Category:Amstrad: Difference between revisions

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__NOTOC__

{{CategoryHeaderBox

| title = Amstrad ~~computers~~

| title = Amstrad

| subtitle = ~~Hardware~~ Maintenance and Repair for the CPC, PCW and ~~more~~

| subtitle = Maintenance, Restoration and Repair for the CPC, PCW, PC Compatibles, GX4000, NC and Mega PC (1984–1995)

}}

Welcome to the Amstrad ~~computers~~ category! ~~This section focuses on~~ the ~~restoration~~, maintenance, ~~upgrades,~~ and ~~historical documentation~~ of ~~systems developed by Amstrad~~.

{{cmbox

| type = notice

| text = The Amstrad category is '''new!'''. Many of the pages do not exist, documentation has not been uploaded, and the category is subject to change. '''If you wish to contribute, please do!'''

}}

[[File:Amstrad logo.svg|right|frameless|220px]]

Welcome to the '''Amstrad''' category! Amstrad (Alan Michael Sugar Trading) was a British consumer electronics company founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar. From 1984 to the mid-1990s, Amstrad produced one of the most diverse home and small-business computing line-ups of any European manufacturer, spanning Z80-based home computers (the CPC range), all-in-one word processors (the PCW range), IBM PC compatibles (the PC1000 through PC9000 series), Z80 notebook computers (the Notepad NC range), a cartridge games console derived from the CPC Plus (the GX4000), and a unique IBM PC + Sega Mega Drive hybrid (the Mega PC). This category covers preventive maintenance, fault diagnosis and capacitor replacement for every member of those families.

Each system features:

* Cleaning, mechanical and electrical maintenance guides

* Common faults and repair procedures

* Capacitor replacement specifications for the planar, PSU and (PCW range) integrated CRT subsystem

* Floppy drive belt and head maintenance — especially for the 3-inch Amsoft / Hitachi drives used across the CPC and PCW ranges

* Period upgrade and modification documentation

== 🖥️ Amstrad CPC Home Computers (Z80, 1984–1990) ==

The CPC range was Amstrad's entry into the home computer market and consists of three original Z80-based machines (464, 664, 6128) and two cartridge-equipped successors (the 464 Plus and 6128 Plus). All five share the Z80A CPU at 4 MHz and use the same 3-inch floppy diskette format (CPC 664 / 6128 / 6128 Plus). Original CPCs use the [[Amstrad CTM-640|CTM-640]] monochrome and [[Amstrad CTM-644|CTM-644]] colour monitors, both of which also supply power to the system unit.

* System-specific maintenance and cleaning guides

* Common faults and repair procedures

* Upgrade and modification resources

* Technical documentation and schematics

~~= CPC 464 =~~

{| class="wikitable styled-table"

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

~~! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting~~

|-

| Amstrad CPC 464 || CPC 464 ~~General~~ Maintenance || CPC 464 ~~troubleshooting~~

! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide

|-

| [[Amstrad CPC 464]] || [[Amstrad CPC 464 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 464 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 464 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad CPC 664]] || [[Amstrad CPC 664 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 664 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 664 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad CPC 6128]] || [[Amstrad CPC 6128 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 6128 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 6128 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad 464 Plus]] || [[Amstrad 464 Plus Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad 464 Plus Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad 464 Plus Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad 6128 Plus]] || [[Amstrad 6128 Plus Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad 6128 Plus Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad 6128 Plus Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|}

= CPC ~~664 =~~

== 🎮 Amstrad GX4000 (Cartridge games console, 1990) ==

The GX4000 is a games console based on the CPC Plus hardware, released in September 1990. It shares the ASIC, video and sound subsystems of the [[Amstrad 464 Plus|464 Plus]] and [[Amstrad 6128 Plus|6128 Plus]] but is sold without a keyboard or tape drive, with software supplied only on the new CPC Plus cartridge format.

