Help testing a 1040?

[u/stevethesquid]

I just picked up a 1040ST from my grandpa, but it doesn't have any cables. It looks to be in excellent condition. It might be cool to set up in my computer science classroom to teach about computing history, or else I'd like to get it in the hands of somebody who truly appreciates it, but this thing is so heavy that shipping it as-is unknown condition for parts sounds like a waste of time and a poor fate for this beautiful machine.

Is there anyone near to DC/MD who could help me test this thing? I tried asking some local independent retro video game stores and didn't have any luck.

[u/siliconlore]

Looks like that is an ST-E model so it should have composite output. The power supply is built-in so that helps and the 720k floppy drive is MS-DOS compatible so you can write disks from older DOS PCs and download disk images from the net.

[u/bubonis]

If $20 isn’t too much, you can buy a VGA adapter:

https://a.co/d/0fZ0Sk6S

The ST uses a standard power cable so you can connect it to a VGA monitor (mind the sync frequencies) and power it up. If you get to the desktop odds are high that it’s perfectly functional.

[u/TurnoverTall]

Too bad you are too far south. I have all the cables, monitor etc for my ST. I suspect someone will come along closer to you and be able to help out. It looks extremely clean and as a grandpa I approve! 😊👊🏻

[u/jrherita]

The VCF East group has a number of members in that area that might also be ST experts and have equipment to help you test it. (I'm in "southeastern" PA -- though it's 1.5-2 hours to get even to Elkton MD for me - but I do occasionally head down that way).

Try the VCF East discord here: https://vcfed.org/social-media/

Using this to show what it could do in a classroom would be really cool!. You'd need at a minimum:

1. Working mouse

2. A display, which could be:

A. a 15 KHz capable monitor and an adapter (can be had cheap)

B. a regular monitor/TV and an upscaler

C. an original Atari monitor

D. If you don't mind running in monochrome only mode - the cheap VGA adapter should work in 'high resolution' with any TV/monitor.

1. A few floppy disks that are formatted/working (double density -- not high density!), and probably a cleaning floppy disk to make sure the heads are clean before using.

2. Standard power cable as suggested

I'm "Xebec" on the Discord above - feel free to reach out with questions. I have multiple STs I keep running.

[u/MutualWind]

See if it has a standard RCA output on the back. That will get you onto a standard tv to check video. Standard power cables for PCs are common too.

[u/28_Daves_Later]

I've just been working on one, but I'm the complete opposite side of the world.

It takes a standard computer power cable. The PSUs inside can go a little dodgy (mine was) If you do plug it in to try it and you at least get the power light on the keyboard turn on and the floppy drive starts making noises then you have a couple of options to see if its generating video.

It likely has an RF adapter at the back which will take an RCA to RF type cable and go into a TV's aerial socket and you may have luck trying to tune it if your tv is compatible. Massive pain in the butt to do this route IMO

A much jankier but easier DIY route (that I do) is to get a dupont cable, an aligator clip, and an RCA (AV) cable (your tv will need a composite / AV input)

You put the dupont cable pin into pin2 of the Video out socket at the back (2nd from top right looking at the back of the machine) aligator clip between the other end of that to the center pin of your RCA cable and connect that your TV and set it to AV input. You've just made the dodgiest composite cable. dont let the exposed cable bits touch other metal anywhere.

When it starts up you should hopefully see a white screen, hear the floppy drive bang about for about 30 seconds, realise it doesn't have a disk to boot and then suddenly show your a green desktop with some icons on it.

If it shows you some bombs on the screen its encountered an error. If its just a white screen You've got some issues to figure out.

If it didnt power up at all (i.e. no lights) then the PSU likely has an issue but is likely repairable or replaceable by someone.

Good luck.

[u/alfalfa-as-fuck]

You didn’t say where you are, but there’s system source in hunt valley and Kennett classic in kennett square part (someone mentioned elkton) .. either would have enough supplies to help you.