- test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org - classiccmp.org

by ISC277＠CLCILLINOIS.EDU

I'll take 50, I have a DEC RX02 I have no media for :( -----Original Message----- From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of SUPRDAVE at aol.com Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 8:22 PM To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: 8 inch floppies available I've just over 200 8inch floppy disks available for anyone interested. They're work disks from a paper company from 1985. All disks appear to be in good shape with no deterioration or mold that I can see from the random samples I looked at. Most are IBM brand. There's also some system master disks for an old XYCOM CP/M computer. Pay for shipping and you can add any extra if they're worth anything to you. Also got USCD p-system disks, Protem, some Micropro software with manuals and some original digital research master disks. I might keep these for bargaining purposes later.

21 years, 2 months

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Televideo Personal Mini

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

Anyone got one? What about just the software? I'd be interested in hearing from anyone that knows about or better yet has used this early multi-user system. __________________________________ Discover Yahoo! Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM and more. Check it out! http://discover.yahoo.com/online.html

21 years, 2 months

2
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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Simulated disk drive for RT-11? > From: "Jerome H. Fine" <jhfinexgs2 at compsys.to> > Date: Tue, 07 Jun 2005 20:37:27 -0400 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > >Allison wrote: > >>>Jerome Fine replies: >>> >>>As far as I understand, a 22 bit PDP-11/23 and all >>>PDP-11/73 systems use the same memory as the uVAX-I. >>>That would seem to indicate that the same backplane >>>can be used for either CPU in a BA23 box. As for a >>>uVAX-II, I can remember using the SAME box for BOTH >>>a PDP-11/73 and a uVAX-II system at least 5 years ago. >>> >>> >> >>There were Q22 and Q18. >> >>The CD side of the indicated backplanes were notably different. >>It's my uderstanding the uVAX-1 had a special backplane to >>accomodate non-PMI memory and there were some power wiring >>differences that were dangerous to AB wired cards. >> >>One BA23 I got has a Q22 with all slot pairs AB/CB wired Q22 >>in a serpentine pattern. >> >>All three BA23s came from internal to DEC. >> >Jerome Fine replies: > >That would explain the situation since no one else seems >to have ever seen a pure Q22 backplane for a BA23. It's possible, I've done it and it fits well. The Q22 18slot (M9275) is a nice backplane for non-PMI based systems. >Since I can use a BA23 box with a PDP-11/73 with BOTH >normal memory below the CPU and PMI memory above the >CPU (actually, it can even be the same memory), the >uVAX-I should also be able to do so as well. However, >for a pure Q22 backplane will all slots wired AB /AB >(I presume that is what you really meant to write), Yep. >PMI memory would not be possible for the PDP-11/83. >I presume that would also preclude a uVAX-II which I >assume also needs AB / CD slots as well. Yes to that as well. >On the other hand, if all the slots were wired as >AB / CD as in an BA213 box (is BA213 correct - that >would be for a uVAX-III) which has only AB / CD, the >PDP-11/73 should also work along with the PDP-11/83 Yes and mVII as well. Though you forget the AB/CD, AB/AB mix of the BA123. >although I have never hear of anyone using these >boxes for PDP-11 CPUs since they require different >boards which likely are not available to be used with >the PDP-11 in most cases. Tony, do you have a UVAX-III >box or can anyone else comment? Never saw a BA213 with a other than a uVAX. >Note that a BA11-S box is a 22 bit 4 * 9 backplane and >wired AB / CD for all 9 Qbus slots. One of these years >I will try using a PDP-11/83 and PMI memory to test >the situation. M9275 18 AB slots (ab/ab), M9276 9ab/cb slots. That works. However I have BA-11S and BA11Ns with a mix of oddball non standard backplanes of my doing. Most are the H9275 type and do watch the backplane jumpers. The BA11N boxes are actually hybrids of 11S and I only do Qbus 11s. I have: H11 KD11-L in Heath backplane with serial and 16k ram 11/2 KD-11 (with eis/fis)in H9281-AB 8slot AB (dual width) 11/23 KDF-11 on 9281-AC 12slot AB (11/23 overclocked, (4)8059 256kram, DLV11J, RQDX3, RX33, RD52, VK170/LK02) 11/23 KDF-11A in a BA11VA 11/23 KDF-11B in a modded BA-11S 11/23 KDF-11B with Hardware FPU (M8189) in BA-11S 11/73 KDJ-11A in modded BA-11N Never mind having at least one of every backplane used for Qbus 11s in BA-11 or BA23. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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IMSAI Score update/Spare BYTEs/Got an Altair too

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

At 08:29 04/06/2005 -0700, you wrote: >On Fri, 3 Jun 2005, Dave Dunfield wrote: > >> >> >OK, I pulled the front panel appart tonight and I found out that whoever >> >> >owned this model colored the silkscreen with magic marker. Bogus! >> >> > >> >> >Anyway, I can get a new photomask from Todd Fischer for $20. Well worth >> >> >it. >> >> >> >> I was afraid of that ... Although it's good that you can get a replacement, >> >> keeping it all original has merit as well - depending on the marker used, >> >> you might be able to carefully remove it. Try a Q-tip with some whiteboard >> >> cleaner and move up to stronger solutions as required. >> > >> >Oh for ****'s sake. >> > >> >How is cleaning off the ink any different from replacing the strip? You >> >just said, "keeping it all original has merit as well". I guess attacking >> >it with whiteboard cleaner is not considered a modification to the >> >original? >> >> I don't recall using the verb "attack" ... if he's lucky, the marker used was >> a soluable one, and it will clean up nicely with no damage to the original >> strip - if you can do that, then why not clean it up and keep it all original. >> As Rich noted in a later message, the replacement he can get is not identical >> to the original... >> >> Have you never cleaned up a computer that you really wanted to restore to >> original condition? > >You never defined "original condition". This could mean the condition it >was in when it left the factory, or the condition it was in when it left >the nth generation owner. > >At any rate, this is all getting a bit nazi. If Rich wanted to saw it in >half so he could display the innards then that would be his perogative. I'm sorry, but I really don't know what your problem is with my postings. Rich's asking on the list how to fix the IMSAI logo seemed like enough evidence to me that he wants it visible like when it left the factory and not blacked-out as done by the previous owner (he would not have had to ask how to keep it blacked out as it was already done). Are you suggesting that I am a Nazi for giving my opinion that there is merit in keeping the original artwork if it is reasonably possible instead of replacing it (which he had indicated that he was considering). At no time on any of my postings did I attempt to coerce Rich into doing anything (or not doing anything) with his machine that he didn't want to do - I simply gave my suggestions and opinions in response to his inquiry. I was unaware that this would cause a problem. How does one determine what suggestions and opinions are considered acceptable to this list? >> Obviously any cleanup should be attempted with great care, and if it's not >> going to work, then by all means get the replacement, and keep the original >> in a safe place.... but that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least investigate >> restoring the original first. > >Everything has a story. You have to decide if you are going to continue >writing the story where the last guy left off by removing the ink or >considering it complete and leaving the computer as is. Rich decided to >continue the story. Yes, thats how I understood his postings, which is why I offered what I considered to be helpful suggestions to that end. Just recently, a thread went by where opinions were given as to the merit of keeping original screws in machine - I don't recall anyone bashing the person with that option - how is it different to discuss the options in replacing or not replacing front panel artwork? ... In other words, what did I do to incur the "Wrath of Sellam"? (hey, we could make a movie with that for a title!) Enough already. If I touched on a sore spot, I do apologize - I had no intention of getting anyone upset, I just wanted to assist in the restoration of one of my favorite 8080 machines. I will not further clutter the list with this matter, however I will respond to email if you would like to continue the discussion. Regards, Dave -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 2 months

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Dec boards- what are they?

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jun 7 2005, 8:56, Tom Peters wrote: > I figured out what most of my stray DEC boards are-- DLV11 and such. These > two baffle me. One might not even be a Q-Bus board like the rest. > > Mystery board #1: > > Pull-tab numbers: M7721 (Magenta) [ .. ] > Terminator? For what? It's cut for Q-Bus, but it's short. Boards for Omnibus, Unibus, Q-bus, etc are all built to the same basic dimensions, so you cazn't tell that way. As it happens, that board is none of the above. It's part of the internal logic of an LA30 (Decwriter). > Mystery board #2: > > Unpopulated (except for U8, the only 28 pin IC on board, a Motorola > MC3242A) in other words, empty sockets. Most of the sockets are 14 or 16 > pin, except for one 8-pin. 16 of the 16 pin sockets are laid out in two > neat rows, which makes me think of memory. There's voltage inverter or > charge-pump type chip at U20. > Markings: Solder side: "Copyright 1978 by Heath Company" "85-2195" "100478" > Component side: "81-2195-3" and "ADDRESS SELECTION" next to 8 jumper pads. > Gotta be a Q-Bus memory card, right? Yes it is. It's for an H-11 system. That MC3242A is a refresh counter and address multioplexer for 4116 DRAMs. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

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HP 5181A (based on 9915) on eBay - what does it do though???

by john_a_s2004＠hotmail.com

Hi, There is an HP 5181A currently on eBay for $50: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7521170381 This looks to be exactly the same as the HP 9915A (ie the industrial version of the HP 85A, part of the series 80), with the tape interface but sadly no operator interface (ie no video out and keyboard connector). I guess it has some special software on EPROM though. Has anyone on this list any info on using this machine, I can't see from the photos for example how it connects to the X-Y display it is attached to for example. Thanks, John _________________________________________________________________ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger 7.0 today! http://messenger.msn.co.uk

21 years, 2 months

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OT: RE: Apple Goes Intel...

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Steven N. Hirsch" <shirsch at adelphia.net> > >On Wed, 8 Jun 2005, Jules Richardson wrote: > >> On Wed, 2005-06-08 at 07:36 -0400, Steven N. Hirsch wrote: >> >> > self-virtualize seamlessly, how long will it take for someone to hack up a >> > "preboot" supervisor layer which will support OS X on a garden-variety PC? >> >> Have Apple said that they're going to run on PC-like hardware? I >> *thought* their only comittment was to x86 chips and that nothing's been >> said about system bus, support chips or other architecture. In which >> case there might be substantial differences between Apple hardware and a >> cruddy PC that'd mean a big rewrite / bodge of a lot of the OS to get it >> to work. > >Ah, but that's the point of virtualization. The environment can be setup >to look like something quite different from the actual hardware. Also, if >Apple is really aggressively looking at cost savings, they'll be likely to >use the Intel north and south bridge chipsets. Unless they plan on >custom asics galore, there's a bound to how "different" the hardware can >look. > >Steve > > Hi A little commercial: Intel specs their chip as an average power consumption while AMD ( where I work ) specs the maximum power at for the low power parts. Still, there is a lot of room for improvement in both Intel's and our products. The chipsets are quite different and would require different motherboards. Just a point to notice. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

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Rescue of data from Pioneer 10 & 11 tapes at JPL needed. Vintage computers slated for demolition.

by whdawson＠localisps.net

I came across this very interesting, on topic story about the detection of an anomalous acceleration, the need to recover data which "exists on a few hundred ancient 7- and 9-track magnetic tapes", and the imminent scrapping of the original computers at: http://www.planetary.org/news/2005/pioneer_anomaly1_0510.html A snippet from the article: "With the spacecraft now silent, we cannot expect future data, so we must look to the past. In fact, there are hundreds of tapes containing data taken before 1987, when the spacecraft were between 10 and 40 AU from the Sun. This data from the time the Pioneers were still in the midst of this planetary realm could be crucial to solving the anomaly. Unfortunately, this data is stored on hundreds of ancient nine-track tapes, now lodged under a staircase at JPL. The tapes can only be read by equally ancient computers, giants compared to modern machines, which are slated for demolition. We must transfer this data to more modern media readable by up-to-date computers, but time is running out." Are there any list members interested in assisting in the transfer of this data to "more modern media"? Does anyone know what the "ancient computers" are and if a rescue of them from destruction is feasible? Regards, Bill Dawson http://www.swtpc.com whdawson

