How to dim an LED bulb
Have you tried to dip an LED bulb and you only got flickering and buzzing? If it happened to you and you want to understand how you can connect LED bulbs to dimmers, to vary the brightness, you are reading [...]
Category Archives: All articles
Collection of all the articles published on this site:
– Computer;
– Electronics;
– Computer science;
– Linux and Windows systems.
– Retro Technology;
– RetroComputer;
– Audio systems;
– Vintage Electronics and other Devices;
– Repairs and experiments carried out by me.
By Amedeo Valoroso.
Here is a Christmas tree controlled by the Commodore 64!
Do you know what is the mistake that everyone, absolutely everyone, makes when decorating the Christmas tree? They don't connect it to the Commodore 64! To fill this gap, I carried out this experiment: a Christmas tree controlled by the Commodore 64! Hardware to connect [...]
Commodore 64 remote controlled car
In this experiment, I connected a remote controlled toy car to the Commodore 64 user port. It is a nice experiment, which you can do with your children or grandchildren. Hardware connections To connect the remote controlled car to the user port of the [...]
Commodore MPS 803 printer, cleaning
I recently recovered an old Commodore MPS 803 dot matrix printer, abandoned in the cellar. His condition was not exactly optimal, but, thankfully, it worked. I therefore decided to proceed with a thorough cleaning and lubrication. Commodore MPS printer features […]
Electric heater controlled by the Commodore 64
We are now in winter and it is starting to get cold. What better occasion to make an electric heater controlled by the Commodore 64? Connecting the interface for the electric heater controlled by the Commodore 64 To connect the electric heater to the Commodore 64 I [...]
Easy Script, video writing for Commodore 64
Today I want to show you how to write a letter with Easy Script, in the 80s! In our day, we are used to the simplicity of Microsoft Word, but, 40 years ago, things weren't that intuitive! Easy Script, the alternative to the current Microsoft Word, [...]
Kung Fu Flash update
In this short video, I explain how to update the Kung Fu Flash to the latest version available on GitHub. In fact, by purchasing a Kung Fu Flash, the firmware inside it may not be updated to the latest version available. The procedure described here [...]
Kung Fu Flash for Commodore 64, review
In this video I try the Kung Fu Flash, an interface that connects to the Commodore 64 expansion port and ... can emulate different types of cartridges. The project is by Kim Jorgensen and is open source: on GitHub, you can [...]
Remove unused devices, clean Windows 10 drivers
Windows keeps track of all the devices in use on the computer: every time we insert a USB pen-drive, every time we install new hardware, but also every time we move a hardware, from one port to another. Each device that [...]
Simple Windows 10 Storage Spaces
Welcome to the latest article on Windows 10 storage spaces. After writing three articles about mirroring, today I describe the simple storage spaces of Windows 10. The simple storage spaces of Windows 10 do not have security features [...]
Coffee machine controlled by the Commodore 64
Today I want to offer you a coffee ... made by the Commodore 64! Here, in fact, is the coffee machine controlled by the Commodore 64! 35 years after Andrea De Prisco's Commocoffee 64 project, here is another version of the project. There are, […]
How to control the Commodore 64 User Port
I have always found it interesting to consider the computer not only as an independent entity, but also able to control other equipment. It is possible to control the Commodore 64 User Port for this purpose: that is, to integrate the computer with the surrounding environment. I had […]
Windows 10 Storage Spaces Elimination, Virtual Drive Experiments
Welcome to the third article about Windows storage spaces. Today I describe how to delete the Storage Spaces of Windows 10 and beyond. Before deleting the storage space, I carry out two more experiments on virtual drives: I create [...]
Windows 10 storage spaces, performance and simulation of a failure
Windows 10 Storage Spaces allow you to combine two (or more) hard drives in a pool, later using them in one or more virtual drives. They can be used to improve data resilience: as data protection against [...]
