Repairing Martin Galway's Commodore 128

Summary

In this video, The 8-Bit Guy embarks on a fascinating journey to revive a unique Commodore 128D belonging to legendary chiptune musician Martin Galway. After Galway moved to Austin and handed over his non-functioning computer, the adventure begins with an exploration of its European features, challenges posed by the UK power system, and a series of troubleshooting steps. Enlisting help from June, a C128 expert, they tackle power supply issues, monitor compatibility hurdles, and finally, a tricky disk drive repair. This technical odyssey not only restores a piece of computing history but also highlights the complexities and rewards of vintage computer repair, culminating in Galway's joy at seeing his beloved machine return to life.

Takeaways

• 😀 The computer belongs to famous video game musician Martin Galway
• 💻 It's a European Commodore 128D that was brought from the UK to the USA
• 🚧 The computer wasn't working properly so Dave offered to try and fix it
• 🔌 The power supply was damaged during shipping to the USA
• ⚙️ With help, Dave diagnosed and replaced the broken power transformer
• 📀 The floppy disk drive was also found to be non-functional
• 💾 The disk drive mechanism was replaced with a working one
• 👍 After repairs, the computer and disk drive were operational again
• 🖥️ Despite trying many monitors, only an HDMI converter displayed properly
• 😄 Martin was happy to get his computer working again

Q & A

Who is Martin Galway and why is his computer significant?

Martin Galway is a famous chiptune musician known for his work on over 60 video game scores, particularly on platforms like the Commodore 64, NES, and Amiga. His computer is significant because it personally belonged to him and was used in the creation of his music.

What makes the European 128D computer mentioned in the script unique in the USA?

The European 128D is unique in the USA because it was never officially released there. The US received the 128D cost reduced version, which was made of metal and not considered portable, unlike the European version.

Why did Martin Galway decide against cleaning and retrobriting his computer?

Martin Galway decided to keep his computer in its original condition due to the various stickers on it, which likely held sentimental value or marked significant events or achievements related to his career.

What were the main challenges faced during the repair of Martin Galway's computer?

The main challenges included dealing with a computer that wouldn't power on correctly, a damaged 9V transformer likely caused by rough handling during shipping, and difficulties finding compatible PAL equipment in the USA for testing.

How was the problem with the 9V AC supply in the computer resolved?

The problem with the 9V AC supply was resolved by diagnosing a physically broken transformer and then replacing it with an external power brick, after an unsuccessful attempt to repair the original transformer.

Why was a modern video capture device used during the repair process?

A modern video capture device that supports both PAL and NTSC was used because PAL-compatible monitors are rare in the USA, and this device allowed for the testing of the computer's video output.

What discovery was made about the disk drive during the repair?

It was discovered that the disk drive, which had not been used for a long time, was not working. The drive mechanism was ultimately identified as the problem after testing with a known-good drive mechanism.

How did the team manage to find a replacement for the broken transformer?

Finding an exact match for the broken transformer proved to be impossible due to specific requirements. A close match was eventually found, but it required creative mounting inside the computer.

What was the outcome of the repair efforts on Martin Galway's computer?

The repair efforts were ultimately successful, restoring the computer to working condition, although the original monitor remained unrepaired due to the challenges of finding compatible PAL equipment in the USA.

What does the script reveal about the differences in video game development hardware and practices between the UK and USA?

The script highlights the challenges of working with hardware that was region-specific, such as PAL vs. NTSC video standards, and the unique practices of video game development, like using a separate development system connected via cable for code testing, which was a common practice for Martin Galway.