Packard Bell PB486CD restoration (Part 1)

Today I would like to share with you a restoration project, which I was trying to finish for a very long time. It is a nice retro PC with some very unusual features. It had to be rescued and recently I made some progress which I would like to share with you. Have fun!

Music by Model Povedeniya

Patreon:

[BG_Dave]

I've said it before, but your repair skills are an inspiration. Your editing skills are just as good 👍🏽

[smoke]

This video really shows how much using a microscope helps fixing traces. Impressive work.

[NutScrewGamer]

I don't have a retro PC but Necroware's way of speaking and explaining things got me hooked

[Yrouel]

It's really impressive how not only you do a very fine job repairing these boards in and on itself but you also take the extra mile to make such repairs really neat.
Some other folks while being very competent in the repair process itself don't bother with neatness and those boards have flying wires everywhere often not even bothering to cut them to length

[Supercity]

What a repair. Super impressive, as usual. When I look at your videos, they leave with the impression that nothing is truly ever broken beyond repairs: it's just a question of how much time and energy one wants to put into saving these machines. Respect.

[vswitchzero]

Great work! It's amazing how much damage those batteries can leave in their aftermath. I used to be nervous washing PCBs with soap and water but started doing it with success recently. The boards turn out beautiful afterward 🙂

[tony]

Congratulations for the microscope! I also procrastinated one for a long time, thinking a magnifying lens would be enough. But it's another world :) Great repair video as usual! Rewarding to see the board posting!

[miketech]

Amazing work as always! I have lots of these Packard Bell machines. Sad to see the Varta demon has gotten its evil hands on them… I picked up those same drill bits for cleaning the vias a few weeks ago and they work amazingly well. Keep up the fantastic work!

[SyphistPrime]

Many would've considered this board unrepairable. You went the extra mile though and got it working. Absolutely insane.

[charleston_]

Hope you're safe! Love your videos!

[nismo]

The first computer I purchased with my own money was a Packard Bell 486sx-33 system. Came with windows 3.1 installed. I spent a LOT of time playing Doom with my brother. We ran a phone line between my computer and our parent's computer so we could play against each other. So many good memories!

[richhenry]

So much work. I wish i had this work ethic on my hobby projects.

[burntoutelectronics]

Yes! A new video! I’ve been bingeing your videos for the past week now and I can’t get enough!

[wintermute]

That power supply. When I was a PC tech back in the day, I used one of that exact model as the power supply on my bench. It was an amazing little power supply, and served me well until it was finally completely displaced by ATX. Even then, I kept it around for the AT machines which still occasionally crossed my bench.

[smigbobvonsmelborp]

Seeing you bring that board back to life was some serious operating-table work! never knew you could patch a board up like that.

[jamesross]

Yet another highly satisfying repair. The microscope is very interesting and your comments on using one is very encouraging. Seems ideal for soldering smd components.

[BorgSwarm]

Wow! So much work and attention to detail. I love watching your videos. They have inspired me to gather a lot of retro hardware (my wife thinks I'm crazy) and tinker with making repairs. I thoroughly enjoy watching you bring these machines back to life. I wish I had your level of skill in this area but I still have a long way to go.

[RickBaconsAdventures]

That trace repair work was extremely impressive. I design and manufacture PCBs and have done this a couple times on this level. The board has to be irreplaceable and highly valuable for me to spend that much effort on it!

[boriskender]

Great work! I was on edge of my chair for this one. The relief on end of video. :)

[RetroTinkerer]

Hello there!
Damn I was already impressed with your voodoo thing before you had access to this microscope, it's super cool to see you working on this old motherboard and recover this 486, on another hands it would had ended as scrap or in a landfill.
I'll be looking forward your next video.
Thanks.