Restoring an old computer to turn it into a retro console or to enjoy classic games is a rewarding project, but it comes with a series of frustrations that affect nearly every vintage system. Colin, from the YouTube channel This Does Not Compute, decided to repair a fascinating ultraportable: the Toshiba Libretto 50CT. As expected, it needed more than just a hardware swap...
The history tells us that the first model of the Toshiba Libretto, known as the Libretto 20, debuted in April 1996. That unit apparently never left Japan, but the concept of the subnotebook didn't take long to jump to other lands. Again according to available information, the Libretto 50CT was one of the first (if not the first) to arrive in the West.
With a 75 MHz Pentium processor, 16 MB of RAM, and an 810 MB hard drive, the Libretto 50CT adopted Windows 95 without a hitch. Colin, from the channel This Does Not Compute, received a 50CT from the people at Free Geek Twin Cities (a hardware store that also focuses on recycling equipment), and although his repair was "simple", the process needed some adjustments along the way.
Repairing an Ultraportable Toshiba Libretto 50CT from the '90s
The first step was to replace the original hard drive, which wasn't even being detected properly (its "sounds of agony" say it all). The good news is that Toshiba provided quick access to its bay (no need to disassemble half the laptop), and considering its original size, Colin decided to replace it with a solid-state drive.
Here is where the difficulties began. The CompactFlash card and its adapter don't show compatibility issues (after all, the CompactFlash interface is essentially IDE), but its installation requires a custom caddy. The models available on the Web are too tall (Toshiba used 7mm drives), so Colin had to adjust the design. The second problem is that the adapter connector sits very low in the caddy; however, an extra dose of double-sided tape was enough to correct the difference. Finally, the height change leaves the drive selection pins exposed. Colin removed the headers and bridged them with solder.
Ports are scarce on the Libretto 50CT, and that complicates software reinstallation. Beyond docks and replicators, the problem is that there is no boot support for CD-ROM drives, and installing Windows 95 using floppies is insane. The best strategy for Colin was to take a classic shortcut: use another computer and manually copy the contents of the Windows 95 CD-ROM to the CompactFlash card, then start the Setup from there. I've done that many times with Windows 9x, and it works wonderfully.
The last challenge hides within the CompactFlash cards themselves. Some are factory-configured as "removable" drives when they should work as "fixed" drives. A compatible MS-DOS utility can change the flag from removable to fixed on certain cards, but its support is not universal. Two alternatives: use industrial CompactFlash cards (which usually come "fixed" from the factory), or install adapters for microSD cards, but they tend to be more expensive.
Windows 95 gave no headaches with drivers, and we can say with certainty that the adventure has a happy ending, but at the same time it serves as a "warning": With old hardware, you have to get your hands dirty... and that's the best part.
