test-drb November 2007

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

229 participants
508 discussions

2.11BSD Patch 445; FPSIM fixed; 211bsd runs on systems without FPP

by W.F.J.Mueller＠gsi.de

A note to all 2.11bsd users: Some time ago I looked into running 2.11bsd on systems without floating point unit. The release notes state that this is untested and unsupported, and indeed it didn't work. Robin Birch some time ago fixed part of the issues, see patch 434, but still the kernel paniced when the very first program was started. I managed to localize and fix the problem in sys/pdp/mch_fpsim.s. Steven Schultz right away issued 2.11BSD patch #445. All patches up to and including 445 are provided by Steven under ftp://sg-1.ims.ideas.gd-ais.com/pub/2.11BSD A patch level 445 system will now boot on simh for example on a set cpu 11/70 nofpp 4m configuration and work just fine, albeit a little slower. It should thus also work on a real 11/70 without FPP. I heard of some 11/70 with non-working FPP's, so this maybe good news for the owners. With best regards, Walter Mueller -- Dr. Walter F.J. M?ller Mail: W.F.J.Mueller at gsi.de GSI, Abteilung KP3 Phone: +49-6159-71-2766 D-64291 Darmstadt FAX: +49-6159-71-3762 URL: http://www-linux.gsi.de/~mueller/

16 years, 2 months

1000+ old computer in Canada, for sale

by tosteve＠yahoo.com

"Rawn's Buy & Sell Network" in Burnaby BC (Canada), says he has a warehouse fill of old computers to hopefully sell as a lot. Consists of mostly 80s and 90s systems, like Apple, Macs, IBMs, Next, Commodore, Atari, Tandy, Hyperion, etc. as well as tons of software. Here are some pics he sent me: http://members.cox.net/oldcomputerads/oldpics/old.html Do not contact me, please contact: rawnsbuysell at lightspeed.ca Enjoy! ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121

16 years, 4 months

xt/370 e-mail problem and stacked memory chips illustrated

by michaelryan＠mindspring.com

I have added a few new pictures to the xt/370 web site showing the stacked (and non-stacked) versions of the MCM66128L20, as well as two other examples of IBM engineering that employed stacked chips (AT motherboard and PC memory card) in the early 1980's. There are 36 pairs on the AT board to get 512K and 18 pairs on the memory card to get 64K. Obviously, these chips have different pinouts (at least select). The url is:- www.xt370.net click on the link to the left, 'Memory Technology' The question a data sheet might answer is:- does one of the new MCM66128L20 parts replace one of the old stacked pairs? --- also: -- >Subject: Re: Someone in search of XT/370 software >To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts Only" <cctech at classiccmp.org> >He's on the list. I have at least some of VM/PC, but when I tried to >email him to let him know, I got an autoresponse from a white-list >agent, which sent me to an unresponsive URL. It was sufficiently >irritating that I figured it wasn't worth pursuing further. >Seriously, folks, if you're going to ask for help, don't make it >impossible for people to give. >ok >bear Bear's criticism is well-founded. I believe I have corrected the problem; I did receive the e-mails and have responded off-list. At any rate, I greatly appreciate the interest and am sorry for the inconvenience. Mike

