Leaded SolderAug 5, 2025
New blog post! I have finally gotten my '90 SparcStation 1+ workstation to do something useful, but a terrible price was asked in the process. Don't worry, the magic smoke came out of a *new* thing. #retrocomputing #retrounix #unix #sun #sparc #mame https://www.leadedsolder.com/2025/08/05/sparcstation-scsi-termination-fix-magic-smoke.html
A SPARC makes a little fire

Way back in May of 2018, I was unable to get the SparcStation 1+ to stop returning “Illegal Instruction” errors for any attempt at booting. This made absolutely no sense to anyone I asked about it, and they suggested replacing the PROM battery, because at least then we’d have fewer known-broken parts in the computer. I ignored this advice, and just stuck the computer in a corner with the other broken machines for awhile so it could think about what it did.

Leaded Solder
leadedsolderJun 17, 2025
The #sparcstation lives! It's been nearly a decade. Not sure why I can't get a console in my regular user account, but that's the least of my worries. Is there a way to use Sun OpenLook without a mouse? #sun4m #retrocomputing #retrounix
leadedsolderJun 24, 2024
Old blog post! Remember when... my workbench was clean enough to put a broken SGI Octane on it? I should get back to this thing sometime. https://www.leadedsolder.com/2018/08/13/sgi-octane-running.html

#retrocomputing #sgi #retrounix #silicongraphics
SGI Octane runs again

Repairing a Silicon Graphics Octane computer that will not boot

Leaded Solder