Here's a silly question, but one I've never understood:
Why can't a high density 5 1/4" disk be formatted in a double density
drive? When I try, DOS returns a "Track 0 Bad" error message.
I thought that a HD disk would simply have a denser coating of magnetic
material applied evenly over the entire surface of the disk. I don't
see why this should cause problems for a DD drive. However, a few
questions come to mind. Is the magnetic coating of a different
sensitivity, resulting in a weaker …
[View More]signal for the heads to pick up? Is
the magnetic coating applied to the media in "tracks", causing problems
when a different TPI spec is attempted on the disk?
Since some of the software for my "old" (first generation PC) computers
is on 5 1/4" disks of dubious condition, I would like to make copies
onto new disks. Since HD disks are still readily available and cheap, I
thought this would be an ideal way to do so.
I also seem to have fried the 5 1/4" HD drive in my PC while sorting
through some old software. It seems a couple of disks had some dirt on
them which caused horrible screeching sounds when the disk was spinning,
and also deposited a very hard black coating on the heads. The only way
I could remove the deposits was to scratch it off with my fingernails
(alcohol would not touch it). However, I must have bumped the heads out
of alignment, because the drive won't read disks any longer.
My question is: can I plug a Double Density drive into the same
connector in my modern PC and use it for my old disks? I know I will
have to change my BIOS setting, but is there anything else I need to
consider?
Any input on the above would be much appreciated... thanks in advance!
Hope this isn't too far off topic.
Grant Zozman
gzozman(a)escape.ca
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Spotted this, thought it might be of interest to someone...
>http://www.classifieds2000.com/cgi-cls/ad.exe?P1+C220+A0+R11595+Q8671010
>
> Old Computer CIE Systems 6680/20, $50/OBO, Used
>>
>> Description CIE 680/20 Unix-like workstation. 15 years
>> old. Regulus (Unix-like) OS. 2@ 8MB hard
>> drives. 0.5 MB RAM. 4-8 MHz clock speed.
>> Antique? …
[View More]Many manuals (several hundred
>> pages). 3 serial ports. Very large desktop
>> unit. Works OK. $50
>>
>> Seller Info For sale by private party
>>
>> (626) 796-5184 [Day]
>> (626) 796-5184 [Eve]
>> Pasadena, California - L.A. Area 91106
>>
>>
>> Post Date 30-OCT-97
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
sinasohn(a)ricochet.net that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
[View Less]
The 100 is used and in demand overseas, it is used by reporters in the
jungles. They have a web site with address if anyone wants donate one.
At 04:49 PM 11/10/97 +0000, you wrote:
>
>
>On Mon, 10 Nov 1997 Philip.Belben(a)powertech.co.uk wrote:
>> On the subject of early laptops in general, I have heard much in praise
>> of the Tandy model 100, but I like the Epson HX20 which has everything
>> you could possibly want in a laptop except a decent sized screen!
>
&…
[View More]gt;Hmmm... Having got both (and an Olivetti M10, Thorn Liberator, etc - no I
>don't collect portables), IMHO the keyboard on the HX20 has a much worse
>feel than that on the M100. I'd not want to type up anything long on the
>HX20, whereas I took my student lecture notes on the M100 (back when the
>M100 was almost current...)
>
>There is a video output option for the HX20. It plugs into the 'serial'
>connector (a 38400 baud RS232 link), which is also used for the TF20 disk
>drive. I beleive said video interface gave you CGA-like text and graphics.
>I've not seen one, however, but it would solve the small-screen problem,
>at least when using it at home/on your desk.
>
>Talking of the HX20, does anyone have a systems disk for the TF20 floppy
>drive? I've got the drive and the laptop, but no boot disk, which is a
>pity.
>
>
>>
>> Philip.
>>
>>
>
>-tony
>
>
>
>
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Yes they made them (1984)and sold for $249.95. Powered by batteries and 6k
of ram. I have one in storage picked it up for $10 about 4 years ago.
At 03:09 AM 11/11/97 +1030, you wrote:
>A simple question - was the Texas Instruments Compact Computer - the CC-40
>- ever produced? I have some photos in a book here, and it looks neat, but
>I have never heard of them and have no idea if they are available
>second-hand.
