test-drb January 2002

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

303 participants
1201 discussions

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On January 23, Jeffrey S. Sharp wrote: > Yeah? Well, *my* Oklahoma personalized license plate says "FreeBSD" (for > real). Top that! :-) You, sir, are a GEEK! ;) -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL "Less talk. More synthohol." --Lt. Worf

22 years, 5 months

Security bits

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jan 22, 9:37, Tothwolf wrote: > On Mon, 21 Jan 2002, Tony Duell wrote: > > > There are some security screws it doesn't cover. Most notably, 'System > > Zero', which is commonly used in electronic and computer equipment. I've > > found modems assembled with those, for what reason nobody seems to know... > > What do these look like? Are they the ones with a raised line across the > head of the screw? They look like a Torx screw head turned inside out. Imagine something between a pan head and a round head (ie slightly domed) with six small notches in the edge. The sides are sloping/curved and they're usually hardened, and the edges of the notches are slightly rounded off so you can't get a grip with pliers. There's a picture at http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/zeroscrew.jpg -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

22 years, 5 months

OT? Apple Stylewriter problems (PS progress)

by mtapley＠swri.edu

All, Potentially useful info for the list: 1) Stylewriter power supply uses zero-screws (or whatever you call them). 2) Stylewriter PS has a seperate fuse in the - leg of the output, and it's easy to desolder. The long version: Sat down with murder in my eye to work on the power supply. Pete Turnbull wrote (on another thread) >They look like a Torx screw head turned inside out. Imagine something >between a pan head and a round head (ie slightly domed) with six small >notches in the edge. The sides are sloping/curved and they're usually >hardened, and the edges of the notches are slightly rounded off so you >can't get a grip with pliers. There's a picture at >http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/zeroscrew.jpg A perfect description of the three fasteners holding the case together - as I realized once I had them out in the light of day. Unfortunately I *got* them out in the light of day by trying to pop them loose after heating with a soldering iron. Instead of melting the studs the threads were threaded into, I melted the barrels of the recesses the screw heads were in. Things Got Smelly, the case creaked apart, and the recess barrels were left with the studs, screws still firmly in place. However, at that point, I was able to grab the severed barrels, squeeze with pliers until the walls of the barrel gripped the zero-screw head, and twist out the zero-screw. Anybody need 3 slightly used zero-screws? *I* sure as heck don't! To put back together, I plan to find longer pan-head screws with similar diameter and thread pitch, put around the studs plastic soda straws long enough to reach up to the other side of the case, then put the pan-head screws (with washers as needed) through the holes that originally formed the tops of the recessions and through the straws into the studs. (The soda straws are to electrically isolate the screws from whatever voltages are flying around inside, because the recess barrels ain't gonna do it, now being in pieces in my trash can (with extreme prejudice).) Inside, there's a big transformer. One side has 2 leads wired to the blades that go into the wall. The other side has 3 leads going to a circuit board. The leads on either end go through diodes to the "+" output. The lead in the center (marked "C.T" - let me guess - center tap?) goes through a cylindrical glass fuse to the "-" output. There's a big capacitor (electrolytic? Black cylinder) between "+" and "-" and a few small (ceramic?) disk capacators scattered around. The fuse had shuffled off its mortal coil. I mean, even *before* I desoldered it. Which, BTW and of course, I think I did without damaging anything. This thing is so simple even I can almost understand it. Now I need a 3.7 (? something like that) Amp fuse with pigtails, and a couple screws, and who knows, maybe I'll be back in power. Definitely going to be a web-shopping day. Comments, 'attaboys, "enough-already-with-the-d*mn-printer"'s, etc., all welcome. - Mark

22 years, 5 months

Bell & Howell Apple II update

by csmith＠amdocs.com

Ok guys, I have to admit first off that I read the tags wrong on that Bell & Howell. It is -- as someone suggested -- an Apple II Plus. Also, it doesn't have the D-shaped cut-outs after all, but rather it has vertical slits with somewhat d-shaped metal inserts in them. (Ok so I didn't look too well.. :) I've cleaned it up, and it looks in good condition, with two exceptions: There is a pin broken off of the power cord :/ -- I'm going to replace it. The monitor connectors are two ethernet-looking BNC plugs (WTF!?) Can anyone tell me what's going on with these? Regards, Chris Christopher Smith, Perl Developer Amdocs - Champaign, IL /usr/bin/perl -e ' print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); '

22 years, 5 months

OT? Yahoo Free Listing Day

by marvin＠rain.org

This may be a bit off topic, but Yahoo is having a Free Listing Day on January 24th thus reducing their already reasonable rates :). They do have a Vintage classification and I expect to have some "stuff" there. Yahoo has the facilities in place to handle a large number of auctions, and with ebay continuing its direction towards retail, collectables need a site that *wants* them.

