probnot

A quick search online shows this has been a problem since at least 2015!

Not sure if this is only an issue in Windows 10 and later. I don't remember this issue in Windows 7 and this has happened to me several times (using Ctrl-Z in an editor without realizing Explorer had focus on another screen).

(Not so) fun fact. In Windows File Explorer, if you use cut/paste to move files, then hit undo (files are now in "cut" limbo), then do a further action in Explorer (wiping out redo), those files are now gone. Not in the original folder, not in the Recycle Bin...Completely fucking gone.

The outside of a large Sony CV-2200 open reel video recorder, with the cover on.

The Sony CV-2200 open reel video recorder with the cover opened.

The (future project) CV-2200!

A video camera (Sony CVC-2100A) on the right, aimed at a laserdisc copy of the movie E.T. on the left. A 9" black and white TV (Sony CVM-950) sits in the middle, displaying the output of the camera.

Sony CVC-2100A camera from 1968, plugged into a Sony CVM-950 from 1969.

TV has just been fixed up with a tube-swap since this one had a dead CRT.

The camera will need a full re-cap, as it's full of those grey ones.

And then I can start working on my CV-2200 open reel video recorder from 1968!

A VHS copy of Monty Python and the Holy Grail with the cardboard sleeve shown.

A VHS tape of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, with the screen-printed tape label indicating it's a Columbia Tristar Home Video release.

The Columbia Tristar release for reference.

Two copies of Monty Python and the Holy Grail on VHS sitting side by side. The front is shown. They are identical.

Two copies of Monty Python and the Holy Grail on VHS sitting side by side. The back is shown. They are identical.

Two copies of Monty Python and the Holy Grail on VHS sitting side by side. The spine is shown. They are identical.

Two VHS copies of Monty Python and the Holy Grail pulled out of the cardboard sleeves. One has a horizontal label screen-printed on it that indicates it's in the EP speed and has very little tape on the spools. The other has vertical label screen-printed which does not indicate the speed and it has a typical amount of tape on the spools for a commercial movie release.

Found this oddity while getting rid of duplicate copies of movies I own.

Two copies of the Malofilm release of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The sleeves are completely identical, and yet one these is recorded in EP, while the other is recorded in SP. Same number and everything.

A disintegrating cam gear made of some kinda of pot metal

A 3D printer printing a replacement cam gear

3D printed replacement cam gear installed in an Akai 4000DS reel to reel tape recorder

With all the problems, some things in the future (now) are pretty sweet. Like spending $2 CAD for a 3D model of a cam gear I can 3D print to get this reel-to-reel up and running.

Four vintage calculators with vacuum fluorescent displays, sitting on a carpeted floor. Three of them are powered on and displaying the numbers 5318008, 123456, and 69420.

New vintage calculator acquisitions! Radio Shack EC-2010 (cat no. 65-960, from 1985), Sperry-Remington 665 (from 1974), Brother 807 (from 1974), and Unitrex 89SLW (mid 1970s?). The Radio Shack came with new D batteries! Unfortunately the Brother has battery corrosion, which I'll need to deal with.

Two Mitsubishi branded AAA batteries sitting next to a silver Mitsubishi VCR remote.

An open battery compartment of a remote. The battery contacts are shiny and clean.

Japanese writing on a 42 year old Mitsubishi AAA battery. Battery is made in Japan.

The bottom of a AAA battery with the date numbers 84-03 stamped on it. Presumably a date stape meaning March, 1984.

This remote came with the original batteries from 1984. Somehow they never leaked, though they're stone dead.

A screenshot of a Facebook Marketplace ad for a Magnavox (Funai) VHS VCR, model CMWV405. The listing and description incorrectly identify it as model E175216, and the description reads: "The Magnavox E175216 refers to a Magnavox SDTV (Standard Definition Television) Analog Tuner/Converter Box, often sold as part of a DVD player/recorder combo or as a standalone unit to receive over-the-air broadcasts before the digital transition, allowing older TVs to work with digital signals and also record content to DVD, supporting various media like DVD-R/RW, CD, and MP3s. It's a device that bridges older analog TV technology with newer digital formats, often found as a used or refurbished item for legacy setups."

A photo of the back of the VCR showing where E175216 is written on the label.

