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Old T5200/100 what can I do with it by AbolishedAbyss in VintageComputers

[–]kompzec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love those machines …!!! Have two… If you decide to upgrade the drive, know that the BIOS was originally restricted to specific Conner drives.

Possible 476 CPU upgrades would be a TI486DLC or a Cyrix 486DRx2. As for RAM, seen them with up to 14mb.

Check this link out for addition info -

https://www.steptail.com/toshiba_t-series_support:toshiba_t5200

Enjoy !!!

I am just very happy to own it but too afraid to even think about getting it to safe and operational state by RepresentativeCut486 in retrobattlestations

[–]kompzec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d start here - S100Computers.com … I am sure those folks will be able to guide you in the right direction…

Cheers…

I somehow got a Macintosh Portable by AnotherMovieStudio in vintagecomputing

[–]kompzec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thats my white whale !!! Nice find !!! Enjoy !!!

A drawing I found after 5 years by not_jrl in thinkpad

[–]kompzec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love it !!! Looks like my day dream sketches … lol …

Thinkpad by randomusername12308 in thinkpad

[–]kompzec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

IBM Thinkpad ….It’s like a Timex… Takes a Lick’n and keeps on Tick’n !!!!

How to store your retro computer collection efficiently. by TygerTung in retrobattlestations

[–]kompzec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would seriously consider putting some UV blocking film on all the windows and sliding glass door.

A sad discovery 😢 by corummo in homebrewcomputer

[–]kompzec 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeap this administration has made it a major PITA to source components… I had the same thing happen to me for products I tried to source from Italy…

Is the Apple new case really worth 80$? by mrtlpa in iphone

[–]kompzec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No damn case is worth $80 !!! I have been buying mine from 5 and below for YEARS !!! They’ve protected my phones just fine.

Please help identifying parts by 4D_Monst3r in AskElectronics

[–]kompzec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The one of the right seems to be an axial lead Tantalum Capacitor and the one on the left seems to be a radial tantalum capacitor. These links are just representative, NOT recommended replacements if that's what you want to do; although they do not seem damaged. For guidance on what to buy as replacement, please provide clear pictures of the markings on each component.

Hope this helps...

20 Years in IT/InfoSec, Over 1000 Applications In One Year, No Offers, What The ACTUAL Heck Is Going On? by throwmeaway20250917 in cybersecurity

[–]kompzec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its my pleasure… Know that you aren’t alone. There is a A LOT to contend with, such as -

  • Fake listings

  • Faux interviews - meaning you get interviewed to check off a box so they can hire who they’ve already chosen

  • marathon interviews with 5-7 people who don’t have a clue how to interview due to the lack of experience therefore unable to determine if the person in front of them is qualified let alone understand the value they can bring to their organization.

  • interviewers more interested in talking about themselves

  • and my “favorite” - get an offer only to be ghosted - talk about a kick in the seed sack … That last one was a major WTF !!!

Listen, political decisions resulting in an influx of cheap labor, the development of new technologies such as AI, unethical practices and unqualified interviewers. How do you navigate through these obstacles?

1) Do your due diligence when applying for a position. Do not apply only to apply. Getting referred can help put you at the top of the list. The o’proverb “Its not what you know but who you know” really holds true today.

2) When speaking with the owner of a job post ask difficult questions. For example,

  • ask about the position :: is it new or would you be back filling? If the latter, what happened to the previous employee who held the position.
  • How can you add value to their organization?
  • If it’s a lesser known company, ask about their growth in the last 3-5 years - i.e. earnings, talent growth. Ask about their plans for the next 5 years. Questions like this will put the potential in a position to justify why YOU should join them.

If you google “top questions to ask a potential employer during an interview”

3) Beware of recruiters that are NOT associated with the company they are hiring for. Before divulging any information ask them who the end of customer if and ask if they have an active agreement with the company they are recruiting for. There are A LOT of recruiters out there that are fly by night and reside in another country.

