test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>I have a bunch of 80 MB mac hard drives. would an old PC SCSI card >run them? Depends. If it was designed for a Mac specifically, then it won't work. But 9/10 SCSI devices will work indescriminately on a Mac, PC, or Unix machine, provided that drivers exist, if required. >>HUH? Neither of these are an helped/hindered by the 386. SCSI is not >>needed to run 1.44/1.2 FDDs. You can put scsi in there even when it >was >>an plain xt. To run the bigger floppies you need a controller that >will, >>most XT controllers will not. JDR and JAMCO sell a board that will do >up >>to 2.88 drives in a XT slot. >Has anyone actually seen a 2.88 MB floppy drive? I have. Almost got one. They were $7 new, black, from IBM. Actually, I don't really like 2.88MB drives: The meida STILL costs about $3-$4 a disk, and when you can just get 2 or 3 $0.25 or LESS 1.44MB disks, and then use a program to cut files down, you end up with better prices. So, unless you had a specific use, or REALLY wanted to cut down on total disk #'s, I can't say that I want one, especially not now, when Castle Wood's (http://www.castlewoodsystems.com) coming out with a $199 ORB drive, that can outperform Jaz drives, and hold 100MB more for $30 a piece on 2.1GB media. THAT'S innovation: New technology, low price, and a cool name. Ciao, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 4 months

Nice Find

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

> > ><up comes an Intel flashscreen >< Inboard 386 PC >< Vers 1.1 02/17/89 >< Intel Corporation > >Same beast I have in my Leading Edge XT. > ><recognize Very rudimentary Auto and Config usual but with inbrdpc.sys >< Of course I quickly pop it open No HD !!?? > >Don't lose those files! > ><Snooper tells me it has 2 ser ports and 2 paral. configured and bench-mar ><20mhz ( don't know how accurate Snoop's bench is but this sure beats an X > >It's warped. It's a 386/16 and that's all. How accurate are those diags anyway? Are they to be trusted? > >That's been going on for a while and there was a AT (286) version as well. > >< The possibilities are interesting. I'm wondering if I could beef up the ><Put in an Extended Graphics Adapter (not Array) and hook up my 3270 ><type IBM monitor (5272). There's an interesting section in Que's "Upgradi > >IF it's ISA-8 you likely can. > >< It would be neat if I could run Linux on it. >< Excuse my blathering but I'm like a kid with an amazing new toy. > Although this certainly is a cool toy (I'd love to have an XT I could do something wiht), you shouldn't be able to put Linux on it. For one thing, it seems to need drivers, and Linux doesn't have them. Also, the fact that it's an ISA card could reduce performance. Lastly, the thing may not run at full 32 bits,protected mode. > >Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. Yes, but no windows programs except the ones that came with it. > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 4 months

VAXstation 3100 M30

by emu＠ecubics.com

Hi, ---------- > From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > > Anyway, the result was I pulled my VT420 out of storage, hunted up a cable > for the terminal, and powered it on. It seems to be working just fine, and > much to my surprise and pleasure it has 16Mb of RAM. Of course it's only > running VMS 5.3 on a pair of RZ-23's, but hey it's faster, smaller and > quieter than my MV2! Now to get a better Hard Drive, and add a CD-ROM. & try NetBSD .... cheers, emanuel

