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

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

Need any suggestions on repair of a PC monitor (SVGA). It's a Dell and was working though it had a long warmup to full intensity. Anyhow I turned it off and now it just chirps when I turn it on. Before I bin it I'd like to see if its fixable... Ideas? I generally dont do monitors and TVs because of the HV, dust and abundance of sharp edges. Allison

25 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

Testing 72-pin SIMMs

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> I've never found a bullet-proof program for testing SIMMs under DOS or > windows, so I keep a hard drive loaded up with Win95. If the system boots > and I can run defrag (it being memory-intensive) then I ssume the SIMM is > okay barring any heat-related problems which may only show up after the SIMM > gets hot. > > Anybody know of one? I have a one, designed by Charles (?) Cook, and first implemented by John Molnar, which I've reimplemented for the Sol, some Z-80-based machines, and the 8051 embedded systems I've developed. But I never got around to porting it to DOS... Our Dell servers shipped with a program called "Dell Diagnostics" which includes a comprehensive memory test that can check for stuck bits, shorts between address bits, short between address and data bits, etc. It complains when I run it on non-Dell equipment, but usually works, and it's so far caught problems nothing else would catch. hth, -dq

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Testing 72-pin SIMMs

by Glenatacme＠aol.com

Mike Ford wrote: > Now for a good question, any suggestions on what would make a good set of > machines to use for SIMM testing? > > Now I use > > 30 pin, either a IIsi or a Q950 mac depending on speed of chips. > 64 pin goes in a IIfx Okay, you've got those covered. > 72 pin I am wondering about, maybe a late 486 or early Pentium > 72 pin Parity no idea > 72 pin ECC maybe a PS/2 model 9595 > > My thought is that some motherboards are very good at detecting the type of > memory etc. For testing 72-pin non-parity SIMMs I use a Soyo board which was one of the last mass-produced 486 mobos. It will take up to a 486-133 CPU, and it will run on one piece of FPM or EDO memory, so, unlike Pentium boards, you can test a single piece. Additionally the boot box indicates whether the memory is fast page or EDO. I've never found a bullet-proof program for testing SIMMs under DOS or windows, so I keep a hard drive loaded up with Win95. If the system boots and I can run defrag (it being memory-intensive) then I assume the SIMM is okay barring any heat-related problems which may only show up after the SIMM gets hot. Anybody know of one? For 72-pin parity memory get an old Pentium board which requires the ninth bit. I got mine from hitechcafe.com. The board cost $10 and a P-60 CPU was $5. (Sorry, no onboard i/o or PCI bus). ECC? Good luck ;>) Glen Goodwin 0/0

25 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

PDP-11/23 Cpu

by SPEDRAJA＠mail.ono.es

Hello to all. I'd like to know what kind of expansion or options could be attached to this machines: PDP-11/23 ---------- * KDF11-B 5014313C M8189/DIGITAL * Q-BusMosMemory 5014500C M8067/DIGITAL * DQ614S153040 Rev F/DILOG * System Interface 11/03/ESI * 808836-05 Rev K/Datasystems Design There are 4 free slots. The system was fully functional in an ESI lasertrimmer system for hybrid circuits that was taken out of service 1 year ago. By the moment I have no disk for it (maybe in a future). I'd like to know if could be possible to put some class of disk or diskette unit, even tape, eventually different of DEC stuff. I suppose than this could be possible by some SCSI card, but my experience with this is limited to the use of emulators like Bob Supnik's or E-11. Thanks for all. Best Regards. Sergio

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Does anyone have any PCM-12 (pdp-8 clone) hardware?

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

It was an Intercept jr., according to the auction.. Had 3 or 4 plug in cards with it too.. Still not as cool as the PPS-4 development system that was on Ebay a few weeks ago... _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

TQK70 Jumpers

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

I already asked this on port-VAX, figured I'll try here, too. Can anyone provide one of the following: 1). Confirmation or denial that the address jumpers on the TQK50 (M7546) and the TQK70 (M7559) are laid out in the same pattern, bit-wise? In other words, does each board share the same pattern for setting its address? 2). A jumper chart for the TQK70, or jumper setting info to set it to the primary tape device address. Thanks much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 (Extra class as of June-2K) "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates to me that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma).

