All Questions
5,787
questions
14
votes
1
answer
281
views
What happens on a VT102 when you use delete character on a reverse video line?
On a DEC VT102, suppose you have a line where all 80 characters (in particular, the rightmost character) are in reverse video. You then move the cursor to the start of that line and use DCH (ESC [ P) ...
- 363
19
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Did any microcomputers back in the day accelerate standard-cassette performance
Many commonplace cassette recorders in the 1970s and 1980s were capable of reading or writing two tracks at once (stereo). While that wasn't universal (portable cassette recorders were often monaural,...
- 34.7k
42
votes
1
answer
8k
views
What do the keys on this Symbolics Space Cadet keyboard do?
Old keyboards like the one below seem to have contributed a lot to the design of modern keyboards. So, obviously, some of the keys are familiar because they are on my own average (modern Windows and ...
- 1,710
21
votes
5
answers
1k
views
How were binary subroutines embedded in Integer BASIC programs?
Programs written in Apple's Integer BASIC sometimes had bits of machine code embedded in them. This was more convenient than loading the code separately, especially when the program was loaded from ...
- 8,775
21
votes
6
answers
7k
views
How can I emulate MS-DOS on OS X?
I am looking for a emulator for MS-DOS for OS X to run old games on.
Are there any free emulators for MS-DOS that run on an Apple machine with OS X?
user448
16
votes
3
answers
2k
views
The Tandy/TRS-80 Multipack Interface (MPI)
A popular, but, much maligned bus expansion device for the CoCo was the venerable MPI. There were several companies who made bus expasion devices for the CoCo, however, this question is related ...
- 1,731
32
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Why were early versions of BASIC different?
Most major computer manufacturers/distributors in the 70's and 80's included BASIC with their computers. Some (as answers to this great question have detailed: Why was BASIC built into so many ...
- 2,384
9
votes
1
answer
541
views
What software supported the Mockingboard on the Apple II?
Is there a list somewhere? Might be nice to compile a list here.
I'm assuming mostly games but also music and educational software made use of it.
- 1,048
84
votes
18
answers
19k
views
Why was BASIC built into so many operating systems?
There are a lot of retro-computers with BASIC as an integral part of the operating system. The IBM 5100 was one of the first computers with a separate memory space for BASIC, followed by the Commodore ...
- 18.5k
28
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Over its lifetime, how many Apple II computers were sold?
It would be nice to break it down by model if possible.
- 1,048
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What Commodore 64 emulator and assembler to use? [closed]
I'm about to do some assembly coding for the C64 but for sanity I would like to do the actual coding on my Mac with an emulator.
My question is; which is the most maintained/up-to-date emulator/...
- 203
29
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How do Amiga 600 CPU accelerators work?
The Amiga 1200 has a trapdoor expansion for CPU accelerators. The Amiga 500 has a side expansion port and its CPU is socketed.
But Amiga 600's expansion port is only useful for memory expansion ...
- 2,225
14
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Looking for a Z80 simulator/emulator for Linux
I've seen simulators for the 8085 (i.e., sim8085) but not the Zilog Z80.
Is there a similar sort of editor/assembler/compiler/debugger simulator for the Z80?
- 141
17
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is there a Linux client for Amiga Explorer?
I have some Amigas that I would like to be able to transfer files to/from using my primary desktop machine, a PC running Linux.
My Amigas do have CrossDOS installed, but transferring things in 720K ...
22
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How did the Amiga 500 left-side expansion port work?
On the Amiga 500 there is an expansion port
How did the expansion port work?
- 2,903
11
votes
3
answers
833
views
First computer/video game in history
I would like to learn a bit about the first games that were ever played on a computer-like device.
It may be a digital computer, a console, an embedded chip or micro-controller or even something ...
- 1,185
21
votes
5
answers
12k
views
How can I adapt a modern mouse for use with Amiga?
Death of the Amiga platform predated introduction of optical mice of reasonable quality by a couple years. The Amiga mouse was a box of problems, with non-ergonomic shape, crud-accumulating rollers ...
