22 May
2023
22 May
'23
5:10 p.m.
Thia is a good place to start
http://vintagecomputer.net/disk_images/index.cfm. from here there are two
complete how-to docs, software and images.
Bill
On Mon, May 22, 2023, 12:30 PM js--- via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
On 5/22/2023 5:38 AM, Tony Duell via cctalk wrote:
I am sorry, but I think this is a stupid suggestion for many reasons.
It is, however, a viable suggestion, and that is better than none :)
>> I hereby formally retract my erroneous
suggestion of a "386 98,SP2
desktop
with floppies and USB", and replace my suggestion
with:
"a PC with USB and floppies", and let Tony decide what vintage to use.
Fully concur. If it were me, I'd probably suggest some box with from
the end of the era which came with an onboard floppy controller, and
dual-boot 98SE and some old Linux that can handle such a thing, like
Slackware or Debian. That would cover the most bases.
The first problem is finding such a machine in
known-working
condition. Second-hand computer shops are few and far between and
generally don't trade in machines that old. Similarly pawnbrokers
('Cash Converters' and the like) don't deal in them.
Don't they have eBay where you live?
...
And of course it has to have the right type of disk controller, I
certainly need to be able to handle single-density (FM) reading and
writing correctly. Some machines can, some can't. I am hardly going to
be able to test it before I buy it.
I wouldn't worry about the built in disk controller. You can add the
functionality you need with an Adaptec SCSI controller w/ floppy.
Next there's the problem of me getting it
home. I don't drive. I'll go
on public transport for things that interest me and which I actually
want. An PC is not in that category. Not to mention the fact that I
doubt I could carry the system box, monitor and keyboard in one go.
Having it sent to me is inconvenient and I am not sure the machine
would survive. Not to mention it would cost more than the machine is
worth.
Why do you need a monitor and keyboard? And since you don't drive,
again, have you heard of eBay?
Then there's the problem of keeping it
going.
Why do I not have this problem? Keeping *anything* going, even our
own bodies, is always a "problem."
I realise that spare ICs always were unobtainium.
But replacement
modules -- disk drives, motherboards, etc are no longer made or easily
available. I have no PCI cards in my collection at all. No ATX power
supplies. I might be able to find a VGA monitor but that's pushing it.
Then why even get up in the morning, if you're resigned to doom before
even trying? All of these things can be obtained.. EASILY. A VGA
monitor is NOT a challenge.
And drives. It was suggested that I get a double
5.25"/3.5" drive.
Err, no. The 5.25" is going to be 80 cylinder (to handle 1.2M disks)
which means writing to 40 cylinder disks is a bad idea.
I use a 5.25" HD drive for 80 cylinder use, and simply plug in a 360k
drive when needed.
And I am not sure the software exists to do what
I want on such a
machine. I don't want to have to write it myself!
Such software probably does exist. If someone has had the same need,
then it's been done.