Protect yourself from scams, eMail, Netflix, Subito, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Banks, phishing, ransomware
It happens more and more often that some malicious people try to scam us online. How to protect yourself from scams? First of all you need to quickly understand what is the scam attempt and act accordingly. Let's see some of them. Protect yourself from eMail scams eMail scams [...]
Windows 10 Storage Spaces, mirroring to protect data
I was looking for a more practical and cost-effective alternative to protect data in case of hard drive failures, compared to a RAID controller. I came across the Windows 10 Storage Spaces, in 2-way mirroring configuration. This feature of [...]
Automatically reopening applications when Windows 10 starts
When you shut down Windows 10 by keeping some applications open, without closing them manually, the operating system can be configured to restart applications the next time you turn on your computer. It is also possible the opposite setting: that is, to deactivate the automatic reopening [...]
Was it better in the 80s or today?
I often talk to people, who say that it was better before, than today. Was it better in the 80s or today? This is the survey I posted on many Facebook groups of retro computer, Commodore [...]
Windows 10 Registry Cleaning and Optimization
Cleaning and optimizing the Windows 10 registry is not an operation to be performed every day. Rather, after uninstalling applications, or after a few months of using the computer, traces can accumulate inside the registry, which is [...]
Commodore 64 and home automation: load control
Here is the second video related to the Commodore 64 and home automation. The topic covered is the control of loads: the function of the home automation system that is used to measure the consumption of the home. I had already shown, in the first video related to home automation, how [...]
Quickly shut down Windows 10
It can happen, on some computers, that the system takes a long time to shut down. In this article, I describe a couple of procedures to try to shut down Windows 10 quickly. It happened to me on a rather powerful workstation, with many [...]
Home automation with the Commodore 64
I am very passionate about technology, both modern and vintage. I asked myself: is it possible to control home automation with the Commodore 64? It took some work, but the experiment was successful! First step: connect the Commodore 64 [...]
Commodore 64 WiFi Modem Modification
I recently bought a WiFi modem on eBay and wrote an article on how to set it up and use it. And now, why this article? Is a modification to the Commodore 64 WiFi Modem really necessary? I was reminded [...]
Improve Privacy: delete traces of pc use
Why erase traces of PC use? The topic of Privacy is very controversial. Many feel the need not to make their actions public, but not for doing something wrong! Using the PC, you always leave a lot of [...]
Adjust the Commodore 1541 with Speed Test by Zibri
In this video I explain how to measure and, if necessary, recalibrate the rotation speed of the Commodore 1541 floppy disk drive with Speed Test by Zibri. After so many years, in fact, it is very likely that the disc rotates at a different speed [...]
Commodore 64 Vs modern PC?
Commodore 64 Vs Modern PC? The question is this: how much better are modern computers, compared to the Commodore 64? Let's see it in this video. The answer is not so obvious, also because it is not possible to make completely homogeneous comparisons. [...]
Windows 10 Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks # 2
I have always found it particularly interesting to discover and use tips and tricks, tricks, hidden features, in short: the shortcuts of Windows 10. I have described the top 5 tricks in this article. Now let's see 5 more. Capture a screenshot [...]
Useful Windows 10 Tricks, Tips and Tricks # 1
I have always found it particularly interesting to discover and use tips and tricks, keyboard shortcuts, tips, in short: useful tricks for Windows 10. Some tricks are already known and used, but others are more particular. Here, then, the [...]
DraCopy: copy, rename and delete a file
In this video I show how to copy a file from micro SD to floppy disc and vice versa, using the Commodore 64 and the DraCopy by Draco software. Below the video, I have described all the steps. Hardware components for the experiment The components [...]
Datel Action Replay 1988, the video of the test
Today I want to talk to you about the Datel Action Replay, the latest technological innovation... from 1988! Datel is an English company, still active, that produces interfaces and accessories to improve the gaming experience. The Datel Action Replay allows you to freeze a game […]