oriented. I'm sure I may still find a game or two in all the stored boxes.

So I need to relearn everything by using, reading all the old docs again and learning from these Forums.

Thanks to all for allowing me to get back my Amiga!

George

 

[rootboy]

Hi, and welcome to Amibay!

Be sure to get those batteries (finally!) out of your Amigas!

 

[scoopydo]

The old batteries are already out, I saw the leakage right away. The new ones are here now I just need to get them installed.

Thanks for the welcome and the tip!

 

[rootboy]

You're welcome!

Have you cleaned up the board yet? The way that I've done it for about a dozen boards or so is to soak them in white vinegar until the fizzing stops (and the blue goes away) and then use a toothbrush to clean up the affected area. If you've put in a new battery be sure to take it out first.

I then rinse it off with plain old tap water, and shake it for a good minute to get all of the water out of the Zorro and ISA connectors (there will be a lot of water in them). I then *immediately* put the board in a tub with 91% alcohol (the external use only stuff from Walmart will do). This has the effect of diluting the remaining water left on the board. I may give it a final brush with the toothbrush, just remember that you are in a highly flammable state and good air flow is a must.
And if you choose to use an electric toothbrush for this step, please keep in mind that you are just a spark away from having a very bad day. :explode

Pull the board out and shake it off a second time and then put it in front of a space heater. If you've shaken it off really well there shouldn't much if any alcohol left on the board.

This is pretty much the technique that the Jamma guys use, I added the alcohol step to aid in the drying process. This not only helps in the drying process, but it will get old solder flux off of the board making it very pretty. And it's important to get the water off of the board as soon as possible since it takes just moments to start rusting the metal parts.