test-drb February 2016

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

203 participants
239 discussions

by mattislind＠gmail.com

The revival process of the 11/750 continues. The power supplies is working good and then I started testing the actual machine. But that was not a very smooth journey to success. I have in total at least three complete CPU board sets and just after quite a lot of board swapping it got running (I think). I had error like: * Bright red error light * No response at all on the console * %C microverify error * %O microverify error * An hexdump prompt which non like above bot still not correct. * etc Finally I had the %% which meant that it passed microverify. Then I used the (second) RDM module (the first one had RAM error) to run the DPM and MIC test which passed. The I ran the "Hardcore VAX instruction test" / TU58#7 which also passed fine. BUT the Cache / TB diag, TU58#5, give me this: %% 00000000 16 >>>B %% @?ECKAL -- VAX 11/750 Cache/TB Diagnostic 00003488 06 >>> I am running a BE-S198Q-DE tape image. Anyone has a listing or description for the ECKAL diagnostic? Is there any know incompatibilities with certain revisions of boards? Or known bugs? The machine manage to boot the console tape so I get the BOOT58> prompt. But I am not sure if that indicate that it is indeed working or not. So, some help with the Cache/TB diagnostic would be very much appreciated. /Mattis

8 years, 2 months

AlphaStation 200 NVRAM Problem

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I tried starting up my AlphaStation 200 today. All I get is some beeps and an LED diagnostic code that suggests the NVRAM test failed. I swapped the battery, as the old one was dead, but it still refused to work. I have tried connecting to the serial port and got nothing (although I could have a problem with using the correct cable etc). I even tried flipping the jumper that takes you to the mini console, to no avail. Does anyone have any suggestions for reviving this machine? Thanks Rob

8 years, 2 months

websites on the classiccmp server

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

8 years, 2 months

PCP11-E board

by jws＠jwsss.com

I have a PCP-11E board, which I'd like people to comment on, perhaps point me at some documentation if you know of any. Google is saturated with references for the three letter acronym for a controlled substance, nothing much has showed up, and the manufacturer was not very proud of the board, so that won't reduce ambiguity in searching for info. It has a z80, and a couple of Parallel I/O chips as well as a Zilog CTC on it, so it is smelling like some sort of equipment interface or perhaps a Laser printer or high speed printer board. Probably has a 2716 chip on it for code, would like to get it imaged and disassembled. http://jimsoldtoys.blogspot.com/2016/02/pcp11e-qbus-board.html I did a quick look at the thing and there are pictures of the overall board as well as closeups. I guess one could hope to play with CPM on it if nothing else. thanks Jim

8 years, 3 months

ACE Key codes (xx2247 etc.)

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

The decoding of the DEC PDP XX2247 keys has been discussed, but I have not yet seen decoding for others. To repeat the data for XX2247, that is 5173757 assuming 7-1 with a center offset To add to that knowledge, I'm checking other keys I have. Note - I'm sure of the XX values of course but the codes have not been tested/confirmed yet; I will do so and report back. For every Data General Nova (800, 1200, 1220, 2) & Eclipse (S/130, S/200) that I have, those keys are all stamped XX2065. The coding appears to be 1353757 (7-1, center offset) For every HP 2100 that I have, those keys are all stamped XX2946. The coding appears to be 4557457 (7-1, center offset). Of course, the advantage is that copies of copies tend to get off, and with the original code we can all get "original tolerance" keys. While I'm testing/confirming the codes for XX2065 and XX2946, can anyone with stamped DG Nova/Eclipse keys or stamped HP2100 keys confirm if their XX numbers are all the same? I've got enough of each that I'm fairly sure those keys fit all of those systems, but wanted to check. Are there other common systems that used Ace keys that we should document besides XX2247, XX2065, and XX2946? I should probably toss up a quick website under classiccmp if so. J

8 years, 3 months

Any word on the Multics revival front?

by madcrow.maxwell＠gmail.com

When Multics was officially released as free software a couple of years ago, there was a flurry of activity aimed at getting some sort of emulator up and running to run it. Did anything ever come of that or did folks just lose interest (or find out that the needed GE/Honeywell hardware was too poorly-documented to write an emulator of) Mike

8 years, 3 months

Big-Board II & Micro Cornucopia User Group Disks

by james.h.simpson＠gmail.com

Thanks very much to all who posted a reply. The BBII disk files was something I didn't have, and the CD image had some very interesting stuff. I did go and download the bitsaver files also. Thanks again!