28 years, 4 months

Nice Find

by lwalker＠mail.interlog.com

Today I picked up from the garbage a 9pin Epson and what I first thought was a big old IBM XT figuring I could always off it to someone after I checked out it's peripherals. When I got home I found it was a 5150. I noticed it had a paste-on sticker "Intel Inboard 386" Someone's attempt at humor I thought since the 5150 was the first IBM PC IIRC and likely had only 256k RAM. It had the DIN plugs for kb and cassette and two full-ht. IBM fdds; couldn't see a Hdd. The 5 expansion slots seemed full tho and I was getting more interested. I hooked up a monitor and kb and fired it up without opening it up first (I know-risky). Started up fine, flashing cursor checked the drives and up comes an Intel flashscreen Inboard 386 PC Vers 1.1 02/17/89 Intel Corporation conv. mem. init. 640 k ext mem. 256 k Initial Op. Speed Very Fast system BIOS 32-bit RAM EGA BIOS ROM iNBRDPC Dev. Driver installed I hit a key and up comes a C:\ prompt.! Nothing too interesting on the HD , usual WP5.1 and Lotus a few others i don't recognize Very rudimentary Auto and Config usual but with inbrdpc.sys Of course I quickly pop it open No HD !!?? It turns out it has a 20 Meg "Plus Development" Hard Card . The Intel card is a 16mhz and it has an empty socket for a 387 The small serial port card has f - 15 pin and 25 pin sockets. Small Herc. type card video and prtr.ports The floppy controller card has a f-35 pin ext. socket ? Snooper tells me it has 2 ser ports and 2 paral. configured and bench-marks 20mhz ( don't know how accurate Snoop's bench is but this sure beats an XT) I was blown away I didn't think an XT much less a PC could be upgraded without replacing the MB. And the Hard Card was gravy The possibilities are interesting. I'm wondering if I could beef up the RAM Put in an Extended Graphics Adapter (not Array) and hook up my 3270 type IBM monitor (5272). There's an interesting section in Que's "Upgrading and Repairing PCs" on the 3270PC BTW. I wonder also what the cassette and 35 pin I/Os offer in the way of interfacing According to Snooper there's 16 Irq's.and I could free up a exp. socket by pulling the hard card if I could put in a bigger HD. Would a SCSI card be an option so I could put in 1.2 and /or 1.44 fdds ? It would be neat if I could run Linux on it. Excuse my blathering but I'm like a kid with an amazing new toy. ciao larry lwalker(a)interlog.com

28 years, 4 months

Nice Find

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

><up comes an Intel flashscreen >< Inboard 386 PC >< Vers 1.1 02/17/89 >< Intel Corporation > >Same beast I have in my Leading Edge XT. That would be cool to have. ><Snooper tells me it has 2 ser ports and 2 paral. configured and bench-mar ><20mhz ( don't know how accurate Snoop's bench is but this sure beats an X > >It's warped. It's a 386/16 and that's all. Yeah, but with extra RAM, etc. it could very well benchmark as a higher or lower MHz, even with today's Winbench's. >< I was blown away I didn't think an XT much less a PC could be upgraded ><without replacing the MB. And the Hard Card was gravy > >That's been going on for a while and there was a AT (286) version as well. > >< The possibilities are interesting. I'm wondering if I could beef up the ><Put in an Extended Graphics Adapter (not Array) and hook up my 3270 ><type IBM monitor (5272). There's an interesting section in Que's "Upgradi > >IF it's ISA-8 you likely can. > >< It would be neat if I could run Linux on it. >< Excuse my blathering but I'm like a kid with an amazing new toy. > >No way! All the ram you have is the 1meg on the inboard and I think it >used the 256k (maximum) on the mother as expanded mem. If yu can find the >memory card that piggy backs to it you can add either a meg or maybe two >to it. Nomantter what linux in less than 4meg would be poor and >completely unrunable in under 2mb. Linux won't run XF86 even in mono mode with less than 8MB RAM, which makes zero sense because any PC that shipped with 8MB RAM and a mono card was either: 1) Something like a NeXT machine 2) A graphics machine, but was DEFINATELY NOT A GENERAL-USE PC! There are several projects going on to have Linux run on 286 and lower machines, and, of course, lowering RAM consumption. There's an 8MB distribution that only requires 512K (I believe) RAM, if you give it enough swap space (in that case, it would be 3.5MB) >Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. It'll run, but in my experience, Windows 3.1 doesn't do to much with it. My friends 286 (they were still using it last summer when they moved, but it was retrofit with MY 210MB HDD, and a SVGA monitor and graphics card) You can't extract files, run most software that was designed for Windows 3.1. I'd go with 3.0, if I had a choice. If I was you, I would just upgrade to DOS 5.0 or so. It'll run loads of software, and is more consistent with the hardware that you have, minus the 386CPU. And, it's smaller, so you could actually have more software on it. Come to think of it, I believe that Windows 3.1 is like 25MB, plus the DOS 5.0 that's required to run it, which fits on 5 720K floppies, I believe. Ciao, Tim D. Hotze >Allison >