- 7,055
10
votes
3
answers
959
views
How to clean an old computer ball-mouse
I have an old mouse from a old HP computer which I am using with one of those PS2-to-USB converter cables.
The problem is that the mouse has changed its color a bit over the years and is now a bit ...
- 315
14
votes
2
answers
960
views
How can you tell if JiffyDOS is installed on a drive without opening it?
Is it possible (and if so, how) to tell if a drive has JiffyDOS installed without opening it and looking for the chip?
- 2,903
11
votes
2
answers
341
views
Rubber restoration or replacement?
I recently found an old Satellite 4015cds laptop that I wanted to play around with. I have cleaned all the plastic and it looks really good except for two places. The rubber touchpads and the rubber ...
- 113
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
How to access old laptop IDE hard drive
I have an old IDE hard drive from a Windows 98 HP computer. It has some data on it but I do not know how to access it.
- 315
9
votes
1
answer
327
views
What are the advantages of NitrOS-9 over OS-9?
Microware released the versions of the OS-9 DOS for the CoCo. A few years later, former employees (I believe) released NitrOS-9. Both appear to be multiuser/multi-tasking OS's.
What are the ...
- 1,731
17
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Are there any ZX Spectrum applications (mainly games or demoscene productions) that use a port other than $FE to access the ULA?
Although it is widely known that the ZX Spectrum ULA answers to any request to an even I/O address, all documentation state that the official port number to use should be $xxFE (where xx is any 8 bit ...
- 18.6k
8
votes
2
answers
715
views
Homemade ROM cartridge for Thomson TO7/70 home computer
I recently acquired a Thomson TO7/70 home computer. It came without any MEMO7 cartridges (ROM cartridges) that are necessary to properly use it. I found images of the ROMS, and a schematic, so in ...
- 26k
4
votes
2
answers
285
views
Breaking the CoCo 3 32K Cartridge Barrier
What is the max size for a cartridge based app on the Coco 3?
I believe the Coco 1 & 2 cartridge maxes at 16K, while the Coco 3 is 32K. However, I know there have been cart based games for the ...
- 2,367
18
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What are the differences between the versions of AppleSoft BASIC?
Apple did make some changes to AppleSoft BASIC over the years between the first version on the Apple II and the last version on the Enhanced IIe and IIe card. What are the differences between the ...
- 2,352
19
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Unable to install Colonization in DOSBox
I'm attempting to install Sid Meyer's Colonization in DOSBox from the original floppies, and it gives me the error message "You have specified a drive that doesn't physically exist!" when I ...
- 8,540
11
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What advantages are there to replacing Kickstart 3.0 with Kickstart 3.1?
I have an Amiga that has the Kickstart 3.0 ROMs installed. What advantages are there to replacing the Kickstart ROMs with 3.1? Is there any software that requires Kickstart 3.1 to function?
- 2,225
26
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How to get rid of yellowing in plastics?
I have some old electronics with white plastic that's starting to turn yellow. I know it's caused by flame retardants, UV rays, and so on. How can I restore my electronics to their former color?
- 17.4k
6
votes
5
answers
847
views
Does a market/shop with fully legal 8-bit software/games exist? [closed]
Currently about all of "8-bit micro" games that I know is either abandonware (which is a gray area) or free fan works. But is there some kind of shop, market, some place where you can purchase these ...
- 7,055
25
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why are there two, different, Kickstart 1.3 ROMs with the same 34.5 version number?
The Kickstart 1.3 ROM file that is supplied with Cloanto's Amiga Forever (amiga-os-130.rom) is very slightly different to that which you'd get by dumping a real 1.3 ROM from an Amiga 500.
...
- 5,271
4
votes
1
answer
195
views
How do I replace the battery on my Palm Zire 21?
My Zire 21 PDA's battery won't hold a charge for more than a few minutes. How do I replace it?
- 8,540
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Motorola 6809 Stack Blasting
I've seen several mentions of a "Stack Blasting" technique for copying memory quickly on the 6809. What is it? How does it work?
