I have no idea why I like these videos so much. I don't know anything about retro PC systems like this and don't really care to ever own any, but it's just so satisfying to watch this guy restore them. I think he has a real passion for what he does, and it shows in how meticulously he goes over each individual part of the machines to bring them back to their original condition.
He puts so much work into the visuals in this videos. They really help explain what he's talking about and I appreciate that he takes the time to make them.
I just found a laser compact XT at a Goodwill outlet today with its original power supply!!! total for it was something like $8. It’s missing a couple keys and key posts sadly, but it powers on and an image appears! I’ll have to find out how to actually use it now, cause it seems like tons of fun
I have something to say... It's kinda personal, but there is. I live in South Brazil, and I really feel that people in my country doesn't cares at all about any kind of history, specially about electronics. They just treat anything 5+ years old like totally garbage. It's so amazing to know that are people out there, just like you, that really dedicates to preserve the history of such things. I love collecting those kind of things as well, but because of what I've said, theres little to nothng left, and if there is, is stupidly pricey... Anyway, keep doing that great job that is your channel. My best wishes for you!
Just the retro videogame community, wich is not as large as you imagine, and within that community, some people just really overprice stuff and... it's just a mess
Raposa Dislexa My parents are like this. My dad thinks any electronics more than like 3 years old aren't worth owning. I'm glad I'm old enough to buy my own stuff now, when I was a kid I got so pissed at that mindset.
We had still had IIe's, C64s and Laser XTs in my early elementary school classes - sometime around '89-90. I have a vivid memory of one of my teacher bringing the Laser into class, had obviously taken it home to do work. The idea of a "portable" computer at the time seemed so cool. Cool to see one working again.
"Hopefully someday I can find the original power supply for it." *Next month in: 8-Bit Guy Donations* "Oh wow! A Laser XT power supply. Thanks ______!!
While the original PSU may be more authentic, it will probably require replacing at least half of the components such as capacitors for reliable operation...
Cool. I have a Laser Compact XT. It was my first MS-DOS computer. Let me know if you need any documentation I have the original 3-ring binder documentation that I could copy and send along. It is possible to upgrade this machine a little bit. On mine, I added an addition UART and RS232 line driver chips so as to enable Com2. I also added an XT expansion card slot on the side so I can plug in 1 card, or even an expansion chassis. (The expansion chassis was purported to be an option, but I don't think it was ever actually sold. I think the problem may have been because of FCC emission certification.) Its a fine little machine. I haven't actually watched all your video yet, but they might have come with a 1MB EMM expansion card inside which is useful in setting up a RAM drive. Glad to see this machine on your channel. Brings back memories. I'll have to dig mine out and see if it still works.
Would be a happy buyer if you ever want to pass it on. I spent several years as a kid beating the life out of this exact machine. transported me and 100% responsible for my life path. Nice to hear you mention it.
Hey 8 bit guy! I just wanted to say we all appreciate the thorough amount of work you put into your restorations. Summing it up in one video makes it seem like it's not much, but we can tell it's a lot of effort. Keep it up, we love your videos!
Patrick star ...or it's a full composition I made on request from David, based on a sample loop from one of my Vengeance sample sets. ;) soundcloud.com/eox-studios/morning-dew I've never heard of the song you referred to, but do provide me with a link, I'm very interested to hear it. :)
Anders, the music around 14:40 is that from Troubled hearts ? I have tried to search youtube as I love the other music of yours but could not find it :(
That was my first computer and as a kid I spent 3 years squeezing and pounding out every single bit of power it had. I've been buying all my old time "things" lately and I found your video. Put a smile on my face. I hope to find one soon. Thanks
You're lucky dude, my dad used to have a C64! I wanted it so bad before he told me he sold it a long time ago ;^; But still I hope to have one someday! ^w^
@@minecracktyler if you like old retro computers, you should join Vogons.org, a message board where they talk about all kinds of retro computer hardware and software.
@@rebelrailz. If you're willing to restore one yourself, you can get a couple parts ones for $50 on Ebay and make a working one. Very good condition ones seem to be going for around $350 right now. The C64 is very easy to emulate on modern computers too if it's just the software you're interested in.
Your restoration series is one of my all-time favorite shows, youtube or otherwise. I love seeing these things nursed back to health that would otherwise just get recycled or destroyed.
First, I like the music choice! Second, as an idea for Future power problems on other machines; it may be worth it to keep the atx supply, and add more plugs as you go along, perhaps making it into a universal power supply. It could save you quite the hassle of either tracking down a supply to be able to use a machine, or possibly having a bad power supply, which could damage the electronics. Hopefully this helps!
To be fair, if he does this a lot he should probably invest in a set of bench power supply modules. You can get cheap ones off ebay that work reasonably well for something like $20 per module, or slightly more depending on voltage and current limits. Granted this system would have demanded 4 modules... But you can easily get anything between 0 and 20 volts at up to 3 amps from them. So if you run into something weird needing say, 17 volts, or 7.5 or whatever... You can at least test those fairly easily...