{| class="wikitable styled-table"

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

~~! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting~~

|-

| Amstrad ~~CPC 664~~ || ~~CPC 664 General~~ Maintenance || ~~CPC 664 troubleshooting~~

! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide

|-

| [[Amstrad GX4000]] || [[Amstrad GX4000 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad GX4000 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad GX4000 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|}

= CPC ~~6128 =~~

== 📝 Amstrad PCW Word Processors (Z80, 1985–1995) ==

The PCW ("Personal Computer Word processor") line was Amstrad's all-in-one Z80-based word-processing computer with integrated monitor and bundled daisywheel or dot-matrix printer. All PCW models run [[LocoScript]] and are capable of running CP/M Plus. The 8256, 8512, 9256 and 9512 use the same 3-inch floppy diskette format as the CPC range; the 9256 onwards moved to 3.5-inch diskettes. The PCW 16 (1995) is a radical redesign with an ARM-derived CPU and a GUI ("Rosanne"), and is included here for completeness.

{| class="wikitable styled-table"

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

! ~~System~~ !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting

|-

! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide

|-

| [[Amstrad PCW 8256]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8256 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8256 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8256 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PCW 8512]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8512 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8512 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8512 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PCW 9256]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9256 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9256 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9256 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PCW 9512]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PCW 9512+]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512+ Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512+ Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512+ Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PCW 10]] || [[Amstrad PCW 10 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 10 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 10 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| Amstrad ~~CPC 6128~~ || ~~CPC 6128 General~~ Maintenance || ~~CPC 6128 troubleshooting~~

| [[Amstrad PCW 16]] || [[Amstrad PCW 16 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 16 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 16 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|}

= ~~464 Plus~~ =

== 💻 Amstrad PC1000 Series — IBM PC Compatibles (1986–1988) ==

The PC1000 series was Amstrad's first IBM PC clone line. Both machines house the PSU '''inside the monitor''' rather than the system unit and ship with a CGA-based video adapter that uses a composite sync signal — '''Amstrad PC1000 monitors are not pin-compatible with standard CGA monitors'''. The PC1512 introduced an Amstrad-specific extended CGA mode (640 × 200 in 16 colours). The PC1640 added an EGA-capable video board.

{| class="wikitable styled-table"

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

~~! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting~~

|-

| Amstrad ~~464 Plus~~ || ~~464 Plus General~~ Maintenance || ~~464 Plus troubleshooting~~

! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide

|-

| [[Amstrad PC1512]] || [[Amstrad PC1512 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC1512 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC1512 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC1640]] || [[Amstrad PC1640 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC1640 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC1640 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|}

= ~~6128 Plus~~ =

== 💻 Amstrad PC2000 / PC3000 Series — XT and AT Compatibles (1988–1990) ==

The PC2000 series introduced the Paradise PVGA1A planar VGA chipset (256 KB VRAM) to the Amstrad PC range and moved the PSU into the standard system-unit position. PC2086 / 3086 are 8086-based XT-class machines; PC2286 / 3286 use a 80286; PC2386 / 3386SX use the 80386DX or 80386SX. The 3000 series is mechanically compacter than the 2000 series.

{| class="wikitable styled-table"

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

~~! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting~~

|-

| Amstrad ~~6128 Plus~~ || ~~6128 Plus General~~ Maintenance || ~~6128 Plus troubleshooting~~

! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide

|-

| [[Amstrad PC2086]] || [[Amstrad PC2086 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2086 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2086 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC2286]] || [[Amstrad PC2286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC2386]] || [[Amstrad PC2386 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2386 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2386 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC3086]] || [[Amstrad PC3086 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3086 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3086 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC3286]] || [[Amstrad PC3286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC3386SX]] || [[Amstrad PC3386SX Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3386SX Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3386SX Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|}

= ~~GX4000~~ =

== 💻 Amstrad PC4000 / PC5000 / PC7000 / PC9000 Series — Later PC Compatibles (1990–1993) ==

The later PC lines moved Amstrad onto industry-standard PS/2-style keyboards and mice (with a PC5086 oddity: a switch on the back puts the keyboard into XT or AT protocol), industry-standard 40-pin IDE hard drives (replacing the earlier RLL Stratum Sprint), and Citizen-supplied 26-pin floppy drives (PC5086 only).