21 years, 2 months

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Apple Goes Intel...

by cb＠mythtech.net

>My personal prediction is that we'll see copies of OS X that run on a >normal PC >in less than a year after introduction. (Note I didn't say if those copies >would be legal or not.) My gut feeling is, Apple knows this, expects it, and may not try to really stop it. They can't make a direct attack on Windows, they will loose. But, if they release Intel based Macs with OS X designed to only run on it, and the pirate world happens to hack a copy, and some hard core people end up getting it and running it on generic PC hardware, all Apple gets is an increase in OS market share. The people that are going to go thru the effort to find, download, and do whatever is needed to get OS X to run on generic hardware aren't likely to have been buying a Mac anyway. So Apple doesn't loose sales to these people. What they gain is an insight to how well OS X may fair against Windows. Also, some of those people may like it enough to buy a Mac, or like it enough to tell their friends, who may in turn buy a Mac. Apple makes sales, and doesn't really loose any, and either way the OS market share increases, more people use it, and more people develop for it. If OS X on generic PCs become popular, then the pirates will cause the market share to increase. If it gets to a critical level, Apple can then decide to release OS X on its own and they will be at a market share point to go against Windows. If they never get to that point, then they never have to release a stand alone version. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

21 years, 2 months

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Compaq DOS 3.31

by dieymir＠yahoo.es

Hi! I'm looking for a copy of Compaq DOS 3.31 rev. G (circa 1990) Anybody has this at hand ?? TIA. ______________________________________________ Renovamos el Correo Yahoo! Nuevos servicios, m?s seguridad http://correo.yahoo.es

21 years, 2 months

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Apple Goes Intel...

by cb＠mythtech.net

>I am glad for this announcement, only because I can finally talk about OS >X on >intel... as I saw it running over 7 years ago. 7-year NDAs suck :-) Apple's early seeds of OS X had an Intel verison. Ran on standard PCs. I still have my copy kicking around here somewhere. I ran it for a short while. Of course, back then there was really nothing that ran on it. Classic didn't exist yet. Apple's original roadmap for OS X included the "Yellow Box" which was supposed to be an Intel version with Intel based OS compatability. Think Classic but for Windows apps. It also never came about. I suspect it may finally be heading that direction. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

21 years, 2 months

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Apple Goes Intel...

by Richard.Cini＠wachovia.com

I for one am happy. I've wanted to Try OSX as a replacement for Windows but I didn't want to spend the $$$ on Apple hardware...not because it's better or worse than PC-compatible hardware but because I have a ton of current PC stuff. I've toyed with buying a Mac Mini, but it's still $500. I've dabbled with Linux but I would feel better if there was a substantial company behind it. OSX is better integrated and has a lot of right-brain features that my wife and kids would like. For $129 I'd take a flyer and commit one of my spare PCs to it. I couldn't totally divorce myself from Windows but I would at least like some options. I'm sure this is a sentiment shared by many, which, besides all of the economics behind parts sourcing for manufacturing, is a good reason for Apple to do it. Rich -----Original Message----- From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of O. Sharp Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 10:24 PM To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Apple Goes Intel... I don't know if this is bad news or even worse news, but for those who haven't heard yet: "At its Worldwide Developer Conference today, Apple announced plans to deliver models of its Macintosh computers using Intel microprocessors by this time next year, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007. Apple previewed a version of its critically acclaimed operating system, Mac OS X Tiger, running on an Intel-based Mac to the over 3,800 developers attending..." http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/jun/06intel.html I think most of the eggs are in one basket now, and not a very reliable basket at that. :( Opinions? -O.-

21 years, 2 months

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3 small DEC books

by birs23＠zeelandnet.nl

The following are available : - The DECmate Family Handbook - PDP-11 Systems Handbook - Guide to Information Systems, A Framework for Success These are all the same format, its those small Digital books about various topics. Think I have a few more but have to look em up. If interested let me know. Stefan. ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.oldcomputercollection.com

21 years, 2 months

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VT100 Keyboard

by birs23＠zeelandnet.nl

Was someone in here looking for a VT100 Keyboard ? I still have one. Stefan. ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.oldcomputercollection.com

21 years, 2 months

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IMSAI 8080 Processor Card?

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Martin Scott Goldberg" <wgungfu at csd.uwm.edu> > >I'm looking for an IMSA8080 main processor card if anyone has one they're >willing to part with. Have a recovered IMSAI that's just missing the main >card. > > >Marty > Hi Marty Many of the original 8080 processor cards were replaced by newer Z80 cards. One can recognize these by the fact that they have a 16 pin dual inline socket ( looking like a missing IC ). This connected the data bus of the processor directly to the front panel. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

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Anyone here in lower Wisconsin?

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

I've just started back to work for the University of Wisconsin, putting me in Madison for the summer before I set out in October for _another_ year at the Pole. In the meantime, I was curious how many listmembers were in Wisconsin. ISTR someone here is up in Appleton, but I can't remember who that is. Not sure if anyone else is in the area or not, so I thought I'd just give a shout. I hauled along my 1802 kits (among other junque) in anticipation of getting things ready for VCF-Midwest next month. One fun thing I picked up right before I left town was a short stack of Elf frontpanels, custom milled for me out of 3/16" ABS... a friend of the families owns a business that happens to have a CNC machine, and they happen to mill plastic stock. I approached him for some scrap stock, and he gets interested enough to machine out a dozen switch holes _with_ locator notches (the holes look kinda like a silhouette of the Commodore chicken-head logo, but that's fine - the notches work *great* at keeping the switches from turning in the holes). I look forward to mounting one on my Spare Time Gizmos Elf 2000. Now I just need to sit down and make a final list of parts I _don't_ have on hand and finish assembly. So if anyone is within striking distance of Madison, give me a shout offline and maybe we can get together while I'm in the area. -ethan

21 years, 2 months

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Paging Michael Schneider

by jcwren＠jcwren.com

Michael, I am trying to get ahold of you to return the MC14500B book you loaned me, but the ms at vaxcluster.de address is rejecting email. Could you please email me your mailing address? Thanks, --jc

21 years, 2 months

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cctech Digest, Vol 22, Issue 10

by hatfield＠bellsouth.net

> Message: 5 > Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 15:07:16 -0700 (PDT) > From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> > Subject: 8' DSDD disk was: PC speed was Re: 8' DSDD disk > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Message-ID: <20050606150540.M66892 at shell.lmi.net> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > > On Mon, 6 Jun 2005, Randy McLaughlin wrote: >> As far as the 8' disks I always had to get a couple of buddies to help >> change disks, the real bitch was the lock down bar or was that holding >> down >> the shift key when typing ;-} > > ... but the 8' FLOPPY disk could be folded a few dozen times to fit in > your pocket I had a helluva time getting past that 7th fold!..... Fred K8VDU

21 years, 2 months

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Compaq DOS 3.31

by James＠jdfogg.com

> I'm looking for a copy of Compaq DOS 3.31 rev. G (circa 1990) > Anybody has this at hand ?? I have the Compaq disks that come with a Portable III, I think it's DOS 3.31. I also have the Compaq diag disk to set the BIOS in the Portable III and other models. I need to dupe these disks anyways, I can make a set for you too. I need to install a 5 1/4 disk in a modern machine first. Now the big question.... Can I still buy 5 1/4 disk blanks? And do you need 5 1/4 or 3 1/2? OR - can you use a dd copy (disk image) that will allow you to make your own? ---- There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

21 years, 2 months

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Whats this Correx thingie ?

by birs23＠zeelandnet.nl

Does anybody know what this is : http://www.oldcomputercollection.com/Dscf0009.jpg ? It says Correx, Swiss Made and Centi Newton, Gramm Pound Stefan. ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.oldcomputercollection.com

21 years, 2 months

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Apple Goes Intel...

by Richard.Cini＠wachovia.com

Yes, indeed IBM is a substantial company. But I'm not buying an IBM PC with Linux installed -- I have an installed base of Windows PCs at home. I wouldn't be buying it because I like Intel or the X86 architecture over the PPC architecture. I'm buying it because I'm tired of Windows. I, like lots of others, get my Linux distributions through downloads from Fedora, Mandrake, etc. yes, they're easier to install and configure than before, but there's something about the slickness of OSX and the support of Apple that would make me switch. I think I would be just as comfortable if I could purchase Linux from IBM for a single desktop without having to buy it preinstalled on IBM hardware. Apple's product is more polished and has lots of well-integrated featured that everyone in my family could love. Maybe I'm uninformed, which is possible because I don't follow Linux too closely. However, this is all academic if they don't make a PC-compatible version (which as previously noted != X86 version ). Rich -----Original Message----- From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Paul Koning Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 10:31 AM To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: RE: Apple Goes Intel... >>>>> "Richard" == Richard Cini <Cini> writes: Richard> I've dabbled with Linux but I would feel better if there was Richard> a substantial company behind it. ... Um, last I looked IBM was a pretty substantial company. paul

21 years, 2 months

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8" DSDD disk

by swtpc6800＠comcast.net

Here is the World's Largest Floppy Disk Drive. (Over 100 feet.) http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/Creative_Computing/Large_Disk.htm Michael Holley

21 years, 2 months

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Attenton, Commodore fans!

by news＠computercollector.com

Robert Bernardo - prez of the Fresno Commodore Users Group - wrote a thorough report on the recent LUCKI Commodore Spring Expo. Check it out - see the "events" link on the CCN homepage at http://news.computercollector.com - enjoy! ----------------------------------------- Evan Koblentz's personal homepage: http://www.snarc.net Also see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midatlanticretro/ *** Tell your friends about the (free!) Computer Collector Newsletter - 740 readers and no spam / Publishes every Monday / Write for us! - Mainframes to videogames, hardware and software, we cover it all - W: http://news.computercollector.com E: news at computercollector.com

21 years, 2 months

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Coco variations (was: Proper name for Tandy Color Computer?

by nospam212-cctalk＠yahoo.com

Yes I have one of those Tandy "Videotext" terminals. Mine came with a brown leather carrying case. The terminal is indeed silver with the chicklet keys. I'd have to go pull it up but it looked like a coco 1 to me but has a Videotext label on it IIRC. Since I don't have access to anything that would work with it I've never tried it out. --- Roger Merchberger <zmerch at 30below.com> wrote: > Rumor has it that Fred Cisin may have mentioned > these words: > >IIRC, Tandy also made a "Vidoetext" terminal that > was in a white version > >of the Coco 1 case. > > Not necessarily -- the one I saw at Dayton was in a > silver case w/chicklet > keys... > > However, it was 1) pretty beat up, and 2) too > expensive, so I didn't pick > it up. > > Ah well... ;-) > > Laterz, > Roger "Merch" Merchberger > > -- > Roger "Merch" Merchberger | A new truth in > advertising slogan > SysAdmin, Iceberg Computers | for MicroSoft: "We're > not the oxy... > zmerch at 30below.com | > ...in oxymoron!" > >

