Purchased a Vic-20 on ebay and it has 2 red push buttons...

[vicassembly]

I purchased this vic-20 and it came with a couple of surprises. The case (and presumably the motherboard) has been altered. There are two red push buttons on the left side of the case, just below the vic-20 gold stripe.

I have pressed them and can tell that something happens but I have no idea what. I thought that if I plugged in a cartridge it might reset with the command prompt but that was not the case.

Does anyone have an idea what I should try? Have you ever seen a vic modified like this?

Jonathan Andrews

jonathan_d_andrews@comcast.net

[gklinger]

Perhaps you could provide some pictures? Seeing where the wires from the buttons connect to the motherboard may help answer your question.

[Ihavenousername]

I've seen a lot of VIC's and other 8-bit computers modified with red push buttons like that, but usually there's only one and it's a reset button.

If none of the buttons reset the VIC, then I would love to find out what they do.

[Jeff-20]

Red button? Does the number 3 appear on screen when you press it? If so, it's just the 3 button. Hold CTRL when you press it to get RED.

Kidding. But seriously, I've seen VICs with disabled reset buttons. As if the original owner installed and later removed the mod. I always wondered (if my guess is correct) why someone would do that. Does a reset switch hurt the hardware in any way?

[vicassembly]

I have not opened up the VIC yet but I will do so and take pictures.

[vicassembly]

Here you go. It appears the two buttons are connected to the board as in picture 3. 1st and 3rd position on second row.


http://www.plaxo.com/profile/photoViewe ... 4&ps=photo

[TNT]

Reset button where you need to press both buttons, maybe to avoid doing it accidentally?

[Boray]

One reset button and one pause button?

Or maybe one button for 1 and one for 0 for real hardcore binary programming

[Vic20-Ian]

TNT is correct.

Pin 1 Gnd & 3 (low)reset are taken to the two switches which both have to be pressed to reset.

............... --!-- ... --!--
GND---1 ---o o----o o----3 Reset (low)

[Boray]

Aha. I only saw the first picture...

[gklinger]

Well, that's sorted.

[vicassembly]

Thanks everyone. The two red buttons, held down at the same time, reset the VIC.

Jonathan