Uploaded May 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Each key’s foam in the Model 16’s Keytronic keyboard was shot, as were about 90% of the Mylar discs that actually made the connection. With new foam discs on the way, it was time to prep the keyboard.
Each key’s foam in the Model 16’s Keytronic keyboard was shot, as were about 90% of the Mylar discs that actually made the connection. With new foam discs on the way, it was time to prep the keyboard.




![Top-Tier Tandy CoCo 1987-Style: Just Add A Hard Drive
What would a hard disk-enabled Color Computer 3 dream system look like in 1987? What hardware is required? How is it set up? I answer all of these questions and more with a deep dive into one of Tandys rare peripherals for the CoCo: The Tandy Color Computer Hard Disk Controller. Ill build a high-end (and expensive) CoCo system, complete with a virtual trip to Radio Shack. Then we put it all together and configure the OS-9 operating system to use the hard disk. I demonstrate OS-9 configuration and bootfile customization and software installation. I then add a DT-100 terminal for more flexibility before we finish out by removing all of the disks and starting OS-9 from a CCR-81 cassette recorder. Its a CoCo storage extravaganza!
Links:
The CoCo Nation - https://thecoconation.com/
CoCo Nation on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@The_CoCo_Nation
The Color Computer Archive - https://colorcomputerarchive.com/
Radio Shack Catalogs - https://radioshackcatalogs.com/
NitrOS-9 Ease-Of-Use - https://www.lcurtisboyle.com/nitros9/nitros9.html
Music/SFX (in order):
Music: Night on the Town by TrackTribe
(Taken from the YouTube Audio Library)
Scrabble Tile Drop (used repeatedly)
Kevin MacLeod - Local Elevator (multiple clips)
(Taken from the YouTube Audio Library)
Intro (0:00)
Why? Just use [MODERN_REPLACEMENTS]! (3:30)
1987 Radio Shack Shopping Spree (7:49)
Important HD Controller Info (18:24)
Putting The System Together and Cool Manuals (22:14)
Boot OS-9 / Make HD Boot Disk with CONFIG (25:29)
HD Driver Init And Format (38:27)
Long, Fun Commentary and Caveats (42:24)
Copying OS-9 Files to HD with dsave (54:16)
First Boot With HD Boot Disk / Custom startup file (59:58)
Copying The Development System to HD (1:03:39)
Multitasking With The DT-100 (1:09:04)
Reprise - Boot OS-9 From Cassette (1:13:02)
Outro / Whats Next (1:19:49)
I do these videos unscripted, so I apologize if the in-the-moment descriptions of things are a bit scattered or wordy. If you have any questions/comments about this video, you can find me in any of these fine locations:
The Tandy Discord Server
The CoCo Nation Discord Server
The TRS-80 Color Computer (CoCo) group on Facebook
The CoCo Crew Podcast group on Facebook
On the Vintage Computer Forums (vcfed.org)
The TRS-80 Models I-4/4P Group on Facebook
Tandy / Radio Shack Model II /12 / 16 / 16B / 6000 Owners Group on Facebook
X (Im TJBChris there...)
Mastadon: TJBChris@mastadon.social
The Level29 BBS (Im TJBChris there, too.)
Particles BBS (Guess who I am here? Yeah, TJBChris.)
Thanks for watching! Top-Tier Tandy CoCo 1987-Style: Just Add A Hard Drive](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oCZeUzvtj3g/mqdefault.jpg)



![TRS-80 Model 4 Hi-Res Graphics Upgrade
My TRS-80 Model 4 gets even better with high-resolution graphics! I install Ian Mavrics Improved Grafyx 4.2(.1) HRG board, which is his reproduction of the MicroLabs Grafyx board from the 1980s. After installation, I test some high-resolution software including Post Master, a Slot machine program, and some Graphics BASIC programs. I swear a little more than usual in this video...
Links:
Ian Mavrics Grafyx board site (includes software): http://members.iinet.net.au/~ianmav/hires/hires.htm
Catalog images from RadioShack Catalogs: https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1984_rsc-10.html
Music/SFX (in order):
D A T Recorder Fast Forward (Digital Juice)
Corky Dodges Traffic by Richard Ames (Digital Juice)
Video clip:
Rain Main (Four-second Slot Machines clip at 16:10), [official MGM link not found], MGM/UA Communications Co., 1988
Chapters:
Intro / Background (0:00)
Machine Apart / VGA Connector / Gate-Array vs. Non-Gate-Array (1:53)
Installing the Grafyx Card (4:14)
Smoke Test / GBASIC with GTEST/BAS / Spare Parts? (5:19)
Software - GBASIC - Missile (7:22)
Software - Post Master (9:12)
Software - Tournament Chess (13:40)
Software - Slot Machine (15:17)
Software - GBASIC - Tunnel (17:01)
Bonus - Comprehensive HRGTEST/CMD (17:54)
Outro (20:05)
I do these videos unscripted, so I apologize if the in-the-moment descriptions of things are a bit scattered. If you have any questions/comments about this video, you can find me in any of these fine locations:
The Tandy Discord Server
The CoCo Nation Discord Server
The TRS-80 Color Computer (CoCo) group on Facebook
The CoCo Crew Podcast group on Facebook
On the Vintage Computer Forums (vcfed.org)
The TRS-80 Models I-4/4P Group on Facebook
Tandy / Radio Shack Model II /12 / 16 / 16B / 6000 Owners Group on Facebook
Twitter (Im TJBChris there...)
The Level29 BBS (Im TJBChris there, too.)
Particles BBS (Guess who I am here? Yeah, TJBChris.)
Thanks for watching! TRS-80 Model 4 Hi-Res Graphics Upgrade](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pjbFZ7qUR6k/mqdefault.jpg)

