Commodore hardware question

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alienjesus
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Commodore hardware question

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I'm trying to purchase a Commodore 64 Datasette to play my C64 tapes because mine is broken, and I've found someone selling some Commodore + 4 datasettes. I was wondering if these are compatible with the Commodore 64 games and system?

I don't really understand a thing about this system :lol: :oops:
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CRTGAMER
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Re: Commodore hardware question

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alienjesus wrote:I'm trying to purchase a Commodore 64 Datasette to play my C64 tapes because mine is broken, and I've found someone selling some Commodore + 4 datasettes. I was wondering if these are compatible with the Commodore 64 games and system?

I don't really understand a thing about this system :lol: :oops:
The datasette was a term used for Commodore 64 and Vic20 Cassette programs. The cassettes were more common in Europe then the U.S which had most programs on floppy disk. If C64 tapes then should work fine. A novelty, the tapes took a lot longer then the floppy drive. There are two types of Datasette readers for the commodore, but it is just a cosmetic change.

Of note, the C64 has game carts just like a game console.

Search for 1541 and C64 thru this forum, There are a couple mini guides in here.
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alienjesus
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Re: Commodore hardware question

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CRTGAMER wrote:
alienjesus wrote:I'm trying to purchase a Commodore 64 Datasette to play my C64 tapes because mine is broken, and I've found someone selling some Commodore + 4 datasettes. I was wondering if these are compatible with the Commodore 64 games and system?

I don't really understand a thing about this system :lol: :oops:
The datasette was a term used for Commodore 64 and Vic20 Cassette programs. The cassettes were more common in Europe then the U.S which had most programs on floppy disk. If C64 tapes then should work fine. A novelty, the tapes took a lot longer then the floppy drive. There are two types of Datasette readers for the commodore, but it is just a cosmetic change.

Search for 1541 and C64 thru this forum, There are a couple mini guides in here.
So it doesnt make any difference that these are listed as being for the Commodore Plus4, not the Commodore 64?
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Re: Commodore hardware question

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alienjesus wrote:So it doesnt make any difference that these are listed as being for the Commodore Plus4, not the Commodore 64?
Oop missed that, I thought you meant four tapes. :lol:

NOT COMPATIBLE! That was a newer downgraded commodore that failed to sale compared to the C64.
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Re: Commodore hardware question

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Thanks, guess I'll keep looking.


Dammit, the commodore 64 sold an absolute ton over here, yet I can't find an affordable working datasette unit anywhere >__<
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Re: Commodore hardware question

Post by Hobie-wan »

alienjesus wrote:I'm trying to purchase a Commodore 64 Datasette to play my C64 tapes because mine is broken
How is it broken? Being a tape device, there are belts which wear out over time. Perhaps yours just needs new belts?
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Re: Commodore hardware question

Post by alienjesus »

Tape won't play, fast forward or rewind. Sounds like it could be a belt issue I guess? Or maybe a power issue.


Are they easy to fix then? I've been looking, but man, information on this thing seems sporadic.
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Re: Commodore hardware question

Post by CRTGAMER »

Good point, the belt might need replaced.

@ alienjesus - Just pop the shell open, hit Frys for a belt a similar size.

Evidently there is an adaptor to make the Plus 4/16 datasette work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_ ... d_Plus.2F4
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Re: Commodore hardware question

Post by Hobie-wan »

alienjesus wrote:Tape won't play, fast forward or rewind. Sounds like it could be a belt issue I guess? Or maybe a power issue.

Are they easy to fix then? I've been looking, but man, information on this thing seems sporadic.
Sometimes tape mechanism belts are easy, sometimes you have to take them partially apart to get a new belt in. I'd say open it up and see if there's the remains of a broken one, or if you can notice one that gets engaged when you press play that's still very loose. But before that, is there perhaps a fuse accessible from the outside you can check? The disk drives had a nice easy to open fuse compartment.

@CRT - He's in the UK, there won't be a Fry's.
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