Questions and answers

Better not to rush. First inspect the board, remove the old clock battery, clear out the dust and check the cables. If the hardware was kept somewhere cold, let it warm up indoors so no moisture is left on the boards.

Look at their tops and bases. A domed or cracked top, brown streaks, a crust or a sticky residue on the board around them are warning signs. With parts like these, don't power on the device until someone knowledgeable has looked at it.

Over time an old battery can leak, and its contents corrode the traces and contacts around it. Removing it ahead of time stops the damage. A new battery of the same type can be fitted later.

Turn off the power immediately and unplug it from the wall. Don't try switching it on again "just to check." A burning smell, crackling or smoke means the next step calls for an experienced person, not another attempt.

A power supply contains parts that hold a dangerous charge for a long time after being unplugged. You can't see this from the outside. That's why we advise never opening a power supply at all and taking a faulty one to a professional.

Your body and clothes build up static charge, and its discharge can damage chips. At home, an antistatic wrist strap or the habit of touching grounded metal before you start is enough, along with not standing on a synthetic rug.

In a cool, dry place without sudden temperature swings, away from radiators, direct sunlight and damp basements. Keep floppies away from magnets and speakers, and keep CDs in their cases without touching the data side.

Yes, but only together with an adult. A child can handle the brush, photograph each stage and wipe down the outside of the case. Opening the case, working with the outlet and anything questionable stay with the adults.

No. Software and games are protected by copyright for many years, even if they have not been sold for a long time. A game's age alone does not make it free to copy.

An emulator itself is a program that imitates how an old machine works, and such projects are often created legally. The question is what you run on it: the legal route is your own licensed copies or official re-releases.

Because this guide does not distribute programs, images, game files, keys or tools for bypassing copy protection. We write about hardware and history, and distributing other people's software without the rights holder's permission breaks the law.

Check whether you still have the original discs or cartridges. Many classic games have also been officially re-released for modern devices. Another option is technology museums and exhibitions, where old machines run under supervision.