AT is actually a better solution here. Early computers relied heavily on the 5V rail, but newer, atx power supplies have most of their capacity on the 12v rail, with an underpowered 5v rail.
I really enjoy your videos. I just received an NES-101 top loader I won on EBay in the mail today. I was cleaning it and it's accessories with Windex while watching this video.
I find these videos oddly cathartic, just seeing the care with which you bring old and sometimes forgotten pieces of technology back to their former glory tickles me in all the right ways.
I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it, Thank you to anyone who restores and documents older technology, you do a great service to current and future generations.
As an MSX fanboy, I've gotta say I prefer the OPLL FM soundtrack from the MSX2 version of Fire Hawk to any other. I know the MT-32 and PC-88 versions are technically more complex and contain more layered music, but there's just something about the sound of the MSX-music chip -- and the way the tracks were arranged for it -- that makes me ludicrously happy whenever I hear it. ...And regardless, Fire Hawk is an amazing game. Fun fact, if you've only played the Sierra release: Sierra removed the intro and most of the ending for some reason, replacing it with a miniature intro comic included in the box. Except... the comic was very different from the intro featured in every Japanese version of the game. In the comic, Joanna (whose original name is Joshua, because Game Arts apparently didn't understand the concept of gendered names!) actually STOLE the Fire Hawk suit to rescue Arthur -- whereas in the original Japanese releases of the game, she was a high-ranking military officer assigned to a Fire Hawk unit, along with many other military officers. I like the Japanese version of the story better, because not only is Joanna/Joshua depicted as a strong, capable female military officer (as opposed to an overly emotional and impulsive thief), but the downed Fire Hawk units you find during the course of the game seem somehow more meaningful when you realize that they're your colleagues, who were sent on the same mission as you... and you've made it farther than they did. It's a very subtle thing, but I think it really affects the game's atmosphere in a profound way. I also think it says a lot about gender roles in early '90s America that Sierra felt compelled to make this change in the first place.
Wyrdwad Wow! Cool, I didn't know the back story and those differences from the Japanese original. Very interesting! I visited Rob Atesalp this summer while working with David here, and he told me all the stories from the days at Sierra making music for them. He actually composed and transcribed/ported much more than he was credited for. Really cool guy, we grabbed a few beers and jammed a little in his kitchen. Going to finish the song as soon as I get some more time. :) I also have planned a remix of the Thexder II theme he made too, just need to crack the code to honour the great work he did on it. I guess I also need to check out the MSX version too. :)
This was my first computer! Sadly, I sold mine years ago, long before I started collecting retro computers. It’s nice to a video on this system. Thanks
When I was 10, Laser was pretty much my favorite company. I wanted a 128 EX/2 and this XT, so I could have lookalike IBM and Apple computers. Service Merchandise and Sears were likely to have both!
I'm sure you know this by now but, oh lord never put a power supply into an unmatching piece of equipment unless you are sure it's compatible. A lot of people have fried ZX Spectrums this way because Spectrums have a center negative barrel jack which is very unusual, almost always the center is positive unless it's various pieces of music equipment.
Nukleon I've come across a few odds and ends that had that center negative power supplies. If polarity isn't marked, I'll open up the device in question and see if I get a clue. I think that most DC inputs are positive center (negative "ground") due to automobile lighters being wired that way, and a lot of portable electonics use a "lighter plug". It kinda became a defacto "standard" even if said device was something other than 12 volts and would never be in a car. But yeah on DC inputs, there is no actual "standard" - Better check and not guess!
James Slick what I do if I'm unsure I'll often Google it first and see what I find if it isn't something I have to open or if it isn't real apparent when the device is opened.
It's more a question of age in my experience. Up until to like .. mid-90ies, early-2000s center negative was "normal", then everything more or less suddenly changed over. Music equipment just kept it
Except with a lot of portable radios and 8-track decks, those were still mostly center positive... Probably because they were designed to be used in a car or boat.
We had these in my highschool. I feel so old right now. I remember they were incredibly outdated when we got them, but they were just used for Borland Pascal and some Space Quest at lunchbreak.
Hey Dave, hope all ok. Thanks for this amazing video about the laser, very unusual stuff :). About the power supply you can get a cheap one for the ATARI 520 ST, as they are cheap on ebay and they have the same voltages outputs so you just change the connector,the Laser has 3 grounds and the Atari has 2 but in the laser 2 of them are common so you can connect them together and you will get a almost original look power supply as the original one is hard to get, you can get it but can take years, all the best from Southampton UK.
Oh man, this was my very first computer. We later got a 386 SX 25 Laser computer in 1992 -- a more conventional set up but with a slimline proprietary case, it was already pretty much obsolete when we got it. I ran my BBS on it until the power supply went out about 4 years later. Wish I still had it to give it to you, but as I remember, the first thing to go out was the power supply for both the XT and the 386 (which had a proprietary internal power supply).
Its a complete enigma why i am watching since i have no interest in computer restoration but it definitely is a compliment for you as the Maker/Editor. Keep up the great work!
