Hi Andre!

27 Feb 2021 21:05, from Andre Medeiros -> All:

 AM> Got really fortunate and found a working C64.

There are many offered on Ebay here.
Prices wen up slightly, but you can still make bargains.

 AM> What should I be doing before turning it on?

I never did anything before turning them on.
Naturally if something looks damaged, you should check before turning on, but
otherwise I had no issues with turning it on.

Commodore power bricks are said to be bad quality.
But all of mine work fine. (I have just one wedge PSU, the others are the newer
brick shape)

Having a 1541 Ultimate is definitely a good idea!

But it might be even better to go the UItimate 64 route.
It is a replacement mainboard, that has a 1541 ultimate built in.
You take out the C64 mainboard and replace it with the Ultimate 64 board.
It has all ports that the C64 has (for the user port you need a special cable).
As the user port is used to have HDMI, USB and Ethernet jacks.

It is powered by a modern 9V PSU that is included.

The Ultimate 64 is absolutely genius!!
No worries about PSUs and you can also attach HDMI if you want.
(regular Monitor output also available, our you can also use component video).
No RF modulator, but who needs that if you have HDMI available.

 AM> Also, if there is any software you recommend, I definitely want to
 AM> hear about it too :)

Well there is a lot of good old and new SW.

I assembled an EasyFlash cart once:
https://menedetter.net/ez-ricsi.crt

You need an EasyFlash cart or a Ultimate64 or 1541 Ultimate to check it.
But you can unpack the EZ and take the single programs, if you look around.

CU, Ricsi

... Character is what you are. Reputation is what people think you are.
--- GoldED+/LNX