28 years, 4 months

Nice Find

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<up comes an Intel flashscreen < Inboard 386 PC < Vers 1.1 02/17/89 < Intel Corporation Same beast I have in my Leading Edge XT. <recognize Very rudimentary Auto and Config usual but with inbrdpc.sys < Of course I quickly pop it open No HD !!?? Don't lose those files! <Snooper tells me it has 2 ser ports and 2 paral. configured and bench-mar <20mhz ( don't know how accurate Snoop's bench is but this sure beats an X It's warped. It's a 386/16 and that's all. < I was blown away I didn't think an XT much less a PC could be upgraded <without replacing the MB. And the Hard Card was gravy That's been going on for a while and there was a AT (286) version as well. < The possibilities are interesting. I'm wondering if I could beef up the <Put in an Extended Graphics Adapter (not Array) and hook up my 3270 <type IBM monitor (5272). There's an interesting section in Que's "Upgradi IF it's ISA-8 you likely can. < It would be neat if I could run Linux on it. < Excuse my blathering but I'm like a kid with an amazing new toy. No way! All the ram you have is the 1meg on the inboard and I think it used the 256k (maximum) on the mother as expanded mem. If yu can find the memory card that piggy backs to it you can add either a meg or maybe two to it. Nomantter what linux in less than 4meg would be poor and completely unrunable in under 2mb. Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. Allison

28 years, 4 months

Nice Find

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> Would a SCSI card be an option so I could put in 1.2 and/or 1.44 fdds HUH? Neither of these are an helped/hindered by the 386. SCSI is not needed to run 1.44/1.2 FDDs. You can put scsi in there even when it was an plain xt. To run the bigger floppies you need a controller that will, most XT controllers will not. JDR and JAMCO sell a board that will do up to 2.88 drives in a XT slot. FYI I've hacked the leading edge (xt) I have to include most of what you mention including a 20meg WD hardcard. It's MONO/herc, 20meg hardcard, 1.44 floppy, multi-IO (two serial, two LPT, game). Runs dos6.22 and I've had windows3.1 to prove it runs. Allison

28 years, 4 months

Nice Find

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Are you saying that a 486 is only faster than a 286 because of the <cache? No I'm saying without the cache is run as slow as a 286! The reson is it has to wait for ram data at the ram data rates. That's 70ns in my 486 and the faster 286s used 80ns ram so the end up running about the same speed. The cache is to allow near continious reading fo ram data even when the processor is not reading in in advance of need. By doing that and using fast page read mode data can be fed to the cpu to support the higher speed. <>Funny I have unix v7 running on a PDP11 with only 256kb of ram. it can <be done. <Isn't v7 the latest UNIX distribution? No. It's PDP-11 circa 1980ish. It was followed later by 2.9bsd and 2.11bsd. <I once had an old 386 with a 20MB MFM hard drive and 2MB RAM. Windows <ran OK, but Word 2.0 ran very poorly. Strange that I've never seen <3.0. Is it rare? Not so much rare as short lifetime between it'release and 3.1s release. <Actually, Windows 3.0 came with a copy of MS-DOS executive, the <precursor to the program manager, while 3.1 didn't. That's not Funny my copy of 3.0 has program manager. MSDOS executive is a different tool. It compete against Quarterdedk, and Norton commander. <have to disable it for Windows 95, which needs at least 7.0. I have <DOS 3.3, and it's a good DOS. If only it had MOVE...I can send anyone <who wants them some copies. I THINK I have four more boxes. Five are <already spoken for. I have 3.3, 5.0 and 6.22. Move from 5.0 runs under 3.3. Allison

