Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Repairing our old Apple computer so we can finally try out that Mad Magazine computer listing from 1985!

0:00 Mad Makes fun of PCs
0:16 Laziness greater than Nerdiness
0:33 Asking Google Gemini to do the typing
0:42 Fixing a Smoking RIFA Capacitor
1:37 Transferring code to the Apple IIe
2:49 After 40 years, running the Mad program!
4:08 Modern Teen, Ancient Games...
4:31 Software piracy was rampant in the 1980s
5:20 Google Gemini - More than Just OCR!
6:16 Overview of process, final thoughts
6:48 The Apple IIe Repair Song!

Lyrics:
I was firing up my old computer
When it decided it would fire up on me!
On the side of the case, I saw smoke
Oh no! Looks like it's broke!
Should I maybe check the wires?
Why is this thing starting fires?

My Apple has a smokin' RIFA
Time to replace those old bad caps
Then I can teach my son to code
And maybe write some basic apps.
Gonna look inside and fix it
Doesn't look that hard to me...
Replace that nostalgic fire hazard
Get a smoke-free Apple 2e

Way back in the 80s
Never worried about a fire risk
Hit Control Open Apple Reset
Then inserted that floppy disk!
But now I'm a little nervous
Every time I turn it on
Will it beep and act normal
Or is it just too far gone?