In the latest episode of 8-Bit Show and Tell, Robin steps into the world of retro mystery with a curious cassette tape labeled CBM-64 “FIX”. It’s one of those titles that immediately raises eyebrows. What exactly is this thing? A program? A patch? A relic from an era where fixes came on magnetic tape instead of firmware updates?
According to the label, this program is supposedly designed to correct an issue on some CBM-64 computers. The instructions are simple but cryptic: load “FIX” and run it if your screen doesn’t display data correctly. That’s all the context we get. No readme file, no tech support number, and certainly no online forum thread from 1984 explaining what’s going on.
The tape comes from Technicom, a company that, like so many in the early computing era, produced mysterious little programs with very specific purposes—and very little explanation. Robin does his usual deep dive, testing it on different systems to see just what this program actually does. Is it fixing a hardware glitch? A display issue? A compatibility quirk?
He runs it. He tests. He observes. What happens? That’s where the episode gets fun. Whether you’re a hardcore Commodore 64 enthusiast or just love the strange, analog charm of software on cassette tape, this is one of those rabbit holes worth diving into.
So… What Does CBM-64 “FIX” Actually Fix?
That’s the million-pixel question. While Robin gives it a solid try, the program’s exact purpose remains slightly hazy. It’s possible it was created for a very specific display issue affecting certain batches of CBM-64 units, but without official documentation, we’re left with some fascinating speculation and educated guesses. One thing’s for sure: it’s a great reminder of just how much computing history remains undocumented and delightfully weird.
