test-drb May 2016

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Model M Key Cap Replacement WAS: Keyboards and the Model M (was Re: NEC ProSpeed 386)

by cctalk＠ibm51xx.net

While on the subject anyone know where one can buy replacement key caps?? -Ali

8 years, 6 months

WTD: S100 Static RAM card

by philip＠neoncluster.com

Hi all, I?ve been struggling getting a 64k Dynamic RAM card back up and working in my IMSAI 8080. In fact I?m giving up on the DRAM card in this system and have decided to start looking for a SRAM card that can get the IMSAI up to 56k. In terms if SRAM cards, I presently have: 2 x Problem solver RAM16 cards - both seem to be working. 2 x 8K RAM cards - both seem to be working. Less cards generating heat, and putting stress on the old power supply is obviously best, so I?d be looking for either: - 1 x 16k SRAM card (for a total of 4 RAM cards (3 x 16k + 1 x 8k) in my system). A PSS RAM16 would be preferred for sake of consistency, but obviously not crucial. - 1 x 32k SRAM card (for a total of 3 RAM cards (1 x 32k, 1 x 16k + 1 x 8k) in my system) - 1 x 64k SRAM card that can have the last 8k bank turned off I would love to hear from anyone with one of the above cards who would be willing to pass it on. Much thanks for your time. Best regards Philip

8 years, 6 months

Set of mystery DEC boards: who can help me identifying these?

by p.gebhardt＠ymail.com

Hello list, I recently got a bunch of boards from somebody who was either not able to tell me where they were from. The boards seem to be unibus-based with numbers starting with X. I neither came across these before, nor could find any information in the web about it: Type, P/N , Description X029, 5013132B, AUC interconnect X022, 5012197C, unibuswindow X021, 5012181C, CD ROM control (did that ever exist for unibus?) X020, 5012180B, data path Two 16K mos memory modules M7847 came with the set. No backplane, unfortunately. Any hints about the type of system and application these boards were for? Many thanks for any pointers. Wish a nice weekend to all of you, Pierre ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de

8 years, 6 months

NEC ProSpeed 386

by cmhanson＠eschatologist.net

I just acquired an NEC ProSpeed 386 portable from WeirdStuff. http://imgur.com/a/vUTvd <http://imgur.com/a/vUTvd> The system boots fine off floppy, and after running the setup program?that can still be downloaded from NEC America?s FTP site!?I was able to boot DOS and Windows 3.11 from the internal HD that WeirdStuff didn?t think it had. The machine is actually quite zippy once booted too, it?s obviously a desktop replacement, it even has a goddamn mechanical keyboard! Unfortunately, there doesn?t seem to be all that much useful information about this system online. Does anyone have any pointers? What I?d like to do most is get into it and down to the motherboard, since the CMOS battery obviously needs replacing, and I could see whether there?s any damage that needs to be cleaned up. I tried to disassemble it this morning but unfortunately I couldn?t find any release latches and the plastic is old enough to be a little brittle so I didn?t want to work it too hard. As for what else I?ll do with it, I might consider replacing the drive with a larger one (or a larger CF card via an IDE/CF adaptor), adding the 8MB memory upgrade if I could ever find it, and adding an 80387 if I could ever find one and if there?s actually a socket for it. And if there?s any sort of network card for its weird-ass expansion slots of course I?d be all over that. I also expect the battery is quite sketchy at this point, being a discharged-for-decades NiCd. The system won?t boot without the battery pack attached though, so I?ll have to figure out how to bypass that. (I expect I can just install some sort of jumper at the battery port, or wire in a bypass.) And the system ports are obscured by the battery pack too. Nonetheless, not bad for well under the $60 sticker price when you consider that they also threw in the Griffin iMate I was also getting for that price! -- Chris

8 years, 6 months

DEC Legacy UK show

by mark＠wickensonline.co.uk

The tentative plan is to run the next one in October. The date should be firmed up in the next month or so. Typically I run the event once every 18 months or so. Regards, Mark. On 14 April 2016 at 15:50, Rob Jarratt <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com> wrote: > It is a very informal event, organised by Mark in his own time. He has > family and work commitments like all of us, so I expect he has not been > able to find the time. > > Regards > > Rob > > Sent from my Windows 10 phone > > From: Rod Smallwood > Sent: 14 April 2016 15:09 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > Subject: Re: DEC Legacy UK show > > So why did it say See you in 2016? > > > On 14/04/2016 15:03, Dave Wade wrote: > > I thought Mark was only aiming for every two years. > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Rod > >> Smallwood > >> Sent: 14 April 2016 14:14 > >> To: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts <cctech at classiccmp.org> > >> Subject: DEC Legacy UK show > >> > >> DEC Legacy UK show > >> > >> Where did it go ? > >> 2015 then nothing > >> > >> Rod Smallwood > >> > > > > >

