test-drb February 2009

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

196 participants
309 discussions

Atomic bomb replica maker in Waukesha, WI

by jfoust＠threedee.com

Not computer-related, but certainly geeky, research and reconstruction: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/12/15/081215fa_fact_samuels?printab… - John

15 years, 2 months

Software preservation (Was: Seeking reverse-engineers - Apple II VisiCalc)

by csquared3＠tx.rr.com

On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 at 09:49:34 Chuck Guzis said > It surprised me that the micro types took so long to figure basic > things like SCCS and regression testing out. I think I can partly explain that. For one thing, though we may all be brilliant ;) we are not necessarily all that wise! Wisdom hopefully accumulates with experience, and perhaps with the agony of recreating something that was lost that should have been carefully preserved - especially things like batch files, make files and little utilities written for example because the available software tools could not produce deliverable binaries in the desired form. More seriously, most of the places I have worked for the past 45 years have been what I call "Mom and Pop" operations with all the problems that produces, including tight budgets and razor-thin resources. BTW, just because it is a fair size company does not prevent it from being run in "Mom and Pop" mode. The thin resources in my experience usually result in a very fast transition to the next project once the current one is done, which does not leave a lot of time for reflection about what all should be preserved. Even the quite large company for whom I currently work, though sadly only until next Friday, :( has run our soon-to-be-dissolved group on razor-thin resources IMHO. The other common problem I have seen is that usually no one in the chain above my immediate manager has the vaguest idea as to the importance of the work I have just completed. During some unfortunate periods, even he had no clue! I've been quite pleased for about the past 14 years to have had the use of MKS and more recently VSS to provide an archive and history information on the file servers. Allegedly these are backed up frequently off-site as well, on tape cartridges I believe, though I have never had an occasion to test that theory. At one time the IT guy would whine about how much space I was taking up on the server and I would have to give him a list of folders that could be written to CD's to make space on the file server. In at least one case, I recall one of those was partly unreadable when I tried to access it only maybe a year after it was burned. It has now been probably 10 years - anyone want to bet any of them are still readable? Since they are sitting in my bookcase at work, anyone care to guess what will become of them once I leave next Friday? The good thing is that they are all very old versions and it probably does not matter all that much. No longer needing to keep card/mag-tape/floppy backups has indeed been pleasant. (I sort of hate to admit I once even had some punched paper tape backups.) The history information the source control software provides is invaluable as well, even though I do keep written notes regarding software changes as they are made. I've been a bit amazed at how often I've found myself looking in the MKS and VSS archives to search for the answer to a question like "Exactly when was _this_ particular tiny change made". These are usually changes that seemed almost inconsequential at the time, but turned out much later to have been rather important. Later, Charlie Carothers

15 years, 2 months

ebay: 2 vintage cards for apollo workstation

by legalize＠xmission.com

Relisted with reduced buy-it-now ebay item # 260354394197 'course since the last listing expired with no bids, you could probably low-bid on this and get the two cards with no competition. I guess people aren't really collecting Apollo workstation stuff. A shame, really. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/download/index.html> Legalize Adulthood! <http://blogs.xmission.com/legalize/>

15 years, 2 months

decmate

by nierveze＠radio-astronomie.com

hello everyone,I have a working decmate3, working well with floppies of os278 made with putr (thanks) ,I'd like to have hardware documentation about that machine ,I found the vr101,the lk201,but nothing about the cpu box, also I'd like to find documentation about os278 that seems different from os8.thanks for your help Alain Nierveze 492 All?e Montesquieu 33290 Le Pian Medoc France web:www.radio-astronomie.com email:nierveze at radio-astronomie.com