8 years, 4 months

Unidentified DEC gear available, NSW-AU

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

DEC Gear available. Unlike most dec gear, I must admit that I can't identify exactly what this is. Several racks, I was guessing AFT or Instrumentation Testing. Looks like one or more cpu or expansion cabinets in some of the racks, and some DEC AD/DA interface stuff. I was left with the impression that there may be one or more racks that are not shown in the pictures provided. I was told that racks are in "several different buildings on the estate" (residential). The first rack looks to be in very bad shape (perhaps a power supply), but the other racks don't look so bad. I am not sure that I can get more pictures from the owner, but will try. I think that in order to get pictures of the fronts (what we all probably want to see), the owner would have to move stuff (and them) and would rather not. The equipment is located in NSW, Australia. It sound like they just want it to go to a good home. If someone is local to NSW Australia and wants to spearhead going onsite to take a closer look for others and/or pick up the gear themselves, let me know offlist and I'll give you the contact info. To those on the list that aren't down under - any ideas what this is? Pics are temporarily at http://www.ezwind.net/nsw-au Best, J

8 years, 4 months

Techno-savvy...

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

What is a techno-savvy student? Can classic computers possibly give an answer? I used early microcomputers in my electronics classroom I taught in the 70?s. Computers back then were rather primitive, not much better than calculators, but did mimic human learning ? well maybe not advanced enough to deal with calculus! But they did help with the tedious tasks of generating random #s to start a particular process - a game for instance. Maybe not intellectually challenging nonetheless doing a required job leading today to sophisticated games that do more than entertain. Back then students were put in groups to build a work station employing a Commodore 64 or Apple II or Heathkit H8. Fund-raising bought these computers at the school board was reluctant to spend money and or political capital that only benefited the few though we did install a workstation in the library ? what wonder that created as it was small in comparison to the PDP-8. So what is a techno-savvy student now: Conversant in using a technological gadget to enhance his/her life? Or being able to build a computing workstation in high school? Or for simply possessing a basic understanding of how electronic/computing technology makes life more bearable, less boring? I don?t have the answers though being 64 I?ve lived through the evolution of computing technology and seeing how it?s affected my life good or otherwise! Looking forward to using my old computers, Coleco ADAM and Haethkit H8, if I can keep them going by procuring parts, as my dear friend who has them works tirelessly and I contribute when I get up to the big city in keeping them functioning. Such are the joys of classic computing. :)

8 years, 4 months

Needs help w/ diagnosing and hopefully repairing of a DEC Tape Drive

by cctalk＠fahimi.net

In my continuing quest for a 9-track drive I got my hands on DEC TSZ07-CA w/ a narrow SCSI interface that was supposedly "tested working". On arrival to me I found it wrapped in a thin layer of bubble wrap w/ some broken piece of Styrofoam thrown in for "packing". As one can imagine the drive did not farewell. The outer desktop housing is cracked in multiple places but still serviceable. The drive itself came with parts rattling on the inside. I opened it up, cleaned things up a bit, and put things back together so that now the drive powers up, starts self test, and then errors out w/ a "50 - Motor Fault" error. I have checked the wires and reseated everything that I can see. I've also cleaned all the sensors, blown out the dirt, etc. etc. The problem persists so I am going to assume a component was damaged in the shipping. I ran the tests indicated in the tech manual and I get the following results: generally the supply motor starts to turn but stops even before making a full revolution. Incidentally if I manually turn the reel it turns fine and the tape securing arms open and close appropriately. When running the dx tests sometimes I can get the uptake motor to spin up at full speed and once even had the supply motor spin up at full speed. Per the tech manual if restarting the system does not make the problem go away the next step would be to replace the motor.... Google fu has not turned up much - so before I declare this a very heavy paper weight anyone have any ideas? Thanks! -Ali

8 years, 4 months

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test-drb February 2016