21 years, 2 months

1
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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Simulated disk drive for RT-11? > From: Kevin Handy <kth at srv.net> > Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 11:06:25 -0600 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >David Betz wrote: > >> Or maybe I should just run simh... I'm not really a hardware guy anyway! >> >You could make one like DEC used to: Take an 8-slot backplane, and >fill in four of the slots with epoxy. You now have a 4 slot backplane. Yes but can you fit that in a 4.25x13x12 box with power supply? That's a BA11-VA, aka shoebox. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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homebrew computer on slash dot still "slashdotted" and other ramblings

by wmaddox＠pacbell.net

--- jim stephens <jwstephens at msm.umr.edu> wrote: > I don't know if the owner of the site is here, but I > was interested in a > TTL > machine that could run a tcp/ip stack, and what sort > of design it was. > > The only other member of the webring is here > > http://members.iinet.net.au/~daveb/simplex/simplex.html There were actually half a dozen or so sites on the webring the last time I looked. Perhaps most of them have been slashdotted as well. :( The www.homebrewcpu.com guy is Bill Buzbee. He used to work at my company, and was one of my interviewers when I joined. A nice guy, and very much a software guy, which makes it that much more cool what he's done. Although Bill's machine is running the fanciest software of the machines on the webring, Jim Doran's machine is a rather close competitor: http://timefracture.org/D16.html Jim used CMOS, but the D16 hews to a similar old-school design philosophy, and has a similarly beautiful and over-the-top front panel. --Bill

21 years, 2 months

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homebrew computer on slash dot still "slashdotted" and other ramblings

by jwstephens＠msm.umr.edu

I don't know if the owner of the site is here, but I was interested in a TTL machine that could run a tcp/ip stack, and what sort of design it was. Since being in a slash dot posting, the web site was unreachable, so I decided to hunt for it on archive.org. The site was last archived in sept 2004 and doesnt have what sounds like the slashdot article talked about, but did have a webring link at the bottom. The only other member of the webring is here http://members.iinet.net.au/~daveb/simplex/simplex.html and is about a computer built 20 years ago by Dave Brooks', and has some interesting references to old machines in it, besides being also composed of 7400 series ttl. This exercise pointed to an os, ported to run on the commodore 64, pico]os, as well as the tiny tcp stack this article referenced. I am interested in these, since these efforts would make possible some bridges into the current technology by other than rs232 ports, and allow for such things as having remote access to ancient media, if possible, and so forth, on modern systems. I am lucky that I concentrated on saving and preserving 9 track 1/2 inch tapes for all I did, and have already read them. A lot of what people did though is not on such nice media. Jim

21 years, 2 months

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Coco variations (was: Proper name for Tandy Color Computer?

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>Rumor has it that Fred Cisin may have mentioned these words: >>IIRC, Tandy also made a "Vidoetext" terminal that was in a white version >>of the Coco 1 case. > >Not necessarily -- the one I saw at Dayton was in a silver case w/chicklet >keys... I found it in the 1983 Standard catalog, and the 1984 Radio Shack "Computers" Catalog - the Videotex Terminal shown in the Catalogs is the silver CoCo case with the chicklet keys. It does not appear in the 1984 standard Catalog. I also have a correction to make, the white 64K CoCo (1) DOES appear in both the standard 1984 Catalog and the 1984 "TRS-80 Computers" catalog - it is the last CoCo shown, AFTER the CoCo2, and the photo is at such a perspective that it is not obvious that the case is deeper - however the vent. holes are different on the CoCo1 (along the sides at the top) and the CoCo2 (across the top), and once I looked closer, I realized this is actally the white CoCo1 - Although the text mentions "Color Computer 2 disk system and other peripherals", the machine is actually called "54K Color Computer" - NOT "Color Computer 2" as is indicated in the previous pages depicting the CoCo2. It is also more expensive that the CoCo2's shown $599 .vs. $349 and $459 (Canadian prices) - presumably because it has 64K of RAM and includes the Extended BASIC - for all these reasons, I just assumed it was the top end CoCo2 - but it's actually the "white CoCo1". A 64K RAM option was not offered in the 1983 Catalog (Silver machines), but a 64K upgrade for "existing 4k, 16k or 32k Color Computers" was offered in the 1984. The only CoCo1 offered in 1984 is the white 64k machine. Regards, Dave Now... if I could just find a MC-10 "Micro Color Computer"... -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 2 months

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Rescued Items Redux

by technobug＠comcast.net

Stopped by my favorite liquidator to go over a new load of goodies that they just got in. While waiting for a new load to be dropped off I spent some time going through the board bin and found the following: 21867200 Real Time Display Model 13414 21291200 Control Assy 2129130 21986100G 4 Ch Digitizer Assy 2198620 21887200 Address Card Assy 2188730 21295000 C Diagnostic Assy Assy 212951 21283000 ALU Assy 2128310 21243700 Input Processor Assy 2124380 21389500 Arithmetic Processor Model 13403 21154700U SA/SD DDR1 Assy 2115450 21979500E SA/SD DDR2 Assy 2197960 21076900N Local Memory Assy 2107700 22015500 I/O Assy 2201560 DR11-B MDB Systems All look like DEC Unibus boards: they have the DEC metal spine, but without the model/module number that I'm used to nor do they have the DEC logo on the board. However, they do have the DEC quality. Does anyone have any idea what they are for and is there any interest in them. If so, I'll get the folks to put them on Vintage Computer Marketplace. I've also dug up a bunch of what appears to be PDP11 type stuff: M7651 DRV11-WA Bootstrap 27513A - Universal MM-4500C Memory Micro Memory, Inc. 30032800 ?? GTSC 703185 Plessey Peripheral Sys. 705035 Plessey 61407787 DQ614 S DILOG disk controller M8186 KDF11 18012 Marked 11/03 - Universal 27171A ECCC Run/Halt control - Univeral They will be posted to VCM. Also found myself a quad TMS320C40 DSP PCI card - YEH!! CRC

21 years, 2 months

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[SPAM] - Re: Simulated disk drive for RT-11? - Sending mail serverfound on relays.ordb.org

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: [SPAM] - Re: Simulated disk drive for RT-11? - Sending mail serverfound on relays.ordb.org > From: "Jerome H. Fine" <jhfinexgs2 at compsys.to> > Date: Tue, 07 Jun 2005 10:27:42 -0400 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > >Allison wrote: > >>>>On Jun 6 2005, 22:46, Allison wrote: >>> >>> >>>>Note there were differenet backplanes used in the BA23 those >>>>that were compatable with uVAX-1, those that were uVAX-II >>>>and the microPDP-11. Use the wrong one with the desired CPU >>>>and bad results happen. >>>> >>>I've never seen more than one type of backplane in a BA23, and only one >>>is listed in my manuals: H9278-A. It's compatible with all of >>>microPDP-11, uVAX-I and uVAX-II without so much as a jumper change. >>>Are you thinking of something else? >>> >>No, I have a few too. I have this thing for aquiring odd systems. >> >> >Jerome Fine replies: > >As far as I understand, a 22 bit PDP-11/23 and all >PDP-11/73 systems use the same memory as the uVAX-I. >That would seem to indicate that the same backplane >can be used for either CPU in a BA23 box. As for a >uVAX-II, I can remember using the SAME box for BOTH >a PDP-11/73 and a uVAX-II system at least 5 years ago. There were Q22 and Q18. The CD side of the indicated backplanes were notably different. It's my uderstanding the uVAX-1 had a special backplane to accomodate non-PMI memory and there were some power wiring differences that were dangerous to AB wired cards. One BA23 I got has a Q22 with all slot pairs AB/CB wired Q22 in a serpentine pattern. All three BA23s came from internal to DEC. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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kdj11-a in an 18 bit backplane?

by brad＠heeltoe.com

as long as we're talking about rt-11 :-) Can I put a KDJ11-A (M8192-YB) in an 18 bit backplane? I have a mini backplane (8 slots) but I'm sure it's not 22 bit. I was curious if I could put it that backplane with some memory for a quick test... (I suspect the answer is no, but I thought i'd ask) -brad

21 years, 2 months

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Apple goes Intel...and the future!

by cmurray＠eagle.ca

Apple sees the writing on the proverbial wall I'm afraid to say. So sad. Longhorn + 64 bits and dual processing are coming. Linux is second. Where does Apple fit in? Does this also mean innovation is dead? Hardly. To be different today in a multi-billion dollar industry or almost trillion dollar one that microcomputers are is a price Apple seems unwilling to pay or more accurately its shareholders.More to the point is Apple better? Is the cost premium worth it? What about the developing world and its thirst for inexpensive computers? I do not believe Apple was willing to lose out on the future. Murray-- Message: 2 Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 19:23:33 -0700 (PDT) From: "O. Sharp" <ohh at drizzle.com> Subject: Apple Goes Intel... To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.44.0506061916360.30247-100000 at drizzle.com> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII I don't know if this is bad news or even worse news, but for those who haven't heard yet: "At its Worldwide Developer Conference today, Apple announced plans to deliver models of its Macintosh computers using Intel microprocessors by this time next year, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007. Apple previewed a version of its critically acclaimed operating system, Mac OS X Tiger, running on an Intel-based Mac to the over 3,800 developers attending..." http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/jun/06intel.html I think most of the eggs are in one basket now, and not a very reliable basket at that. :( Opinions? -O.- ------------------------------

21 years, 2 months

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S100 address buss troubleshooting

by rcini＠optonline.net

All: After verifying the power supply, I'm now starting to play with the system. I put in the CPU board (TDL Z80) and three 16k memory boards. Reading and writing data to memory seems to work, but frequently I'll get the A13 and A7 LEDs stuck ON. If I toggle RESET, the LEDs clear but on my first EXAMINE, A13 and A7 go on. Things I have not done yet: * loaded any programs or tried to verify memory fully * cleaned any board contacts If I pull one of the memory boards, the A7 problem goes away but A13 stays on all the time, leading me to believe that that issue is either on the CPU card or the front panel card. How does one troubleshoot a stuck-bit problem in these systems? I do have a 12-bit logic analyzer on a laptop (uses the parallel port) but I haven't pulled that out yet. Thanks. Rich Rich Cini Collector of classic computers Build Master for the Altair32 Emulation Project Web site: http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ /************************************************************/

21 years, 2 months

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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Simulated disk drive for RT-11? > From: David Betz <dbetz at xlisper.mv.com> > Date: Fri, 03 Jun 2005 14:20:56 -0400 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >Cool. Where do I get a BA11 4 slot box? It sounds like just what I >need. Anyone have one they'd like to sell (or trade for an 11/23 and >RX02 drive)? They are not very common, four slots were a tight fit to make a useable system. I have a one with a bad PS that I'm saving for repair parts for the good one. The one ugly fact was with all four slots filled with RAM and DLV11j plus CPU that meant every boot required entering by hand the TUboot. The alternate was CPU, two MXV11 one with TUboot rom. The nicest configuration is a BA23 deskside case as then you can put in a RQDX2/3 and have a floppy and a small (30mb) hard disk easily. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Simulated disk drive for RT-11? > From: David Betz <dbetz at xlisper.mv.com> > Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 15:24:52 -0400 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >Is there a description somewhere of all of the BA11-?? variants? It >seems that there are many of them and they are of various sizes and >shapes. In fact, I think that the cabinet my 11/23-AH is mounted in is >a BA11 of some sort (a BA11-AH maybe?) but it is nowhere near as small >as this BA11-VA that you describe. I've found various lists of QBus >modules on the net but no list of the various boxes that DEC produced. >Can someone point me to one? Don't know of one on line. I have the set "LSI-11 Systems Service Manuals" as my reference. >And, I'll repeat my question, does anyone have one of these small -11 >QBus boxes they'd like to sell or trade? It seems that the BA23 might >be a good choice as well. > >Thanks, >David Basically all of the BA11 boxes are rack sized and vary only in power supply, backplane configuration and some variation in front pannel. The BA-11-va is one of a few small boxes. Another choice is the BA23 in the floor standing case. Actually a BA11 rack box is only twice the size of the BA11-va and can be used as a desktop case. I've done this with the drives just sitting on top stealing power from the BA11 supply. The options of such a configuration are much greater due to larger backplane. I've seen one such done this way with a wood (Plywood) case surrounding a BA11-N and twice the height to allow a floppy and a RD52. Much smaller than a rack and still very useful. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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HP 5181A - how is it different to the HP 9915A?