16 years, 4 months

4004 and IC history / was Re: Vintage computer photogallery

by RodSmallwood＠mail.ediconsulting.co.uk

My memory may be at fault here but that sounds like it. A quad board ... I can't recall any yellow handles. It did have the standard DEC 20mA ASR 33 conector on a bit of short grey cable hanging off the top of the board. Other early sightings at DEC VT100 prototype . Wire wrap board mounted on a piece of thick plywood. Another similar bit of plywood on top with the monitor out of a VT52 perched on it. A third bit of plywood held the keyboard. A PSU (I know not whence that came) and an Intel MDS. (8 inch Floppy based in a blue box.) So I asked the inevitable 'Why all the wood' 'It doesn't short anything out came the reply' The design of the VT100 was done by one engineer who I met but I cannot recall his name. The case was the work of an industrial designer. We all thought the case was really smart LA36 prototype another wirewrap wonder with the print mech screwed to a board. LA180 prototype as LA-36 but with the wooden board clamped to the bench to stop it leaping about. Rod Smallwood -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of William Donzelli Sent: 18 October 2007 04:12 To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Re: 4004 and IC history / was Re: Vintage computer photogallery > I'm sure I saw a development system at DEC for the 4004 running on a PDP-8 circa 1975. I think in its collection, RCS has a DEC Y187 card (the only yellow handled Flip Chip I have ever seen) that has a 4004 on it. -- Will

16 years, 4 months

SEBHC has moved to Google groups

by jack.rubin＠ameritech.net

SEBHC - the Society of Eight-Bit Heath Computerists - has become a Google group. If you are interested in the H8, the H89, the better half of the H/Z100, or the ETxx trainers, please come join us. We maintain an extensive archive of Heath 8-bit software, both HDOS and CP/M, as well as a large collection of hardware and software documentation. This is a great group which includes several ex-Heath employees as well as others deeply versed in the workings of these computers. The group is closed in the interests of sanity and to protect the archive; if you're interested come to http://groups.google.com/group/sebhc?lnk=gschg and request membership. Jack No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.9/1155 - Release Date: 11/27/2007 8:30 PM

16 years, 4 months

[lisaem] LisaEm 1.2.0 - No ROMs? No problem!

by ray＠arachelian.com

LisaEm 1.2.0 is available for download right now, from the usual place: http://lisaem.sunder.net/downloads.html Many LisaEm users have complained that ROMs are too difficult to extract. The new version of LisaEm solves this by allowing you to run with out a ROM. If you wanted to try LisaEm, but couldn't because you didn't have ROMs for it, now you can! It emulates the functions of the Lisa Boot ROM as well as the Dual Parallel Card without requiring a ROM, and allows you to boot into Lisa Office System. If you've felt limited by only having a single emulated Profile hard drive because you didn't have the Dual Parallel ROM, the new version also emulates these, without requiring a ROM. All you need is Lisa Office System and LisaEm. As this is the first release of this feature, don't be surprised if you encounter bugs. Please report any unexpected behavior so that I can fix it. :-) Additionally, I've added two movies that show how to install Lisa Office System and MacWorks. (MacWorks still doesn't work properly on LisaEm however.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lisa Emulator Change History http://lisaem.sunder.net/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2007.09.19 - fixed romless floppy boot to always boot from floppy and not switch to Profile. 2007.09.15 - debugging ROMless boot. new bug: when trying to boot from floppy, if a profile exists and is bootable, LOS starts up from the Profile instead of the floppy. 2007.09.09 - David Cecchin's XPM icon in unix 2007.09.07 - added Save/Load PRAM to Preferences - Quit now closes any open Preference window as well 2007.08.29 - libdc42 macbinii encoded dart to dc42 conversion bugfix 2007.08.16 - added LOS error codes to ROMless error handler - fix raw screenshot crash 2007.08.13 - got both ROMless boot and ROMless dual parallel card to work 2007.08.06 - individual profile power controls + create new profile inside a new menu named profile. 2007.07.28 - replaced all exit() and EXIT() calls with messages before quitting emulator so at least we know what crashed. 2007.07.27 - ROMless works with both profile and floppy now. - Fixed a bug with configuration saving. 2007.07.26 - Tracelog checkmark correction 2007.07.25 - added Zap PRAM button in main Preferences panel 2007.07.23 - ROMLess booting - floppy works 2007.07.19 - ROMLess booting start 2007.07.12 - RESET opcode supervisor mode bug fix. 2007.07.10 - CPU core tests If you'd like to support this project, you can do so by sending me something from my Amazon wish list. (Used books and DVD's are perfectly fine with me.) The trains are for my kid. :) http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/14EOBF86ARMDT/ref=wl_web/