25 years, 7 months

2
2
0 0

Testing 72-pin SIMMs

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 28, 10:12, Douglas Quebbeman wrote: > > I've never found a bullet-proof program for testing SIMMs under DOS or > > windows, [...] > > Anybody know of one? > > I have a one, designed by Charles (?) Cook, and first > implemented by John Molnar, which I've reimplemented > for the Sol, some Z-80-based machines, and the 8051 > embedded systems I've developed. But I never got around > to porting it to DOS... > > Our Dell servers shipped with a program called "Dell > Diagnostics" which includes a comprehensive memory > test that can check for stuck bits, shorts between > address bits, short between address and data bits, > etc. > > It complains when I run it on non-Dell equipment, > but usually works, and it's so far caught problems > nothing else would catch. I don't know about Charles Cook, but the name John Molnar sounds vaguely familiar. However, the best test I've ever found was one that runs in linear time (ie twice as much memory takes twice as long to test; most tests run in time dependant on some power of the size -- eg double the size, triple the time, like a Galpat which depends on the square of the size). The test was devised and implemented by Suk and Reddy, and is described in "A march test for functional faults in semiconductor random access memories", published in IEEE Transactions on Computing Vol.C-30 No.12,December 1981. There were a whole lot of articles about memory testing in the journals around that time, and there's a follow-up article by Abadir and Reghbati, in Computing Surveys Vol.15 No.3, September 1983, published by the ACM, which presents a kind of survey of methods. This test will find stuck-at-zero, stuck-at-one, data coupling faults, address coupling faults, data-address-coupling faults, and decoder faults. It's pretty easy to implement, and *provided* each data bit is in a separate IC, you can do all the bits in parallel. If not (eg if the RAMs are 4-bit wide devices) then you need to do some manipulation to ensure you're not affecting bits you don't want to -- a fact conveniently forgotten by most RAM test implementors. Anyway, Suk & Reddy's test is quite fast, and very easy to implement. I did a Z80 version that tested the entire RAM in a bytewide array (so lots of shifts and loops) without using any stack (what's the point in storing data in the memory you think needs testing?), and it runs in just under six seconds at 3.5MHz. If you had one bit per chip, obviously it would be much more than 8 times faster (8 times because of parallelism and a further factor of two or more by eliminating the shifts, some loops, and logical ORs/ANDs used for masking individual bits). The one thing most memory tests *won't* do is test for correct refresh tolerance. You may also have trouble testing the parity fully unless you can read/write the parity bits directly. Very few tests, by the way, will detect pattern-sensitive faults. Luckily, these are very rare, and I've only ever seen one true pattern-sensitive fault that wasn't a simple coupling fault. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

IDE Clone: Win95

by jpl15＠panix.com

Duh! You'd think that I'd mention a few little details The system is Windoze 95 v400.0950 IIRC. And thanks to KS for the URL, that's my next stop. Also, thanks Doug for the Norton Ghost reference... I'll look into that too. Cheers John

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Somewhat OT: A milestone

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

Fellow CLASSICCMP'ers, I have reached a milestone. This message originates >from my first qmail server ever based on a SPARCstation LX. I must say I would have been completely lost, configuration-wise, had it not been for the qmail setup how-to at the flounder site. Thanks are also due to Chuck McManis for providing some sanity checks, and especially for taking a few minutes out of Christmas day to field a somewhat frantic phone call from my end. I would also add that I was almost hopelessly lost with Sendmail, even after reading parts of the O'Reilly book on it. qmail was much easier to deal with, and I would not hesitate to suggest it to anyone putting up a Unix mailserver. Keep the peace(es). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 (Extra class as of June-2K) "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates to me that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma).

