Justin

A voltmeter and an EE degree 🙂 
No, there isn't enough time to type even a simple program, as the keyboard is pretty stiff and slow. 
I haven't timed it, it is approx 30 seconds, but probably less.  Turning the computer off, then on again gets another 30 seconds.  The computer simply freezes. 
 

And after a day of drying time, I fired it up.  Still the same.  It works, but freezes up after about 30 seconds.  I'm glad I didn't break it at least.
Next steps are some diagnosis steps.  Start with the power adapter and the voltage regulators. 

Here are a few before/after shots of the interior cleaning.  It was dirty to the point of being gross.  This dust would not blow off, it needed to be scrubbed off.  I did it gently, with water and dishsoap applied with a washcloth and soft toothbrush.


 


 
 
 

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out 😎

And using the 8-bit Guy video above, I was able to figure out how to open the case.  It flips open like a car bonnet!  Not mentioned in his video -- there are two screws on the side that have to come out before it will flip.  Easy enough.  The inside is very dirty.  There is some hair and a thick layer of dust covering everything.  Next step is to vacuum and spray with compressed air, but I think it's going to take more soapy water and washcloth action to get the dust off.
 

Here are some pics of the outside cleaned up.  I used a bucket of dish-soap water and a washcloth and it seemed to work very well.  Not perfect, but better than before.  The keyboard got vacuumed and that helped tremendously. 
 

For anyone that wants a copy, it appears that Plutos & Sirius are available at Good Deal Games. http://www.gooddealgames.com/inventory/Atari 7800.html
 

F-ZERO
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Controller: CONTROL PAD / KEYBOARD / PLAYER'S CHOICE
Difficulty Level: Grand Prix > King League > Standard Class > Mute City III
Bonus Challenge: F-ZERO 99 on Nintendo Online!
Play on: Real Hardware / Dedicated Console / MAME / Emulation OK! ✔
Squad Challenge ends 11:59 pm PST December 31, 2023
Nominated by @Justin 
 
 
Objective
Play for the best possible time using the difficulty settings defined in the challenge. Post a photo or YouTube video of your score in this thread. Scores must be achieved between December 1st through December 31st, 2023. Screen captures are not allowed as they are more easily manipulated for falsified scores. Multiple submissions are permitted. The player with the fastest time at the end of the competition is the victor!
 
Eligibility
Anyone can join in. All players are welcome!
 
Play Rules
Games may be played on real hardware, Flashback / Mini console, or emulation, using any controller or keyboard, following all rules and game settings defined in the challenge. Choosing between real hardware or emulation, and choosing which controller to play on is part of formulating your strategy. Enhancements, rewinds and hacked versions of this game are not allowed.
 
Difficulty Level
Grand Prix > King League > Standard Class > Mute City III. This will be the 1st Circuit on King League, which will appear first when you begin your game. We are playing for the best overall time to complete the circuit at Mute City III. At the title screen select GRAND PRIX. Players may select any air car they wish. Next, select the League and class in which you wish to race. Players will select KING LEAGUE, then STANDARD CLASS. This will start you at Mute City III. We are only posting our scores for Mute City III. You do not have to play the rest of the courses. We are only playing for the best overall time to complete the circuit at Mute City III.
 

 
Bonus Challenge : : F-ZERO 99
We are holding a BONUS CHALLENGE this year! If you'd like to compete in our Bonus Challenge, we will be playing the first round of F-ZERO 99 on Nintendo Online! Play one round and post your best score! Line up with 98 other F-ZERO machines and race to the finish in this thrilling take on the original Super NES game. Keep an eye on your power meter as you boost and bash, because speed is just as important as survival. Defend yourself with a Spin Attack and collect Super Sparks to breeze past the competition on the elevated Skyway. The F-ZERO 99 game is available only to active Nintendo Switch Online members.
 
Fair Play
Your integrity is everything. Players should play fairly, be honest, and have fun! Falsified scores will result in your immediate removal from the site. It goes without saying that we will not allow cheats, hacks, cartridge frying, enhancements, rewinds, deceitful photo manipulation, subterfuge, or any other unfair advantage. Everybody hates a cheater.
 
