August 2024 - cctalk - classiccmp.org

imd2raw.c correction - linearizing ImageDisk images

by David Schmidt

There have been a few versions of the utility imd2raw.c floating around that will take Dave Dunfield's ImageDisk-created images (i.e. an .IMD file) and make a linear binary image devoid of any metadata. This is similar to the function of Dave's IMDU.COM program's /b switch. I've corrected a problem with the assumption that all imd2raw.c descendants to date have made: sectors that have a skew (i.e. not 1-1 interleaved) weren't linearized correctly. The skewed sectors need to be written out in "sorted" order, which is not necessarily captured/physical order. This is easily verified by comparing output from "IMDU /b" to earlier imd2raw outputs on any .IMD that has a sector skew that isn't 1, 2, 3 [...]. It's up on github here: https://github.com/RetroFloppy/imd2raw

2 months, 2 weeks

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NRAO Data tapes

by Dani Werts

Hello, I'm an employee with the National radio astronomy observatory here in Socorro New Mexico. As part of our NGVLA upgrades, we are seeking to get rid of old data tapes from the tape reel days of Computing. These contain things such as the boot loaders, OS, specific collection programs and antenna movement programs. I personally would hate to see these just wind up in the literal dumpster and would like to see them sent out to a museum or an archiving body that can preserve them and keep them safe as a dynamic part of history. If anyone is interested or knows someone who would be interested in the VLAs data tape library please let me know. V/R Danielle Werts Front end engineer VLA Socorro New Mexico

7 months, 2 weeks

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NeXT computer system...

by John Robertson

I'm just starting to clean up a NeXT system that a friend has had in storage for decades... I assume the thing has a battery somewhere - I just hope it isn't Ni-Cad! This is the original cube, monitor, keyboard (& mouse?), printer, assorted cables, and a SCSI secondary hard drive box. So far the manuals haven't shown up, but that is all online AFAICT. My plan is to give them all a good cleaning, then open up and inspect capacitors, look for batteries and any other perishable items, and then do diode checks prior to considering powering up. The remembered background story was a nearby lightning strike may have taken out the (1200 baud?) external modem, so will be paying extra attention to the serial ports! Sniff test may still be useful even after 20ish years. Any suggestions on what else to watch for on this setup prior to first power? I also will be using the Dim-Bulb setup once it seems safe to turn on. Anyone seen a common problem in power supplies for these components for example? Planned destination is auction... Thanks! John :-#)#

1 year, 7 months

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LCM auction

by Brent Hilpert

2 years

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MS-DOS

by Murray McCullough

I had not realized that 43 yrs. ago Microsoft purchased 86-DOS for $50,000 – US not Cdn. money. With this purchase the PC industry, IBM’s version thereof, began. I remember using it to do amazing things, moreso than what 8-bit machines could do! Happy computing. Murray🙂

2 years

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VCFMW items available upon request

by Paul Anderson

Here is a list of some items I can bring to VCFMW if requested. I am not going to bring them unless there is interest in them. Celebris 560 830WW (I think that is this one) Venturis 466 d54 WW Venturis 575 921WW DECpc 433dxLP PC473 2) PCWXE-A2 DECpc DECpc 433 workstationPCW10-A2 DEC 3000 400 PE40A-CC missing cover, parts machine? VS43A-CZ VAXstation 4000 60 few 3100 parts units storage expansion box VAX CPU, memory, option boards Q-bus CPU, memory, option boards, most boxes UNIBUS 100's of boards LA36 Printers LA120 printers

2 years, 1 month

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NSA releases copy of internal lecture delivered by computing giant Rear Adm. Grace Hopper

by Christian Liendo

https://www.nsa.gov/Press-Room/Press-Releases-Statements/Press-Release-View… FORT MEADE, Md. — In one of the more unique public proactive transparency record releases for the National Security Agency (NSA) to date, NSA has released a digital copy of a lecture that then-Capt. Grace Hopper gave agency employees on August 19, 1982. The lecture, “Future Possibilities: Data, Hardware, Software, and People,” features Capt. Hopper discussing some of the potential future challenges of protecting information. She also provided valuable insight on leadership and her experiences breaking barriers in the fields of computer science and mathematics. Rear Adm. Hopper was an American computer scientist, mathematician, and United States Navy rear admiral. One of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer, she was a pioneer of computer programming. Hopper was the first to devise the theory of machine-independent programming languages, and the FLOW-MATIC programming language she created using this theory was later extended to create COBOL, an early high-level programming language still in use today. In 2016, President Obama posthumously awarded Rear Adm. Hopper the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the Nation’s highest civilian honor, awarded to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interest of the U.S. — for her remarkable influence on the field of computer science. While NSA did not possess the equipment required to access the footage from the media format in which it was preserved, NSA deemed the footage to be of significant public interest and requested assistance from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to retrieve the footage. NARA’s Special Media Department was able to retrieve the footage contained on two 1’ APEX tapes and transferred the footage to NSA to be reviewed for public release. NSA recognizes Rear Adm. Hopper’s significant contributions as a trailblazing computer scientist and mathematician, but also as a leader. "The most important thing I've accomplished, other than building the compiler, is training young people," Rear Adm. Hopper once said. “They come to me, you know, and say, 'Do you think we can do this?' I say, 'Try it.' And I back 'em up. They need that. I keep track of them as they get older and I stir 'em up at intervals so they don't forget to take chances."