25 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

Cloning IDE drives

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> The subject (I think) is on topic, the hardware to which I'm refering is > a little too new for us, but I'm gonna ask anyway. > > I have a Pentium I wintel box which I've had for nearly five years. > It's 1.9 GB HD has been slowly developing bearing whine for the last > several months. It is getting noticibly louder now and I'm sure this > faithful old HD is nearing the end of it's earthly sojourn. > > My fantasy is that I can buy another IDE drive (of somewhat larger > capacity) and just somehow copy the whole thing on the original down to > the new one, without having to go thru the backup/restore/re-auth all the > programs I've got on it. I have 8mm streaming tape backups of the system, > but that's a pain. Symantec's Ghost can do this. You didn't mention much else about the system, i.e. running DOS or Windows, FAT16 or FAT32... If you're running Windows and you've formetted the older drive as FAT32, then you're in the ideal shape- you can clone your partition to a new partition on the new drive and in its new form, it can be as large as the disk. However, if you're running DOS, and/or have the drive partition(s) formatted as FAT16, you'll be limited to cloning the old drive's paritions to partitions on the new drive that must top out at 2GB (2047MB, actually). Additionally, the BIOS of the motherboard in this PC may or may not be up-to-date enough to handle the large sizes of newer IDE drives. A BIOS upgrade might help that. Also, if you've got multiple FAT16 partitions, I'm not sure how things will work on the second FAT16 partition if, in cloning, you grow the first to the 2047MB limit. I do this all the time, mostly to get around the problem of NT4 not installing on drives larger than just under 8GB. hth, -doug q

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Software for Northstar Advantage 8/16?

by r.stek＠snet.net

You can still get new 10 hole hard-sectored disks at www.cadigital.com (or at least you could about a year ago). Bob Stek Saver of Lost Sols

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Kaypro 4/software for sale (fwd)

by vcf＠siconic.com

Please contact the original sender. Reply-to: mtnaire(a)easilink.com ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 18:07:46 -0700 From: Robert Specht <mtnaire(a)easilink.com> Subject: Kaypro 4/software for sale I have heard about you from computer museums who were kind enough to respond to my message: I purchased a new Kaypro 4 system around 1983/84 while getting my 2nd college degree; I am ready to sell it with original software and some manuals. The computer has a modem port and includes a power cable. There is also a Kaypro printer and connection cord; the printer is usable (I'm using it now to print off files before selling the computer) but not in as good shape as the computer. The printer takes ribbons that fit the old IBM Selectric typewriters. There is an unopened box of floppy disks and a few other blank disks. Please let me know if you are interested in this historic computer system, and at what price. If you are not interested, I would welcome suggested other buyers to contact. The software consists of several floppy disks in hard cases and includes: CP/M version 2.2, S-Basic Perfect Calc - Program/lessons Microsoft Basic-80 (plus selected games) Perfect Filer Working Diskette- Individual Member Data Base MicroPlan Perfect Writer/Perfect Speller Working Diskete - Edit Disk Perfect Writer - Installation Disk \ Perfect Writer - Lessons Disk A public domain utilites disk with a program called "TYPWRYT" which allows use of the keyboard like a typewriter and the following MASTER disks: Wordstar, The Word Plus Perfect Filer - Individual Member Data Base Perfect Calc - Program/Lessons CP/M v. 2.2, S-Basic MicroPlan, C-Basic Microsoft Basic-80 Perfect Writer - Lessons Disk Perfect Speller Perfect Writer - Installation Disk The manuals include: Perfect Calc Perfect Filer Wordstar CP/M and small handbooks: Kapro The Word Plus Letter Quality Printer User's Manual Introduction to Software Kaypro User's Guide (Read Me First) The above manuals are all the Kaypro publications. In addition, I have the following: Understanding and Using dBase II by Rob Krumm, Brady Communications Company, Inc., copyright 1984 (ISBN 0-89303-916-0). Thank you. Ronnee-Sue Helzner, Utah Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Software for Northstar Advantage 8/16?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: r. 'bear' stricklin <red(a)bears.org> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2000 4:45 PM Subject: Re: Software for Northstar Advantage 8/16? >On Wed, 27 Dec 2000, Rich Beaudry wrote: > >> Would anyone happen to have either Graphics/DOS or Graphics/BASIC for this >> machine? I have complete manuals for them, but no disks :-( > >I have some software for the Advantage, but I'll have to check the >inventory after I get home this evening before I can say for sure whether >I have this particular software. > >> Also, I heard that the Northstars use hard-sectored 5.25" disks. Is this >> true? > >Yes, it is true. I'm nearly certain they were 10-sectored. Based on the Advantage I have standard DD NS* 10 sector hard sector and I think it will do DD/DS 80tr (DDQD) for 780k. Allison

