20 Jul
2006
20 Jul
'06
4:52 p.m.
I have several old Apple IIs, a TRS-80 (new in the box), and a few other
older computers. I would like to get them all running again, if
possible. I have been putting computers together since the late 80s,
but have little knowledge of actual computer electronics repair
(soldering, replacing broken wires, etc.). I would appreciate any
suggestions about good, accurate, thorough books to purchase so that I
can start teaching myself the basics. There are a number of such books
out there, but I am having difficulty evaluating the accuracy and
thoroughness of them.
I have yet to find even an adequate book on computer repair :-(.
PC books are going to be boardswapper guides, and will be useless for
repairing 8 bit micros (it's a moot point whether they're even useful for
repairing PCs ;-)).
Most other books seem to contain a very basic introduction to
electronics, a bit on test gear, and then maybe some mangled examples.
Other than the service manual (which should exist at least for the
TRS80), my recomendation would be to learn electronics at least well
enough to understand how these machines should work (a good book for this
is 'The Art of Electronics' by Horrowitz and Hill), then read every book
you can find on electronics troubleshooting and repair (radio, TV, etc,
even valve stuff -- the basic ideas of making measurements, thinking
about them, then finding the fault have not changed, and probably can
never change).
-tony