More
To review detailed rules on how to play, please visit the High Score Squad page here: 
 
 
Message
Welcome to our 152nd Squad Challenge! This year we're celebrating the holidays and bringing in the new year with a visit back to one of F-ZERO's most challenging courses, Mute City III in F-ZERO on Super Nintendo, a true SNES classic! We are also holding a BONUS CHALLENGE for F-ZERO 99 on Nintendo Online. I have wonderful Christmas memories of F-ZERO, I received the game with my SNES when I was not expecting much of anything for Christmas. The game brought my family a lot of fun and joy that year, and I love playing F-ZERO around Christmas. For years it's become a bit of a Christmas tradition in my house to play F-ZERO and a few other SNES Classics during the Holidays, and now it's become a tradition every year in the forums too, something special I like to share with all of you. ☃️❄️🎄 F-ZERO is one of the iconic titles on Super Nintendo, and it served as a great demonstration of the Super Nintendo's Mode 7 graphics. F-ZERO was a predecessor to anti-gravity racing leagues such as Wip3out (and probably pod racing!). PDF F-ZERO Instruction Booklet is attached below. Good luck, racers!
 
 

 
F-ZERO.pdf

Congratulations RickR!
 
Congratulations to @RickR on an incredible victory! "The Don" RickR takes the top spot in our Final Standings with an outstanding score of 237,220 points on an insanely challenging game. Incredible! @socrates63 is coming in hot and takes 2nd Place in the standings with 175,573 points! @Smell Dawg puts in a good show and takes 3rd Place with 149,670 points! @Atari 5200 Guy put in the work and takes 4th Place with 85,159 points. @Sabertooth stepped away from kicking butt in Club VCS to join us for this Squad Challenge and takes 5th Place with 82,754 points. Rounding things out is the doctor in the house @TrekMD with 67,080 points in 6th Place.
As always I'd like to encourage @RickR to  post his high score on the Scoreboard, and let's make sure this Challenge continues on! Congratulations once again to Rick for his BIG WIN, and I want to thank Rick for nominating this game, as well as @Sabertooth for hosting this month's VCS Recharged Squad Challenge in Club VCS!
👉 Be sure to join Club VCS this month to participate in our Recharged Squad Challenges for the new Atari VCS!
COMING UP NEXT IN HIGH SCORE SQUAD: Join us for our 2023 F-ZERO Christmas Challenge. Be there!
 
 

 
 

 

Round and round and round she goes! Where will she stop?  Well, I know...but I ain't telling until Sunday! 😉

RickR pulls lever:  Joker...JOKER!....Mockduck.  Dang it! 
 

SERIES THREE GIVEAWAY DRAWING IS TOMORROW AT NOON PST!

He made a similar one for the 5200.😉


As for the Right Stick Brotherhood…I believe we each have one of these.

My wrist still hurts from getting that score (I'm not kidding, Aspercreme and a wrist brace!)  My wife asked why I was trying so hard.  "This is MY game".  🙂  Mayor Greenween usually kicks my butt at it. 
 

Well, you're the master of this game now, @RickR!  Congrats on the awesome score!  This was a fun challenge.  🙂

Nintendo announced F-ZERO 99 today at Nintendo Direct, the first new game in the series in nearly 20 years. F-ZERO 99 surprise launches today for the Nintendo Switch and is free to download with a Nintendo Online subscription.
Every winter we play an annual F-ZERO Christmas Challenge in High Score Squad, maybe this year we will have to race with 99 simultaneous players!
 
Lightning-fast F-ZERO™ racing with a 99-player twist
Line up with 98 other F-ZERO machines and race to the finish in this thrilling take on the original Super NES™ game. Keep an eye on your power meter as you boost and bash, because speed is just as important as survival. Defend yourself with a Spin Attack and collect Super Sparks to breeze past the competition on the elevated Skyway. The F-ZERO 99 game is available only to active Nintendo Switch Online* members.

Outpace and outlive your opponents in rotating modes

The core F-ZERO 99 mode is just one way to race at breakneck speeds. Mini Prix and Grand Prix modes appear on a set schedule and challenge you to compete and qualify in a series of races. Team Battle and the extra-tough Pro Tracks mode rotate throughout the day. Prepare yourself in Practice Mode and race against your ghost.

