Mastodawn

💻🤔 Oh, the 12-minute saga of PC compatibility! Apparently, if your device can't time travel back to 1981 and run IBM 5150 software, you're doing it wrong. Who knew the secret to modern tech was being able to impress a computer museum? 🙄🔧
https://codon.org.uk/~mjg59/blog/p/what-is-a-pc-compatible/ #PCcompatibility #TechSaga #RetroComputing #IBM5150 #ComputerMuseum #HackerNews #ngated

What is a PC compatible?

Wikipedia says “An IBM PC compatible is any personal computer that is hardware- and software-compatible with the IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC) and its subsequent models”. But what does this actually mean? The obvious literal interpretation is for a device to be PC compatible, all software originally written for the IBM 5150 must run on it. Is this a reasonable definition? Is it one that any modern hardware can meet?

Matthew Garrett's Blog

AlanGrassia Jan 1

For the final day of #DOScember 2025 I give you part 4 of my #IBM5150 restoration video series. With lots of help from the community, I try to trace down what IC(s) are keeping my IBM 5150 from booting.

The IBM 5150 will return in 2026 for Part 5!

Happy Jank-tastic New Year!

https://youtu.be/p_PW85AOUFg

#RetroComputing #VintageeComputing #IBMPC

IBM 5150 Restoration Part 04 - 8088 CPU Hijinks

YouTube

AlanGrassia Dec 29

Something seems off with the AMD 8088 CPU at U3 on my #IBM5150 that I am trying to restore for #DOScember.

Pin 22 Ready should go HIGH when the CPU is ready to start executing code. The view on the oscilloscope shows high then low. Not good.

#IBMPC #VintageComputing #RetroComputing

AlanGrassia Dec 28

One final #DOScember 2025 video in the works. Stay tuned. 🎄🎁

https://www.datasheetbank.com/preview/8088-AMD

#IBMPC #IBM5150 #VintageComputing #RetroComputing

AlanGrassia Dec 23

🎥 New #IBM5150 Video Drop 🎞️

In Part 3 of my IBM 5150 restoration series for #DOScember, I check for the 4.77MHz clock signal on the motherboard and give it an ultrasonic bath.

(Sorry about the choppy audio, not sure what went wrong.)

https://youtu.be/pedaVnDbGm0

#IBMPC #VintageComputing #RetroComputing

IBM 5150 Restoration Part 03 - Clock Signal Test

YouTube

AlanGrassia Dec 20

My #IBM5150 motherboard is looking much better after an ultrasonic cleaning.

Follow my #DOScember playlist for more Big Blue #IBMPC shenanigans all month long!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2EnQlr6_Fo7Qe0rV5y_c9EPqy4zu6s6B&si=qrvzPVR0Dnl46fn_

🎄Merry Jankmas 🎁

#VintageComputing #RetroComputing #VintageRepair

AlanGrassia Dec 20

#BTS #DOScember #IBM5150 video teaser trailer

🎄 Merry Jankmas! 🎁

https://youtube.com/shorts/k3BeeU15XY0?feature=share

#IBMPC #VintageComputing #RetroComputing

#BTS #DOScember video teaser trailer

YouTube

Jamie Booth Dec 18

Well, I had the dip switches set incorrectly and it was trying to test memory that didn't exist. Fixed that and the floppy drives seem to work as well...

I'm also impressed that the Dell System 200 DOS 3.3 Master disk (circa 1987) is still working.

#retrocomputing
#IBM5150
#IBMPC

AlanGrassia Dec 16

#DOScember Video Drop

As a surprise follow up to my #IBM5150 restoration series Part 2, I made a short video of a power on test waiting for a few minutes to see if Big Blue makes a beep.

https://youtu.be/SUOv-bVXvqo

#VintageComputing #RetroComputing