22 years, 5 months

Xerox 4050 & IBM PS/2 Model 80 Available

by bill_r＠inetnebr.com

The Xerox 4050 is a printer controller, but appears to be some sort of mini-computer with a Xerox logo on it; it has a floppy drive and possibly internal hard drive. If anyone knows anything else about these, info posted to this list would be appreciated. The thing is waiting for pickup by a scrapper, whose truck is currently being repaired. If you get here first, you can have it. It's about the size and weight of a chest freezer. Also available is an IBM PS/2 Model 80-386 micro-channel tower machine. Includes a micro-channel token-ring network card. Both of these items were pulled from use in the last couple of months and should be in good working order. They are available _for_local_pickup_only_ in Lincoln, Nebraska. Drop me a note quick if you want either of them before they go to the big bit-bucket in the sky! Bill Richman bill_r(a)inetnebr.com http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r Home of Fun with Molten Metal, technological oddities, and the original COSMAC Elf computer simulator!

22 years, 5 months

Apple II boards

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 1/23/02 5:54:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, lemay(a)cs.umn.edu writes: << Well, as with any other system, once you know about the "vanilla" system, you > can easily decide for yourself what additional hardware you need. The way to > make sure you never get it right is to run out and snag everything that seems > "neat" without first knowing, absolutely, what the consequence of attempting > to use it will be. > > Dick Thats starting to sound a bit like white-coat syndrome. These computers are not rare artifacts to be hidden away behind glass walls, only to be touched by the neophites in white lab coats, you know. Go ahead and experiment, heck throw the completely wrong hardware in and cause a major short circuit! And in so doing, know that you can always get another apple ][+ or 3 for about $5 (if not for free, heaven knows i keep getting offered the things...) Cmon, what could possibly be less valuable than an Apple ][+? A C64 perhaps... >> just because they are plentiful in /some/ places doesnt mean you should just abuse them for fun. Around here, I havent seen any apple // items available for years. old computers, old cars and sundry items www.nothingtodo.org

22 years, 5 months

Apple II boards

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 1/23/02 3:25:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, edick(a)idcomm.com writes: << If you're patient, I'm going to be disposing of the considerable assortment of Apple boards I have lying about, including a couple of II+'s and a IIe. The only things I'm likely to keep will be the PSU's. It might be well for you to learn about the Apple-][+ before running out to get various add-ons, so you get the "right" stuff as opposed to a wierd assortment of junk. >> Hopefully, you will offer these goodies here before ebaying them off. I've a huge stash of apple goodies, but always could use more. wish i could find a clock card... old computers, old cars and sundry items www.nothingtodo.org

22 years, 5 months

Digital Products PrintDirector manual ff/shipping

by lgwalker＠mts.net

I have an Owners Manual for a Digital Products PrintDirector if anyone has use for it. Free for shipping. Lawrence Reply to: lgwalker(a)mts.net

22 years, 5 months

Osborne Executive and TI MicroLaser Plus free to good home, Hackensack, NJ

by whdawson＠mlynk.com

To all (especially those that are desirous enough of the subject items to drive to Hackensack, NJ), As a participant in the Computer Rescue Squad, I received this email (edited): -> Osborne Executive and a Texas Instruments MicroLaser Plus -> free to good home. Must pick up, I do not have time to ship. -> Thanks. -> Paul. -> Ph.D. I answered with a brief reply indicating that I cannot do so but surely can locate someone who can. Paul's reply to this was: -> A couple of other "Computer Rescuers" have contacted me but the logistics -> are awkward. Do you know anyone who can just stop by the house here and -> pick up some evening? -> Thanks. -> Paul. -> Ph.D. I have Paul's email address and telephone number. If you can meet the requirements of Paul's reply (i.e. 1. STOP BY HOUSE, 2. PICK UP (HACKENSACK, NJ AREA)) please contact me off-list and I will forward his contact details to you. Sorry, but because of the SPAM issues relating to email addresses on this list the last thing I want to do is post someone else's email address here without their permission. 'til later, Bill w1h0d1a0w1s0o1n(a)m0l1y0n1k.com (my valid email address does not contain any binary digits, to those of you who cannot access it in the header of this posting) http://www.swtpc.com

22 years, 5 months

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test-drb January 2002