15 years, 2 months

Replacing failed powersupplies on qbus PDP-11s

by csquared3＠tx.rr.com

On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 Chuck Guzis said: > Read about it: > > http://www.smpstech.com/filter00.htm > > Interestingly, the real-world example cited is the addition of an > input filter to a PDP 11/40... The part of this that really amazes me is where it says something like "long power supply input lines" can also cause problems or oscillation. I suppose this includes for example all the wiring in my house or at the office, over which I have no control and very little detailed knowledge. I wonder if the effective length of the AC input line is all the way back to the transformer on the pole or wherever? If my guesses are correct then it is sort of scary to plug in any SMPS anywhere! I would hope that most SMPS these days have an input circuit that is reasonably immune to most of these problems, but I certainly don't know that. BTW, I have been reading the digest form of this group for a couple of years now but I think this is the first time I have posted a reply of any sort. If I goofed it up, profuse apologies in advance! Later, Charlie C.

15 years, 2 months

REPLY - Re: KAYPRO 10 - Need Help Please

by FJGJR1＠aol.com

Steven, Yes, it sounds like they are looking for boot software. It should be on the hard drive, but maybe it is corrupted or someone took it off. Check with "Sharkonwheels" on _www.vintage-computer.com_ (http://www.vintage-computer.com) , he is more expert in Kaypros after 1983. I am more into the 1983 versions. The Kaypro 10 came after 1983. You can post on this site and maybe someone will offer to buy them from you. They could be used just for parts of course. Note if you have anything else for them - software, accessories, cables, etc. That can help the sale, along with any other info - where did you get them, past history if known, etc.. This is probably the best overall site for such vintage computers. I post under GADFRAN. Good luck. Keep us informed on how you progress. Frank _www.kayprosts.org_ (http://www.kayprosts.org) In a message dated 2/1/2009 2:09:24 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, steven.alan.canning at verizon.net writes: I rescued two ( more like 1 3/4 ) KAYPRO 10 machines headed for euthanasia. I repaired the LVPS in the first unit and it comes up (?) but I think it is waiting for something ( like a BOOT disk ? ). They both ( machines ) have one half-height 5 1/4 floppy drive and one half-height 10 MByte hard drive. So far both of the CPU boards do exactly the same thing, after RESET it puts up the following prompt on the CRT; * KAYPRO 10 v1.9e * Anyone know what if anything it is waiting for ( I can't believe it wouldn't BOOT off of the hard drive, but I don't know any better ) ?? The 10 MB Ready light for the hard disk does come on ( for what it is worth...). Better yet, anyone want a couple ( or one ) KAYPRO 10s to screw around with and add to your collection ? They are built pretty tough ! Make an offer that will cover my Super Bowl beer fund and you're in business ! Because of their weight, probably limited to domestic USA shipping ( from Southern CA ). Best regards, Steven **************From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between, stay up-to-date with the latest news. (http://aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000023)

15 years, 2 months

Looking for used EPROM chips, 2, 4 and 8 megabit

by ian_primus＠yahoo.com

I've been working on some projects lately that require larger EPROM chips than the ones I have scavenged over the years. I am primarily looking for 8 megabit (27c080) chips, but I also need 4's and 2's as well. Anyone have some extra 'bugs' they would part with? Thanks! -Ian

15 years, 2 months

Storage Media ( was: Seeking reverse-engineers - Apple II VisiCalc )

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

> Holographic memory has been right around the corner for *HOW* long? I first > heard of working prototypes sometime between '88-90. Late 60s, maybe. IBM has been looking into holographic memory for a long time. -- Will

15 years, 2 months

LCD projection panel-Sharp QA 50

by Knglng＠aol.com

LCD projection panel-Sharp QA 50 I HAVE ONE WITH A REMOTE, IF YOU WANT IT EMAIL ME OR CALL ME @ 203 530 6896 I WILL ONLY SELL THE WHOLE THING, NOT JUST THE REMOTE **************Great Deals on Dell Laptops. Starting at $499. (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1217883258x1201191827/aol?redir=htt… ntent/products/features.aspx/laptops_great_deals?c=us%26cs=19%26l=en%26s=d hs%26~ck=anavml)

15 years, 2 months

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test-drb February 2009