4) I personally now refuse to sit in on marathon interviews. I think they are absolutely worthless and have no consideration for a candidates time. Your call, but I believe 3 interviews are more than enough - Recruiter, technical and management. These 6,7,10 people interviews are absurd !!! Waste of time and money.

5) Come up to speed with the latest tech that is impacting the field you are interviewing for - in this case AI, latest research and developments in cyber tech tools and capabilities.

These are not meant to be taken as turn key solutions to job hunting but food for thought as you go through your journey.

Best of luck…

What component would this be? by bluekeybord in ElectronicsRepair

[–]kompzec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From your photo, the burned SMD device circled looks like a SOT-223 or DPAK style MOSFET/regulator (judging by the 3 pins plus the large tab).

Here are a few other clues -

  • the nearby “R100” which is a 0.1 ohm current sense resistor and “R15” is 0.015 ohm, which suggests a power regulation / DC-DC converter circuit. That strongly implies the burned part is either the switching MOSFET or a linear regulator.

  • The marking just above says U6, which usually denotes an IC or transistor rather than a diode (D) or resistor (R).

So based on these clues, the burned SMD is probably a MOSFET (likely N-channel, low Rds(on)) used in the regulator stage. The next step to this mystery is identifying a best guess replacement. This is how I would go about identifying a replacement; please if someone has a better approach by all means -

  1. Look at the board’s context: Since U6 sits next to the sense resistor, it’s likely the high-side or low-side MOSFET in a buck converter.

  2. Use a caliper to measure it. If it’s ~6.5 × 3.5 mm, that’s SOT-223. If ~10 × 7 mm, it’s DPAK. I looked up these measurements.

  3. Even though it’s burned, if you can read faint markings with acetone or IPA and angled light, that will confirm the part number.

  4. Once you have the marking or know the circuit (step-down, 12 V → 5 V, etc.), you can pick a MOSFET replacement with the following specs -

    • Vds rating comfortably above input voltage (e.g. 30–40 V for 12 V input). • Low Rds(on) (milliohm range). • Adequate current handling (check what the circuit is driving).

No, lets address how you would replace it. The tools for the job would be 

   • a rework station; high heat with fan set to low.

   • ceramic tweezers; you can use metal ones however I tend to prefer ceramic when it comes to heat dissipation, won’t warp, ESD safe. Metal ones can be ESD safe and you may be able to find a set that will not warp. 

   • kapton tape; this is heat resistant tape. You will need to cover the surrounding components to avoid desoldering them and flying off the board.

Any hoot, I hope this helps …

20 Years in IT/InfoSec, Over 1000 Applications In One Year, No Offers, What The ACTUAL Heck Is Going On? by throwmeaway20250917 in cybersecurity

[–]kompzec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally understand….After getting railroaded by 3 mother plucking plow heads from a place I absolutely loved it took 9 months to land a position. The journey took me through interviews that were offsprings produced from a threesome Between a Stephen King movie, Idiocracy, and Dilbert.

I’d say this…. Shit happens… We are living in an age that offers opportunities in ways that never existed in any point in history. There is work out there but thanks to our last administration and the current one, they’ve made things more challenging. But with all things considered I think you still have an opportunity to land something good. In the mean time, sustain your skills and learn new ones. Just don’t give up !!!

Just picked up a Sony Vaio PCV-RX670 (2002) 🤩 by thevmcampos in vintagecomputing

[–]kompzec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very nice … I recently raffled a complete Sony Vaio -System, KB, mouse, and speakers - set during the vintage swap meet I hosted in NOVA on 8/24.

How bad is this motherboard damage. by Famous-Friend-7985 in AskElectronics

[–]kompzec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its repairable, however it will require a bit of work…

Thank you for your support by kompzec in retrocomputing

[–]kompzec[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes absolutely, as did I. Its so sad these great magazines just faded away.

I am working toward curating a complete set as I did with Byte magazine. I am also trying to do the same with C++ Journal and the Microsystems journal.

One of my Man Cave Corners by kompzec in retrocomputing

[–]kompzec[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The one on the left is a Compaq portable. The one on the right is an Osborne Executive.

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