>
>Adam.
>
>
>
>
> >> >....in my experience
> >> >with IBM network cards, if they're a round (i.e. BNC) connector,
> >> >they're probably the old "baseband" stuff that uses lots of coax
> >>cable >and a hub/amplifier, and work only with IBM PC-LAN Program
> >>and >NetBEUI....the number 2Mb/sec comes
> >> >to mind....
> >> Are we talking about Arcnet here? When I think 2Mb/sec, BNC
> >>…
[View More]connector, and 8-bit bus, I think Arcnet, but there may have been
> >others.... If the cards are _branded_ IBM, chances are well over
> >ten to one that they are
> >Token Ring. IBM never touched Arcnet, and was hesitant about
> >Ethernet. --
> >Ward Griffiths
>
> If any of those network cards ARE token-ring and have BNC connectors, I
> would love to buy a couple. I got an old Token ring MAU several years ago
> that has BNC ports and would like to try it out. Can't tell you how many
> people have flat out denied that Token Ring was ever carried over coax!
> But the existence of the MAU is proof enough that at one time it was done.
Wow. I must admit, I thought that token ring required too many wires
for co-ax. Or was the 4-wire connection replaced by coax in, coax out?
Seriously, if it's IBM and co-ax I'd guess at SNA (Systems Network
Architecture - the famous 3270 series terminals and related devices).
This was not a PC network architecture at all - it was a loads-of-
terminals-into-the-mainframe architecture - and the card would have come
with terminal emulator software.
BTW, did anyone discover what the IBM System/74 was? The description
sounded more like a system/34 to me, and I certainly never heard of the
74 when I worked at IBM.
Philip.
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Okay, I found a plug I forgot to attach. I plugged it in, switched it on,
and the breakers went POP!
Nothing burned, no hot smell...
Time to start rechecking things!
At 12:04 PM 11/10/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Tandy improved the 100 with the 102 which has a lager screen.
Actually, the 102 has the same size screen as the 100. Perhaps you're
thinking of the 200? The 200 is a clamshell design (iirc) with 24x80
screen. The 102 was simply a lighter, cheaper-to-make version of the 100.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
sinasohn(a)ricochet.net …
[View More] that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
[View Less]
Hotze asked:
>PS-Does anyone know where I can get old PC Mag issues? Or any other major
>magazine?
It's funny that you ask this. My wife's uncle just gave me issue #1 of
PC World and issues 2 and 3 of PC Magazine. I'd really like to get my hands
on PCMag issue #1! He also gave me a late-model original PC *with*
theexpansion box (which I understand is a relatively rare item).
Anyway, he was a sales rep for IBM for the PC product, and he kept all
sorts of stuff in his attic. I …
[View More]guess that every summer, his wife makes him
clean up a little more. I'd say go to garage sales, or put an add in the
local newspaper. There's a juy who advertises every month in Nuts & Volts,
that he collects pre-1980 equipment, mags, etc. Maybe try the same.
Anyway, who knows what else he has up there. I've asked him to save a
copy of the IBM songbook for me <g>.
Rich Cini/WUGNET
<rcini(a)msn.com>
- ClubWin! Charter Member (6)
- MCP Windows 95/Networking
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No reaction to the power whatsoever.
Yes, it is plugged in!
What did I do wrong? I got all the connections to the switches back in
order, it doesn't pop either breaker, just no reaction. Anything in
particular I could have missed? WHat's the result of getting that edge
connector on upside-down?
><Now for what Allison was waiting for - a mention of Honeywell :-) When
><FTS went bust, they sold the design of the series-86 to Honeywell-Bull,
><who marketed it as the Microsystem Executive. Needless to say it died
Can you describe the Microsystem Executive? I have a Honeywell Microsystem
6, but no details about it. It is about 2 feet high, by 1.5 feet deep and
1 foot wide, finished in black and white. (The plastic front and back is
black, while the metal case is white)…
[View More]. It's a very big beast for a micro,
and runs but a single terminal.
Adam.
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