{| class="wikitable styled-table"

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

~~! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting~~

|-

| Amstrad ~~GX4000~~ || ~~GX4000 General~~ Maintenance || ~~GX4000 troubleshooting~~

! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide

|-

| [[Amstrad PC4386SX]] || [[Amstrad PC4386SX Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC4386SX Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC4386SX Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC5086]] || [[Amstrad PC5086 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5086 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5086 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC5286]] || [[Amstrad PC5286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC5386]] || [[Amstrad PC5386 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5386 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5386 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC7286]] || [[Amstrad PC7286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC7286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC7286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC7386SX]] || [[Amstrad PC7386SX Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC7386SX Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC7386SX Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad PC9486]] || [[Amstrad PC9486 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC9486 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC9486 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|}

= ~~Related~~ Amstrad ~~systems~~ =

== 💼 Amstrad Portables — PPC and ALT Series (1988–1989) ==

The '''PPC512''' and '''PPC640''' are 12 V "luggable" portables: NEC V30 CPU, supertwist non-backlit CGA LCD, and a 14-pin DIN socket that allows the unit to be powered (and the LCD bypassed) by a PC1640 MD/CD/ECD monitor. The '''ALT-286''' and '''ALT-386SX''' are conventional clamshell laptops with backlit LCDs.

{| class="wikitable styled-table"

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

~~! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting~~

|-

~~| Amstrad PCW 8256 ||~~

! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide

|-

| Amstrad ~~PCW 8512~~ ||

| [[Amstrad PPC512]] || [[Amstrad PPC512 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PPC512 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PPC512 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| Amstrad ~~PCW 9256~~

| [[Amstrad PPC640]] || [[Amstrad PPC640 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PPC640 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PPC640 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| Amstrad ~~PCW 9512~~

| [[Amstrad ALT-286]] || [[Amstrad ALT-286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad ALT-286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad ALT-286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| Amstrad ~~PCW 9512+~~

| [[Amstrad ALT-386SX]] || [[Amstrad ALT-386SX Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad ALT-386SX Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad ALT-386SX Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|}

== 📓 Amstrad Notepad and PenPad (Z80 and ARM, 1992–1995) ==

The '''Notepad''' line is a series of A4-size Z80-based notebook computers running '''Protext''' word processor and bundled with a Z80 BASIC interpreter, designed by Cliff Lawson. The '''PenPad PDA600''' (1993) is an early pen-based PDA with handwriting recognition, based on the ARM610.

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

|-

! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide

|-

| [[Amstrad NC100]] || [[Amstrad NC100 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC100 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC100 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad NC150]] || [[Amstrad NC150 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC150 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC150 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| Amstrad ~~PCW 10~~

| [[Amstrad NC200]] || [[Amstrad NC200 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC200 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC200 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|-

| Amstrad ~~PCW 16~~

| [[Amstrad PenPad PDA600]] || [[Amstrad PenPad PDA600 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PenPad PDA600 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PenPad PDA600 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|}

[[Category:~~Amstrad~~]]

== 🎮 Amstrad Hybrid — Mega PC (1993) ==

The '''Mega PC''' is a 386SX-25 IBM PC with a complete Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) integrated into the system unit, switchable between modes. It was a collaboration between Amstrad and Sega and is one of the most unusual hybrids of the era.

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

|-

! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide

|-

| [[Amstrad Mega PC]] || [[Amstrad Mega PC Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad Mega PC Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad Mega PC Capacitor Replacement Guide]]

|}

== 🖨️ Amstrad Peripherals and Accessories ==

The Amstrad ecosystem includes a number of peripherals that are essential to the CPC, PCW and PC ranges and benefit from their own maintenance pages.