by john.vc＠btinternet.com

Hi, I see there is an HP 5181A on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7521170381 This looks exactly the same as an HP 9915A (the industrial version the HP 85A, part of the series 80), does anyone know please what the differences are? Sadly this one does not have the console interface for a keyboard and screen, but I guess it has additional software. Also it is shown bolted to an OX-Y display, but as there are no leads there is no clue there. Any suggestions please? Regards, John

21 years, 2 months

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Catweasel Questions

by doc＠mdrconsult.com

I have a Catweasel MK1 (ISA) with a 360KB 5.25" drive attached. I'm looking at the docs and they mention reading Commodore 1541/1571 floppies. I have some 1541 floppies I'd like to archive, notably the INCA C128 CP/M distribution and a 1541 alignment disk. Has anybody used a PC Catweasel in DOS to read Commodore disks in an unmodified DSDD drive? Longterm I'd rather use the XE1541 cables and software, but I don't have time to make the cable right now. The Catweasel route would simplify things a lot. Doc

21 years, 2 months

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kdj11-a in an 18 bit backplane?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: kdj11-a in an 18 bit backplane? > From: Brad Parker <brad at heeltoe.com> > Date: Tue, 07 Jun 2005 15:10:40 -0400 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > >as long as we're talking about rt-11 :-) > >Can I put a KDJ11-A (M8192-YB) in an 18 bit backplane? > >I have a mini backplane (8 slots) but I'm sure it's not 22 bit. I was >curious if I could put it that backplane with some memory for a quick >test... (I suspect the answer is no, but I thought i'd ask) > >-brad No good reason not to. The only caveat is that your limited to 256k of memory. Me I just add the wires to the buss for Q22. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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Nascom 2 floppy drive usefulness...

by julesrichardsonuk＠yahoo.co.uk

Urgh. I can't decide whether to add a connector for a floppy disk to the connector panel on this Nascom 2 case that I'm building. I don't *have* a FDC board for it anyway, plus I only have a 2-slot backplane (at the moment; there's room in the box for 7 or 8 boards probably). I just can't decide whether to make the case connector panel with room for a floppy connector, with an actual connector but not hooked up to anything, or not bother designing it with even the space present (and a new connector panel will need to be made to add a suitable connector) Someone think for me :) Do Nascom 2 owners out there typically have an FDC board and use disks for everything, or do they just stick with the tape interface on the machine's CPU board? What's the maximum cable length for a floppy drive anyway? ps. On the keyboard front I've decided to go for a 25-way D connector, even though it seems like I could just about get away with a 15-pin one - there's lots of room above the keys on the keyboard to add a few status LEDs, switches etc. if some future owner wanted to do so, so having the potential capacity for an extra 9 lines to the keyboard might be handy... cheers :) Jules

21 years, 2 months

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Apple Goes Intel...

by dwight.elvey＠AMD.com

>From: "9000 VAX" <vax9000 at gmail.com> > >On 6/6/05, Liam Proven <lproven at gmail.com> wrote: >> On 6/7/05, O. Sharp <ohh at drizzle.com> wrote: >> >> > I think most of the eggs are in one basket now, and not a very reliable >> > basket at that. :( Opinions? >> >> It's a sad day; the end of an era. Every major computer platform in >> the world runs on the oldest, and arguably weakest and cruftiest, CPU >> architecture there is. CISC has won. > >CISC deserve it. CISC has compact code size, thus higher cache hit >rate. DEC will do better with faster VAX than with Alpha. Hi Thanks for making this point. Intel uses a RISC machine inside as does most any other serious processor company. They can do this because once past the bus bottleneck, one can use more bus width inside for speed while using a CISC coding outside for compaction. I predict that eventually, people will realize that they should be building a uP in every RAM chip. At that point, we may see a revival of the RISC engine visible to the programmer. Lets face it, right now, it is mostly a RAM chip with a processor, it is just that they call it a processor with RAM ( cache ) and not the other way around. > >vax, 9000 > >> >> New there really is only one battle left: Unix versus Windows. Windows >> 'Longhorn' versus OS X 10.5, 'Leopard'. The leftovers go to Linux, >> which is Unix anyway. So much for diversity. Although, it is most likely good for my company in the short term, it is most likely bad for computer development in the long run :( Dwight >> >> -- >> Liam Proven >> Home: http://welcome.to/liamsweb * Blog: http://lproven.livejournal.com >> AOL, Yahoo UK: liamproven * ICQ: 73187508 * MSN: lproven at hotmail.com >> >> > >

21 years, 2 months

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OT Re: Apple Goes Intel...

by marvin＠rain.org

My understanding is that the Pentium processor *is* a RISC processor with a CISC layer on top. Apparently Intel also offers a licensed library that allows access to the RISC capability. > IBM seems to be the one remaining major vendor of "worthwhile" > RISC-powered machines now, since Alpha has been getting squashed by > HPaq for a while now. > > Pat

21 years, 2 months

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Dec boards- what are they?

by tpeters＠mixcom.com

I figured out what most of my stray DEC boards are-- DLV11 and such. These two baffle me. One might not even be a Q-Bus board like the rest. Mystery board #1: Pull-tab numbers: M7721 (Magenta) Size: Small! regular 5-3/16 inches (132mm) width, but only 5 inches deep, including the fingers, not including the pull tabs. Contents: 4 transistor, some caps, resistors, small glass diodes, 14 ICs which all look to be 7400 series TTL-- counters, flip-flops, quad-NAND, etc Terminator? For what? It's cut for Q-Bus, but it's short. Mystery board #2: Unpopulated (except for U8, the only 28 pin IC on board, a Motorola MC3242A) in other words, empty sockets. Most of the sockets are 14 or 16 pin, except for one 8-pin. 16 of the 16 pin sockets are laid out in two neat rows, which makes me think of memory. There's voltage inverter or charge-pump type chip at U20. Markings: Solder side: "Copyright 1978 by Heath Company" "85-2195" "100478" Component side: "81-2195-3" and "ADDRESS SELECTION" next to 8 jumper pads. Gotta be a Q-Bus memory card, right? [Science] Never express yourself more clearly than you think. --Neils Bohr (1885-1962) --... ...-- -.. . -. ----. --.- --.- -... tpeters at nospam.mixcom.com (remove "nospam") N9QQB (amateur radio) "HEY YOU" (loud shouting) WEB ADDRESS http//www.mixweb.com/tpeters 43? 7' 17.2" N by 88? 6' 28.9" W, Elevation 815', Grid Square EN53wc WAN/LAN/Telcom Analyst, Tech Writer, MCP, CCNA, Registered Linux User 385531

21 years, 2 months

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Dec boards- what are they?

by a.carlini＠ntlworld.com

Tom Peters <tpeters at mixcom.com> wrote: >Mystery board #1: > Pull-tab numbers: M7721 (Magenta) M7721 CONTROL LOGIC A,(M7711 WITH BELL LOGIC) LA30,DOUBL M7711 CONTROL LOGIC A,LA30,DOUBLE So something to do with an LA30 maybe? HTH, Antonio ----------------------------------------- Email provided by http://www.ntlhome.com/

21 years, 2 months

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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Simulated disk drive for RT-11? > From: Pete Turnbull <pete at dunnington.u-net.com> > Date: Tue, 07 Jun 2005 08:11:42 +0100 (BST) > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >On Jun 6 2005, 22:46, Allison wrote: > >> Note there were differenet backplanes used in the BA23 those >> that were compatable with uVAX-1, those that were uVAX-II >> and the microPDP-11. Use the wrong one with the desired CPU >> and bad results happen. > >I've never seen more than one type of backplane in a BA23, and only one >is listed in my manuals: H9278-A. It's compatible with all of >microPDP-11, uVAX-I and uVAX-II without so much as a jumper change. > Are you thinking of something else? No, I have a few too. I have this thing for aquiring odd systems. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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Compaq Portable II in UK

by vcf＠siconic.com

Compaq Portable II available. See below. I have no further information. Please contact owner directly. Reply-to: Richard.Cole at southglos.gov.uk ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 14:10:28 +0100 From: Richard Cole <Richard.Cole at southglos.gov.uk> To: donate at vintage.org Subject: Compaq Portable II Are you interested in a Compaq portable 2 (sowing machine 80286 with 6" CRT green screen) Richard Cole -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

21 years, 2 months

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Dilog DQ3256 controller issues

by cheri-post＠web.de

Hi all, i've been given this controller long time ago, but until now, I've never been able to find some documentation or hints how to enter into the firmware resident menu. Does anybody have any hints, how to enter it? Better would be the docuemntation, of course, but configuring the controller for some standard (E-)SMD drives would be sufficent. The controller comes with the S-Box handles for QBus-VAXen. Thanks in advance for any help. Pierre __________________________________________________________ Mit WEB.DE FreePhone mit hoechster Qualitaet ab 0 Ct./Min. weltweit telefonieren! http://freephone.web.de/?mc=021201

21 years, 2 months

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Paul Allen's new PDP-10 website

by vcf＠siconic.com

http://www.pdpplanet.com/ -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

21 years, 2 months

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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jun 6 2005, 22:46, Allison wrote: > Note there were differenet backplanes used in the BA23 those > that were compatable with uVAX-1, those that were uVAX-II > and the microPDP-11. Use the wrong one with the desired CPU > and bad results happen. I've never seen more than one type of backplane in a BA23, and only one is listed in my manuals: H9278-A. It's compatible with all of microPDP-11, uVAX-I and uVAX-II without so much as a jumper change. Are you thinking of something else? -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

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Xebec/IBM Debug Address for Low-Level Format??

by marvin＠rain.org

I posted the Xebec debug commands to low-level the HD sometime in the last couple of months. Check the archives and they are most likely there. It is not a simple "go to" like the WD controllers, but rather a series of IIRC I/O commands issued to the controller. > I want to perform a low-level format on my Seagate ST-225 MFM hard drive - it has the Xebec (IBM) 1210 controller card. I cannot for the life of me remember the address to use in Debug. I know how to use Debug; I've done 100's of LL formats - just not in the last dozen years or so. Does Anybody remember?? Please email off-list. Thank you.... My HDD is working, I just want to set it up right from scratch. (In case anybody's wondering, I do a LL format on IDE drives before using them, too.) Bill Pileggi

21 years, 2 months

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Xebec/IBM Debug Address for Low-Level Format??

by wpileggi＠juno.com

I want to perform a low-level format on my Seagate ST-225 MFM hard drive - it has the Xebec (IBM) 1210 controller card. I cannot for the life of me remember the address to use in Debug. I know how to use Debug; I've done 100's of LL formats - just not in the last dozen years or so. Does Anybody remember?? Please email off-list. Thank you.... My HDD is working, I just want to set it up right from scratch. (In case anybody's wondering, I do a LL format on IDE drives before using them, too.) Bill Pileggi ___________________________________________________________________ Get Juno Platinum for as low as $4.97/month! Unlimited Internet Access with 250MB of Email Storage. Visit http://www.juno.com/half to sign up today!

