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Hello - russelltaylor1967 - 26-04-2022
Hi all,
Many, many years ago, I found a Microbee/Mitac portable as part of a council cleanup. I then stashed this away, in my parents loft. During a clear-out I came across it again :-)
Like most, I guess I'd now like to get it up and running (if possible). So looking for any resource / documentation / hints@tricks that can get this machine running again.
Regards,
Russell.
RE: Hello - robert1949 - 26-04-2022
You will need to have electronic as well as digital fault finding experience in order to repair or refurbish these computers. It's all fairly basic stuff but you have to have the
experience as well as competent soldering abilities.
RE: Hello - ChickenMan - 26-04-2022
Hi Russell and welcome to the forum
The Microbee/Mitac Portable is a great little MS-DOS computer. We have its manual for it and thats about all unfortunately. I happen to have one and I do have its MS-DOS boot disks if you need a copy, I should be able to image them.
RE: Hello - russelltaylor1967 - 26-04-2022
Thanks Robert,
Soldering skills are reasonable to good. Also experience with fault finding, using Osc., DMM, etc. So *should* be ok. I'm certain the first thing to do is replace the caps. Main problem is that I don't have any manuals.
This machine is part of a smaller collection - Apple Classic, C64, Sparc and a Fujitsu FM-8. All in various states. This Mitac machine is probably going to be the most difficult as I can't seem to find a lot tech (or user) doco on it.
Russell.
Hi Chickenman,
Thank you.
I have noticed that there is a PDF manual - which must be the one you're referring to - but I can't seem to access it. However I'm still catching up on the reading / rules / etc - so I'd say my inability is 'user error'. I may however need the disks - as I don't have any s/w with the machine.
At this stage I'm just up to the 'cleaning 30 years from grime' from the case - I haven't even taken its lid off yet.
Russell.
RE: Hello - MbeeTech - 26-04-2022
Hello Russell.
Welcome to the forum
The first thing to do to your Microbee/Mitac Portable PC is to remove the real time clock backup battery.
These NiCad Batteries usually are the cause of much damage to aged computers as they corrode and leak
their contents onto the surrounding printed circuit board. The copper tracks on the PCB get eaten away.
Similar happens to any metal that it comes in contact with (connectors, passive and semiconductor components alike ).
RE: Hello - russelltaylor1967 - 26-04-2022
Thanks Ewan,
I didn't know that was a potential issue with this machine. Weekend job = take off the cover and check out the battery.
I have been through something similar with the Apple... a real mess.
Thanks for the tip. Will get on to that on the weekend. I'm afraid if I start now, I won't get any 'real' work done for the rest of the week.
Russell.
RE: Hello - ChickenMan - 26-04-2022
Once you get the top off and remove the battery as Ewan said, apply for Repository access here https://microbeetechnology.com.au/MTFR_Access/MTFR_Access.htm and then you can grab the manual, all 177 pages of it
I just checked we also have the power supply schematics and an article on fitting an external Floppy drive. There are a few reviews in some magazines also.
RE: Hello - MbeeTech - 26-04-2022
Hi Russell.
You already had repository access.
I've emailed you the details.
RE: Hello - russelltaylor1967 - 26-04-2022
Thank you both.
Looks like I know how I'll be spending my weekend now :-)
Russell.
RE: Hello - russelltaylor1967 - 01-05-2022
Hi all,
quick update :-) removed the Varta battery... very little corrosion fortunately - only a few, small areas of green "fur" - which I'll now clean. I was expecting worse. I opened a Mac Classic recently and the battery corrosion had eaten traces, components, and even a big chunk of the metal chassis (wasn't salvageable). So I was lucky here.
Now for some disassembly and cleaning. Thanks for the copy of the manuals and all the articles - they'll be a huge help.
Have a good weekend.
Russell.