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

|-

! Peripheral !! Maintenance / Notes

|-

| [[Amstrad CTM-640]] || [[Amstrad CTM-640 Maintenance Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad CTM-644]] || [[Amstrad CTM-644 Maintenance Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad DDI-1]] || [[Amstrad DDI-1 Maintenance Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad DMP2000]] || [[Amstrad DMP2000 Maintenance Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad DMP3000]] || [[Amstrad DMP3000 Maintenance Guide]]

|-

| [[Amstrad MP-1]] / [[Amstrad MP-2|MP-2]] || [[Amstrad MP-1 / MP-2 Maintenance Guide]]

|}

== 📖 Related Pages ==

* [[Capacitor Failure Symptoms]]

* [[Recommended Tools]]

== 🔗 References ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad Amstrad — Wikipedia]. History of the company and the principal product lines.

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PC1512 Amstrad PC1512 — Wikipedia]; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PC2286 Amstrad PC2286 — Wikipedia]. Source for the PC1000 and PC2000 series technical specifications.

* [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Amstrad_PC Amstrad PC — CPCWiki]. Detailed catalogue of every Amstrad PC desktop and portable.

* [https://retroisle.com/amstrad/pcs/techdetail.php Amstrad PC Technical Section — Retro Isle]. Source for the PSU-in-monitor design of the PC1000 series, the Paradise PVGA1A chipset of the PC2000/3000 series, the PC5086 keyboard XT/AT switch, the 4 × AA RTC battery and CMOS quirk, and the GEM/DR-DOS/MS-DOS bundle history.

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_NC100 Amstrad NC100 — Wikipedia]; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_NC200 Amstrad NC200 — Wikipedia]; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PenPad Amstrad PenPad — Wikipedia]. Sources for the Notepad and PenPad ranges.

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PCW Amstrad PCW — Wikipedia]. Source for the PCW range chronology and the PCW 16 ARM-derived redesign.

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_Mega_PC Amstrad Mega PC — Wikipedia]. Source for the IBM PC + Sega Mega Drive hybrid.