28 years, 4 months

More cool stuff

by dastar＠wco.com

Well, today's hunting turned up some good stuff. A Tandy 100 with manual for $15. A compact Monolithic Systems rack-mount computer. It's multi-bus based with a Z-80 CPU. It came with complete manuals, an extender card, a dual 8" drive unit, and a couple 2716/2764 (or was that 2704/2716?) EPROM programmer cards. I also got the Teletype ASR-33 that was used with this system. It had a stand, a current loop to RS-232 converter, and the complete manual set (including service manuals). The complete setup for $45. I then happened upon an AIM 65 authentically mounted to a piece of plywood. This was an amazing find in that I got the original box with all the manuals and sales literature (with technical specs). This unit also came with the optional BASIC ROMs. The manuals included were: BASIC Language Reference Manual 8K BASIC Reference Card R6500 Hardware Manual R6500 Programming Manual R6500 Users Guide AUM-65 Summary Card Also in the box was a fold-out schematic for the AIM-65 and the warranty card. Much thanks to Frank McConnell & Company for not engaging me in a bidding war over this as we discovered it at the same time. I got this for $40. The same guy also had a very rare Morrow portable I'd been searching out for a long time. A local surplus shop has one but refuses to sell it to me because they claim all their original records were stored on it. No attempt at begging or coercion would get them to sell it to me, so it was nice to finally find one. Its a portable made by Morrow which runs CP/M. I think the model is a C3P. It has two 5.25" HH floppies and a funky-looking wide screen. The guy also threw in a complete run of BAMDUA (Bay Area Micro Decision User's Group) which was a newsletter for the Morrow Micro-Decision here in the Bay Area. Also a complete run of "Morrow Owner's Review", which was a Morrow magazine for users of the Micro-Decision. Oddly enough the magazine ceased publication as late as December 1987 (I would've thought it would have ceased well before that). I also got a photo-copied service manual for the Micro-Decision which is cool since I have a flaky MD-2 that needs attention. Plus a bunch of 5.25" disks, some books (Best of Micro Vol. II & III, Ciarca's Circuit Cellar Vol. III) and some Morrow and Kaypro marketing literature. This was another $39. I also got the Sept. 83 issue of Byte from which I culled these interesting tibits: The editorial on page 4 covered the issue of FAA regulations banning the use of portables on airline flights. I wonder when this ban was overturned? Its interesting in that it mirrors the same concern over cellular phones interfering with air-to-ground communications, all of which is a bunch of hooey. Page 12 had a letter from a reader concerned about the proliferation of mice as a pointing device. "I am sorry to see Apple, Visicorp, and possibly Microsoft jump onto the Xerox bandwagon and introduce a mouse into their new integrated computing software," he writes. "The mouse is an inherently bad pointing device for at least three reasons: it consumes one to two square feet of flat desk space; it requires users to move their hands one to two feet from the keyboard in order to point at a screen object; and, because the mouse is not in a fixed place relative to the keyboard, users must look away from their work to find the mouse whenever it is to be used." He then goes on to espouse the virtues of a trackball. Needless to say I'm sure this guy died off with CP/M :) In an article on portables, an inline quote says, "Any computer can be transportable if you have a big enough truck." Ladies & Gentlemen, finally a definition of "portable". Lastly, there's an article for an S-100 PC, of all things. IBM compatibility in an S-100 bus. The funny thing is the article promises "with its S100 bus expansion capability, your system will never be outdated." How ironic :) A couple other things I got included a Voice Processing module for the strange Convergent Technologies system I have ($1) and an 8080/8085 emulator (circa 1984) in a hard-shelled carrying case ($20). I managed to find room in the garage to store the new stuff, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out. You'd think a 3-car garage would hold more. I guess the pool table will have to go soon. Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass Coming Soon...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!

28 years, 4 months

ISA-PCI Conversion possible? (About MS's PC 98 Specs)

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

OK.. I've been thinking about this for a while. ISA's going to die, at least according to MS's PC '98 specs. Knowing how most designers comply to MS's hardware design, it looks like ISA's future is dim. Now, on top of all the old ISA cards I've collected, I just got an AWE 64, and my scanner and PCMCIA cards are ISA-based. So, is it possible to make a device that will make an ISA card fit into a PCI socket? Is anyone making them? Thanks, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 4 months

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