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Altos 580 needs a good home

by r_beaudry＠hotmail.com

Hello all, I have an Altos 580, but no docs or software for it. Someone sent me floppy boot disk images, but I could not get them to work (likely some mistake on my end). Upon power up, the floppy light goes on, and never goes off. It's hard to tell if the floppy motor is spinning. The hard drive definitely spins up, and sounds fine. A terminal connected to any port on the back never shows any output. I have no idea if the thing is broken, and without docs, I don't have the time or inclination to find out... The unit is the "squashed hexagon" shape, with one internal 5.25" floppy, and an internal 5.25" hard drive. Five serial ports on the back, labeled JA through JE. Also other ports for what looks like an external hard drive.... I took the covers off, and aside from quite a bit of dust, there is no damage. No apparent heat spots, missing chips, etc. It's possible the floppy is just dust-clogged, but I haven't had time recently to clean it all out. If you want it, it's yours for what I have into it: US $20 plus shipping costs. The unit is fairly heavy, so it might get expensive, depending on where you are (I am located in north central Massachusetts, USA)... I am willing to ship worldwide, and will quote shipping to anyone who is interested. I am also willing to part it out, but will give first preference to someone who wants the whole thing. Thanks! Rich B. (I subscribe to the digest, so I can't reply immediately).

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Identifying 72-pin SIMMs

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 26, 22:45, Zane H. Healy wrote: > Pile #1 (12 chips, 8 big & 4 smaller): > SEC KMM53616000AK-6 I don't know -- if you give me the IC numbers I might be able to tell. > Pile #2 (12 chips, 8 big & 4 smaller): > NEC > MC- 428000A36BH-70 MC-428000A36BH-70 is NEC 8M x 36 (32MB with parity) fast page mode, 70ns. Sure this isn't 16 x uPD4217400 and 8 x 424100? -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Does anyone have any PCM-12 (pdp-8 clone) hardware?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> >I stumbled across an intersil board with their PDP-8 clone chip on eBay >recently (yesterday, I think). If you search for Intersil you may find it. > >Dick Which one? 6960 sampler with the basic 6100 chipset? Intercept the 6100 SBC with expansion as embeeded or trainer? PCM-12 system (development system aand boards)? Allison

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Identifying 72-pin SIMMs

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

I'm guessing this is Off-Topic, since I think 72-pin SIMMs are newer than 10 years (not really sure). However, I've no idea where else to ask about this. A friend of mine just sent me a pile of RAM that he'd been given and couldn't use. He was thinking the stuff was Parity, I'm not so sure. I was hoping to be able to use the stuff to bump up the RAM in some of my VMS boxes (Alpha's that require 72-pin True Parity RAM). Pile #1 (12 chips, 8 big & 4 smaller): SEC KMM53616000AK-6 KOREA 9632 Barcode 006-3301427 Pile #2 (12 chips, 8 big & 4 smaller): NEC MC- 428000A36BH-70 9350XE Piles 3 & 4 defininitly aren't. Zane -- | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | | healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast | | healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | | and Zane's Computer Museum. | | http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |

25 years, 7 months

6
5
0 0

PK-64 Posted

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

I think there were at least a couple of people who wanted to know when I would post the AEA PK-64 'PakRatt' on E-pay. I have done so. It may be viewed through the following link. Bidding starts at $5.00 + shipping, no reserve. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1204126528 Thanks much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 (Extra class as of June-2K) "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates to me that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma).