[[Category:Vintage Computers]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+__NOTOC__
 {{CategoryHeaderBox
-| title = Amstrad computers
+| title = Amstrad
-| subtitle = Hardware Maintenance and Repair for the CPC, PCW and more
+| subtitle = Maintenance, Restoration and Repair for the CPC, PCW, PC Compatibles, GX4000, NC and Mega PC (1984&ndash;1995)
 }}
-Welcome to the Amstrad computers category! This section focuses on the restoration, maintenance, upgrades, and historical documentation of systems developed by Amstrad.
+{{cmbox
+| type = notice
+| text = The Amstrad category is '''new!'''. Many of the pages do not exist, documentation has not been uploaded, and the category is subject to change. '''If you wish to contribute, please do!'''
+}}
+[[File:Amstrad logo.svg|right|frameless|220px]]
+Welcome to the '''Amstrad''' category! Amstrad (Alan Michael Sugar Trading) was a British consumer electronics company founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar. From 1984 to the mid-1990s, Amstrad produced one of the most diverse home and small-business computing line-ups of any European manufacturer, spanning Z80-based home computers (the CPC range), all-in-one word processors (the PCW range), IBM PC compatibles (the PC1000 through PC9000 series), Z80 notebook computers (the Notepad NC range), a cartridge games console derived from the CPC Plus (the GX4000), and a unique IBM PC + Sega Mega Drive hybrid (the Mega PC). This category covers preventive maintenance, fault diagnosis and capacitor replacement for every member of those families.
 Each system features:
+* Cleaning, mechanical and electrical maintenance guides
+* Common faults and repair procedures
+* Capacitor replacement specifications for the planar, PSU and (PCW range) integrated CRT subsystem
+* Floppy drive belt and head maintenance &mdash; especially for the 3-inch Amsoft / Hitachi drives used across the CPC and PCW ranges
+* Period upgrade and modification documentation
+== 🖥️ Amstrad CPC Home Computers (Z80, 1984&ndash;1990) ==
+The CPC range was Amstrad's entry into the home computer market and consists of three original Z80-based machines (464, 664, 6128) and two cartridge-equipped successors (the 464 Plus and 6128 Plus). All five share the Z80A CPU at 4 MHz and use the same 3-inch floppy diskette format (CPC 664 / 6128 / 6128 Plus). Original CPCs use the [[Amstrad CTM-640|CTM-640]] monochrome and [[Amstrad CTM-644|CTM-644]] colour monitors, both of which also supply power to the system unit.
-* System-specific maintenance and cleaning guides
-* Common faults and repair procedures
-* Upgrade and modification resources
-* Technical documentation and schematics
-= CPC 464 =
 <templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
-{| class="wikitable styled-table"
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
-! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting
 |-
-| Amstrad CPC 464 || CPC 464 General Maintenance || CPC 464 troubleshooting
+! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide
+|-
+| [[Amstrad CPC 464]] || [[Amstrad CPC 464 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 464 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 464 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad CPC 664]] || [[Amstrad CPC 664 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 664 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 664 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad CPC 6128]] || [[Amstrad CPC 6128 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 6128 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad CPC 6128 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad 464 Plus]] || [[Amstrad 464 Plus Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad 464 Plus Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad 464 Plus Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad 6128 Plus]] || [[Amstrad 6128 Plus Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad 6128 Plus Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad 6128 Plus Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |}
-= CPC 664 =
+== 🎮 Amstrad GX4000 (Cartridge games console, 1990) ==
+The GX4000 is a games console based on the CPC Plus hardware, released in September 1990. It shares the ASIC, video and sound subsystems of the [[Amstrad 464 Plus|464 Plus]] and [[Amstrad 6128 Plus|6128 Plus]] but is sold without a keyboard or tape drive, with software supplied only on the new CPC Plus cartridge format.
 <templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
-{| class="wikitable styled-table"
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
-! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting
 |-
-| Amstrad CPC 664 || CPC 664 General Maintenance || CPC 664 troubleshooting
+! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide
+|-
+| [[Amstrad GX4000]] || [[Amstrad GX4000 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad GX4000 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad GX4000 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |}
-= CPC 6128 =
+== 📝 Amstrad PCW Word Processors (Z80, 1985&ndash;1995) ==
+The PCW ("Personal Computer Word processor") line was Amstrad's all-in-one Z80-based word-processing computer with integrated monitor and bundled daisywheel or dot-matrix printer. All PCW models run [[LocoScript]] and are capable of running CP/M Plus. The 8256, 8512, 9256 and 9512 use the same 3-inch floppy diskette format as the CPC range; the 9256 onwards moved to 3.5-inch diskettes. The PCW 16 (1995) is a radical redesign with an ARM-derived CPU and a GUI ("Rosanne"), and is included here for completeness.
 <templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
-{| class="wikitable styled-table"
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
-! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting
+|-
+! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PCW 8256]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8256 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8256 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8256 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PCW 8512]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8512 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8512 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 8512 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PCW 9256]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9256 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9256 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9256 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PCW 9512]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PCW 9512+]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512+ Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512+ Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 9512+ Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PCW 10]] || [[Amstrad PCW 10 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 10 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 10 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |-
-| Amstrad CPC 6128 || CPC 6128 General Maintenance || CPC 6128 troubleshooting
+| [[Amstrad PCW 16]] || [[Amstrad PCW 16 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 16 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PCW 16 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |}
-= 464 Plus =
+== 💻 Amstrad PC1000 Series &mdash; IBM PC Compatibles (1986&ndash;1988) ==
+The PC1000 series was Amstrad's first IBM PC clone line. Both machines house the PSU '''inside the monitor''' rather than the system unit and ship with a CGA-based video adapter that uses a composite sync signal &mdash; '''Amstrad PC1000 monitors are not pin-compatible with standard CGA monitors'''. The PC1512 introduced an Amstrad-specific extended CGA mode (640 × 200 in 16 colours). The PC1640 added an EGA-capable video board.
 <templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
-{| class="wikitable styled-table"
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
-! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting
 |-
-| Amstrad 464 Plus || 464 Plus General Maintenance || 464 Plus troubleshooting
+! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC1512]] || [[Amstrad PC1512 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC1512 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC1512 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC1640]] || [[Amstrad PC1640 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC1640 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC1640 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |}
-= 6128 Plus =
+== 💻 Amstrad PC2000 / PC3000 Series &mdash; XT and AT Compatibles (1988&ndash;1990) ==
+The PC2000 series introduced the Paradise PVGA1A planar VGA chipset (256 KB VRAM) to the Amstrad PC range and moved the PSU into the standard system-unit position. PC2086 / 3086 are 8086-based XT-class machines; PC2286 / 3286 use a 80286; PC2386 / 3386SX use the 80386DX or 80386SX. The 3000 series is mechanically compacter than the 2000 series.
 <templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
-{| class="wikitable styled-table"
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
-! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting
 |-
-| Amstrad 6128 Plus || 6128 Plus General Maintenance || 6128 Plus troubleshooting
+! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC2086]] || [[Amstrad PC2086 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2086 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2086 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC2286]] || [[Amstrad PC2286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC2386]] || [[Amstrad PC2386 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2386 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC2386 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC3086]] || [[Amstrad PC3086 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3086 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3086 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC3286]] || [[Amstrad PC3286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC3386SX]] || [[Amstrad PC3386SX Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3386SX Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC3386SX Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |}
-= GX4000 =
+== 💻 Amstrad PC4000 / PC5000 / PC7000 / PC9000 Series &mdash; Later PC Compatibles (1990&ndash;1993) ==
+The later PC lines moved Amstrad onto industry-standard PS/2-style keyboards and mice (with a PC5086 oddity: a switch on the back puts the keyboard into XT or AT protocol), industry-standard 40-pin IDE hard drives (replacing the earlier RLL Stratum Sprint), and Citizen-supplied 26-pin floppy drives (PC5086 only).
 <templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
-{| class="wikitable styled-table"
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
-! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting
 |-
-| Amstrad GX4000 || GX4000 General Maintenance || GX4000 troubleshooting
+! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC4386SX]] || [[Amstrad PC4386SX Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC4386SX Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC4386SX Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC5086]] || [[Amstrad PC5086 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5086 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5086 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC5286]] || [[Amstrad PC5286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC5386]] || [[Amstrad PC5386 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5386 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC5386 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC7286]] || [[Amstrad PC7286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC7286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC7286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC7386SX]] || [[Amstrad PC7386SX Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC7386SX Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC7386SX Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad PC9486]] || [[Amstrad PC9486 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC9486 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PC9486 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |}