2 years, 1 month

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VT + Other Terminals - UK - Facebook

by dave.g4ugm＠gmail.com

Folks, Some one in Solihull in the UK has a few terminals, including a VT420, for sale on Facebook UK. They appear to be complete with keyboards but otherwise as-seen. Sadly they are in a private group so you will need to join Facebook and the group to see them. https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintagecomputerswapmeet/posts/81591725341583 87/ but if you don't want to do this and are interested contact me off list.. Dave G4UGM

2 years, 1 month

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Tektronix XD88 information/advice sought

by CJ Reha

Hi folks - I come humbly seeking help in regards to bringing up a strange and quite rare Tektronix workstation from the late 80s/early 90s. TEXT WALL WARNING! For the uninitiated, the XD88 was Tek's final attempt at penetrating the graphics workstation market before ultimately giving up and exclusively selling X terminals. They are Motorola 88k-based machines running UTek V, Tek's inhouse SVR3 port. The tower machines are quite interesting in that the "compute" and "graphics engine" sides are modular, technically independent, and can be run standalone or stacked together for more compute/graphics power depending on the customer's needs. They are also the only machines I have ever seen that use the IEEE 896 "Futurebus," and although I could ramble for much longer, I should get to the point... The VCF museum in New Jersey has an XD88/30 on permanent loan along with its accompanying monitor, intact with original disks, but unfortunately no peripherals. Over the past year or so I've slowly worked to restore it to functionality and I have finally hit a roadblock I'm not sure I can figure out alone. We were able to slurp an intact copy of UTek V off the original hard drive before it failed, and after some power supply maintenance were able to actually boot the machine off a SCSI emulator. It appears the hardware itself is fully functional as the machine passes all diagnostics and we are even able to navigate the filesystem over serial console. But not having a keyboard means the system will not start X or do anything graphical, as it assumes it is an XD88/01 headless machine. We acquired a keyboard -- at moderate expense, they're unfortunately quite desirable to collectors for some reason -- but quickly came to the realization we were missing something else as the connectors were physically incompatible and entirely different pinouts electrically. It turns out, as mentioned in the manuals (available on the Tek wiki), the /30 (and probably /35) machines specifically use an "MIS" module inline with the keyboard to combine inputs with the optional dial box. We do not have this box and the manuals do not elaborate on if the box is "smart"/actually does anything beyond simply combine pinouts. By beeping both sides out and making up a little adapter with DuPont wires, we were able to power up the keyboard and get it receiving data from the computer enough to come out of a "lock-out" mode and start being able to transmit data of its own...but we have not yet figured out how to get the computer to recognize its keyboard and take in data to display on the screen. Without knowing if we're missing any translating logic in the MIS box, we are at a bit of a brick wall. I have some very rough pinout scribblings I can provide to try to make this less confusing, and I haven't totally exhausted adapter combinations to try...but I am putting out a plead for help! If anyone has an XD88, or worked with them in any capacity, I'd absolutely love to talk and compare notes. I threw some images of the system in an Imgur album for those interested: https://imgur.com/a/YFEbijI Once we're able to get the system booted and able to wipe potential PII I would be happy to share the disk image, since I know software for them is basically nonexistent and a handful of the surviving machines were recovered diskless. In general I am working on putting together a public page with my notes and research on the machine to hopefully help anyone who might have one. Any questions and comments are welcome! Take care, CJ R.

2 years, 1 month

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More for VCFMW: DECmates, Pros, rainbows, PDP8, 861-C pwr controllers

by Paul Anderson

More for VCFMW: DECmates, Pro350/380s, rainbows, PDP8, 861-C pwr controllers as is without power cords. Boards, boxes, CPUs, systems, etc I trade for coins! Please contact me off list. Thanks, Paul

2 years, 1 month

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cctalk August 2024