25 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

Identifying 72-pin SIMMs

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/27/00 8:23:54 AM Central Standard Time, jfoust(a)threedee.com writes: > At 11:57 PM 12/26/00 -0800, Chuck McManis wrote: > >This site > ><http://www.sei-elbatex.ch/dynamic/html/spain/selco/inf13_4.htm> > >Identifies the above SIMM as 64M (16M x 36) so it looks like it is > >true parity but too many bits :-) > > I've always wished for a quick and easy way to type in > a memory SIMM/DIMM number, and learn its specs. (Individual > chip numbers on a PCB don't necessarily give the right > answer, right?) Is there a web site like that somewhere? > no web site that I know of, but if you can get a copy of IBM's pc pocket reference manual, that has some general guidelines on IDing memory. come to think of it, i think the pocket ref guide is online somewhere, like IBM germany but not sure...

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Identifying 72-pin SIMMs

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 26, 23:57, Chuck McManis wrote: > >Pile #2 (12 chips, 8 big & 4 smaller): > >NEC > >MC- 428000A36BH-70 > >9350XE > > This site: > <http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Hills/1960/memorias.htm> > Seems to indicate that these Simms are 16M (4MB x 36) Except that Zane gave the type number off the SIMM, and this site gives the IC types. Not the same thing! > Whereas this site: > <http://www.dsm-computer.de/eng/produkte/zubehoer.html> > Has a similar number that is an 8M parity simm for a PS2. Actually, it says 8M x 36, which is 32MB with parity :-) Since Zane wrote that it's an NEC SIM with a date code of 1993, I looked it up in the 1993 NEC databook :-) -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

What can I do with one HP 9000-380 ?

by SPEDRAJA＠mail.ono.es

Hello. I'm adquired recently one HP-9000 380 workstation. I'm pending to receive it. I'd like to know some details about this machine, or even an URL where I could get some info. The workstation appears to be not used in anytime. Thanks. Regards. ---------- Sergio Pedraja Administracion de Sistemas Division de Tecnologia Caja Cantabria Spain ---------- mailto: spedraja(a)casyc.es, spedraja(a)mail.ono.es ----------

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

cross-country shopping

by pbboy＠mindspring.com

I'll be driving cross country in a few days and would like to stop by some thrift stores where i can find classic computers. Because of the weather I'll be taking I-10 most of the way, from the east to the west coast. Could anyone suggest some good spots? hopefully I can find something of interest. Thanks! robert

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Old SGI's?!

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 26, 7:23, LFessen106(a)aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 12/26/00 2:15:04 AM Eastern Standard Time, > mikeford(a)socal.rr.com writes: > > > I looked in my keyboard bin and I have two SGI model 9500801 keyboards in > > pretty good condition, but no cables (that I noticed). > > > > Do you think Sun KB cables would work? I thought Sun cables were 8-pin miniDIN, not 6-pin? > Actually, I could probably just make > them as they use standard PS2 connectors... What do you think? Yes, you could -- but don't use ordinary PS/2 ready-made cables as they only have 4 or 5 pins connected, and the SGI systems use all six. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

4
3
0 0

Old SGI's?!

by LFessen106＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/26/00 2:15:04 AM Eastern Standard Time, mikeford(a)socal.rr.com writes: > I looked in my keyboard bin and I have two SGI model 9500801 keyboards in > pretty good condition, but no cables (that I noticed). > Do you think Sun KB cables would work? Actually, I could probably just make them as they use standard PS2 connectors... What do you think? -Linc Fessenden

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Neat presents

by mikeford＠socal.rr.com

Top of my list is a copy of the PC Pocket Ref, neat pocket sized book with tons of data on PC parts etc. This book has nice lists including most if not all floppy drives, so I can make a mini-list with just the 3.5" 2.88MB drives to hunt for.

