My VIC-20 find, I need help *PICS*

**PDorr3** · 02-07-2005, 05:45 PM

Well I made my first visit to the salvation army today, and was let down until I ventured to find the electronic section of the store where I found a bag of VIC-20 manuals and wires and a few carts. So I looked around for the hardware and came across the VIC-20 keyboard, and later the Commodore monitor. There were no prices so when I brought it up the the counter the lady said $50 for everything, I said $35 and we ended up with $40 for this lot:

My question to you guys is this: Am I ready to play the cart games? Based on what you see in the pics you can tell what I got. I know nothing of these old computer models and this is my first system like this.

Do I have enough to hook it up, let alone play the games? If not what do I need?

Also was $40 a reasonable price to pay for this stuff if I usualy do my purchases on ebay and dont hunt in the wild too much?

There was also an Atari 1050 computer drive I believe there but it was not for sale yet... what are these things worth?

Please help me out!

**Saabmeister** · 02-07-2005, 05:50 PM

It sure looks like you have everything you need, so I'd go for it.

As to value, it seems like a fair price. I know I would pay that much if I had the chance.

**PDorr3** · 02-07-2005, 05:52 PM

Isnt there a "Datassette" and "Disk Drive" that I need? I should have looked more closely to see if they had any of this. Ill go back there this wekk again to see.

**Kid Ice** · 02-07-2005, 05:56 PM

Assuming everything works, you have what you need. Commodore systems are not complicated. If you know how to hook up a console, this isn't much different. And I see you have a few user guides to help you out.

IMO the price is OK...not a steal, but fair enough. It's better to buy that stuff locally than get it on eBay. Even if the Vic doesn't work, you'll probably get some good use out of that monitor.

**Kid Ice** · 02-07-2005, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by PDorr3

Isnt there a "Datassette" and "Disk Drive" that I need? I should have looked more closely to see if they had any of this. Ill go back there this wekk again to see.

I don't see any cassettes so I don't think you need the datasette. You will need a disk drive for those floppies, but I would pass. You only have a few floppies there, and I don't recall too many Vic floppy games. If it was a C64, I'd say definitely get the disk drive.

Try that version of Q-Bert...wait till you see how horrendous the graphics are.

**PDorr3** · 02-07-2005, 06:05 PM

sweet thanks im gonna try hooking it up now

**NeoZeedeater** · 02-07-2005, 06:17 PM

Vic Q*bert's a good port. Definitely pick up Omega Race if you find it.

**PDorr3** · 02-07-2005, 06:25 PM

question, should the vic power light atleast turn on with only the power supply plugged into it?

**NeoZeedeater** · 02-07-2005, 06:33 PM

Yes it should light up.

**PDorr3** · 02-07-2005, 06:40 PM

the power plug doesnt stay tightly in the system, and its can be slid out pretty easily. Thje power does not go on. The AC adaptor box says only comodor on it, maybe I am doin g something wrong? the vic itself is loose in the back and the top opens up a bit if i lift it, its not connected....sigh, if its broken does SA take returns?

**NeoZeedeater** · 02-07-2005, 06:47 PM

The wire shouldn't be loose or falling out. It definitely looks like the right type of power pack though as it doesn't matter if you're using a C64 one.

**PDorr3** · 02-07-2005, 06:50 PM

well theres no light. is it possible it will still work if i hooked it up? if not is there a way to find the problem :/

**NeoZeedeater** · 02-07-2005, 06:53 PM

Well, anytime I have had no light with an old computer it meant I couldn't use it unfortunately. It could be a dead system or a dead power supply but it's hard to tell without backups handy which part might be broken or not.

**evg2000** · 02-07-2005, 07:00 PM

silly question, but you did plug it into the power port on the right side by the switch and not in the back where the Disk Drive or Monitor cables plug in.

**PDorr3** · 02-07-2005, 07:01 PM

tghe manual only tells me how to hook it up to a tv, does the same apply if i want to hook it up to the monitor? I'm reading all these guides but its still kinda hard. I;m just hoping this thing might still work.

**vulcanjedi** · 02-07-2005, 09:23 PM

Actually

I have a C64 with a burnt out power LED so I wouldn't trust that.

Besides the monitor you could try a TV with the standard atari type switchbox.

The VIC has built in basic so you should see something without a cart in.

Sorry all you diehard commodore fans but the Vic20 is like a 2600 with a keyboard graphically speaking

VJ
p.s. but it does play demon attack!

**PDorr3** · 02-07-2005, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by vulcanjedi

Actually

I have a C64 with a burnt out power LED so I wouldn't trust that.

Besides the monitor you could try a TV with the standard atari type switchbox.

The VIC has built in basic so you should see something without a cart in.

Sorry all you diehard commodore fans but the Vic20 is like a 2600 with a keyboard graphically speaking

VJ
p.s. but it does play demon attack!

well i just listed it on ebay and it sold in 10 minutes. $19 shipped. so with the money i make i plan on buying one that works.

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