- 2,367
8
votes
1
answer
123
views
How to measure time with frame resolution or better using BASIC in an Oric Atmos 48K
Following in the line of this question
How can you measure time using BASIC on Atari XL computers?
I'd like to ask how can you do the same (measuring time, with a resolution of frames or better if ...
- 18.6k
12
votes
3
answers
542
views
Pair Am386 with i387
I've got a motherboard with a Am386/DX processor.
I've also got an Intel 387 coprocessor.
Is it possible to use the Intel 387 that I've got together with the Am386 or do I need a coprocessor from AMD?...
- 123
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How are held-down keys handled in CHIP-8?
The CHIP-8 has, among its instructions, the following ones:
Ex9E: Skips the next instruction if the key stored in VX is pressed.
ExA1: Skips the next instruction if the key stored in VX isn'...
- 2,642
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How can I programmatically tell which version of Apple II my code is on?
There are minor and major differences between the many Apple II models.
I would like to detect whether my 8-bit assembly language program is running on a II, II+, IIe (enhanced or not), or ///, and ...
- 7,418
8
votes
1
answer
657
views
Cleaning membrane keyboards
I have a 3003b CoCo 1 (the white one) with the melty keyboard. A few of the keys do not work. On a few of them, there appears to be a slimy substance that I've cleaned from the surface. The badge on ...
- 1,731
18
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How did the Epyx Fast Load cart work with a Commdore 64?
Why would adding a cart in your system suddenly speed up the C64 or the 1541 for loading games?
- 2,903
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can I run a NES emulator off the original cartridges?
Every NES emulator I've found runs off ROM dumps. Would it be possible to run an emulator using the original cartridges directly? It's probably not the most practical way of doing things, but the "...
- 8,540
22
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How was 8-channel audio achieved on Amiga?
Oktalyzer was a Tracker style program for Amiga, that allowed composing and playing music with 8 channels instead of the "hardware-natural" 4.
So far I learned it achieved that by splitting the 4 8-...
- 7,055
17
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How could Amiga computers play 14 bit sound?
The "Paula" chip used for sound output in all Amiga computers had 4 8bit sound channels (arguably comparable to 9bit stereo).
There were programs/libraries which could play 14bit stereo on the Amiga ...
- 1,743
7
votes
2
answers
224
views
Disto Super Controller II
A popular third party floppy disk controller for the Color Computer was the Super Controller II from Disto. It's main feature was a no-halt mode. Why was this desirable? How did the no-halt mode work?
- 2,367
9
votes
2
answers
403
views
Information about Sabre-ADS Model 757 terminal
Someone on reddit acquired a Sabre-ADS terminal, Model 757. They were used for airline reservation and probably connected to an IBM mainframe.
Is there anything known about the pinout and workings of ...
- 26k
18
votes
2
answers
908
views
Color BASIC RND function not so random
The RND() function for random numbers appears to give the same results each time the computer is reset. How do I seed the random number generator with a random number?
- 2,367
23
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How was digital sound playback achieved on the Commodore 64?
The Commodore 64 did not have any hardware dedicated to digital audio playback, so how were some games and songs able to achieve this on an unmodified and unextended Commodore 64? Did these ...
- 2,225
19
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Any difference between a VIC-1541 and a C64-1541?
I have both a beige VIC-20 styled VIC-1541 disk drive and the later brown C64 1541 drive. Is there a difference between them (besides how they look)?
- 2,903
10
votes
1
answer
231
views
CoCo Max Mouse Cartridge
The program CoCo Max came with a cartridge. The cartridge had a mouse/joystick port.
How did the CoCo Max Analog to Digital cartridge work? Is it possible to use the device in my own software?
- 2,367
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Commodore 64 with partly working keyboard
My Commodore 64 has developed a fault with the keyboard. Some of the keys are working and some aren't. As far as I can see there is no pattern and they are randomly distributed across the keyboard.
...
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why is the Apple II hi-res HGR command so slow?
The Apple II hi-res screen sits on 8KB of memory, so it should be possible to erase it quickly. The Applesoft HGR command is slow enough that the "Venetian blind" erasure is clearly visible. ...
- 8,775