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

VT78 - lots of questions

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 25, 18:23, Tony Duell wrote: > > TT is DRV AC L and VV is RX DMA INTR L. These are the extra connections > > used by RX211 and RXV21 controllers, and I expect RX28 also uses RX DMA > > INTR L. > > I don't think it doea. > > I believe that The RX8e card and the RX28 card are the same module -- an > M8357. They are the same -- I misread a diagram in the RX02 manual, which made me think the M8357 working as an RX28 could do DMA transfers. It can't. Only the RX211 and RXV21 use RX DMA INTR L. I'v just pulled the printset of that card (which, alas, says > nothing about the DB25 adapter), and the only pins shown on the schematic > are > > D : RX RUN L > H : RX INIT L > J : RX ERROR L > T : RX TRANSFER REQEUST L > X : RX DONE L > BB : RX DATA L > FF : RX 12 BIT L > RR : RX OUT L > LL : RX SHIFT L Interesting. I think where you wrote "H : RX INIT L", you mean "N". H is a ground, and the RX02 printset clearly shows N as RX INIT L. That agrees with the tracks I can see on the M7744. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Lifetime of VAX NiCd packs?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> >At 12:12 AM 12/24/00 -0500, Allison wrote: >>The battery will be dead in about 3-4 weeks of non power. > >Sigh, I guessed as much. As long as your up late, do you happen to know the With 8 uVAXen around the batteries are a known item. Also the PRO and a few others used same battery. If you blast them run them through a few charge/dischage cycles and they hold up fine. Not if there is much fuzz on the outside then they have leaked and may have dried out, that is a replace case. >pinout of the audio-out connector on an RRD43 drive? Its also a Toshiba >model xm4101b Never had one of data on it. Allison

25 years, 7 months

7
7
0 0

VT78 - lots of questions

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 24, 23:41, David Gesswein wrote: > >From: pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com (Pete Turnbull) > > I tried booting the VT78 > from a RX02 in RX28 mode and it worked with a RX02 version of OS/8. Useful to know - thanks! > >Well, before I go that far, I might try to get 8" drives running on an old > >PC that has an XT controler which *should* do SD, I think. Can I use > >something like PUTR to create a disk that way? > > > I think so if the floppy chip supports SD. I have not tried. It might take a while to find a working permutation of PC/controller, but that might be a viable solution for me. > This is the pinout I got by buzzing out the adapter cable I made to go > from the DB25 on my RX02 to the 40 pin cable from the RX8E. > If the pinout was in a document I can't find it, I may of > gotten the pinout by buzzing out the cable in the drive. > Pins 10,11,23, and 24 are not connected in the cable from my VT78 but > pin 25 is present. I don't remember why my adapter cable has > extra pins connected. > > DB25 40 pin header > 1 3 C > 14 4 D > 2 7 E > 15 8 F Um, by your numbering scheme, 7 and 8 are H and J, not E and F. > 10 37 SS > 23 38 TT > 11 39 UU > 24 40 VV > > 12,13,25 Not connected. TT is DRV AC L and VV is RX DMA INTR L. These are the extra connections used by RX211 and RXV21 controllers, and I expect RX28 also uses RX DMA INTR L. > 40 pin connector is numbered > > 1 (A) 39 (UU) > 2 (B) 40 (VV) ObNitpick: That's the reverse of the conventional numbering; Berg connectors with letters have the red stripe at the A end, which is on the left of the pin header (looking into the pins) while all other headers which are numbered have pin 1 on the right. Merry Christmas! -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

