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
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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. :)
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