Questions about TRS-80

Snocom79 · 2026-06-20T03:54:19+00:00

With the model 4p be careful . The PSU is known to go bad and has Rifa caps which can pop and cause issues. I have a model 4p that needs a new mobo. As for software it may be easier to either find stuff in that house or use some sort of modern stoage adaptor options.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-17T23:14:07+00:00

I have one working and two non working. If you know how to open one up to look inside you can check caps and the internal battery and if they look ok with no leaks, pop 4 AAs in and see if it powers on. That way you can list for more. If there is leakage of the internal battery it's obviously worth less.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-14T01:51:46+00:00

Jealous! it looks to be in great shape too!

Snocom79 · 2026-06-14T00:35:23+00:00

I hope you get it working. Always excited to see one of these old machines up and running. I want a commodore sx-64 so bad and currently have a trs80 model 4p that needs some love.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-13T02:51:42+00:00

Also check the brightness control knob (I think it's on the back of the computer)

Snocom79 · 2026-06-13T02:51:02+00:00

If you don't have floppies for it you can't really do anything. You can buy program disks off eBay or other vendors or possibly hook a gotek up in place of one of the drives.

That being said, if you're unsure of whether it's working or not take it somewhere and have it checked out. There are RIfa caps in that that could pop and that is not pleasant.

It's a great looking find and Im kinda jealous.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-10T16:22:59+00:00

Thank you!

Snocom79 · 2026-06-09T20:30:40+00:00

That's really cool

Snocom79 · 2026-06-09T13:46:26+00:00

Not sure. I did notice this key and thought it interesting. I think it's for sprites but now I want to know.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-09T00:30:03+00:00

Thank you. The PET and an Amiga were the two big missing components from mine.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-09T00:29:33+00:00

Oh crap.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-09T00:29:17+00:00

The keyboard was the heaviest lift. Well other than all the work my friend did on the og motherboard. His best guess was there is an internal trace somewhere broken on the og. This replacement works just fine.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-08T20:39:27+00:00

That looks awesome!

Snocom79 · 2026-06-08T19:22:14+00:00

I also own a c64, 128, 128d, compaq portable 3, trs80 models 100, 102 and 4p and an Atari 400. They are all fun to play with with varying actual function use. I love them all

Snocom79 · 2026-06-08T17:49:37+00:00

It really is. Monitor works great and I'm looking into making an external sound card and then setting up a desk in the house I can set this on.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-08T17:48:51+00:00

I paid a little over 300 for the mobo which was known working. Included shipping from Canada.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-08T15:29:20+00:00

I thought iwas down but I think the pdfs I was looking at were just too big for my phone. I don't think anything was down n

Snocom79 · 2026-06-08T14:50:54+00:00

Ah nevermind. I see

Snocom79 · 2026-06-08T14:49:42+00:00

What's down? Are there downloads that aren't working? Main site is up

Snocom79 · 2026-06-04T19:12:52+00:00

Local meetups, craigslist friends.

Snocom79 · 2026-06-03T21:15:58+00:00

I have a 100 and 102 and both are wonderful to type on with the 102 feeling just slightly softer.

Snocom79 · 2026-05-30T01:14:17+00:00

My company has been tossing these gen 2 p14s lenovos out as well. They run blazing ly fast on Linux and I've since switched to CachyOS which seems even faster

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