21 years, 2 months

5
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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Simulated disk drive for RT-11? > From: "Jerome H. Fine" <jhfinexgs2 at compsys.to> > Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 19:26:16 -0400 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > >Ethan Dicks wrote: > >>>On 6/6/05, Kevin Handy <kth at srv.net> wrote: >> >> >>>You could make one like DEC used to: Take an 8-slot backplane, and >>>fill in four of the slots with epoxy. You now have a 4 slot backplane. >>> >>> >>Ahhhhgggg! Ever seen that with a BA123? Makes you cry... DEC didn't >>want their graphical workstations being converted to departmental >>server use, so they plugged up the extra holes in the backplane to >>prevent expansion. For a while, one could order a virgin backplane >>from spares, but they eventually caught on (then they stopped hosing >>workstation customers so much ;-) >> >>Fortunately, I've only ever seen it at a DECUS (DEC-owned demo >>machines); none of the machines I've worked with or personally owned >>were broken this way. >> >Jerome Fine replies: > >In the interest of proving that it was done (I >suppose that this is NOT proof that DEC did the >foul deed), I saved one of those backplanes from >an old BA23 box. As a matter of record, only the >last 3 slots have epoxy. If anyone wants the proof, >I will save it for you since it is about time to >toss it in the trash where it belongs. By the way, >as Antonio states below, this backplane is an 8 * 4 >slot from a BA23!!!!!!!! Maybe Ethan's finger slipped >and added an extra "1" after the "BA"????????????? >I can't see that DEC would have converted a BA123, >but I guess that DEC could have done anything at that. > >>Antonio Carlini wrote: > > >This was the (thankfully) short-lived VAXstation II/RC. The > >one I saw came in a BA23, not a BA123. There were companies > >around that would (allegedly) remove the epoxy (or whatever > >it was they used) and hence restore full functionality. > >Just so I could say I tried, I once spent a few >hours attempting to remove the epoxy - not a cost >effective use of my time. I suspect that these >companies were more likely to have either purchased >a replacement backplane or found a damaged BA23 >with a good backplane and removed the good backplane. Thats what FS did! Note there were differenet backplanes used in the BA23 those that were compatable with uVAX-1, those that were uVAX-II and the microPDP-11. Use the wrong one with the desired CPU and bad results happen. Allison

21 years, 2 months

1
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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Simulated disk drive for RT-11? > From: "Jerome H. Fine" <jhfinexgs2 at compsys.to> > Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 19:25:41 -0400 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > >David Betz wrote: > >Cool. Thanks! I wonder if it can boot RT-11? > >Jerome Fine replies: > >RT-11 can boot any device which looks like a >disk drive - for which there is also the boot >code in the device driver. Thus far I am not >aware of any such devices that do not have >the needed boot code, including the DD(X).SYS >device driver for the TU-58. > >There is, of course, ONE exception - the >LD(X).SYS device driver which is DEC's answer >in RT-11 for sub-directories. > >>Or maybe I should just run simh... I'm not really a hardware guy anyway! > >If you first want to become experienced with RT-11 >without all the hardware problems, then there are >several V05.03 RT-11 distributions available. One >of those distributions also includes all of the prior >RT-11 distributions. The file, RT11DV10.ISO.zip is at: >http://www.classiccmp.org/PDP-11/RT-11/dists/ >Note that you can actually boot the CD that can be >burned from RT11DV10.ISO (after you UnZip the file). >Or if you run SIMH, you can: >ATTACH RQ0: RT11DV10.ISO >SET RQ0: LOCK >BOOT RQ0: >to run V05.03 of RT-11. Of course, you can also legally >run under E11 if you purchase an RT-11 license from Mentec >for about $ US 900 (the latest price I have heard) and >perhaps the distribution kit for $ US 1600 (also the latest >I have heard). For hobby use, there is no charge for the >hobby use of E11. The E11 commands are: >MOUNT DU0: RT11DV10.ISO/RONLY >BOOT DU0: > >If you can use some help with running RT-11, please ask > >>And, I'll repeat my question, does anyone have one of these small -11 >>QBus boxes they'd like to sell or trade? It seems that the BA23 might >>be a good choice as well. > >If you really want to run on real DEC hardware, then >you obviously need some sort of disk drive as well. >Even a TU-58 needs additional space and the 4 * 4 >backplane is just too small to be really useful. The TU58 only wants a serial port. My 4board config: m8186 KDF-11A m8059 MSV-11LK (256kb) (Run XM use VM (192k ramdisk) m8043 DLV11J console, printer, modem and DD: m8021 MRV11-BA with TUboot roms >The BA23 box is probably a much better solution since >there is also space for 2 * 5 1/4" drives and the power >to run them. An M7555 RQDX3 and an RX50 floppy is >probably two orders of magnitude better than a TU-58. >A hard disk drive might be a bit more difficult, although >an old ST412 at 10 MBytes looks like (actually is) an >RD51. The BA23 is bearly 30" deep. Using RQDX2/3 controller with the disti pannel from a BA123 allows RD50/51/52/53 drives and RD52s (31mb are easy to find and likely good if you find one) plus Either RX50 or RX33(teac FD55GFV) which is easier find as it was used in PCs. The upside of a larger box is that with any disk or even TU58 you can have a better cpu (11/23b with boot roms) more ram up to 4mb and any device that you wish for IO. RT-11 XM with the VM driver in 1mb or more of ram is a slick system as you can copy everything to VM: (RAM disk) and boot it making it extremely fast. and even as little as 256kb of ram is very usable as a base RT system fits in less than 200k of disk. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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MDS CDC Disk Drive Documentation

by rsnats＠bellsouth.net

One of the CDC 9404, PN 75744025 8" floppy drives in my MDS-800 is have a problem becoming "Ready". I swapped drives and it is the drive. Does anyone have a maintenance manual or any documentation on this drive or the cabling to the MDS. Bob

21 years, 2 months

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heathkit H17

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

Forgot to post it.... the Heathkit H-17 floppy drive was claimed! No interest in the HP3K ATP part, so it was pitched. Jay

21 years, 2 months

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MDS CDC Disk Drive Documentation

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "xyz" <rsnats at bellsouth.net> > >Thanks Randy. > >Themanual at the web site is for a 9404-B. It has a lot of helpful >information, but the printed circuit board is more modern. I have traced >out some of the circuitry and it appears the even the pinouts from the 50 >pin connector do not match those of the 9404-B. That surprised me. > >Bob Hi Bob I was just thinking. They used a lot of one-shots for things like drive ready. I suspect that it has a one-shot connected to the index detect. You might look at the index signal to see if it look good and also check to see if there are any of those axial lead tantalums next to one-shot IC's. These old tantalums tend to fail over time. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

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Things to do in Minneapolis?

by ljw-cctech＠ljw.me.uk

I'm going for a 1-week business trip to Minneapolis next week, and seeing as it was (is?) the supercomputer centre of the world I thought there might be something worth seeing? One place I probably won't be able to get to is Chippewa Falls; I arrive Saturday afternoon and the museum there isn't open on Sunday. If I do get a morning or afternoon off it will be my preferred destination. Any suggestions, or will I have to be happy with the Mall of America or The-largest-ball-of-twine-in-the-world-made-by-one-person ? LJW -- Lawrence Wilkinson lawrence at ljw.me.uk The IBM 360/30 page http://www.ljw.me.uk/ibm360

21 years, 2 months

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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by dbetz＠xlisper.mv.com

I have a device that plugs into a serial port on a PC and looks like a disk drive to an Atari 800. Is there such a thing for RT-11? It seems like it should be possible to write a disk driver that uses a serial port and some sort of serial protocol to communicate with a PC and make RT-11 think it is accessing a local disk drive. Has anyone done anything like that? I have a PDP-11/23 system that is taking up too much space and I would like to replace it with a small QBus backplane containing an 11/23 CPU, some memory and a multi-port serial card. I would use one serial port as the console and another as the "disk" connection back to a PC. Has this been done before? Another related question is what is the smallest QBus backplane mounted in a box with a power supply that will support an 11/23 CPU (M8186), a memory card (M8044) and a serial port/boot rom card (M8047) and maybe a multi-port serial card (M8043)? Thanks! David

21 years, 2 months

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Simulated disk drive for RT-11?

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jun 6 2005, 15:24, David Betz wrote: > Is there a description somewhere of all of the BA11-?? variants? It > seems that there are many of them and they are of various sizes and > shapes. Possibly not all, but one of my web pages lists most Q-bus boxes and backplanes. Additions are always welcome :-) http://www.dunnington.u-net.com/public/PDP-11/QBus_chassis -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

21 years, 2 months

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Screw Drivers and PDF Files

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk > >> Apparently it's OK to spend $200 on a nice set of wrenches, but not >> OK to scrounge a contemporary PC to read contemporary documentation >> containers. > >The difference being that the set of spanners doesn't need desk space to >use it, doesn't need maintiaing [1]. and is likely to outlast me. > >[1] I have neither the skill nor the test gear to maintain a modern PC. ^^^^^ I doubt that! Maybe you don't have the documentation but I suspect your knowledge is just fine. Dwight > > >-tony >

21 years, 2 months

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Help collecting gear from west of Chicago

by drb＠msu.edu

> Looking for someone who can "rescue" and temporarily store a PDP-11. > It's about 30 miles west of O'Hare, apparently. I won this at auction; > the notification didn't arrive, and now that I'm traveling and can't do > anything about it, they want the beast out of their building yesterday. I ended up hiring a commercial pack/ship outfit to get this home, and it was delivered yesterday -- 2199 pounds. Thanks to the folks who said they would help me load it if I picked it up. Here's a first glimpse inventory of the haul: The CPU is a PDP-11/44 with additional labels indicating it was a Teradyne Teranet ATE Networking System, whatever that is. In addition to the CPU, the tall cabinet (purple and orange DEC banner across the top) contains a serial mux, a DEC battery backup, two RL02s, and an additional card chassis with some damage to its backplane wiring. The latter contains a pair of memory boards (Mostek), and some Teradyne-built items; I don't recognize the bus -- two edge connectors, each wider than qbus. It doesn't look like the unibus cards I've seen. The first small cabinet (9764, I think?) contains three RA81 drives; one is labeled 'bad hda'. The second small cabinet (also 9764) contains a TU80 and an RA81. The RA is labeled 'bad motor / bad hda'. Also included are a Decwriter, a DataProducts line printer, and a VT131. It looks like the cabling is pretty much intact. Whoever decommissioned this system did a decent job of tucking cables up into the backs of the cabinets. I figured with my luck someone would have just cut them, so I get to be happy now. I haven't had the CPU out on its rails yet, so I don't know what's inside. I'm going to have to work on power outlets before I can even try to run this beast. (And yes, I intend to look through the archives for tips on proper pre- and first-power-up etiquette before I blow anything up) Guess I have a summer project now. (Like I need any more projects. :-) De

21 years, 2 months

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Proper name for Tandy Color Computer?

