Exploring MSX! The Philips VG 8235 MSX2 computer using Gotek and MaxDuino

[@nivaria]

Years and years looking for a video in which such a complete and exhaustive review was made, on the cutting and cleaning of a keyboard of the Phillips VG8235 model and decades later, I finally see it, of this computer from my childhood. I thank you, since you have dared to do what many of us dared to do: open the keyboard and remove the keys to clean and condition it, for fear of breaking it, since msx keyboards have no replacement, no like those of other teams (c64, Amiga, etc ...) that have many spare parts. I don't know how you got that cable tie for the gotek, and what has impressed me the most is that the gotek that was listed as unit B, allowed you to run commercial games, I thought it was only possible when the gotek was configured as unit A. Kind regards and thank you very much for this instructive video of a great machine like the MSX2 VG-8235 from phillips, I'll save this video among my favorites as a reference video.

[@Arcticretro]

Thanks a lot :)

[@leesmapman4764]

Our first computer. I still remember the day we got it.

[@Arcticretro]

Nice one :)

[@Chris-8bit]

Heya. I've started in the early 80s with a Yashica YC-64 MSX1 and upgraded in ~'86 to the Philips VG-8235. Recently I've re-discovered it during cleaning of my basement. And since then, I use the wonderful device now and then :) BTW, I also needed to replace the floppy-drive belt. Thanks to your video, I knew where to source it! Cheers from Switzerland, Happy 2023! - and may the MSX live on...

[@Arcticretro]

Thanks :)

[@abcxyz15000]

Nice video! I have a Philips VG 8235 that was upgraded to MSX2+ by a previous owner. Great machine!!

[@BottIsNotABot]

Lovely technical term there Tommy 'Full of dust and shit'. Great video as always! A lot of games on the MSX were ported from the Spectrum or Amstrad so never really showed the full capabilities of the MSX platform.

[@jamesrizzo295]

Fantastic video. I knew nothing of this machine or MSX platform and really enjoyed going on the journey with you. 👍

[@Arcticretro]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MeitsMSX]

My message seems te be lost in the 9th dimension, so here a retry: POKE &HF247,1 to swap A: and B: which makes your gotek default until reset/power cycle POKE &HF346,1: CALL SYSTEM if DOS is present on the disk and you want to go there POKE -1,170 if a tape game crashes.

[@Arcticretro]

Oh how great. Wish I had knew before I finished the video. However, I got the new belt now, and the internal drive workes just fine now:)

[@MeitsMSX]

@@Arcticretro might come into handy in a future project ;)

[@icecreammm2]

Thanks! I also tried to load games from external floppy and didn't know I could change the location to "B:" with the list command.

[@Arcticretro]

Glad I could help!

[@bencheyne1333]

Excellent video, you are a genius.

[@Arcticretro]

Wow, thanks!

[@lexpee]

I was using the same MSX computer at the time. The successor was then an NMS8255 with 2 disk drives. I have been involved with MSX since 1983. I had an MSX club in Amsterdam From 1991 to 2006 meetings once a month. Unfortunately too little interest, 2006 the club ended. Often i think back to those cozy club meetings. In recent years I only use MSX via the "BLUEMSX" PC emulator. I'm thinking about an new MSXVR computer.

[@Arcticretro]

MSX seems like a good system. Unfortunately it was not very popular in Norway I think. I never heard about MSX until now in recent years when I got back the interest for old computers.

[@lexpee]

look on KZbin for MSXVR The new MSX computer.

[@lovemadeinjapan]

Can you adjust the vertical resolution of an MSX? It is pretty scheisse by default, I have the idea 40% of my screen estate is wasted. Would love to see like 50x30 characters visible (400x240 pixels)

[@lexpee]

I inherited a Turbo R from a good friend last year. I will soon start my MSX hobby again after 23 years. The Turbo R ST computer will go to repair service this week for memory expansion and disk drive repair. MSXVR i have sent an email no response.

[@alexany4619]

Hi, the 8235 as the Rom inbuild drawback, that it will only accept 360kb as drive A. So this might be the reason that you was not able to read the Gotek properly after switching it to be drive A. Because of reasons only the Philips engineers might know, only drive B is accepted to have 720kb. 😉

[@Arcticretro]

Ok, Thank you :)

[@DehnusNorder]

Shit on reset unloads non essentials from memory :). Some tape games just need that little bit of extra memory you can get out, or need a memory address otherwise in use by something else. :P.

[@isaactanner6403]

Hi !! Try to research how MSX2 store inicial setup !! It have a eeprom memmory with store time and screen data to boot !!

[@terosaarela4555]

Great video! Since the diskROM supports 720 kB disks, you could try to use a PC floppy drive. There should be instructions in the internet.

[@Arcticretro]

Cool, thanks

[@MeitsMSX]

@@Arcticretro That only goes for the external port. If you insert the NMS8245 systemrom and add two jumper wires on the mainboard a 2DD internal drive is possible.

