Commodore PET 4032 Saved & Restored - Rare School Computer Restoration

Let's restore a vintage Commodore PET 4032 computer that was originally used at Lincoln Middle School in Alameda, California (Alameda Unified School District) from 1983 to 1988. After spending over three decades in storage, this rare 8-bit machine was rescued from e-waste in 2022. In this video I walk through its full restoration—starting with early photos, progress updates, and detailed repair footage captured over a four-month period.

If you're into classic Commodore hardware, vintage computer restoration, or retro tech history, you’ll enjoy seeing this iconic PET 4032 brought back to life. Links to replacement parts like capacitors, voltage regulators, and the Commodore badge label are in the video description.

Fun Fact: The Commodore Universal Dynamic PET 8032090 board is used for the 4016, 4032 and the 8032 PET computers.

DISCLAIMER: Please do not take this video as a tutorial / advice. I'm not an expert, this is just my hobby :)

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--- Video Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro: Commodore PET 4032 from the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD)
1:55 - PET 4032 Restoration slideshow with 2022 and 2025 photos
2:41 - The back of the PET 4032 computer case and ports (tape, user and IEEE-488)
3:17 - Commodore PET 4032 Universal Dynamic PET 8032090 board ultrasonic cleaning
3:44 - The minimum parts I plan to replace before doing a smoke test
4:58 - Showing the brand new Voltage Regulators, Capacitors, 40-pin and 24-pin IC Sockets
5:52 - Removing the old parts and installing new replacement parts
6:54 - PET 4032 first smoke test after replacing a few parts on the motherboard
7:10 - Using my PET ROM RAM board from TFW8B
8:02 - Commodore PET 4032 second smoke test chirp!
8:32 - Working on the monitor VDU board (Visual Display Unit)
12:20 - First power on with the CRT connected to the PET 4032 PCB
13:25 - We have a picture but not the picture we expected to see on the screen
13:55 - Looks like we've got a video memory issue on the motherboard
14:34 - Parts Commodore VIC-20 PCB for 2114 RAM chips
15:43 - Installed 2 sockets and two 2114 video RAM chips
16:14 - Running the PET ROM RAM board video memory test
16:34 - First power on with replacement 2114 video RAM chips
16:55 - Success! Commodore BASIC 4.0 with 31743 Bytes Free READY!
17:04 - Connecting up the PET graphics keyboard to see if any keys work
18:11 - Repairing the Commodore PET 4032 keyboard conductive pads
19:25 - Quick overview of repairs done to the Universal Dynamic PET 8032090 board
20:16 - Testing the PET 4032 keyboard after applying conductive paint
20:36 - AUSD Commodore PET 4032: First reveal with Wil Wheaton Wesley Crusher
21:00 - Loading software using the SD2PET Future connected to the IEEE-488 port
22:01 - Space Invaders shoot 'em up video game loaded and running on the PET 4032
22:48 - Outro

--- Video Links

Chuck Hutchins - PET 12 inch Monitor Repair:
   • PET 12 inch Monitor Repair  

Commodore PET video RAM faults:
http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2...

Repairing my Commodore PET 2001 Keyboard (again):
   • Vintage Tech Repair: Reviving a Commodore ...  

The Future was 8-bit SD2PET SD Card storage:
https://www.tfw8b.com/product/sd2pet-...

Tynemouth Software Commodore PET ROM/RAM Board:
https://www.tindie.com/products/tynem...

--- Channel Links

Subscribe:
https://youtube.com/geekwithsocialski...

My Commodore CBM PET Computer Playlist:
   • Commodore PET Computers  

--- Repair Parts with Board Locations, Part Numbers and sources:

Commodore PET - 4032 Narrow Badge/Label from COREi64.com:
https://corei64.com/shop/index.php?ro...

CaiKot 44 Conductive Carbon Paint:
https://amzn.to/3GpzxHP

Commodore PET 4032 12" VDU board parts replaced:
R753 - 56 Ohm 1/2 watt resistor - Mouser P/N 273-56-RC
R752 - 58 Ohm 1/2 watt resistor - Mouser P/N 603-MFR50SFTE52-59R
C754 - Radial Cap 47uF, 250v - Jameco SKU 610010
D754 - Diode, 1A, 400V - Jameco SKU 35991

Commodore PET 4032/8032 Universal Dynamic PET 8032090 board parts replaced:
Q1 and Q2 - TIP29 Transistor - Digikey P/N TIP29FS-ND
VR1 - 7905 -5v Voltage Regulator
C2 - 470uF 16v capacitor
C5 - 4700uF 25v capacitor
UB3 - 74LS373 latch chip
UC4 and UC5 - 2114 Video RAM
VR2 - L7812CT SGS +12V 1.5A Linear Voltage Regulator - eBay
VR4 - LM323K Texas Instruments +5V 3A Linear Voltage Regulator - eBay
UB12 and UB16 - 6520 PIA (Peripheral Interface Adapter) - Mouser P/N W65C21N6TPG-14
UB13 - 6545 CRTC - ACORN BBC MICRO 6845 CRTC CONTROLLER HD46505SP - eBay
UB14 - 6502 CPU (Central Processing Unit)
UB15 - 6522 VIA (Versatile Interface Adapter)
UC8, UC9 and UC10 - 74LS157 TI Multiplexer - Digikey P/N 296-1645-5-ND

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