Tech Stuff

These pages have recently been changed or updated in the Tech section:

• Virtual Pinball / Arcade Cabinet
• DOS Laptop Spreadsheet

• Network Booting with dnsmasq and friends - Using dnsmasq for DHCP, TFTP and PXE booting on various clients
  • NetBSD - Configuring dnsmasq to netboot NetBSD (x86, m68k)
  • Linux - Netbooting x86 Linux (Ubuntu, Mint) using dnsmasq
  • Solaris - Supporting network installation of Solaris on Sparc using rarpd/tftp/nfs
  • MS-DOS - Booting to a MSDOS/Win98 boot floppy image, for BIOS updates etc

• INMOS Transputers
  • Transputers - my collection
  • Transtech TMB08 - repair to working order
  • Modern Linux driver and python tools
  • Solaris Sparc VME host

• Building a retro gaming system with Ubuntu/Mint and EmulationStation
  • Installation & Configuration

Software I've written:

Cross Platform

• IBM/PC/DOS Game Launcher - Information & downloads - A game browser/database/launcher for native MS-DOS systems
• PC-98 Game Launcher - Information & downloads - A game browser/database/launcher for NEC PC-98 systems
• X68000 Game Launcher - Information & downloads - A game browser/database/launcher for Sharp X68000 systems
• OlderScrolls - A D&D style RPG game engine using a hybrid text-adventure/JRPG interface for multiple 8/16/32bit computers

Console Systems

• SEGA Saturn - RMenu builder for the Phoebe or Rhea optical drive emulators

Embedded Devices

• PyCosworth - Datalogger, interface and digital dashboard for the Weber Marelli/Ford Cosworth ECU

• Retro - Adding Modern Keyboards & Mice to Retro Computers
• Retro - Adding Modern Storage to Retro Computers
• Retro - Z80 N8VEM Mark IV computer, building, upgrading, addons...
• Hydra scart switcher and OSSC Scaler - Findings, problems and solutions
• GSCART scart switcher and OSSC Scaler - Testing
• GSCART scart switch mounting - Wall mounting
• Scart cable interference - Tracking down and fixing Scart cable interference
• Flash memory benchmarks - Benchmarking CF and SD cards for use as solid state drives in retro computers

• Video Game Captures & Reviews - main list
• Audio/MIDI Captures - main list

• Acorn Risc PC 700 - Refurbishing and battery leak fix
• BBC B / Master - Installing Lithium battery pack and resetting system settings
• BBC B / Master - Setting up and using the GoMMC flash drive
• BBC B / Master - Setting up and using the TurboMMC flash drive

• Macintosh IIci - Refurb and capacitor replacement
• Macintosh IIci - PSU fan replacement
• Macintosh IIci - Installing on a non-Apple disk

• Amiga 1200 - Tower case PSU fan replacement
• Minimig 1.1 - Information and firmware

• DTV Hacking - Turning a C64 DTV TV game into a fully working computer with disk drive and keyboard
• DTV Programming - Accessing advanced DTV features using C & the CC65 toolchain

• PET 2001 Restoration - Cleaning up and getting an old PET 2001 working again
• PET Software Development - C Compiler and tools

• MSX - Setting up and using the MegaFlashROM SCC+ flash card
• MSX - Keyboard, using an external PS/2 keyboard on the Padial keyboard interface

• Hardware
  • PC-98 - Using 1.44MB 3.5" HD floppy disks as 1.2MB floppies & writing them under Linux
  • PC-98 - Replacement IDE BIOS
  • PC-9821An - PSU fan replacement
  • PC-9821An - Motherboard capacitor check
  • PC-98 ClassicPC Club PS2 keyboard adapter - Keycodes, Manual
• Software
  • PC-98 - Installing DOS 6.20
  • PC-98 - Games, Interesting or cool looking PC-9801/PC9821 games, installers and links to translation patches
  • PC-98 - Development tools
  • PC-98 - C Code Examples
  • PC-98 - Writing a game launcher: pc98launcher
    • PC-98 Game Launcher - Information and downloads

• PC-Engine - Cyber Knight English translation
• PC-Engine - Using the Super SD System 3
• PC-Engine - Setting up, upgrading and using the Turbo Everdrive flash card

• SNES - Setting up, upgrading and using the SNES PowerPak flash card

• Blank PC page - for new entries

• 286 PC - history and repairs
• MT-32 Pi internal MIDI module installation (286 version)
• 286 Motherboard Shoot-out!
  • Peaktron PA286-SA1
  • Eurosoft HT12
  • VLSI 82C201
  • Biostar MB-1220VE

