Commodore 64 Repair Help

Ok. I bought a breadbin C64 from eGay for a pretty good price. It powers up fine, but i have a blank screen.

I have read countless articles, forum posts and guides. You name it. All telling me that i need to check this chip by doing this and that chip doing that.

I don't know what the hell i am doing.

Can anyone help me breath life back into this piece of gaming history please? Could someone teach me how to properly repair these things please? And could someone also explain to me how the system works please? (I.e. what's going on inside). I have a good knowledge of modern computing, but i suck at anything older than myself.

If anyone can help, thanks in advance!

- P.S. Where you choose an icon for the thread... No C64 one? :O

Edit: Just realised i've put this thread in the wrong section. If a mod sees this, can you relocate it to 'Repair, Restoration and Conservation/Preservation' please?

 

Not wanting to be rude, but you said it - you don't know what you're doing. To answer your question, you need to learn basic electronics, then learn how a computer is assembled, how to use a service manual and basic fault finding. Then you'll be able to have a go at this. With no disrespect, I wouldn't attempt such a repair without a bit more knowledge. You're very unlikely to have the equipment required, if you don't know basic fault finding.

To be more technical, a basic starter would be to check the circuit is being supplied the correct voltage. If it is, you can start testing sections - video circuit, RAM, clock, CPU (send reset - is there any activity on the address lines)?

Go to your local college and see if they do night courses in electronics. That would be your best way to start, as you'll be learning theory and practicing, with all the tools you need available to you. After that, you can read up on how a computer works - there were some good books back in the Commodore era.

As for the icon, this forum is primarily for game consoles, hence no old computers.

[EDIT]

Requested move for you

Once you've nailed the basics, here's a copy of the service manual, complete with theory and troubleshooting guide:

http://www.robotsandcomputers.com/computers/manuals/c64_sm92.pdf

That will make sense once you know the basics, don't worry! And, incidentally, it states check PSU for blank screen, then a bunch of chips and resistors.

 

if im not mistaken, wasnt there a console only version of the C64?

yes i know off topic... but anyway.

it could be a whole heap of anything especially on a system that old

1st step i'd take disregarding the good advice above of course, is to strip it down n look for the obvious, spillages, blown components, shorts, dry / cracked solder joints, loose connections / wires

but if you dont have much of a clue in what you're doing, youtube and google are also helpful.

for more indepth info on the C64 like you requested you might be better off hitting up a C64 specific forum / group / site

 

Lol yeah, the C64GS. Ugly thing!

Naturally, visual inspection is the first port of call, for sure! If that doesn't give you a clue, though, you'll have to go for standard fault finding - i.e. a combination of common checkpoints and seeing what the service manual suggests

 

Thanks for your help guys

I've been wanting to learn a bit more about the systems i love electronically, and now what a better chance! :witless: I am pretty competent already, but i'd like to learn properly from someone who knows precisely what they're doing. It'd be nice to increase my knowledge :cocksure:

Now, to read the service manual!