Complete challenges for even more customization

Boost your Skill Rating by excelling in races and take on challenges to unlock customization options. Make your F-ZERO machine your own with alternate colors, decals, and boost effects. Complete achievements in your Pilot Card and receive different unlockable backdrops and display badges.
More:
 
https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/f-zero-99-switch/

Congratulations RickR!
 
Congratulations to @RickR on an incredible victory! "The Don" RickR takes the top spot in our Final Standings with an outstanding score of 237,220 points on an insanely challenging game. Incredible! @socrates63 is coming in hot and takes 2nd Place in the standings with 175,573 points! @Smell Dawg puts in a good show and takes 3rd Place with 149,670 points! @Atari 5200 Guy put in the work and takes 4th Place with 85,159 points. @Sabertooth stepped away from kicking butt in Club VCS to join us for this Squad Challenge and takes 5th Place with 82,754 points. Rounding things out is the doctor in the house @TrekMD with 67,080 points in 6th Place.
As always I'd like to encourage @RickR to  post his high score on the Scoreboard, and let's make sure this Challenge continues on! Congratulations once again to Rick for his BIG WIN, and I want to thank Rick for nominating this game, as well as @Sabertooth for hosting this month's VCS Recharged Squad Challenge in Club VCS!
👉 Be sure to join Club VCS this month to participate in our Recharged Squad Challenges for the new Atari VCS!
COMING UP NEXT IN HIGH SCORE SQUAD: Join us for our 2023 F-ZERO Christmas Challenge. Be there!
 
 

 
 

 

Congratulations RickR!
 
Congratulations to @RickR on an incredible victory! "The Don" RickR takes the top spot in our Final Standings with an outstanding score of 237,220 points on an insanely challenging game. Incredible! @socrates63 is coming in hot and takes 2nd Place in the standings with 175,573 points! @Smell Dawg puts in a good show and takes 3rd Place with 149,670 points! @Atari 5200 Guy put in the work and takes 4th Place with 85,159 points. @Sabertooth stepped away from kicking butt in Club VCS to join us for this Squad Challenge and takes 5th Place with 82,754 points. Rounding things out is the doctor in the house @TrekMD with 67,080 points in 6th Place.
As always I'd like to encourage @RickR to  post his high score on the Scoreboard, and let's make sure this Challenge continues on! Congratulations once again to Rick for his BIG WIN, and I want to thank Rick for nominating this game, as well as @Sabertooth for hosting this month's VCS Recharged Squad Challenge in Club VCS!
👉 Be sure to join Club VCS this month to participate in our Recharged Squad Challenges for the new Atari VCS!
COMING UP NEXT IN HIGH SCORE SQUAD: Join us for our 2023 F-ZERO Christmas Challenge. Be there!
 
 

 
 

 

sweet!
 

ATARI NEWSLINE. BREAKING NEWS. // #Atari50 #TheAnniversaryCelebration by @DigitalEclipse is getting a FREE MASSIVE #Holiday #Update next week! What's going to be in it? When will it arrive? Let's discuss! Plus: the old #debate... NEW #Atari VS. OLD Atari & Why I Feel it's a Moot Point! People often view pre #Warner #Atari with rose colored glasses, however, they completely dismiss new Atari. Why is that? I haven't the slightest clue. But why compare both? The one thing in common is that both iterations made mistakes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tivbxmVsRHY
 

ATARI NEWSLINE. BREAKING NEWS. // On this #AtariNewsline update, there are 3 NEW #games out on the #AtariVCS! These are: #Milliandgreg, #CircusAtari & #BattleRockets! One of these is FREE, but you have to search for it on your #VCS store! Let's see them in action! Plus: More #Atari merch! For real? Yes! Let's see what's out there!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKWKebFmrSE
 

1080p is still widely used.  4K hasn't become the standard at all. 
My PC uses a 27" monitor that is still 1920 * 1080.  This is why I was very comfortable downgrading my video card, as the Intel Arc 730 can do 1080p in most games and that is good enough for me.
Green screen monitors ARE very easy on the eyes -- you are correct there.  I remember a few years ago, I got a really nice composite amber monitor that I sold because I didn't have space to store it.  That is one thing that I very much regret selling, as you just cannot find them anymore. 
The PET restoration is being documented in a separate thread in the Commodore topic, so I hope you'll follow along there.  I am very much looking forward to seeing some C64 classics on a greenscreen monitor. 