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>What is the "proper" name for the Tandy Color Computer? Is it that? Or >is it "Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer"? Or is it "Radio Shack TRS-80 Color >Computer"? > >I guess it also depends on what model we are talking about, so let's say >the original and the CoCo2. I know the CoCo3 was pretty much labeled >Tandy by then. One answer is "BOTH", because TRS actually means "Tandy Radio Shack". However I assume you are asking about the labels on the machine and the printing on the boxes. The "Radio Shack TRS-80" was dropped/switched to "Tandy" on the labels sometime during the CoCo 2. I have a total of 8 Color Computers in my Collection: #1 Big box Large (deep) and silver in color "Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer" Separate square sticker reading "4K RAM" little square chicklet keys #2 Same box/size/color/labels except "32K RAM" Keyboard bas been upgraded, but I have the original which is the same as above. #3 Same box as above Same size, but white in color. "Radio Shack TRS-80 64k Color Computer" No memory size sticker (64k is on main label) Bigger/square keys, but still fairly flat. #4 Much Smaller box Smaller, not nearly as deep, white in color "Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer 2" No memory size sticker on top Same keys as #3 #5 Don't have the box. Same size as #3, white in color "Tandy Color Computer 2" No memory size sticker on top Full sized keys (taller) #6-#8 (all the same) Slightly smaller box than #3 (shorted lengthwise) Same size as #4, white in color "Tandy 128k Color Computer 3" No memory size sticker on top (128k on main label) Full sized keys similar to #5, although there are a couple of new ones in the lower right corner. I've been meaning to post an inquiry about the various CoCo models ... Aside from different memory sizes and standard/extended BASIC, are there any physical variants other than I have described above? I thought that all CoCo1's were silver with the chicklet keys until I just recently got #3 which was quite a suprise to me. The (Canadian) Radio Shack catalogs go directly from #1/#2 in the 1983 issue to #4 in the 1984 issue. I do not recall ever seeing a white CoCo1 with square keys before... Regards, -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 2 months

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S100 address buss troubleshooting

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Dave Dunfield" <dave04a at dunfield.com> > ---snip--- > >If the above gets you nowhere, then it's just a matter of sitting down with >the schematic and a scope and following the signal from that switch all the >way through to the bus at some point you should see that the zero from the >switch is not making it through a component or connector. I don't recall the >details of the IMSAI panel, but you might have to trigger on the read strobe >to catch the signal being clocked through the panel. Hi Actually the address are a little different. The processor actually generates the address. The front panel generates a JMP instruction with the address to the CPU that then generates the address to the bus. The front panel has a simple sequencer to generate the JMP, AddrLow, AddrHigh sequence. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

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IMSAI Score update/Spare BYTEs/Got an Altair too

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk > >> By the way, the power supply, so far, has tested fine. I'm going to look >> for any ripple with the scope later today. I've never done that test -- >> should I DC or AC couple the scope for that test? > >AC coupled. That's really what AC coupling is for -- you want to ignore >the steady DC level (of several volts) and look at the (hopefully) much >smaller AC ripple on top of it. To do that you need to turn up the Y >sensitivity on your 'scope, and unless you have a differential comparator >input or something, you won't be able to keep the trace on-screen with DC >coupling. > >Don't worry too much about ripple on an S100 supply. The S100 supply is >not regulated -- the regulators are on each of the boards (the 8V input >is designed to be regulated down to 5V, etc). The regulators should take >care of small amounts of ripple on the backplane supply lines. > >-tony > Hi For this particular test, using DC coupled is probably best. As Dave mentions, you just don't want the voltage on the unregulated 8 volt line to drop below 7 volts. It can tolerate a relatively large ripple. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

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S100 Buss extender boards

by Watzman＠neo.rr.com

I thought I had a manual, and I do, but it's for a Mullen "TB-4", not your "TB-1". And interestingly, it has neither a schematic nor a circuit board drawing (layout). These were very common boards, if anyone has the TB-1 manual, we should get it scanned to a PDF file (I volunteer, but I need the manual).

21 years, 2 months

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Screw Drivers and PDF Files

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Jan-Benedict Glaw" <jbglaw at lug-owl.de> > >On Fri, 2005-06-03 14:57:15 -0500, Jim Leonard <trixter at oldskool.org> wrote: > >> But that's not your domain/responsibility. The PDF should have been >> perfect by the time it got to you -- PDF is a final end-destination format. >> If the scans needed touching up, they shouldn't have made it into a PDF in >> the first place. > >Wrong IMHO. As my thesis is the pure four-dimensionalism of preserving >content, it's legal (and I'd even *ask* for it) that a good preservation >format will allow later enhancements. Be it fixing some spurious black >pixels, adding textual/OCRed content or whatever. > >The person that does the scanning isn't probably the one who actually >prepares the "end-format". The "end-format" should be the result of an >access to the preserved data, not the result after preservation. Ahh. Someone else that has some common sense besides Sellam and me. Dwight > >MfG, JBG > >-- >Jan-Benedict Glaw jbglaw at lug-owl.de . +49-172-7608481 _ O _

21 years, 2 months

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IMSAI Score update/Spare BYTEs/Got an Altair too

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk > >> >> >> OK, I pulled the front panel appart tonight and I found out that whoever >> owned this model colored the silkscreen with magic marker. Bogus! > >Try wiping it with propan-2-ol. That will remove most 'magic markers' and >may well not damage the original printing. > >-tony > Hi I believe the original is photo emulsion and not printed. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

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cpu/disc/memory vs time

by aek＠bitsavers.org

Three very cool pages I just stumbled upon: http://www.jcmit.com/cpu-perf-chart.htm http://www.jcmit.com/memoryprice.htm http://www.jcmit.com/diskprice.htm

21 years, 2 months

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9900 CPU was:Re: Rescued Items

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: 9900 CPU was:Re: Rescued Items > From: "Joe R." <rigdonj at cfl.rr.com> > Date: Sun, 05 Jun 2005 09:54:28 -0400 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >At 09:43 AM 6/5/05 -0400, Allison wrote: >>> >> >>Yep! I want one!!! ;) >> >>On the real front I'm looking for the TI9900 (cpu chip) based stuff. >>They are a bit lighter. > > Check out the Fluke equipment including the Fluke 1722A GP-IB Instrument >Controller. Fluke used the 9900 in a lot of their stuff. The 1722 is >similar to the HP 9915 and Tektronix 4041 and uses the 9900 CPU. I have a >complete set of docs for it if you find one. I think I have the DOS disk >for it as well. I have raw 9900 chips but TI made both a system and board level products using that CPU. The tek and fluke equipment I know about but they don't thrill me. > Hmm. I just checked E-bay and there's one for sale there now ><http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1504&item=7520651328 >>. They want way too much for it but it does include the hard to find >programmer's keyboard. There are a couple others for sale there as well ><http://search.ebay.com/fluke-1722_W0QQfromZR40QQsatitleZflukeQ201722Q2aQQso >jsZ1>. I don't do Ebay. It involves more trust that I am able to muster. >From what I've seen more monies lost than I care to loose. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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Wahsington Post reporter looking for collector in DC area

by vcf＠siconic.com

If you want to be interviewed and are in the DC area, contact me privately and I'll put you in touch with the reporter. Need a response today. -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

21 years, 2 months

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Screw Drivers and PDF Files

by swtpc6800＠comcast.net

There has been a thread on having the correct tools to work on classic computers. I like to collect tools so I don't have a problem with that. There is a recurring thread about how PDF files are a closed standard and some people do not have a computer that will display them. The most of distributors that I shop have their online catalog in PDF, same with the part manufactures. There is a wealth of classic computer documents available in PDF. In 2005 PDF files a very common in society. Most government publications are in PDF. You are making life difficult if to don't have a tool for reading PDF files. I think you can buy a nice one for a few hundred dollars. Michael Holley

21 years, 2 months

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Anyone here in lower Wisconsin?

by aek＠bitsavers.org

I'm near Burlington, WI 'til the 11th Connectectivity is the pits (about 24kbaud) Tom, I sent mail to you abt the drives. Mail back if you want be to stop over.

21 years, 2 months

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Site update

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

Hi Guys, FYI I've just posted a significant update to my site. Which includes: - Quite a few new machines (list below) Not all of them have in-depth coverage yet, however there's lots of photos etc. - A new section on S-100 cards, with photos and documents (where available), including a number of docs that I have recently scanned which may not be available elsewhere. - Quite a few new disk images, including a lot of new NorthStar images (I am currently "mining" a stack of many hundred N* disks) - Updates/latest versions of my simulators and transfer utilities. - Misc. updates to various other sections. - Probably more stuff that I have forgotten (It's been a few months since I started the update - Whew!) Enjoy, Dave I case anyone is interested, here is a list of the new system (most of them anyway): S100 : IMSAI 8080, NorthStar Horizon, Compupro, Cromemco Z-2D and Early System3, Wynchester, Multiflex, Protec PRO-80, Compuduct Rainbow (oddball S-100 system) Other: BMC if800, MAI Basic4, Xerox 820-II, Nec APC, Nec N5200, DEC Rainbow 100+, Nelma Persona 100, Visual 1050, Megatel Quark, OSI Superboard II, Acorn Atom, Altos 586 -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 2 months

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another site update - PDP11/60 !

by GOOI＠oce.nl

Just like Dave, I have been a bit busy. First, with the resurrection of a PDP-11/60 from a low boy corporate cabinet into an H960 tall rack, doing a bit of DIY work to make all fit and taking pictures in the process. Edward and I went to the UK 10 days ago, where I picked up the 11/60 (Edward got some goodies too), and then we spent a very nice weekend at Pete's in York. Sunday afternoon I even found some time to work on my site. Check out www.pdp-11.nl and especially the "PDP-11/60" folder, and of course the link "11/60 in H960 rack" :~) Some XXDP doc is also added, but I have not yet shot pix of the boards ... I have not yet read about the diagnostic LEDs on the FP board and the LEDs on one of the CPU boards, so any info / comments are most welcome! greetz, - Henk, PA8PDP.

21 years, 2 months

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Xebec/IBM Debug Address for Low-Level Format??

by cctalk＠randy482.com

From: "Randy McLaughlin" <cctalk at randy482.com> Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 11:23 PM > From: "Bill Pileggi" <wpileggi at juno.com> > Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 11:00 PM > >> I want to perform a low-level format on my Seagate ST-225 MFM hard >> drive - it has the Xebec (IBM) 1210 controller card. I cannot for the >> life of me remember the address to use in Debug. I know how to use Debug; >> I've done 100's of LL formats - just not in the last dozen years or so. >> Does Anybody remember?? Please email off-list. Thank you.... My HDD is >> working, I just want to set it up right from scratch. (In case anybody's >> wondering, I do a LL format on IDE drives before using them, too.) Bill >> Pileggi >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> Get Juno Platinum for as low as $4.97/month! >> Unlimited Internet Access with 250MB of Email Storage. >> Visit http://www.juno.com/half to sign up today! > > I'm fairly certain there is no formatter in ROM, it requires a program > loaded from floppy. I don't know if any generic program will work or if > you need a special formatter. > > Randy > www.s100-manuals.com I found a site with a couple of formatters that may work: http://cd.textfiles.com/pcmedic/utils/harddisk/ Randy www.s100-manuals.com

21 years, 2 months

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8" DSDD disk

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: 8" DSDD disk > From: "Randy McLaughlin" <cctalk at randy482.com> > Date: Sun, 05 Jun 2005 18:12:47 -0500 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >From: "Tony Duell" <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk> >Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 4:24 PM > >>> I think it's time to get rich quick: >>> >>> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=74947&item=520535700… >>> >>> 8" DSDD disk you can buy for $20.00 & $5.00 S&H. >>> >>> If anyone has an extra $250.00 I can send them 10 and I'll even throw in >>> a >>> plastic carrying case ;-) >> >> [LOoks at the rows of 8" disk boxes sitting behind some nice toys in the >> corner...] >> >> You know, I could sell off some of those spares and actually afford that >> darn DPF-reading PC you think I should own.... >> >> -tony > > >Personally I think the basic design of the PC is bad but I've got enough 8" >disks that if I could get $20 each I could build a newer better shop to work >on my toys I truly love :-} > >I've always thought computers should be built to maximize performance, IBM >not only appear to have ignored that but built down. They took a 5mhz brain >dead version of a 16 bit chip and ran it on an 8 bit bus @ 4.77mhz and put a >RAM limit of 448mb of RAM. The excuse of running 4.77mhz was for color >burst but I never saw a video card that didn't use its own crystal negating >the need for the 4.77mhz. In any case the extra $0.50 it might add to a >video board versus slowing down a $3000.00 computer doesn't make any sense >any way. > >In the 8088/8086 world I like what others did in the S100 world. They >started with the 8088 simply to keep compatible the 8 bit S100 bus, later a >16 bit standard allowed for 8086's. The S100 systems generally ran at the >full chip speed (5 or 8 mhz), allowed full 1mb RAM, didn't use 10% of the >processor speed to refresh RAM. Actually a lot of them ran the fastest 8088/6 (12mhz parts) and had mapping for more than 1meg of ram. Generally S100 based 16bit systems ran ahead of PCs for overall performance. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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Screw Drivers and PDF Files

by leeedavison＠yahoo.co.uk

> In what situation would a PDF not be printable? If the author has set the security on the file to not allow printing then Adobe reader, and even the full Adobe acrobat, will not print the file. Other tools may though. Lee. . ___________________________________________________________ How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos http://uk.photos.yahoo.com