Your restoration videos are definitely my favorites of the videos that you make. It's really interesting to see the techniques and methods you use, and I love the way you describe the process as you go through it. (I love your other videos too of course)
The laser 128 has a special place in my heart. It was my first computer that I owned. It came with a book that taught me BASIC. I need to get another one.
You might want to buy some sugru (maybe black and white, for mixing the exact shade of grey) and then mould a replacement strain relief from it, for the DIN plug. Of course that wouldn't reproduce the shape of the original strain relief, but since sugru is rubbery and flexible, a thinning sleeve should be functionally identical.
Thanks for this video. I grew up with a Laser 128 Apple clone. I didn't realize it was a clone until I saw your video and it jogged my memory. A lot of fond memories on that machine.
I hate those proprietary connectors, they only make things worse. I think videos like these transcend being just another video on RU-vid and become an important part of the history of PCs and technology in general. Good job, you're doing the (tech)gods work!
Watching your restoration videos has genuinely helped me make quite a few of my vintage computers *and* electronics look practically new! I thank you so much, and when I'm back in the job-saddle, you have a Patreon subscriber!
Another fantastic video, Dave! I love your attention to detail, and explanation of all your steps. Always a joy to watch your videos, and makes me want to try some restoration myself! Kudos!
You can easily get -12 volts from +12 volts using an ICL7660. It is very cheap and easy to use chip, available in DIP8, only needs two external capacitors to work.
shiru8bit Ahh, I just mentioned something similar. hehe I've seen some small DC-DC reg boards for negative rails online. Shouldn't be too hard to hook up, and a lot more compact than the old AT / ATX PSU. There aren't that many modern replacement PSUs for retro machines (that don't cost a small fortune, and still have the negative outputs). Hmmm. Idea for future project. lol
I believe that in many (most?) AT computers -12 line is only used for COM (serial) port, so connecting it to -5 should be fine most of the time. Even just connecting it to ground is enough to make some COM-port devices working. However please note that it's only an educated guess, I didn't research schematics of old motherboards to prove I'm right. Irregardless, omitting or grounding -5v rail on pre-pentium motherboards would likely lead to burned out memory and other chips since it provided negative bias for some components. However, the bias current is minimal and a small DC-DC converter or even a battery should be enough.
Thank you for doing this video. It brings back memories. I have a Laser 128 sitting in my garage for over almost 30 years now. I will go see if it still works. Looking forward to see your documentary video. Thank you again.
Holy guacamole man. Your videos is like awesome gift for gray day weekend. So satisfying, watching how you restorate old PCs. I never regret about subscribe on your channel. Thankeree ;).
Thank You for this intuitive video, I summed up the courage to open my laser compact XT for cleaning, used some air on the ram and it sprang to life, booted up, then checked the drive and have it working. Key board sticks but i will attempt to clean it. I must say that this machine was last used during 1989 to perhaps 92. been in storage all these years, but now.. IT'S ALIVE !! I am not gonna worry much about the actual keys, but i will look at the contact board and clean. BTW all keys are intact. I also just realized that I had attached a second external drive a 3.5 backpack, so after key board that is next. Thank You so much again....Upon operation checkout..it might be for sale. Michael in Tucson AZ
Fantastic job. Inspires me to get my nowhere near as obscure machines cleaned up and working again. I'll need to get a few more bits of kit but I'm starting to get an idea of what to do.
I had one of these. Bought it in '88 at a computer show. Added a 10 MB IBM HD and the thing really flew. It was as solid as a brick, and I can't recall having any problems with it. Got rid of it a couple of years later, in favor of a 386SX machine, which flew even higher.
Not a bad idea in concept but with keyboard sliders you have to be careful with the tolerances so it would most likely require some test fitting and/or sanding perhaps
Know from experience it doesn't work very well because you have to have extremely fine resolution which most consumer models can't reproduce. That and the resulting key stalk works a lot better if it's smooth, which you can achieve with sanding and acetone, but it's a lot of work and it'll never be as good as just getting a piece from the parts machine you have right next to you anyways.
@@AiOinc1 Resin printing might be a better choice for something like this than FDM printing. Though you could also just use resin casting to duplicate one of the existing parts...
Awesome! My family's first computer was a Laser Compact XT. My parents bought it from Sears, if I remember correctly. It really brings back memories to see this video.
You got this one up like a new pin! With regards to the snapped keyboard stalks... it got me thinking about resin casting. A keyboard stalk would be a great candidate for it...
Getting 3D printed plungers to slide properly is a bit of a challenge, but the shape doesn't have any evil undercuts, you can simply mould it off in 2K silicone and cast in epoxy, and it'll be an excellent reproduction. And i mean i have a 3D printer and i 3D print just about EVERYTHING i can think of, and i love sitting there in CAD for an evening, it's just so addicting, but IDK sometimes people lose track of TRIVIAL techniques that don't need any extra equipment at all.
The Lazer 128 was my second computer, after my family’s Commodore 64, back when I was around 6!years old. Always curious about the history of these, since I had never seen another since. Thank you so much for this video.