F-ZERO
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Controller: CONTROL PAD / KEYBOARD / PLAYER'S CHOICE
Difficulty Level: Grand Prix > King League > Standard Class > Mute City III
Bonus Challenge: F-ZERO 99 on Nintendo Online!
Play on: Real Hardware / Dedicated Console / MAME / Emulation OK! ✔
Squad Challenge ends 11:59 pm PST December 31, 2023
Nominated by @Justin 
 
 
Objective
Play for the best possible time using the difficulty settings defined in the challenge. Post a photo or YouTube video of your score in this thread. Scores must be achieved between December 1st through December 31st, 2023. Screen captures are not allowed as they are more easily manipulated for falsified scores. Multiple submissions are permitted. The player with the fastest time at the end of the competition is the victor!
 
Eligibility
Anyone can join in. All players are welcome!
 
Play Rules
Games may be played on real hardware, Flashback / Mini console, or emulation, using any controller or keyboard, following all rules and game settings defined in the challenge. Choosing between real hardware or emulation, and choosing which controller to play on is part of formulating your strategy. Enhancements, rewinds and hacked versions of this game are not allowed.
 
Difficulty Level
Grand Prix > King League > Standard Class > Mute City III. This will be the 1st Circuit on King League, which will appear first when you begin your game. We are playing for the best overall time to complete the circuit at Mute City III. At the title screen select GRAND PRIX. Players may select any air car they wish. Next, select the League and class in which you wish to race. Players will select KING LEAGUE, then STANDARD CLASS. This will start you at Mute City III. We are only posting our scores for Mute City III. You do not have to play the rest of the courses. We are only playing for the best overall time to complete the circuit at Mute City III.
 

 
Bonus Challenge : : F-ZERO 99
We are holding a BONUS CHALLENGE this year! If you'd like to compete in our Bonus Challenge, we will be playing the first round of F-ZERO 99 on Nintendo Online! Play one round and post your best score! Line up with 98 other F-ZERO machines and race to the finish in this thrilling take on the original Super NES game. Keep an eye on your power meter as you boost and bash, because speed is just as important as survival. Defend yourself with a Spin Attack and collect Super Sparks to breeze past the competition on the elevated Skyway. The F-ZERO 99 game is available only to active Nintendo Switch Online members.
 
Fair Play
Your integrity is everything. Players should play fairly, be honest, and have fun! Falsified scores will result in your immediate removal from the site. It goes without saying that we will not allow cheats, hacks, cartridge frying, enhancements, rewinds, deceitful photo manipulation, subterfuge, or any other unfair advantage. Everybody hates a cheater.
 
More
To review detailed rules on how to play, please visit the High Score Squad page here: 
 
 
Message
Welcome to our 152nd Squad Challenge! This year we're celebrating the holidays and bringing in the new year with a visit back to one of F-ZERO's most challenging courses, Mute City III in F-ZERO on Super Nintendo, a true SNES classic! We are also holding a BONUS CHALLENGE for F-ZERO 99 on Nintendo Online. I have wonderful Christmas memories of F-ZERO, I received the game with my SNES when I was not expecting much of anything for Christmas. The game brought my family a lot of fun and joy that year, and I love playing F-ZERO around Christmas. For years it's become a bit of a Christmas tradition in my house to play F-ZERO and a few other SNES Classics during the Holidays, and now it's become a tradition every year in the forums too, something special I like to share with all of you. ☃️❄️🎄 F-ZERO is one of the iconic titles on Super Nintendo, and it served as a great demonstration of the Super Nintendo's Mode 7 graphics. F-ZERO was a predecessor to anti-gravity racing leagues such as Wip3out (and probably pod racing!). PDF F-ZERO Instruction Booklet is attached below. Good luck, racers!
 
 

 
F-ZERO.pdf

You can see the “kick stand” in action, in this pic.

Im after Ace of Aces for both XE and 7800.  But GATO is interesting.  It's a shame the 7800 version got canned.  It would have been neat to see what it looked like.