test-drb August 1999

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

161 participants
565 discussions

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

The PMAX system has a board in it called a M3118-YA with two centronics like (but smaller) connectors. Anyone know what it is? --Chuck

25 years, 4 months

imsai 2

by edick＠idcomm.com

If that sticks in your craw, go back and read my original statement. It's a fact that the fan alone costs $15 more than the case with the PSU with the fan in it. What's more, it appears nobody carries the fans as a stock item. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Glenatacme(a)aol.com <Glenatacme(a)aol.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 10:31 PM Subject: Re: imsai 2 >In a message dated 08/18/1999 10:20:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time, >edick(a)idcomm.com writes: > >> The unfortunate fact, Tony, is that here in the U.S, because people are >> accustomed to paying <$25 for a case with power supply (250 Watts is the >> rating) including shipping, it's hard to get vendors to stock replacement >> fans of any sort, let alone good and quiet ones. > >Man, that's a fact. Our wholesaler sells cases with (crap) 250 watt power >supplies for US$20, 250 watt (crap) power supplies by themselves for $19, and >(crap) replacement fans for $15. > >Can anyone provide a clue as to why this is so? Basic economics suggests >that it costs a *lot* more to produce a case w/psu than a psu alone -- >likewise for the psu vs. the fan . . . > >Glen Goodwin >0/0

25 years, 4 months

suggestions on backplane cleaning? (or, HP2100 continued)

by nabil＠spiritone.com

On Tue, 3 Aug 1999, Jay West wrote: >One major problem with my 2100A has been solved (sort of). I had a card that >wouldn't work properly in a particular slot, finally got the bright idea to >move it to a different slot (I'm using polled mode, not interrupt, so this >is possible). The card works great. Problem solved? No..... > >In the troubleshooting process I noticed a few slots that no cards would >quite work right in. I checked the back of the backplane (it is a hand-wired >backplane), no loose wires, etc. After very close inspection of the >backplane slots, I determined the problem is the contacts are >dirty/corroded/whatever. I tried the best I could to clean the contacts >inside the slot, but this is virtually impossible. I also cleaned the card >edge with an eraser just to be sure. Bingo - card now works fine but only in >the cleaned slot (or one that worked previously). > >So, given that it's a delicate hand-wired backplane, does anyone have any >magic tricks for how to clean the gold contacts inside of the backplane edge >card connectors? I'm afraid to experiment and looking for wisdom... :) > >Thanks! > >Jay West Using an eraser is a no-no. See http://www.spiritone.com/~nabil/pdp8/tools.html (Tools for old computers) for a discussion of DeoxIT and PPE (polyphenyl ether). I have some more material on PPE from the manufacturer that will be added soon. If it's just dirty, something like Blue Shower/Tuner-wash followed by a PPE spray might do the trick. Look at the connectors in an unused socket, if you can see what look likes corrosion (green corrosion, purhaps) in little spots (sometime slightly raised), the connectors are hopelessly destroyed, it'll never be reliable again. That sort of electrolytic corrosion damage is very common (it's caused by microscopic defects in the plating (or people using erasers) and the metals migrating around), and short of replacing them, un-repairable. -- Aaron Nabil

25 years, 4 months

More on that PBX...

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

Okay, I got the thing up to a lighted room, cleaned it up, and I'm going about checking it over. So far, I've determined the following: The computer itself is a 16-bit discrete-logic machine, with scattered ICs. It spans about 7 or 8 boards for the CPU itself, and about 16 or 17 for 64K or so of RAM. Dunno what it runs, as I can't power it on yet, but it boots from a magnetic tape cartridge. (I think it's a QIC-02 cartirige, aren't those the ones about 1/2" thick, 5-6" wide, and about 3" long?) Anyway, I haven't found a TTY connection yet, but I did find a Bell answer-only modem inside the rack (In fact, it had broken free of it's mounting and was bouncing around inside the rack) so it does have one somewhere. The main problem at the moment is the AC input box appears to be dead. No output when power is applied. I'm getting a second person to watch me open it tonight, that way if I do something stupid and nail myself, there's a second person to run for help. Replacing the AC box with a power strip won't help either, it appears to generate all the miscellaneous AC voltages required. If I get ambitious, I may be able to replace it, but I don't wanna unless I have to. More as I find it out... -------

