Dreamcast.nu - Retrodrömmar

How to install MS-DOS on a CF-card without using a floppy

Dreamcast 8 December, 2019 0 Comments

This information is based on http://theinstructionlimit.com/installing-ms-dos-6-22-on-a-486-without-a-floppy-drive-using-a-cf-to-ide-adapter and is more of a note to self. Anyway, as a retrocomputer enthusiast I often find myself in the following situation: I have a compact flash to IDE adapter with a suitable CF-card. However, I do not have a floppy drive on the retrocomputer that I want to install MS DOS to. Furthermore, I also need to install Ontrack…
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Okategoriserade

Gameboy DMG-01 Bivert + VGA mod

Dreamcast 23 November, 2019 0 Comments

I have a tendency to buy broken Gameboys on Swedish eBay for around $20-$25, and then fix them. They usually suffer from two faults that are easy to repair: corrosion on the battery connectors, and vertical lines on screen. However, in some cases, the screens are beyond repair (if they have dead horizontal lines, or damaged flexible PCBs). Then, a VGA mod may come in…
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Okategoriserade

Compaq Contura 420C laptop hinge repair

Dreamcast 1 August, 2019 0 Comments

I bought a Compaq Contura 420C laptop for a fairly good price at Swedish eBay. The downside? Both hinges were broken. It seems like this is a common problem on these old laptops. In this post I will show how I repaired them. It is by no means a pretty fix, since I lack the tools to weld metal pieces together. But it works. I…
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Repair and refurbish

Chinese “MP5” PSP Clone: What to expect, and tips and tricks

Dreamcast 30 June, 2019 2 Comments

I picked up one of those chinese portable gaming/video/music/camera handhelds super cheap at Swedish eBay, just out of curiosity. These units come under a variety of name such as “X6” etc and can be bought on Amazon, Wish, Ali Express etc. They are a slightly more advanced variant than the small “Gameboys” bundled with a number of NES games. In this post I will write…
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Movies and entertainment

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) disassembly and cleaning

Dreamcast 26 June, 2019 0 Comments

In this post, I will make a full disassembly of a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), including cleaning the 72-pin cartridge connector. If you experience “pink” screen or having problems running games, this is the first measure to get your NES in working order again. The unit I am working on is an ex-rental. This unit has never been opened before, and is in excellent condition,…
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Repair and refurbish

Compaq PS2 keyboard broken key fix

Dreamcast 23 June, 2019 0 Comments

As described in another post, I’m using a Compaq Presario CDS 520 as a MS DOS gaming machine. I bought it in almost perfect condition from Swedish eBay, except for a broken “right arrow” key on the keyboard. In this post I will describe how to fix that. First, separate the top and bottom of the keyboard by removing the three marked screws below. As…
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Repair and refurbish

Compaq Presario CDS 520

Dreamcast 2 June, 2019 13 Comments

In this post I will write some hopefully useful observations from working with the Compaq Presario CDS 520, with the goal of turning it into a MS DOS gaming machine, similar to my Presario 433 I owned as a child. (This post is updated on a regular basis). Compaq Presario CDS 520 specifications Year: 1994 CPU: Intel 486 SX2 66 MHz (upgraded to an Intel…
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Retro computers

Compaq, Dosgaming, msdos

Original Xbox laser cleaning

Dreamcast 26 April, 2019 0 Comments

If you recieve a message “Your Xbox can’t recognize this disc. Make sure it’s an Xbox game, DVD movie, or audio CD. Also check to see if the disc is dirty or damaged. Remove the disc to continue.” from your old Xbox, it might be time to clean the laser. In this post I will show you how to open your console, and clean the laser….
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Repair and refurbish

Microsoft, Xbox

Nintendo Gamecube: disassembly and cleaning

Dreamcast 31 March, 2019 0 Comments

In this post I aim to disassembly and clean a dirty Nintendo Gamecube. To do this, you need a special Gamebit screwdriver, and a couple of ordinary Philips screwdrivers + some cleaning products (soap, water, alcohol). Follow this guide step by step and assemble in reverse order. The Gamecube is relatively easy to work with since it is a modular build, similar to the Dreamcast….
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Repair and refurbish

Gamecube, Nintendo

Nintendo 64: How to fix a stuck reset button

Dreamcast 19 March, 2019 0 Comments

A common fault on Nintendo 64-consoles is that the reset button gets jammed. When it is pressed, the console won’t start. In this post I will show how to fix the reset button. You will need: A Gamebit special screwdriver for Nintendo products (available at Wish, Aliexpress, eBay etc) A cleaner (isopropanol, or soap and water) A lubricant (I prefer silicon spray) Step 1: Open…
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Repair and refurbish