21 years, 2 months

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Question about PDF manipulation

by msokolov＠ivan.Harhan.ORG

Randy McLaughlin <cctalk at randy482.com> wrote: > We should make a list of what users are unable to view PDF's, starting with > Tony how many others have no practical method of viewing a PDF or a friend > with a compatible system? /me raises hand The only thing I can do with a PDF file is to convert it to PostScript. I then send PS to my printer over a 19200 baud serial line. There are very few things in the Universe that enrage me more than PDF files that have been produced from PostScript with the original PS being unavailable to me. PS reconstructed from PDF is never as good as the original PS from which the PDF was made. The difference between PostScript and PDF is very much like that between the source and binary forms of a program. Publishing PDF files while withholding or discarding PS from which they were made is a crime against humanity just like closed source software and should be subject to the same penalty ("rasstrel na meste bez suda i sledstviya" in Russian). MS

21 years, 2 months

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Altos 486 power supply

by KParker＠workcover.com

Please excuse my ignorance but what makes it different from a normal AT or XT supply - I have lots of junk if you can give me some idea I'll have a rummage. ++++++++++ Kevin Parker Web Services Consultant WorkCover Corporation p: 08 8233 2548 m: 0418 806 166 e: kparker at workcover.com w: www.workcover.com ++++++++++ -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of SP Sent: Sunday, 5 June 2005 10:41 PM To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Altos 486 power supply This is a request: Someone has or know of some place where I could locate and obtain one PS for one Altos 486 (not an Intel machine, is >from the beginning of the eighties) that I own ? I need it complete. Thanks Sergio ************************************************************************ This e-mail is intended for the use of the addressee only. It may contain information that is protected by legislated confidentiality and/or is legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you are prohibited from disseminating, distributing or copying this e-mail. Any opinion expressed in this e-mail may not necessarily be that of the WorkCover Corporation of South Australia. Although precautions have been taken, the sender cannot warrant that this e-mail or any files transmitted with it are free of viruses or any other defect. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and destroy the original e-mail and any copies. ************************************************************************

21 years, 2 months

1
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programming station offer

by trestivo＠tarinc.com

To all members, before I post this item on ebay I thought I would offer it here first. For those of you who don't know me I'm Thom from TARINC (vcf east) and I've been selling DEC and VAX items for almost 10 years. I have a programming station that contains 3 RK05 drives, a PDP8/a, a Decitek paper tape reader, and a Remix unit which I think is a paper tape punch. They're housed in cabinet 5 feet high on the right with a desk high extension off to the left. Email me if you want a picture. It's on wheels and would be shipped by freight unless you want to pick it up. This whole unit was working fine when turned off a couple of months ago. I could probably include a bootable pack and possibly a CE alignment pack for the RK05's. The first $3500 takes it all; you are responsible for shipping charges. If no one is interested it'll post on ebay with a reserve set at $3750. You are welcome to visit the shop and check it out along with all the other DEC stuff. Email me at trestivo at tarinc.com or call me at 321-537-2384. I promise I won't make a habit of posting stuff here but I thought you guys might want first crack at this unit. Thom

21 years, 2 months

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punches

by charlesmorris＠direcway.com

On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 12:00:52 -0500 (CDT), you wrote: >[1] The first 3 I ever bought, over 25 years ago, were 5/8", 3/4" and >1+1/8". Why? > >-tony seven-pin, nine-pin and octal tube sockets? -Charles

21 years, 2 months

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S100 Buss extender boards

by cctalk＠randy482.com

From: "Randy McLaughlin" <cctalk at randy482.com> Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 3:06 PM > From: "Richard A. Cini" <rcini at optonline.net> > Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 2:46 PM > >> All: >> >> Part of the goodies that came with my IMSAI was a buss extender >> board which has a logic probe on it, which I definitely use for >> troubleshooting this stuck bit problem. One of the transistors on the >> board >> has a lead that's broken at the case. >> >> The designation on the transistor is "F444". There's a second >> transistor marked "F137" which also seems to have shakey leads. The >> board >> is manufactured by Mullen Computer Boards, model TB-1. >> >> Can anyone cross these numbers to a current replacement? Googling >> has come up with a possibility for the F444 but nothing for the F137. >> >> Thanks. >> >> Rich >> >> Rich Cini >> Collector of classic computers >> Build Master for the Altair32 Emulation Project >> Web site: http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ >> /************************************************************/ > > I have a couple, I'll see if they use different transistors. It's a > simple probe and just saturates the transistors. I would guess that they > can be replaced with any general purpose switching transistors as long as > you match up PNP or NPN (2n2222 & 2n2907 ar my favorites). > > If either of mine use different transistors I'll follow up. > > I like the fact that the power lines can be isolated so it's easy to test > for voltage/amperage etc. > > > Randy > www.s100-manuals.com I just checked and mine are TB-2's with no transistors (four IC's instead). I just use them as straight extenders with easy to access bus pins & power separation. I have an HP logic probe that I like. You might post on comp.os.cpm to see if anyone else has any TB-1's. Randy www.s100-manuals.com

21 years, 2 months

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S100 Buss extender boards

by rcini＠optonline.net

All: Part of the goodies that came with my IMSAI was a buss extender board which has a logic probe on it, which I definitely use for troubleshooting this stuck bit problem. One of the transistors on the board has a lead that's broken at the case. The designation on the transistor is "F444". There's a second transistor marked "F137" which also seems to have shakey leads. The board is manufactured by Mullen Computer Boards, model TB-1. Can anyone cross these numbers to a current replacement? Googling has come up with a possibility for the F444 but nothing for the F137. Thanks. Rich Rich Cini Collector of classic computers Build Master for the Altair32 Emulation Project Web site: http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ /************************************************************/

21 years, 2 months

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9900 CPU was:Re: Rescued Items

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>> Just imagine what would happen to your scope if it was dropped on a >> corner of the face from a height of 6 feet or so. That's entirely >> typical of the handling I see. > >I've said it here before, and I'll say it again - don't ship UPS >unless your packaging job can withstand the parcel being hurled from a >car at 30mph because they have a conveyer that's 4 feet off the >ground, moving at that speed, and *stuff falls off the belt every >day*. Airlines aren't much better ... I once drove to visit my Parents on the east coast, and on the way back, I hit a spot of ice and rolled by car - complete write-off. I had an Apple][ clone with me in a suitcase, and it sailed past me and assisted in the rapid removal of my windscreen. But it survived just fine... It did NOT survive Air Canada getting me the rest of the way home. It arrived with damage to the case and a broken crystal. I'm pretty sure I know exactly how it happened - being a small airport, I was able to watch as they loaded the plane. I saw the handler grab my suitcase from the top luggage trolly, and swing it up over his head to smack down HARD on a conveyor going into the plane... Cheers, -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 2 months

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For Sale: Computer collection: CPM, Amiga, Sun, lots of DEC (including VAX11-750) Chicago area

by stan.johnson＠gmail.com

Hello I find myself having to do something I don't want to do, but currently I have no choice. I must downsize my living arrangements, which means the computer collection has to go ASAP. I don't have time to ship unless there is a large bribe included, so local pickup/delivery is needed. I'm in Aurora IL, (~40miles west of Chicago), and at least one item will need a truck (VAX11-750). I'll take 20 to 40 dollars for each machine (with three exceptions), the price per machine goes down if you take multiples. First reply gets an item unless someone will show up to take everything. Reply directly to me by email to keep the extra traffic off the list. I'll try to start getting back to people by the middle of next week. (I'll wait a few days to see if by chance someone will take everything - best case.) -------- exceptions (will also consider offers on these): Amiga 100 - mint condition $100 with extras Dec Alpha AS4000 server - $100 VAX11-750 very complete - $500 if you take any of these three machines I'll include other stuff at a much reduced price... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Heathkit/Zenth H89 one with 8 inch floppies Both H89 have 68k memory and worked when last powered up have software (both HDOS and CPM) and COMPLETE docs lots of CPM software One of these was my first home computer IMSAI chassis only (no front panel/no boards) NorthStar CPM system (S100 bus) no software so don't know if it works 2 Kaypro 10 - at least one works and was used extensively lots of misc S100 boards ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Next Cube Next Slab with monitors, keyboards, and mice, and software with docs SGI Indigo doesn't boot due to the battery backed clock being dead I have docs and IRIX install CDs (and a large heavy monitor) produces a beautiful work env. but slow by todays standards. TI99/4A with expansion chassis (2X) Sun 3/60 with Drive chassis, tape and monitors Sun Sparc 5 (have run with Solarios and NetBSD) ---------------------------------------------------------- Amiga 500 (x2) Amiga 1200 Amiga 2500 (not working, bad chip memory, has ethernet card) Amiga 1000 monitors and drives lots and lots of amiga software and docs including most versions of AmigaOS These were my main systems for most of the 90's C128 (2x) with drives and lots of extras and lots of software ------------------------------------------------------ lots of DEC hardware PDP11 - 23 base system in a Qbus chassis (no drive) VaxStation 4000/mdl 60 (40 megs memory) nice VMS or netbsd machine have run both on this machine have drives for the machine MicroVax 3100 with tape drive 2 DecStations 5000/125 2 DecStations 5000/150 (has extra TurboChannel cards for scsi and network) Dec monitors (heavy) and keyboards/hockey puck mice Dec Drive SCSI expansion box Alpha 4000 (no skins, no drive shelf, 1 CPU and memory I was booting it over the network and clustering it with my other VMS nodes and using it as a compute node.) VAX11-750 including ......Full Set of spares, front panel down to the power supplies, ......Print Set, . ......Emulex MASSBUS <-> SMD ......2 Fujitsu Eagles ~430 MB each (SMD) (with boot prom) ......2 CDC Sabre ~ 1BG each (SMD) (with boot prom) . ......TU81 (Unibus interface) ......Unibus Ethernet ......Unibus SCSI ......RS232 Multiplexers . ......Many TU58 Diagnostic Tapes ......Installation Manuals, Hardware Manuals .. and more. . ......The whole machine currently will run on a 120V/20A ......circuit. (CPU, TU81, 1 Eagle, and both Sabres) ------------------------------------------------------------- various other intel machines for parts and some compete machines including at least x286, x386, X486 and slow pentium machines some SCSI drive cases and SCSI drives I'll throw in with other machines lots of computer books that will go with the machines associated with that machine/topic. almost a complete set of BYTE including most of the early issues. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- will consider trades for a newer DEC alpha desktop to replace the DEC 3000/mdl 600 I'm keeping. If I get a replacment alpha the DEC 3000 will also have to go. Thanks Stan Johnson srj at pobox.com

21 years, 2 months

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VT-180 disks

by dbetz＠xlisper.mv.com

I have three 5 1/4 inch disks for the DEC VT-180 that I don't need as I have given away my VT-180. These disks are marked: DEC VT-180 CP/M-2.2 System SSDD DEC VT-180 Kermit SSDD DEC VT-180 Diagnostics SSDD They are original disks that come in sleeves marked: NEWTAP - NAVEDTRANSUPPCENPAC, San Diego, CA On the back they say: Commanding Officer Naval Education and Training Support Center, Pacific Attn: NAVSTAD N64 San Diego, CA 92132-5105 Anyone have any interest in these? I don't know if they are readable but the look to be in good condition.

