When Spectrum is Sick: Folk Repairs and Magic Tricks

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I like old magazines. People looked into the future with optimism, you could type in a driver for a 1-dot printer or learn that someone had already seen a ZX Spectrum +3 with their own eyes in Czechoslovakia. Don't worry, this article is not about nostalgia for bygone days.

A letter from a reader of ZX Magazine (http://zxm.cz/zxm/1994-3-4.pdf, Mr. Ivan Svec) got stuck in my head, who mentioned that once in a while it is necessary to "get rid of viruses" in the computer. In this case, that means removing the chips from the sockets, tucking them into styrofoam covered with tinfoil and putting them back into the computer.

I remembered this letter recently when I decided to turn on my +2. On the screen appeared a mixture of flashing attributes, the border was blinking like crazy and the computer wasn't responding even to a reset. With sadness in my eyes I decided to search on ebay for a working +2, and the prices quickly assured me that this is not the way to go. So I opened up the computer, tucked the chips into the styrofoam covered with tinfoil and put them back into the computer's sockets. It started working and I'm hoping that this +2 will work as a demo machine for a few more Forever parties.

I like old magazines. You can find mysterious rituals and magical practices, but you don't get to ask too many questions when the Spectrum is sick.

mike/zeroteam