VT78 - lots of questions

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 24, 9:30, Mike wrote: > I'm glad this thread came up. I have a WT/78. Is it the same machine as > the VT/78? And also having a RX-02 and no interconnecting cable or > software, I eagerly await the pinout specs too and have an outstanding wish > for software. As far as I know, they're the same thing, just sold with different operating software. I'm now sure I don't have the floppies that "belonged" to mine. They may be at a friend's place, but I won't be able to tell until after the holidays. So, I guess I'll have to download some from David's site, but before I do that, I'll have to figure out which PC with which floppy controller can read/write my 8" drives, and before *that* there are several other logistical problems to sort out. So it may be a while. However, I did check the RX02 printset and the RX8E Maintenance Manual, and I see that the RX8E (and RX28, RX11, and RXV11) only passes 9 signals to the M7744 (which is the microprogrammed controller in the RX02). The RXV21 and RX211 use two more: the RX DMA and RX AC signals. These 9 signals (with corresponding grounds) happen to be every second pair (pins A/B up to PP/RR) along the Berg connector so it would be logical to assume that they match the pairs, in order, connected to my D-connectors, which have exactly 18 pins fitted. I'll give it a try when I've cleared some more space. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

Old online service file areas

by gehrich＠tampabay.rr.com

At 09:59 AM 12/25/00 -0500, you wrote: >I do still have an original floppy containing a DOS client for AOL, and >something a little earlier- AOL either used to call their server PC-LINK >or PC-LINK was a seperate service offered by AOL to users of Tandy's >DeskMate software. AOL started out as Quantum Link or Q-Link and was for Commodore computers. I still have the original BETA software on 5-1/4 for my VIC-20. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- gene(a)ehrich.com gehrich(a)tampabay.rr.com P.O. Box 3365 Spring Hill Florida 34611-3365 http://www.voicenet.com/~generic Computer & Video Game Garage Sale

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Old online service file areas

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

I do still have an original floppy containing a DOS client for AOL, and something a little earlier- AOL either used to call their server PC-LINK or PC-LINK was a seperate service offered by AOL to users of Tandy's DeskMate software. But a friend who was the early AOL adopter from whom I got these disks told me that the reason he had to upgrade to a PC that was Windows- capable was that AOl was discontinuing the DOS-mode service. Whether DOS-mode meant text mode or not, I'm not sure. As to the file collections, I was a CompuServe and BIX user >from '85 to '87, and most of the CP/M stuff was the same, most of the Mac stuff was the same, etc. I can think of one notable exception that I preserved- source code for a threaded BIXMail reader, written in DigiTalk's version of Smalltalk. It was the forums that set the various services apart. I saved tons of message traffic, but I lost most of it through platform switches, crashes, early viruses, etc. I do still have some of the BIX Smalltalk forum traffic saved. What I wish I had were either printed or electronic sessions >from my days as a user of Ward & Randy's BBS... Regards, -dq > ---------- > From: Mark > Reply To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2000 8:04 AM > To: classiccmp > Subject: Old online service file areas > > Hi, > > Are the file areas or forums of any of the old online services still > accessible? I'm thinking of Compuserve, BIX, AOL and any others. > > They probably (used to) contain many files which would be useful for older > computers, but which are not available on the internet. > > A brief visit to the Compuserve web site didn't turn up anything > interesting. > Have all the old file areas/forums been deleted? Is it still possible to > access any of the online services using a text-based interface? > > > This question arose from reading the document at > http://www.dateq.net/ftp/CD-DRIVE/HITACHI/HIHELP.TXT > > That contains info on old Hitachi CD-ROM drives, including ones which use > a > proprietary interface. [Related to this, the most recent MS-DOS drivers > for > old Hitachi CD-ROM drives are available from Hitachi's USA BBS but not > their > web site. I uploaded the file to > http://home.clara.net/markk/Hitachi/8bit.zip] > > Anyway, part of the HIHELP.TXT file reads: > Filename: HIHELP.TXT > Written Feb 93 REVISED 01Jan94 10Aug94 > > For CIS distribution only - Permission required for publication > elsewhere. > > > So this file was originally available on Compuserve. Is it still there? > > > -- Mark >