• MT-32 Pi internal MIDI module installation (386 version)
• 386 Motherboard Shoot-out!
  • FIC 386SC
  • Forex 386/486 Cache
  • PC-Chips M3211
  • UMC UM82C481

• Advantech PCA-6145 - 486 single board computer build
• Asus PVI-486SP3 - setting up
  • PS/2 mouse header - pinout

• Desktops
  • Digipos Pro
  • Tulip Visionline DT5/166
  • Garage Workstation - setting up a 'new' computer from spares and installing it in the garage

• Laptops
  • Clevo/Kapok/Sager/AJP 8500
  • Compaq Armada 1750
  • Dell Latitude X1
  • IBM Thinkpad 240
  • IBM Thinkpad 385ED
  • IBM Thinkpad 600X
  • IBM Thinkpad T43
  • Sony Vaio PCG-F807K/F808K/F809K
  • Sony Vaio PCG-Z505/Z600
  • Toshiba 480CDT
  • Toshiba 550CDT
  • Toshiba Portege R200
  • Laptop comparisons
    • DOS Laptop LCD scaling comparisons
    • DOS Laptop Audio comparisons

• Software & Development
  • Drive Overlay install - installing DDO / drive overlay software on a new disk, for a machine without floppy/cdrom
  • IBM PC DOS 7.1 - installing IBM PC DOS 7.1, an alternative FAT32 aware DOS from IBM
  • Writing a game launcher: x86launcher
    • IBM/PC/DOS Game Launcher - Information and downloads
  • Development tools - Modern development tools for DOS systems

• Setting up and using the GDEMU optical drive replacement

• Master System - Using the Master Everdrive v1
• Master System - Installing an RGB booster to fix image noise
• Master System - Installing an FM audio board
• Master System - Installing a 50/60Hz switch

• Mega Drive - Setting up a Neo Myth 3-in-1 flash card
• Mega Drive - Installing a 50/60Hz switch

• Saturn - Setting up the Rhea optical drive replacement
• Saturn - Setting up the menu for the PSeudo Saturn / RMenu Kai cartridge / RMENU system

• Hardware
  • X68000 - CZ-652C X68000 Pro #1, PSU Replacement & Troubleshooting
  • X68000 - CZ-652C X68000 Pro #2, the donor
  • X68000 - CZ-604C X68000 Super, the refurbished alternative
  • X68000 - CZ-652C X68000 Pro integrated circuit part list
  • X68000 - CZ-652C X68000 Pro capacitor part list
  • X68000 - TSR XSIMM10ss memory expansion
  • X68000 - Writing 5.25" floppies in Linux
  • X68000 - Using SCSI Zip/CD/MO drives
  • X68000 ClassicPC Club PS2 keyboard adapter - Keycodes, Manual
• Software
  • X68000 - Backing up folders
  • X68000 - Ray-Gun English translation
  • X68000 - Development tools
  • X68000 - C code examples
  • X68000 - Writing a game launcher: x68launcher
    • X68000 Game Launcher - Information & downloads
• You should also look at:
  • NFG Games Forum
  • Gamesx wiki
  • Tokugawa Corporate Forum - a Japanese computer forum
  • Tokyo Refuge - a X68000 games list site (like Mobygames, but has more obscure titles)

• Indigo 2 workstation - Specification, upgrades & current setup
• Octane 2 workstation

• Development tools - Using C compilers and other tools
• Graphics Programming - Displaying bitmaps and text
• Keyboard Repair - Repairing the non-functioning keyboard
• Microdrive Repair - Repairing the built-in tape Microdrives
• ROM Upgrade - Upgrading the standard ROM OS to Minerva
• Super Gold Card - Fitting a Super Gold Card accelerator
• Super Gold Card Floppy - Using PC floppy drive with the Super Gold Card

• Upgrading GAL chips and firmware selector for DivIDE+ storage
• Diagnosing and fixing Spectrum 128k +2 fault

• Playstation 1 - PSIO optical drive emulator fitting
• Playstation 1 - Using the PSIO

• Playstation 2 - Free McBoot & Installing/Updating Open PS2 Loader
• Playstation 2 - Transferring game images

• Vectrex - Modifications and addons
• Vectrex - Homebrew games list
• Vectrex - Pitrex ARM emulator/development cartridge