test-drb December 2005

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

235 participants
580 discussions

by Useddec＠aol.com

The Decmate II and lll both used the VR201 and LK201, as did the Rainbow. I have some parts available for these units. Thanks, Paul

18 years, 10 months

When did double-shot keytops disappear?

by cclist＠sydex.com

I was looking at a not-very-old HP keyboard today and noticed that the lettering on the keys is wearing away after only a few years of use. Another corner quietly cut, I suppose. Used to be that keytops were double-shot molded, with the lettering all but indestructible. Is this a practice that's gone forever, or is there still a vendor who makes keyboards the old way? Cheers, Chuck

18 years, 10 months

=== Miniscribe disk drive infos ===

by tpeters＠mixcom.com

Oh my heavens, I don't think I am any sort of expert, but will try to help. Do you have a document for the controller card? If not, I will try to find my copy. Yes, most RLL drives can be formatted to lower capacity and used on a MFM controller, but some aren't reliable when used that way. I don't know which are. What happens when you start the formatter in debug? Does it attempt the format and light up the drive or fail immediately? Do you have any other old PC or XT machines you can try this in? 1701 is a generic hard disk failure code, but it could imply that the bios is set incorrectly and just doesn't recognize the drive. Shouldn't stop you from formatting it, but then again, perhaps you don't need to, maybe you need to fix something else that is wrong. A cabling issue perhaps. The reason I ask about another PC is that I seem to recall the PS2 needing a diskette to configure it, whereas an XT or clone wouldn't. -T At 01:45 PM 12/21/2005 +0100, you wrote: >Good morning Tom, > >I've just read a topic on the cctalk mailing list in which you seem to be >en expert in old MFM/RLL disk drives. > >I get many troubles in trying to place a WD disk controller with a >miniscribe 8438 disc. As many people do, I always get the famous 20 or >1701 errors whan trying to low level format with the debug command, under >MS dos (G=C800:5) > > >I think i've been trying all that could be possible : removing jumpers, >changing the WD driver card ... it never works. I've put another >combination of MFM disk drive plus WD controller, and I obtained good >results, so, it's not a problem with the computer, but certainly a problem >of disk and/or controller. > > >My controller is a WD1002A-WX1. I know it's for MFM disk, and I also know >that the 8438 disc is a RLL, but it's said that it can also be formatted >to 20Mbytes on a single WD MFM controller. > >The machine is IBM PS2 model 30. The 8438 is used to replace the old >WDL-320 disk drive that doesn't work (it also sends the 1701 error code, >butI don't know how to low-level format it.. > > > >Many thanks if you can give me your help. > >I apologize for disturbing you. > > >--... ...-- -.. . ..-. ..... .. -. .-.. > >Frederic BOSSU, F5INL > [Pop Culture] Well, what would you do with a brain if you had one? -- Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz --... ...-- -.. . -. ----. --.- --.- -... tpeters at nospam.mixcom.com (remove "nospam") N9QQB (amateur radio) "HEY YOU" (loud shouting) WEB ADDRESS http//www.mixweb.com/tpeters 43? 7' 17.2" N by 88? 6' 28.9" W, Elevation 815', Grid Square EN53wc WAN/LAN/Telcom Analyst, Tech Writer, MCP, CCNA, Registered Linux User 385531

18 years, 10 months

GPL or BSD: What license do you prefer for the MSCP SCSI project?

by korpela＠ssl.berkeley.edu

>List members, > I reach the point that I need to decide what license I will use when >I release my project. I myself do not have a preference. I am planning >to replace the unknown-license 53C90 sample code with linux or NetBSD >53C90 driver code. If I use the linux code, I have to release it with >GPL. If I use the NetBSD code, I am not able to release it in GPL. I >will let you guys decide, since you are the end users. To avoid >flooding the mailing list, you can send me private email if you do not >have a public message. > When I release the project, only 512 B/B CDROM and HD will be >supported. There might be a need to add support for other format >CDROMs (easy) or SCSI tapes (difficult) or other devices down the >road. Bear this in mind when you vote. I would say use whatever license suits you the best. If you aren't concerned about someone building a closed source product out of it, BSD is fine. If you do have some concerns, LGPL is a good comprimise. It allows people to link it with non-GPL code without allowing them to close the source. If you want it, and any product linked with it to be made open source, the GPL is the way to go. There are plenty of shades in between. Were I the developer in question, I would probably go with LGPL for a driver or library and full GPL for a program. I've seen too much open source work go into closed source products to use BSD license on my code anymore. But YMMV. Choose what's best for you. Eric