A Google search result for "magnavox e175216", with an AI result that reads: "The Magnavox E175216 refers to a Magnavox SDTV (Standard Definition Television) Analog Tuner/Converter Box, often sold as part of a DVD player/recorder combo or as a standalone unit to receive over-the-air broadcasts before the digital transition, allowing older TVs to work with digital signals and also record content to DVD, supporting various media like DVD-R/RW, CD, and MP3s. It's a device that bridges older analog TV technology with newer digital formats, often found as a used or refurbished item for legacy setups."

A screenshot of an ebay listing, showing Magnavox (Funai) DTV converter box. The listing states it is model E175216 due to that number embossed on the back. The actual model number is most likely TB100MW9 or something similar.

This ad for a cheap Funai VCR on marketplace had an completely incorrect AI description (image1), because they googled the Funai UL Listing number (image2,image3) which scraped an ebay listing for a DTV box that also used the UL Listing number (image4).

The internet is eating itself and I'm tired.

Forget the 12 days of Christmas, I want this.

A video head drum from a VHS VCR. The head drum surface is discoloured in some spots from corrosion.

What's everyone's thoughts on this?

This wasn't the only corrosion, so the VCR must have been stored in a damp environment.

I used an extremely mild abrasive to remove any surface marks, and it's polished and working great now. Will corrosion like this continue once it's started?

That said, I really hope an open source project is figured out for these. I doubt Logitech will keep this software running for very much longer, and these remotes still work great.

Screenshot of the MyHarmony software showing that the remote sync process has completed.

Yeah, the version 7 software was the one that was discontinued.

Just tried the newer program - I added a DVD/VCR combo and a TV I've never used before and it appears to have worked.

Maybe a Windows Update broke it? I'm still running Windows 10 so I think I'm just getting security updates now.

Screenshot of the MyHarmony software showing the devices programmed on a Harmony 600 remote control.

Wait, what? Did I miss something? I thought it was just the older motes that used the legacy Harmony software. The "newer" removes like those use MyHarmony, which still works. At least, it does for now.

I just checked and the software still seems to work for me.

The original remote (RMT-138) for reference

I love it when devices have secret remote codes that weren't used on the original remote.

This Sony SL-2710 responds to eject and the numberpad on the later Sony remotes just fine, despite the remote in came with not having those buttons!

A TV Show from 1976, being played on VCR from late 1976, and shown on a TV from 1976.

Sorry for the vertical video, it was the best way to fit the extremely tall TV!

From the Radio Shack 1983 Catalog - A DuoFone "Our Very Best! Computer-Controlled Phone Answerer". The line below reads "The Ultimate in Telephone Answering Systems!". Listed price is $299.95.

I have never heard it called a "Phone Answerer" before.

Request: Please move water fountains to a reasonable height, for those of us with bad backs.

A Memorex branded 8" floppy diskette. The label shows the name "Memorex" changing to "Memory Excellence"

Huh, I just assumed Memorex was a fancy sounding name with no meaning.

The decline began the moment they discontinued the chromecast audio. What a perfect little product.

Filthy knobs on a 1970s Panasonic Solid State FM/AM Radio.

Clean knobs on a 1970s Panasonic Solid State FM/AM Radio.

Radio knobs being cleaned in a cheapest ultrasonic jewellery cleaner.

Decided to dip my toes into using an ultrasonic cleaner on knobs. This was just the cheapest one you can find I got for $10 at the thrift store, but it did a damn impressive job. I'm sold.

Mine looks like that on one of my accounts and "normal" on my other account.

They must be rolling it out slowly. It's horrible.

Screenshot of the YouTube channel "probnot's tech", sitting at 6969 subscribers.

I'm an adult, yes, but not a very mature one.

Interestingly enough, this doesn't even filter out the chroma info, so you can see the chroma dots on the image. I guess that would have cost too much for this budget model.

I couldn't resist this for $1, even though I already have too many projects on the go. No info online for the model (BPC2009W) or chassis (CT1928UB), but I think it's early 1970s. Screws never removed, all RCA branded tubes, and it works reasonably well. Still needs some new caps for the linearity.

A JVC RC-M90 boombox with the insides removed

Definitely needed a good cleaning. Unfortunately the paint is in rough shape, so it's not going to look much better, but at least the 30+ years of garage dirt is gone.