Sinclair QL - Genuine loft find

[koopa42]

Hi all. A quick history lesson, my love of computers and gaming started with the mighty ZX81 (crazy kong was the first home game I ever played), moved onto the 48k rubber keyed god (my first owned machine) and then onto (what I though was brilliant) *spit spit* Spectrum +2 .... yes, we know. Anyway My uncle introduced me to the ZX81 and programming then a few years later he bought a QL.

*some time passes, Thorin sits down and starts singing about gold*

2022 and my aunt and uncle were moving, in the loft he finds his old QL, knows I'm always interested in old tech, and hands me a bag full of stuff (and a monitor) with a quick "it's been up there for decades, there's no way it'll work, are you sure you don't want me just to take it to the tip with everything else?" ..... I think you can guess my answer.

Anyway, I digress, here are some pics of the beauty. I had to repair the PSU and the AV needed work but other than that it booted up, I didn't try the drive (more about that later) because I then deep cleaned it (as I would any retro find). Here are some pics (and some great extras)







after the clean and repair:



Testing the drives (I have since been informed this was a TERRIBLE idea, and have refrained from doing so ever since)

[vanpeebles]

Great pics! Imagine if that lot got thrown out! I do some warhammer painting myself, any piccies?

[koopa42]

Hi all. A quick history lesson, my love of computers and gaming started with the mighty ZX81 (crazy kong was the first home game I ever played), moved onto the 48k rubber keyed god (my first owned machine) and then onto (what I though was brilliant) *spit spit* Spectrum +2 .... yes, we know. Anyway My uncle introduced me to the ZX81 and programming then a few years later he bought a QL.

*some time passes, Thorin sits down and starts singing about gold*

2022 and my aunt and uncle were moving, in the loft he finds his old QL, knows I'm always interested in old tech, and hands me a bag full of stuff (and a monitor) with a quick "it's been up there for decades, there's no way it'll work, are you sure you don't want me just to take it to the tip with everything else?" ..... I think you can guess my answer.

Anyway, I digress, here are some pics of the beauty. I had to repair the PSU and the AV needed work but other than that it booted up, I didn't try the drive (more about that later) because I then deep cleaned it (as I would any retro find). Here are some pics (and some great extras)



Straight out of the bag:



First test and classic '10 print' shenanigans





After the clean and repair:



VERY ill advised (I didn't know any better) drive test BUT I'm hoping no damage done:

[koopa42]

and all the extras, I remember playing Zkul! you should see the insert, it says 'if this game is too difficult call *the creators* on a number in Scotland for help!!!' ..... you just don't get that kind of service these days, imagine calling EA LOLOL

[koopa42]

Anyway, I pretty much know what my long term plan is, but in the interim, what do I do next? I mean for maintaining/checking/running her (yes, she's a her now)

Is there a drive solution? I can't imagine it being wise to run ANY old tapes
Can you get new 'knock off but still work' tapes?
Is there an SD reader solution (much like my Atari Lynx cart)?
What's that thing sticking out of the end that isn't on QLs out of the box (from what I can see)

Cheers in advance for any and all info.

[koopa42]

Shit, I've just reposted this, I thought it kept getting spammed out! Soz, will copy the story bit

[XorA]

Shit, I've just reposted this, I thought it kept getting spammed out! Soz, will copy the story bit

Just needed approval as you were a new poster, I didnt manage to hit button in time to save you posting twice

[koopa42]

Great pics! Imagine if that lot got thrown out! I do some warhammer painting myself, any piccies?

Of my warhammer stuff? knock yourself out https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHalfarsedHeresy

I have loads of pics but I don't ACTUALLY want to be a spammer. If there is a warhammer section in the off topic I'll post some in the future

[Andrew]

What can I say: "some guys have all the luck"

Modern storage solutions:
- vDrive-QL = emulator for up to 8 microdives You can buy it from here: https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/detai ... e%29-41007 or thi s one, with case https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/detai ... e%29-41008
- Tetroid Trump card - 768k RAM + floppy interface + hard drive on flash card - https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/detai ... card-28468
- Tetroid QUBIDE interface kit - 512k RAM expansion + QUbide hard drive interface. You will need to build it and separetely buy a DOM module or a Flash card + IDE adaptor to use as hard drive https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/detai ... -kit-28959
- QL-SD - Hard drive on SD. It is not available at this moment, we hope that Marcel will have a new batch ready in the near future. But to use it at it's full potential you will probably need some memory expansion or a Gold Card / Super Gold card

[koopa42]

What can I say: "some guys have all the luck"

Modern storage solutions:
- vDrive-QL = emulator for up to 8 microdives You can buy it from here: https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/detai ... e%29-41007 or thi s one, with case https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/detai ... e%29-41008
- Tetroid Trump card - 768k RAM + floppy interface + hard drive on flash card - https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/detai ... card-28468
- Tetroid QUBIDE interface kit - 512k RAM expansion + QUbide hard drive interface. You will need to build it and separetely buy a DOM module or a Flash card + IDE adaptor to use as hard drive https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/detai ... -kit-28959
- QL-SD - Hard drive on SD. It is not available at this moment, we hope that Marcel will have a new batch ready in the near future. But to use it at it's full potential you will probably need some memory expansion or a Gold Card / Super Gold card

Cheers, will look into some of this today.