Didn't take long for the cats' hair to get inside the 5170 LOL... The voltage checker and floppy controller that shows drive letter and read location are really helpful in debugging.

Sadly the old MFM drive failed out, tried to recover but won't hold a format. It's ok, there are many options 😊

Going to look at updating the bios possibly to support larger drives.

#vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #IBM #5170 #80286

I've always liked the title tune of the 1987 Amiga game Deflektor, composed by the late Ben Daglish (1966 - 2018). Rest In Peace, maestro. Thank you for the great tunes! 🥲

#music #ElectronicMusic #audio #soundtrack #chiptune #GameDev #gaming #games #game #gamer #RetroGaming #RetroComputing #RetroGames #RetroTech #VintageComputing #retro #history #16bit #commodore #amiga #computers #computing #1980s #tech #technology #vintage #nostalgia #digital

Grabbed a #Lenovo #Ideapad C330 (#Chromebook) from my local #ewaste facility, looking to log into certain #Google Workspace accounts without providing a footprint on an actual #PC. And in the future when no longer supported install #Debian on it.
Also: this Chromebook folds to a tablet.

Unfortunately, the battery never fully charges: solid red for a few hours, then blinking red LED. I can get it to boot, but it will stay on for just a few minutes and then dies. Leaving it charging overnight, I was able to get logged in and started the upgrade for #ChromeOS 105.0.5195.134 (32 Bit), got the reboot and then it died. Left it unplugged, and there is no juice at all.
I found replacement batteries for $5 and up on #ebay, $10 plus shipping on gotlaptopparts.com, and stupid prices elsewhere. My concern is that it is not the battery but the circuits that managing charging the battery (which I would consider beyond repair and take back to eddies).

Via https://cros.tech/device/maple/ it looks as this Chromebook will support ChromeOS 143.0.7499.46, so there should still be some life in this device if the power issue is addressed.

Anything I’m missing here/not considering? Worth getting that cheap assed ebay battery and giving it a try?

#siliconValley #SillyValley
#vintagecomputing
#vintagecomputing #vintagecomputint #vintagecomputer #vintagecomputers #vintagecomputalk
#vintagehardware
#computerHistory
#retro #IT #ITsupport #hardwaresupport #computerrepair
#retrocomputing #retroComputers
#WallOfRetro
#retroTech #retroTechnology
#nerdsOfVintage #happyNerding
#computer #tech
#laptop #IBM #thinkpad #thinkpads #VintageThinkPad #IBMhardware
#lenovoHardware #Thinkpadnium
#upcycle #restore #TechnologyRepair #ThinkPadRepair #WasteNotWantNot #Thinkpadnium

Morgen ab 15:00 geht es los! Das Vortragsprogramm findet ihr hier: https://vcfb.de/2025/vortraege_workshops.html

Kommt vorbei in unseren Online-Vortragsraum: https://talk.vcfb.de/rooms/fcp-hg2-626-enj/join

#vcfb #vcfb2025 #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing

While investigating the issues with the IBM 5170, I took out the motherboard. To my surprise I believe these are some factory original bodge wires, all still in place after about 40 years.

#vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #circuitboard #pcb #ibm #5170 #80286

Found this interesting stack of vintage Compute!'s Gazette magazines from 1985 on eBay. Going to enjoy going through them 😊

#vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #magazines

Before I get started on #DOScember hijinks, I need to verify that my #IBM5150 PSU is safe to use.

Looking for help from my #RetroComputing and #VintageComputing friends who know more about this than I do.

IBM Part 6447195, Model P 11933, DC Output 63.5W

🧵 1/2

As a youngster in 1988, I asked our former game dev team's composer Ramon Braumuller if he could create an Amiga remix of one of my favorite Commodore 64 chiptunes: the short tune of the Wizardry game (1985). ❤️ the result.

I'll post the original tune in a follow-up post…

#TeamHoi #chiptune #music #soundtrack #GameDev #gaming #ElectronicMusic #RetroGaming #RetroComputing #RetroGames #VintageComputing #retro #history #commodore #Commodore64 #C64 #amiga #1980s #vintage #nostalgia #digital