Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
VCF East is a vintage computing festival run by the @vcfederation, and is held every April at the InfoAge Science and History Museums in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.
For VCF East 2025, I presented several computers that my generation grew up with in an exhibit titled "My Story Starts With A Computer™". (Yes, you might recognize the exhibit title as the call to action for Computerized Start™.) VCF East happened this past weekend (April 4-6, 2025), and I'm now back home with my exhibit safely back in the Concrete Subterrain™.
I thought a debrief stream was in order.
Which computers survived the weekend (and did any of them release the magic smoke)? What did I pick up over the weekend? And what are my thoughts on what worked and what I can improve on for next year? You'll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: jdmcs.net/mytwitter
VCF East is a vintage computing festival run by the @vcfederation, and is held every April at the InfoAge Science and History Museums in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.
For VCF East 2025, I presented several computers that my generation grew up with in an exhibit titled "My Story Starts With A Computer™". (Yes, you might recognize the exhibit title as the call to action for Computerized Start™.) VCF East happened this past weekend (April 4-6, 2025), and I'm now back home with my exhibit safely back in the Concrete Subterrain™.
I thought a debrief stream was in order.
Which computers survived the weekend (and did any of them release the magic smoke)? What did I pick up over the weekend? And what are my thoughts on what worked and what I can improve on for next year? You'll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: jdmcs.net/mytwitter
![Saving COMPUTER (My Apple ][ Plus Clone from MCA), One Socket at a Time (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wEja5esosHs/mqdefault.jpg "Saving COMPUTER (My Apple ][ Plus Clone from MCA), One Socket at a Time (Computerized Start™ Live)
Ive launched a merch shop: https://shop.jdmcs.com - use code JUSTINTIME for 5% off all Computerized Start™ merchandise through at least July 31!
*
Last time I had COMPUTER on the bench, I started the process of removing sockets. I didnt get very far, and even caused some trace damage. But what I didnt realize at the time was that the handle for my desoldering station was failing. And @JoesComputerMuseum has since given me another suggestion for removing sockets with problematic solder, which I successfully used on the Apple ][ Plus Clone motherboard I bought on eBay (the place where I buy the things I later regret™).
Except that Apple ][ Plus Clone motherboard wasnt a regret, yet COMPUTER was almost @Mac84s regret... but I digress.
I now have a new handle for my desoldering station, and it made quick work of the solder on my VIC-20. Maybe it will also make quick work of the solder on COMPUTER. Because it looks like Im going to have to save computer one corroded IC socket at a time (repeat 88 times - Great Scott!).
Will I be able to remove more than one socket an hour? Will I cause more trace damage? Will Clarus the Desoldering Station hold out? Youll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: https://jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: https://jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: https://jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: https://jdmcs.net/mytwitter")
![Apple ][ Plus Clone Tantalum Troubles: Finding the Short on the 12V Rail (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y_2k2MA5XMY/mqdefault.jpg "Apple ][ Plus Clone Tantalum Troubles: Finding the Short on the 12V Rail (Computerized Start™ Live)
Ive launched a merch shop: https://shop.jdmcs.com - use code JUSTINTIME for 5% off all Computerized Start™ merchandise through at least May 31th!
*
I bought an Apple IIe Clone Motherboard on eBay (the place where I buy the things I later regret™) knowing full well it was an Apple ][ Plus clone motherboard and missing some chips. Yes, COMPUTER was jealous at first, but then COMPUTER realized I needed practice on a similar motherboard before I continue removing sockets, so were good...
Whats not good is this clone motherboard: there is a short on the 12V rail. But after removing all the chips that are on the 12V rail, the short was still present. Then I noticed it: a previous owner replaced ceramic capacitors with tantalum capacitors.
There are no polarity markings for these capacitors, so I suspect the board was designed for ceramic capacitors (like the Apple ][ Plus), and its likely one or more of these capacitors are installed backwards. Hopefully removing all the tantalum capacitors will remove the short, then Ill replace them with ceramic capacitors.
Will I find the short? Will the ceramic capacitors I bought make the board look original? Will I get to powering this motherboard up? Youll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: https://jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: https://jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: https://jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: https://jdmcs.net/mytwitter")