16 years, 4 months

Symbolics XL400/1200

by davis＠saw.net

The machine is available in Portland Or or preferably, up the gorge in Goldendale Wa. which is located about 100 miles east of Portland. The machine could be shipped, but it would require a pallet for the case, foam for the monitor and separate packing for the drive and boards. I'm not sure how much it's worth. I have had an offer for $370. So I guess thats a start. The system includes the mono hi-res graphics monitor, space cadet keyboard, full document (user) set, but no hardware prints (sorry) and a frame tosser board. I'll throw in a couple bus mice, but they will need to be rewired. I'll fire it up and verify that it still boots. (it did 6 months ago) If you pick it up in goldendale, I'll let you dig around in my shed for other goodies. The machine is badged as a XL400 but boot reports a XL1200. I assume it's the extra memory and possibly software upgrades. It has been stored inside, in a clean dry environment since I picked it up about 7 years ago. Jim Davis.

16 years, 4 months

Mike Quinn Electronics -- one last chance

by brian＠quarterbyte.com

Hi Folks, As many of you know, the venerable Mike Quinn Electronics in San Leandro, CA (down by the Oakland Airport) closed last Saturday with virtually no advance notice. If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, you know Mike Quinn is the one of the very last of the nitty gritty electronics salvage shops left, with an emphasis on gritty. I stopped by today, and mentioned to Maurice, the owner, that a lot of people would have liked to have had one last shot at a visit. So, he has extented an invitation to y'all to visit next week, Tuesday through Friday February 7-10, 2006, during normal business hours, for one last shopping spree. He is trying to find a buyer for the stock in the store. This is almost certainly the last chance to visit. If you can, it's worth doing whatever you have to do to make the pilgrimage. Buy some stuff to thank Maurice for keeping it going all this time. There are zillions of connectors and components, heaps of transformers and power supplies, scads of cables and keyboards and monitors and other PC junk, a jet fighter console or two, a couple of early 80's HP desktop computers (the ones with built-in BASIC, can't recall the model numbers), lots of relays, and much more, all arranged in an archaeologically interesting and un-seismically-safe way. If you need it, they have it, and they might even be able to find it. Mike Quinn Electronics 401 McCormick Street (at the corner of Adams and McCormick) San Leandro, CA 94577 Brian

16 years, 4 months

free SGI Origin 2000

by ingrammp＠earthlink.net

Well, they may not be exactly "classic" but they were interesting machines in their time... I have two (2) SGI Origin 2000 systems.... It's an 8 node, 195Mhz R10000, 512Mbyte, CD, 4Gbyte disk.. Has two HVD (high voltage differential as opposed to the current LVD ).. interfaces on each... and a PCI card adapter.. and a bunch of cables for connecting external disks and whatnot. Both are free for the taking and are located in Tucson..., and both were working when last turned off... stored in an air-conditioned corporate office. I'll help you load one or both onto your truck !! Mike

16 years, 4 months

Teaching kids about computers...

by julesrichardsonuk＠yahoo.co.uk

So the boy (9yr. old) was asking last night about how computers work... any recommendations for good books for learning the basics from? I think I started out with a Sinclair Spectrum and its BASIC manual, but I really don't recall now where I found out about the fundamental building blocks of [typical] computers and how a CPU worked. There must be a good 'classic' "how computers work" type of book which avoids going on about PCs and Xboxen... I figure I should find him one of those kids electronics projects kits too (I think that was where I got my first exposure to logic gates from at about the same age) and also some old 8-bit machine to play with. I can get a Spectrum / BBC micro shipped over in a few months, but something US-built might be better; any thoughts? I did wonder about a C64, but maybe it'd be better to start with something a bit more simple? i.e. probably something Z80 or 6502-based (just because there's more resources devoted to them), generic cassette data storage, basic video abilities etc. (You know, I don't recall seeing a 'how to introduce kids to vintage computing' thread on here before :-) cheers Jules

16 years, 4 months

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test-drb November 2007