25 years, 4 months

Article on old software programs (for IBM, Apple, Borland, etc)

by edick＠idcomm.com

Well . . . there's a new take! an appropriate observation, too. I like the boards which require you to move a jumper to the "flash-enable" position before you can roach up the BIOS on your SCSI card. Of the half-dozen or so times I've upgraded firmware in situ, I've only left it that way once, having to return to the previous version because the board in question didn't like the "upgrade" very well. Dick -----Original Message----- From: jeff.kaneko(a)juno.com <jeff.kaneko(a)juno.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 8:11 PM Subject: Re: Article on old software programs (for IBM, Apple, Borland, etc) > > >On Wed, 18 Aug 1999 19:48:53 -0600 "Richard Erlacher" <edick(a)idcomm.com> >writes: >>You can't always unplug it. Nowadays, the PROMs are soldered in and >>you >>reprogram them in situ. >> >>How does that effect your definitions? > > >Stupidware, n: Data entities that can be deleted by software, which, >when so deleted require de-soldering of one or more parts in order >for them to be restored. <'Modern PeeCee's are generally now equipped >with *stupidware*, as a cost saving measure.'> > > >Slushware, n: The silly practice of de-compressing firmware, and >placing it in RAM, usually in a very vulnerable area of the address >space. <"When changed the address of the BIOS on my SCSI card, the >the boot message said that I had 'corrupt *slushware*'.> > > > >> >>Dick >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Dwight Elvey <elvey(a)hal.com> >>To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers >><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >>Date: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 1:16 PM >>Subject: RE: Article on old software programs (for IBM, Apple, >>Borland, etc) >> >> >>>"Charles P. Hobbs" <transit(a)primenet.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> > If you said that that computer had "hardware software" I would >>have >>>> > to kill you ;-) >>>> >>>> Firmware? >>>> >>>> >>> >>>Definitely firmware. You can grab it and remove it. It is >>>plugged in. >>>Dwight >>> >> > >___________________________________________________________________ >Get the Internet just the way you want it. >Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! >Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

25 years, 4 months

id this board? M3118-YA

by danburrows＠mindspring.com

CXA16 16 line Mux Dan -----Original Message----- From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 8:34 PM Subject: id this board? M3118-YA The PMAX system has a board in it called a M3118-YA with two centronics like (but smaller) connectors. Anyone know what it is? --Chuck

25 years, 4 months

Article on old software programs (for IBM, Apple, Borland, etc)

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

On Wed, 18 Aug 1999 19:48:53 -0600 "Richard Erlacher" <edick(a)idcomm.com> writes: >You can't always unplug it. Nowadays, the PROMs are soldered in and >you >reprogram them in situ. > >How does that effect your definitions? Stupidware, n: Data entities that can be deleted by software, which, when so deleted require de-soldering of one or more parts in order for them to be restored. <'Modern PeeCee's are generally now equipped with *stupidware*, as a cost saving measure.'> Slushware, n: The silly practice of de-compressing firmware, and placing it in RAM, usually in a very vulnerable area of the address space. <"When changed the address of the BIOS on my SCSI card, the the boot message said that I had 'corrupt *slushware*'.> > >Dick >-----Original Message----- >From: Dwight Elvey <elvey(a)hal.com> >To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers ><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >Date: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 1:16 PM >Subject: RE: Article on old software programs (for IBM, Apple, >Borland, etc) > > >>"Charles P. Hobbs" <transit(a)primenet.com> wrote: >>> >>> > If you said that that computer had "hardware software" I would >have >>> > to kill you ;-) >>> >>> Firmware? >>> >>> >> >>Definitely firmware. You can grab it and remove it. It is >>plugged in. >>Dwight >> > ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

25 years, 4 months

Cache of SEQUENT tapes found

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

Guys: I found the following DC-600's at a local junk dealer: DYNIX SVAE 3.1.0 Balance DYNIX Maint. Delta 3.0.19/3.14 DYNIX Encryption 3.1.0 Balance DYNIX OS Delta 3.0.14 to 3.1.10 DYNIX BASE OS 3.1.0 If these are of possible value to anyone, please respond via private E-Mail. Jeff ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

25 years, 4 months

Probably not classic but ...

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

I just picked up two DecSystem 5500's (and about 500 TK70 tapes :-) in BA213 cabinets. I _thought_ they were Vax 3500s but no, they have KN220 CPUs. Apparently Ultrix is loaded on them (haven't powered them up yet). So what are they? (SPIM machines? (aka PMAX'es)) They have had some parts "borrowed" but between the two of them I think I've got one complete system. --Chuck

25 years, 4 months

First Laptop

by wsmith＠gj.com

>>> "Paul Passmore" <fpp(a)concentric.net> 08/18 4:52 PM >>> >Ok, heard back from my friend Bob the Epson man. he says"Epson never said >that they made the first laptop computer. Epson said they made the first >NOTEBOOK computer. This may seem to be a Marketing word game, but I feel >that given that the computer was the first >portable computer about the size of a notebook, their statement is true and >is one of the few things they told us that was true. " Must be true because you can easily fit, for example, an HP-85 in your lap (although it's a bit hard to see the screen).

25 years, 4 months

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test-drb August 1999