I didn't notice until watching video after uploading (while RU-vid was processing it) that capacitor C3 (time 4:47) on the Compaq board appears to be missing. That may explain some of the problems, but I don't think it explains all of them. What the heck capacitor values should be used to replace them?!?
Looks like it's not populated on the only picture of the same board on the retro web (search for 143320-001). What you're seeing with the keyboard dropping out suggests there's a short or other fault there. Perhaps that round disc which should be a resetting fuse, isn't passing sufficient current now. Basically, trace the 5v pin on the PS/2 kb connector and see if it's getting 5 volts, perhaps a component in the way is broken / shorting. You've already cleaned with vinegar but it still looks pretty bad in that area so maybe try a harder brush. Try breaking off the soldermask that's darkened as that may have avoided the vinegar bath. Beyond that I'd start checking traces and put fresh solder and flux onto the bad looking solder areas to make sure they're conducting. The pictures I can find of the 4/33 aren't great but if you search on the totalgeekdom website you'll see another prolinea with a similar board which might help for reference.
The Compaqs of that age do have a nice look too them. I'm just bummed that I couldn't get that one working. I still have it, so I'll eventually take another swing at it.
I'm not particularly attached to it. I just keep forgetting to find something different. What I really want... I'll probably have to find someone to make for me. Either a chiptune version of "Entry of the Gladiators" or a chiptune Shepard tone (sound that always sounds like it's getting faster). Looking through the songs available to creators on RU-vid is... very tedious. :(
Not sure. Based on age... the Compaq probably has lead, but the VP3 motherboard could be either way. I haven't heard the phrase "plug-n-pray" in a long, long time. Lol
I really enjoy your videos. More than i do from the average tech RU-vidr i watch. Theres just something about you that makes your videos so fun and interesting to watch, just the excitement you show, the emotion, the way you explain things it just makes me want to know more everytime! Remember that video you made about slot CPUs? I watched that entire video till the very last second. Hope to see more from you soon.
Good to see you back and happy birthday. No worries for us, we'll be here even if you are late ;-) Worried about those keyboards. Are they dead? Please check the voltage that feeds the keyboard (and the two other lines) on the board connector !!!
I've tried both keyboards on two other computers, and there are no signs of life from them. I'm bummed about the Digital keyboard... but at least I don't have to clean the HP keyboard now! :) When I get back to that Compaq, I'm going to check all the voltages and the signals (with an oscilloscope) on that keyboard connector. It's all very... weird.
i have been working on my VLB DX2-66 machine, a PCI DX4-100, a Pentium 75 packard bell, a Pentium 100 SiS chipset based machine, a Pentium MMX 166 machine, a IBM Thinkpad 760EL, and a Pentium 3 Slot 1 machine
@@TalesofWeirdStuff the varta on the 486 board did leak but it damaged only a couple traces, and there was a bit of corrosion on the nimh connector in the 760EL but not too bad, keyboard and trackpoint work nicely. my other 486 board, a PCI one was less lucky, that one got drenched in acid and was completely dead due to that.
@@TalesofWeirdStuff i did end up using the 760EL to restore my 760C (keyboard, ESS 1688F, and screen) since i wanted a 90MHz P1 thinkpad for a DOS 6.22 laptop, since my Thinkpad 560 has the same specs.
I had never heard of desoldering alloy. That seems like it might have helped. From a quick search, it looks like most of the uses are for SMD desoldering. I'll do some more research, and I might be adding that to my kit. Thanks!
@@TalesofWeirdStuff dude I use it for through hole soldering all the time in my repair shop. 247-remalloy and chipquick rem45-nl. adding a good board warmer under it set to 120 degrees can help too if its really stuck in there while you use the alloy.
Life's that way sometimes. I had a book published that sat at the top of its Amazon category for 2 weeks, in the midst of some terrible life drama. I'm actually thankful they cancelled each other out, because the lows could have been so much lower.
100%. There were a few moments in the middle of all of it where I stopped and thought, "This is a great moment. Remember this moment." That's really what my "remember the good stuff" line is all about. In the middle of terrible times, there are good times too. If you don't make an effort to remember the good, when you look back on it years later, you'll only have the bad. And that, I can say without hesitation, SUCKS. :(