8 years, 6 months

TI Professional Computer (TIPC) Service Manual?

by martin＠shackspace.de

I wanted to reactivate a TI Professional Computer (TIPC) and all I get some seconds after powering it on is the message "** system error ** 0004" and a beep, lasting for about 2 seconds. The TIPC is an early, not really compatible clone of the IBM PC 5150. I wonder if I need to do some reengineering and/or disassembling or if there is a service manual out there. greetings, Martin -- Martin Peters martin at shackspace.de

8 years, 6 months

http://hackaday.com/2016/05/29/dragging-teletypes-into-the-21st-century/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hackaday%2FLgoM+%28Hack+a+Day%29&utm_content=FeedBurner+user+view

by wulfman＠wulfman.com

http://hackaday.com/2016/05/29/dragging-teletypes-into-the-21st-century/?ut… -- The contents of this e-mail and any attachments are intended solely for the use of the named addressee(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any unauthorized use, copying, disclosure, or distribution of the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited by the sender and may be unlawful. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete this e-mail.

8 years, 6 months

vintage computers in active use

by hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca

A friend notice this in the news, I heard it mentioned on the radio this morning too: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36385839 extract: The report said that the Department of Defence systems that co-ordinated intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear bombers and tanker support aircraft "runs on an IBM Series-1 Computer - a 1970s computing system - and uses eight-inch floppy disks".

8 years, 6 months

Trying to repair a Smith-Corona letter quality "printer"

by fozztexx＠fozztexx.com

I picked up a Smith-Corona Memory Correct 400 Messenger typewriter at Goodwill last week. It has the daisy wheel but no ribbon. I debated getting it since I already have enough retro stuff around the house, but every single time I?m at a Goodwill I look at all the typewriters to see if they have some kind of serial or parallel port. This one has a DE9 connector on the back which can be connected to a computer using an external box called a Messenger Module, which I also have. I plugged it in at the store and the typewriter didn't power up. They gave me 10 bucks off so I couldn?t resist and bought it. I?m hoping it?s an easy fix, but I can?t figure out how to get the thing apart at all! The four screws in the bottom just hold the plastic case to the metal frame, and removing them didn?t allow the case to come apart. I can?t figure out how to get the two plastic halves separated. There's no screws in the top and no other screws in the bottom. The plastic halves aren't welded together around the outside, I can wedge a screwdriver between them all the way around. There seems to be something holding the halves together near the four corners. Does anyone have any idea of how to get this thing open (without breaking the plastic)? I?ve searched all over the internet but I can?t find any scanned service manuals. The typewriter is from 1984 and was sold for $600 new so it doesn't seem to me like it would be a "disposable" item so there has to be a way to open it and service it. From what I can tell the 200/300/400 all use the same case, and the Memory Correct II/III use a very similar case, so info for any of those may help. I posted an album here: http://imgur.com/a/SxfTE and a YouTube video here: http://youtu.be/ryDl0Qvl7Gk Any assistance in opening the case without breaking it will be greatly appreciated! :-) -- Follow me on twitter: @FozzTexx Check out my blog: http://insentricity.com

8 years, 6 months

Need Rec: Book to teach about computers and BASIC at an eight year old level

by cctalk＠ibm51xx.net

So somewhat OT - I've setup an 8 year old w/ an IBM PC XT w/ CGA. To say he is less than impressed is understating things :). However, I am determined that he will learn basic computer terminology, architecture, history (i.e. how we got here) and at least get his feet wet with programming by learning BASIC this summer. Apparently teaching is not my strong suite - while I can talk about a larger number of the above topics, especially at his level, organizing them in a way to make sense is the problem. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good book that gets the basic stuff out of the way (what is the CPU, memory, storage, etc. what are different the parts called, etc.) and maybe another one that teaches an intro to BASIC written for a very young reader? It would be nice if the book is in the PD or at least available as a PDF that way he can read it on his Kindle. However, I am not averse to buying a physical new (or used book) either. Thanks. -Ali

8 years, 6 months

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test-drb May 2016