test-drb November 1997

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

126 participants
546 discussions

by gzozman＠escape.ca

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 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

27 years, 5 months

CIE 680/20 Unix-like workstation

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

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? 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/

27 years, 5 months

Classic "Laptops"

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

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! > >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 > > > >

27 years, 5 months

Classic "Laptops"

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

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. > > > >

27 years, 5 months

Old stuff

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

> >> >....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 > >>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.

27 years, 5 months

Fudge! I fudged it up! 34A PSU problems.

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

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!

27 years, 5 months

Classic "Laptops"

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

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 that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/

27 years, 5 months

Old Magazines, was (Building A Computer from Scratch Squad)

by rcini＠email.msn.com

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 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

27 years, 5 months

I finally replaced the switches in the 34A, and Guess What! It's , dead!

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

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?

27 years, 5 months

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by adam＠merlin.net.au

><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). It's a very big beast for a micro, and runs but a single terminal. Adam.

27 years, 5 months

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test-drb November 1997