I hope to start backing up my MicroVAX 3800 soon via the TK70. Sounds like
8mm is more unreliable than the TK70, and I don't have but one
magneto-optical disk.
Are there any precautions I need to take before sticking a tape in the
drive? Pinch rollers that might be gooey?
I assume the TK70 drive is backwards compatible with TK50 tapes?
Lastly, I've got some tapes that I couldn't find much info on. Here are the
labels:
ER206200-00 REV G 1.03
P4000 DOWNLINE VMS SOFTWARE
09-29-89
(C) 1988 EMULEX
ER2062014-00 REV A
P4000 LAT-TCP/IP VER 2.00
05/14/90 TK50 (VMS LOAD)
(C) 1990 EMULEX
ER2062014-00 REV 01
P4000 LAT-TCP/IP VER 2.00B2
05/1/90 TK50 (VMS LOAD)
(C) 1990 EMULEX
ER2062014-00 REV 00
P4000 LAT-TCP/IP SOFTWARE
3-22-90 TK50 (VMS LOAD)
(C) 1990 EMULEX
Are any of those worth keeping? Any tips on getting those tapes online
using my VAX? I know there are utilities for the PDP-8 and PDP-11 world,
but being thrown into VAX and VMS so quickly, it may take me a bit to catch
up. Any recommendations on reading material?
I also have a tape for VAX Occam 2 from INMOS. I know what that is, as I
have a 64-node Transputer array. It'd be nice to get that going at some
point for fun.
Thanks,
Kyle
Brought my Apple //e Platinum to a MARCH workshop last weekend. We used a bottle of a "B-Blond" which I think is a woman's hair product from England. We painted it onto the computer case, wrapped the case in Saran Wrap, and left it outside in the sunlight for a few hours.
The results were dramatic.
Here's a reminder of the "before" showing the top cover. You can see the original platinum color at the bottom where it tucks into the main case. I don't have a "before" shot of the main case, but it was as badly yellowed as the top cover:http://snarc.net/yellowing.jpg.
Here are some "after" shots.
1. Back at home. Notice color difference vs. the disk drives and system saver --http://snarc.net/desk.jpg.
2. Up-close. See the streaking and slight blotches? I believe that's from where the sunlight was blocked by trees (as the sun moved vs. the horizon that afternoon) and also from where the Saran Wrap bunched up in a few places --http://snarc.net/streaks.jpg.
3. De-yellowed case on the right. Case on the left is from another Platinum in the MARCH collection. I did a quick-and-dirty de-yellowing of the left half of that one, just to show another before/after shot. Prior to experimenting on it, this is the one that Ian Primus and others used for pranking me by swapping it with mine, overnight while I slept! :) --
http://snarc.net/both.jpg.
So my computer isn't perfect and never will be, but overall it was a successful experiment.