-= Related Amstrad systems =
+== 💼 Amstrad Portables &mdash; PPC and ALT Series (1988&ndash;1989) ==
+The '''PPC512''' and '''PPC640''' are 12 V "luggable" portables: NEC V30 CPU, supertwist non-backlit CGA LCD, and a 14-pin DIN socket that allows the unit to be powered (and the LCD bypassed) by a PC1640 MD/CD/ECD monitor. The '''ALT-286''' and '''ALT-386SX''' are conventional clamshell laptops with backlit LCDs.
 <templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
-{| class="wikitable styled-table"
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
-! System !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting
 |-
-| Amstrad PCW 8256 ||
+! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide
 |-
-| Amstrad PCW 8512 ||
+| [[Amstrad PPC512]] || [[Amstrad PPC512 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PPC512 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PPC512 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |-
-| Amstrad PCW 9256
+| [[Amstrad PPC640]] || [[Amstrad PPC640 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PPC640 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PPC640 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |-
-| Amstrad PCW 9512
+| [[Amstrad ALT-286]] || [[Amstrad ALT-286 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad ALT-286 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad ALT-286 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |-
-| Amstrad PCW 9512+
+| [[Amstrad ALT-386SX]] || [[Amstrad ALT-386SX Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad ALT-386SX Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad ALT-386SX Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|}
+== 📓 Amstrad Notepad and PenPad (Z80 and ARM, 1992&ndash;1995) ==
+The '''Notepad''' line is a series of A4-size Z80-based notebook computers running '''Protext''' word processor and bundled with a Z80 BASIC interpreter, designed by Cliff Lawson. The '''PenPad PDA600''' (1993) is an early pen-based PDA with handwriting recognition, based on the ARM610.
+<templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
+|-
+! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide
+|-
+| [[Amstrad NC100]] || [[Amstrad NC100 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC100 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC100 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad NC150]] || [[Amstrad NC150 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC150 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC150 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |-
-| Amstrad PCW 10
+| [[Amstrad NC200]] || [[Amstrad NC200 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC200 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad NC200 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |-
-| Amstrad PCW 16
+| [[Amstrad PenPad PDA600]] || [[Amstrad PenPad PDA600 Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad PenPad PDA600 Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad PenPad PDA600 Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
 |}
-[[Category:Amstrad]]
+== 🎮 Amstrad Hybrid &mdash; Mega PC (1993) ==
+The '''Mega PC''' is a 386SX-25 IBM PC with a complete Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) integrated into the system unit, switchable between modes. It was a collaboration between Amstrad and Sega and is one of the most unusual hybrids of the era.
+<templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
+|-
+! Model !! Maintenance !! Troubleshooting !! Capacitor Guide
+|-
+| [[Amstrad Mega PC]] || [[Amstrad Mega PC Maintenance Guide]] || [[Amstrad Mega PC Troubleshooting Guide]] || [[Amstrad Mega PC Capacitor Replacement Guide]]
+|}
+== 🖨️ Amstrad Peripherals and Accessories ==
+The Amstrad ecosystem includes a number of peripherals that are essential to the CPC, PCW and PC ranges and benefit from their own maintenance pages.
+<templatestyles src="Template:StyledTable/styles.css" />
+{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
+|-
+! Peripheral !! Maintenance / Notes
+|-
+| [[Amstrad CTM-640]] || [[Amstrad CTM-640 Maintenance Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad CTM-644]] || [[Amstrad CTM-644 Maintenance Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad DDI-1]] || [[Amstrad DDI-1 Maintenance Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad DMP2000]] || [[Amstrad DMP2000 Maintenance Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad DMP3000]] || [[Amstrad DMP3000 Maintenance Guide]]
+|-
+| [[Amstrad MP-1]] / [[Amstrad MP-2|MP-2]] || [[Amstrad MP-1 / MP-2 Maintenance Guide]]
+|}
+== 📖 Related Pages ==
+* [[Capacitor Failure Symptoms]]
+* [[Recommended Tools]]
+== 🔗 References ==
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad Amstrad &mdash; Wikipedia]. History of the company and the principal product lines.
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PC1512 Amstrad PC1512 &mdash; Wikipedia]; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PC2286 Amstrad PC2286 &mdash; Wikipedia]. Source for the PC1000 and PC2000 series technical specifications.
+* [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Amstrad_PC Amstrad PC &mdash; CPCWiki]. Detailed catalogue of every Amstrad PC desktop and portable.
+* [https://retroisle.com/amstrad/pcs/techdetail.php Amstrad PC Technical Section &mdash; Retro Isle]. Source for the PSU-in-monitor design of the PC1000 series, the Paradise PVGA1A chipset of the PC2000/3000 series, the PC5086 keyboard XT/AT switch, the 4 × AA RTC battery and CMOS quirk, and the GEM/DR-DOS/MS-DOS bundle history.
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_NC100 Amstrad NC100 &mdash; Wikipedia]; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_NC200 Amstrad NC200 &mdash; Wikipedia]; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PenPad Amstrad PenPad &mdash; Wikipedia]. Sources for the Notepad and PenPad ranges.
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PCW Amstrad PCW &mdash; Wikipedia]. Source for the PCW range chronology and the PCW 16 ARM-derived redesign.
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_Mega_PC Amstrad Mega PC &mdash; Wikipedia]. Source for the IBM PC + Sega Mega Drive hybrid.
+[[Category:Vintage Computers]]