18 years, 10 months

Need BIOS setup utility

by doc＠mdrconsult.com

I'm foozling with a portable 386 system that keeps coming up with an "Incorrect Setting In BIOS" error. I've replaced the battery and tried the several DOS-based CMOS utilities from Simtel, but the error persists. Part of the problem is that this is a Taiwanese clone and the motherboard bears *no* manufacturer or model info. The only badging at all is on the front, which says "LCD 386". It looks like a fairly standard motherboard, has a Seagate ST-251 and a NewTronics DSDD 5.25" floppy drive, 8-bit EGA (I think) graphics card with an internal connector to a 640x240 mono LCD. The keyboard seems to be a regular AT type, clips on the front of the case over the LCD. Dimensions are about 12" tall, 17-18" wide, and 9" front-to-back. I've also never seen a system come up with BIOS messages from two companies: Phoenix 80386 ROM BIOS Version 3.06 Copyright (c) 1985,86 Phoenix Technologies Ltd All Rights Reserved CHIPS AND TECHNOLOGIES AT/386 SYSTEM SOFT SETUP VERSION 1.12 BANK 0 - 1024K NON INTERLEAVED 256k DRAM'S, 0 WAIT STATE MEMORY BANK 1 - 1024K NON INTERLEAVED 256k DRAM'S, 0 WAIT STATE MEMORY BANK 2 - DISABLED BANK 3 - DISABLED AT BUS CLOCK SOURCE - CLK2/2 I can't find any useful info on Google about the C&T "System Soft Setup". My questions are, should I be trying to find a Phoenix setup utility or a C&T util? Am I correct in thinking that's a disk-based utility, rather than NVRAM? In other words, should I be hitting Ctrl+Alt+Ins or something at boot? (Already tried that and all the usual suspects, no love.) Any help or information would be appreciated. Doc

18 years, 10 months

PDP-11/70 boards available

by Manofquest＠aol.com

norm, I saw a listing that you have PDP boards What is the M8136? Cort

18 years, 10 months

Contextual reference for mainframes/supercomputers?

by legalize＠xmission.com

OK, there are lots of sites that put things like mini and microcomputers into their historical context with photos, hardware and software descriptions, etc. What is considered the best reference for mainframe like machines? For instance, anyone want to bid on a Gould Concept/32? <http://www.dovebid.com/assets/display.asp?ItemID=tbd155271> Opening bid is $1.00, sale ends 12/30/06 from Boeing in St. Louis, MO. Well, sounds *dirt* cheap to me, but I know f*ck all about Gould computers other than the University of Utah bought one at one point in the 90s. (I don't even know if they still have it.) Suggestions anyone? Comments on "DoveBid" are also welcome; I only found out about them today. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline"-- code samples, sample chapter, FAQ: <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/> Pilgrimage: Utah's annual demoparty <http://pilgrimage.scene.org>

18 years, 10 months

IBM Thermal Conduction Module and 3084 chip offered

by innfoclassics＠gmail.com

I thought I would mention it to the list before posting it on ebay. I need to go to the dentist in January. I am going to part with my last IBM Mainframe 3084 chip. It is still encased in its original Thermal Conduction Module.Chip looks similar to this. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/vintage/vintage_4506VV3121.html The IBM 3084 mainframe is this: http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP3084.html As a collectable I think the Thermal Conduction Module is much rarer than the 4" chip. IBM classifies it as one of their most important developments. The chips were saved or scrapped for their very high gold content. The thermal modules were copper based with aluminum plungers and quickly sent to scrap. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/vintage/vintage_4506VV2137.html Here is some information on the development of the Thermal Conduction Module. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_intro3.html This is a thermal Conduction Module that has never been opened. From reading it is filled with helium so I have decided not to crack it unless I absolutely have to for pictures. It came from a IBM 3084 we scrapped in 1993 or 94. The chip inside is similar to one I sold on ebay last month, pictures in the ebay listing would be similar to the chip inside this module. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8727630848 Asking $1200 domestic shipping included. Always open to offers. Paxton -- Paxton Hoag Astoria, OR USA

18 years, 10 months

Early 3.5" Floppy Drives (3.x on DEC Rainbow)

by mtapley＠swri.edu

>--- Chris M wrote: > > 3.2 or .3 was available for the NEC APC III and the >Rainbow (I think). I'm not absolutely sure the NEC >version was APC III specific, though probably. The APC >III had a compatibility board called the SLE (Software >Library Expander). The thing I saw on ebay could have >been vanilla ms-dos but I kind of doubt it. MS-DOS 3.10b from Suitable Solutions is the last Rainbow MS-DOS Version I know about (assuming you mean the DEC Rainbow). (There were also CP/M, CCP/M, p-system (see ftp.update.se) and rumored Venix.) -- - Mark 210-522-6025, temporary cell 240-375-2995

18 years, 10 months

FYI: VAXen on govliquidation.com

by legalize＠xmission.com

Hi, just in case anyone's interested, there are a number of VAXen on <http://www.govliquidation.com> right now... VAX Server 3500 Redstone Arsenal, AL VAX 6000-420 Mechanicsburg, PA VAX Server 5000-200 Fort Lewis, WA -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline"-- code samples, sample chapter, FAQ: <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/> Pilgrimage: Utah's annual demoparty <http://pilgrimage.scene.org>

18 years, 10 months

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test-drb December 2005