Crashedfiesta

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You wait ages for one blog on an ancient obscure UK Unix workstation from the 1980s and then two turn up at once (sort of).

Parts 12 and 13 of my escapades with the Torch Triple X:

https://crashedfiesta.blogspot.com/2026/03/putting-scart-before-composite-horse.html

https://crashedfiesta.blogspot.com/2026/03/getting-to-scart-of-matter-torch-triple.html

Putting the SCART before the (composite) horse. Torch Triple X - Part 12

(Reposted) One of the major issues of vintage/retro computing as a hobby is that a lot of our beloved equipment is just wearing out. When th...

Happy Monday. Another blog about some obscure computer that no-one uses any more. This one is about the same computer I've been banging on about for at least two years..

https://crashedfiesta.blogspot.com/2025/09/torch-triple-x-part-11-highs-and-lows.html

Torch Triple X - Part 11 - The Highs and Lows (and Highs) of Retro Computing

Last time I managed to get the Torch Triple X system to boot an image that did not require the key disk. Yay! The only problem is that, alth...

I know it's late but you know that you want to read a blog about a 1979(ish) Commodore PET by someone who's never even seen one before..

https://crashedfiesta.blogspot.com/2025/09/now-i-have-even-older-one-pet-4032.html

Now I have an even older one - PET 4032

It was my birthday a little while ago. To celebrate, Mrs Crashed arranged for us to go to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park...

It's 4th July. There's only one way to celebrate the day. By reading another blog about the same obscure 1980's British computer that I was banging on about last time.

https://crashedfiesta.blogspot.com/2025/07/txxx-x.html

Torch Triple X - Part X (that's 10 in roman numerals you know.)

Before we start todays epic, well written and informative blog*, here's a quick video which I took a few days ago.  * your mileage may vary ...

It's Friday. It's 11 o'clock. You know what that means!

Another blog about an obscure British computer from the 1980's.

https://crashedfiesta.blogspot.com/2025/06/icanalmosttouchit-torch-triple-x-part-9.html

I..Can..Almost..Touch..It.. - Torch Triple X - Part 9

And then I grabbed it firmly with both hands... Ever since Part 8 of this series, I've been trying to get the Torch to accept the keydisk th...

Finally managed to finish my blog post on RetroFest '25. Looking forward to '26! 😁

https://crashedfiesta.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-festival-of-retro-stuff-in-2025.html

A Festival of Retro Stuff in 2025. RetroFest '25!

Years ago, one of my colleagues came into the little office I occupied with another colleague and excitedly told me he'd just got some great...

Haven't We Been Here Before? Cifer RAM Shenanigans

You'd think that after showing the Cifer some love it would appreciate not being in a skip and show a bit of gratitude. Sadly, it didn't for...

My latest blog. A bit of a scatter gun of updates but real life keeps getting in the way of important retro computing things...

https://crashedfiesta.blogspot.com/2025/03/dark-in-here-isnt-it-death-light.html

DARK IN HERE, ISN'T IT? - Death, The Light Fantastic

Darnit. I thought that quote was 'Quiet in here....' but there you go. I've been quite quiet recently, mostly because this thing called 'rea...

Phew! The thinnest wire I have (a tiny bit thicker than the original) used to replace the original fuse wire. Everything starts correctly now. The fuse was for the -12v line which I assume must have something to do with the CRT HV starting..

I'm not worried about the wire being a tiny bit thicker as I won't be blundering through there again in a hurry. And it really is only a fraction thicker.

Anyway, it works. 😁
#retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

A crap night. While measuring voltage at a power connector on the Cifer 1887 I slipped, shorting GND to 12v very briefly. Just a spark but now it's completely dead, CRT and all. Got the PSU out and one of the fuses has blown. Not sure if that's all that's wrong. I frickin' hope so.
#retrocomputing