21 years, 2 months

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IBM S/36 5363 Maintenance Information Manual

by birs23＠zeelandnet.nl

Anybody interested in : IBM System/36 5363 System Unit Maintenance Information Manual. Partnumber SY31-9054-4. Fifth edition March 1989. Also includes the System Reference Codes and some original floppies like support and diagnostic Stefan. ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.oldcomputercollection.com

21 years, 2 months

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Question about PDF manipulation

by paulrsm＠buckeye-express.com

Jules wrote: > Personally I like the accountability; > I'd like to know who scanned a document, > when they scanned it, what software > they used to do the scan. As someone who scans documents and distributes the PDF's (mostly Apple II stuff), I prefer to remain anonymous. Sure, the stuff is so old and mostly the companies no longer exist, but I *am* violating someone's copyright. -- Paul R. Santa-Maria Monroe, Michigan USA

21 years, 2 months

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"Pozidriv" [was Re: Tools (was: IBM 5155 analogue display fault]

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Fred Cisin" <cisin at xenosoft.com> > >> A Phillips bit will work moderately well on a Pozidriv screw, but the > >about as well as a butter knife works on slotted screws > Hi My first repair job was when I used a butter knife on the toaster to fix the timer. It actually worked when I was done. I was about 6 years old at the time. Dwight

21 years, 2 months

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Rescued Items

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Rescued Items > From: "Jay West" <jwest at classiccmp.org> > Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 22:30:56 -0500 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >Allison wrote... >> Whats unusual about that? I have several of the 99/4a systems and >> a Technico SuperStarter system. If someone hadn't beat me I'd have >> asked for them. > >There's a *HUGE* difference between a TI99/4a, and a TI/990. Like about 400 >pounds :> > >Jay Yep! I want one!!! ;) On the real front I'm looking for the TI9900 (cpu chip) based stuff. They are a bit lighter. Allison

21 years, 2 months

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DATA I/O 29B Modification?

by rigdonj＠cfl.rr.com

A year or two ago there was a webpage that showed how to modify the model 29B EPROM Programmer to increase it's memory to 1mb. I didn't bookmark it and how I can't find it. Does anyone know the URL for it or have a copy of it stored anywhere? Joe

21 years, 2 months

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Rescued Items

by technobug＠comcast.net

While on a rescue mission this PM, I pulled out of a pile of boards destined for the gold merchant the following: DEC KDF11 Module M8186 TI 9900 Boards: TM990/101MA CPU Board TM990/314 ? (has a DB25 and an edge connector - serial?) First takes choice at $2 per board plus shipping. CRC

21 years, 2 months

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A (sort of) .rss feed for Computer Collector Newsletter

by news＠computercollector.com

Hi cctalk'ers, I think it's really, really, important to make more people aware of our hobby, so I finally created an .rss feed for the newsletter. Well, sort of. Instead of syndicating ALL of the articles, I'm only syndicating summaries of each issue's highlights, with hyperlinks back to the "Subscribe here!" page. That way, newbies can get an idea of what CCN is all about, and then read more if they desire. I would be very grateful if anyone chooses to include the feed on their web sites. You'd be doing the hobby a favor. The file is http://www.snarc.net/ccn.xml ... It applies to the most recent 14 issues; each week I'll update it with the FIFO method. Also: this is my first-ever shot at doing .rss, so if you experts out there spot any obvious mistakes, please tell me in a PRIVATE message to news at computercollector.com. No need to make newbie .rss blunders into a cctalk topic, right? :) ...And now back to our regularly scheduled yapping about Nascom keyboard connectors, Pozidriv, .PDF manipulation, etc. - Evan K. ----------------------------------------- Evan Koblentz's personal homepage: http://www.snarc.net Also see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midatlanticretro/ *** Tell your friends about the (free!) Computer Collector Newsletter - 735 readers and no spam / Publishes every Monday / Write for us! - Mainframes to videogames, hardware and software, we cover it all - W: http://news.computercollector.com E: news at computercollector.com

21 years, 2 months

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Rescued Items

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Rescued Items > From: "Jay West" <jwest at classiccmp.org> > Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 21:56:56 -0500 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >CRC wrote... >>> TI 9900 Boards: >>> >>> TM990/101MA CPU Board >>> TM990/314 ? (has a DB25 and an edge connector - serial?) > >Then Bill wrote... >> I'm interested in the TI boards. >> I'll also take the DEC board if nobody else wants it > >I didn't know there were other TI/990 collectors here :) Nifty! > >Jay Whats unusual about that? I have several of the 99/4a systems and a Technico SuperStarter system. If someone hadn't beat me I'd have asked for them. Allison

21 years, 3 months

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DATA I/O 29B Modification?

by swtpc6800＠comcast.net

My favorite error code from the Data I/O System 19 (the predecessor to the 29) was the one when you did not have enough RAM install to program the PROM you selected. If you looked up the corrective action in the manual it said to install more RAM or program smaller parts. Michael Holley.

21 years, 3 months

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SGS UX8-22 CP/M System and WD-1000 controller + Hard Disk

by spedraja＠ono.com

Well, I've read more in depth the documentation that comes with the UX8-20 and I have clear now how it manage the Hard Disk matter. In appeareance the Floppy controller can manage up to FOUR floppy disk units of 8". In addition, it has one interface with one WD-1000 controller. So, what I need is one vintage WD-1000 controller plus the corresponding Hard Disk of 4mb-5mb. I don't know in what format these items appeared years ago, but something makes me think in some kind of external enclosure with the 8" disk inside plus the WD-1000 controller, with the PSU inside and one 5-pin interface to the outside world. Is this so ? And, more important... Has someone something similar to this ? I have one shugart 8" hard disk of 8" recently purchased and in appeareance in working condition... I should need the rest. Regards Sergio

21 years, 3 months

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S100 address buss troubleshooting

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

At 18:26 04/06/2005 -0400, you wrote: >All: > > After verifying the power supply, I'm now starting to play with the >system. I put in the CPU board (TDL Z80) and three 16k memory boards. >Reading and writing data to memory seems to work, but frequently I'll get >the A13 and A7 LEDs stuck ON. If I toggle RESET, the LEDs clear but on my >first EXAMINE, A13 and A7 go on. > > Things I have not done yet: > * loaded any programs or tried to verify memory fully > * cleaned any board contacts > > If I pull one of the memory boards, the A7 problem goes away but A13 >stays on all the time, leading me to believe that that issue is either on >the CPU card or the front panel card. > > How does one troubleshoot a stuck-bit problem in these systems? I do >have a 12-bit logic analyzer on a laptop (uses the parallel port) but I >haven't pulled that out yet. Rich, Check the switches - I had an IMSAI panel which exhibited the same symptom on one address bit, and it turned out that the original builder had done a very poor job of soldering the switches, and a cold solder joint was causing the switch not to pull the bit down. An easy test is to set the suspect switch and all switches BELOW it to ON, and all switches ABOVE it to OFF - perform an EXAMINE, and the lights should match the switches (all LEDs above OFF, the suspect and all below ON). The do EXAMINE NEXT which should wrap to the next bit. The suspect and all LEDs below should go OFF, and the LED next up should go on ... If the syspect LED goes OFF, then most of the panel->bus interface is working, and the problem may be a switch or early-on buffer/latch. If it stays ON then you will have to look further. Also check/clean the S-100 connectors, and the "umbilical cord" between the panel and the CPU - poor connections here can cause individual malfunctioning front panel bits. Many S-100 CPU cards have a connector for the IMSAI front panel, so if you have other systems, it may be easy for you to try another CPU - keep in mind that there is usually a jumper on the card to control the WRITE signal on the bus being generated by the CPU card or the Front panel. If the above gets you nowhere, then it's just a matter of sitting down with the schematic and a scope and following the signal from that switch all the way through to the bus at some point you should see that the zero from the switch is not making it through a component or connector. I don't recall the details of the IMSAI panel, but you might have to trigger on the read strobe to catch the signal being clocked through the panel. Regards, Dave -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

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IMSAI Score update/Spare BYTEs/Got an Altair too

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>Don't worry too much about ripple on an S100 supply. The S100 supply is >not regulated -- the regulators are on each of the boards (the 8V input >is designed to be regulated down to 5V, etc). The regulators should take >care of small amounts of ripple on the backplane supply lines. Agreed: Rich, what I ment when I told you to check for ripple, would be "big" ripple, which would be an indication of the filter caps having dried out - not all that likely, but worth checking. The input to the regulators should not drop below 7v under load. I always scope supplies under initial load tests - You never know what odd things you might see... Regards, Dave -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

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Nascom 2 keyboard connector

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Nascom 2 keyboard connector > From: "Jim Beacon" <jim at g1jbg.co.uk> > Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 22:43:08 +0100 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > >> Presumably the punch tool has a limit as to how far from the edges of a >> piece it can reach? >> >There was a "Q-Max" D type punch, don't know if it is still available, but >that could be used to pace a hole anywhere in a sheet of metal (it is pulled >through with a bolt, so doesn't need a press of any kind). > >Jim. The famed and well used Greenlee punches are like that. Various sizes and shapes and you drill a through hole and assemble the punch on opposing sides, insert bolt and tighten. Nice clean holes. I also have a nibbling tool, takes a .1"x.25" bite in any direction and perfect for odd chassis holes. My wish list includes a 2-3FT wide sheetmetal shear and a small (18"-24") bending brake. Allison

21 years, 3 months

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IMSAI Score update/Spare BYTEs/Got an Altair too

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>> >OK, I pulled the front panel appart tonight and I found out that whoever >> >owned this model colored the silkscreen with magic marker. Bogus! >> > >> >Anyway, I can get a new photomask from Todd Fischer for $20. Well worth >> >it. >> >> I was afraid of that ... Although it's good that you can get a replacement, >> keeping it all original has merit as well - depending on the marker used, >> you might be able to carefully remove it. Try a Q-tip with some whiteboard >> cleaner and move up to stronger solutions as required. > >Oh for ****'s sake. > >How is cleaning off the ink any different from replacing the strip? You >just said, "keeping it all original has merit as well". I guess attacking >it with whiteboard cleaner is not considered a modification to the >original? I don't recall using the verb "attack" ... if he's lucky, the marker used was a soluable one, and it will clean up nicely with no damage to the original strip - if you can do that, then why not clean it up and keep it all original. As Rich noted in a later message, the replacement he can get is not identical to the original... Have you never cleaned up a computer that you really wanted to restore to original condition? >Like sane people do, note down the modification and keep the note with the >system (use a tagged string so you can tie the tag internally to keep Dave >happy). Put the original in a safe place (which is I'm sure what Rich >planned to do). Obviously any cleanup should be attempted with great care, and if it's not going to work, then by all means get the replacement, and keep the original in a safe place.... but that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least investigate restoring the original first. >Sheesh. Here we agree (although from different viewpoints :-) -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

5
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Rescued Items

by technobug＠comcast.net

All items have been spoken for. I've clued my scrapper into the want list on Vintage, so perhaps he will get a little more proactive in posting to the list/Vintage. CRC

21 years, 3 months

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