[@lovemadeinjapan]

@@MeitsMSX That is ok, as those drives don't fit internally. Can you power the external drive from the 5V and 12V pin of the expansion port on the back?

[@patrickdeunhouwer5926]

Great video MSX is a nice machine, have an 8245 also with the same belt issue original belts where crap (put in a tape belt for now but it is smaller) and it worked for now where did you order the correct belt? Did you load msx1 games or msx2 games by tape, some msx1 games do not work or need patching.

[@henkvis7982]

Nice video, very informative! I also have a VG-8235 and was looking for some info on the floppy drive, according to the info on this page (Dutch) the standard drive only supports 360kb floppies(?)

[@Arcticretro]

Cool, thanks!

[@XoulioManolio]

Still have it!!!

[@CyclingSteve]

Try entering B: as a command, on DOS this switches to the B drive as the default.

[@Arcticretro]

Hmm, I think I tried that

[@CyclingSteve]

@@Arcticretro I thought you might have as you also used it as a prefix in the basic loaders.

[@skjerk]

Did you try to just disconnect the internal drive and set the gotek to drive 0? (i.e. Without swappomg the cables)

[@Arcticretro]

No, not the same connector

[@MeitsMSX]

@@Arcticretro I think he means to use the gotek on the external connector as A: by removing the cable from the internal drive and setting the jumper on the gotek to A: In a lot of computers this will work because the data connectors on the mainboard are 100% parallel. In this computer I do not know. Maybe worth a try.

[@LeoBerardino]

A good way to reinforce the super glue is mix it with backing soda.

[@Arcticretro]

Great tip!

[@Hagledesperado]

Nice, my first computer was an MSX. I would rip out the batteries if I were you. I think they'll start leaking as soon as your charge them back up. Replace them with a CR32 holder with a diode in series maybe?

[@jeffreyphipps1507]

That may work. Some there's a rechargeable version of that battery ML2032 I think. Not sure if that'd remove the need for the diode - BUT, the CR2032 is FAR more common making it cheaper. The ML2032 is used in solar powered devices that need some small memory. I'm less clear if it really lasts. I haven't had good luck with it, but it may be because of solar charging. MSX machines also came with a AA battery pack, and people have just changed from regular AAs to rechargeable (USB or wall rechargeable) AAs. When the charge runs out years later, you can just pull them and recharge them in the charging device and then put them back in. They are Lithium and don't leak (usually). I use them in remote controls and various things both AA and AAA. Definitely the Ni-Cd needs to be pulled. I have poured through the "MSX Technical Data Book" (Official book reprinted on Amazon) and the current boards and only one person suggested replacing the battery. Most say pull the old and live with the lack of settings each boot. I don't get it. We replace batteries in virtually all computers all the time. Why not this one?

[@Arcticretro]

Yes, I will remove that battery soon

[@DehnusNorder]

The MSX 2 machine specs was quite good value for it's money. Sure, it wasn't an Amiga, but you could upgrade it and it wasn't an expensive machine. Heck Philips VG-8280 top line could do basic video editing :).

[@lovemadeinjapan]

This was a nice video, although I did get the feeling it was a Beavis and Butthead review with all the giggles.

[@gunma747j]

woah does this drive belt hack works on other msx FDDs? my HB-F1 XDJ was missing one and looking for replacements

[@Arcticretro]

If you find the correct size. But it is not very durable

[@captaincorleone7088]

"MG" just means magnetic tape in case you didn't figure it out later. ;)

[@n.h.s.a.d.m.]

Seems like a really neat system, maybe at the same level of a C128 or higher. Speech in a strip poker game?? They usually aren't that good quality. Loved Spy Vs. Spy II on C64 and the graphics for this version look great.

[@lovemadeinjapan]

This is WAY better than a C128, which is a shit-machine. The only positive of the C128 is that it looks better and feels more sturdy.

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

After that intro, I think I've made a decision to defect to Norway.

[@Arcticretro]

Do that :)

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

@@Arcticretro I'll bring my logic analyzer and soldering station. :)

[@talideon]

That's one impressively over-engineered machine! Well, except for the keyboard...

[@Arcticretro]

Yes, the keyboard seems like crap...

[@congestiontv]

Exctly my thoughts. Why max out RAM and put three types of video connectors in if you have such a lousy keyboard type? Those fingers after removing what was once a drive belt shows the true retro compassion.

[@alexany4619]

And except of the 360kb drive A... Drive B is accepted to have 720kb but you can't swap it to work as a 720kb Drive A without patching the 8235 DiskRom.

[@lovemadeinjapan]

Even the keyboard is over-engineered, with its adjustable angle. The mechanism is sturdy plate metal. I have no issue with the keyboard, I would not recommend disassembling if it works. The keycaps do yellow unfortunately.