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Old online service file areas

by jhellige＠earthlink.net

At 09:59 AM 12/25/00 -0500, you wrote: >I do still have an original floppy containing a DOS client for AOL, and >something a little earlier- AOL either used to call their server PC-LINK >or PC-LINK was a seperate service offered by AOL to users of Tandy's >DeskMate software. And before it was AOL, it was QuantumLink for the C-64. I believe I still have one of the QuantumLink diskettes around somewhere. Jeff ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Power Computing PowerCurve, 288mhz G3, Mac OS 9 http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757 Home Of The TRS-80 Model 2000 FAQ

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

OT Pen-Based collectables

by Innfogra＠aol.com

Just got in several pen based computers. They all seem to date from about 1995 so they are Off Topic but this is the best collectors group out there for information One is a Kalidor K2000, a very nice small ruggedized computer. I love it. This one doesn't have its power supply so I have yet to get it to power up. Does anyone know if the power connector is center positive or negative? It says it needs DC 15V, 1.3A. Any Websites? Software out there? I guess the company is out of business. Does anyone know what happened to it. Who might have bought it. There is also a Norand Pen*Key 6600 Windows that seems to be related to Intermec, the bar code people. This one had it's charging base and powers up as a DOS device. I couldn't find anything out about it but that there are new versions 6642 still avaliable..This was in Intermec's site. Any others? Software? It dates to 96 and I think has a i80486 for the processor. There is also a Dauphin with a broken glass, maybe display. I haven't looked at it yet. I found the Dauphin parts site. The fourth was a Grid 2260 that I also have powered up. It is a little rough but works. Boots to the password. Does anyone know how to get past it without a boot diskette. I haven't looked yet for websites but I think Grid stuff will be easier to find. My Surplus dealer actually got in about 4 Grids, I just brought one of them home to look at. I don't know what the others are but I suspect the same. Since this is OT please contact me off line unless it is info that all would be interested in. Thanks for the help. Paxton Portland, OR

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

VT78 - lots of questions

by djg＠drs-esg.com

>From: pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com (Pete Turnbull) >I assume that the difference between RX8E (= RXV11/RX11) mode, and RX28 >mode, is the denisty supported? ie, RX28 mode makes the drives behave as >RX02 rather than RX01? Did'nt I read somewhere that some VT78s (or was it > only DECmates?) can use RX02 mode? > For the PDP-8 it is mostly a software issue. I tried booting the VT78 >from a RX02 in RX28 mode and it worked with a RX02 version of OS/8. >Well, before I go that far, I might try to get 8" drives running on an old >PC that has an XT controler which *should* do SD, I think. Can I use >something like PUTR to create a disk that way? > I think so if the floppy chip supports SD. I have not tried. From: "Mike" <dogas(a)bellsouth.net> > >I'm glad this thread came up. I have a WT/78. Is it the same machine as >the VT/78? And also having a RX-02 and no interconnecting cable or >software, I eagerly await the pinout specs too and have an outstanding wish >for software. > >From what I understand they were basically the same thing except the ROM module that plugs on the back may support different things but I am not really familiar with the models. WD was listed as a WS with COS support. WS may only work with WPS. I didn't see a WT. Do you have anything else to write to the RX02 from? If so you can write my images, if not I can make you a copy, email me if needed. I will buzz out the VT78 floppy cable. This is the pinout I got by buzzing out the adapter cable I made to go >from the DB25 on my RX02 to the 40 pin cable from the RX8E. If the pinout was in a document I can't find it, I may of gotten the pinout by buzzing out the cable in the drive. Pins 10,11,23, and 24 are not connected in the cable from my VT78 but pin 25 is present. I don't remember why my adapter cable has extra pins connected. DB25 40 pin header 1 3 C 14 4 D 2 7 E 15 8 F 3 11 M 16 12 N 4 15 S 17 16 T 5 19 W 18 20 X 6 25 CC 19 24 BB 7 27 EE 20 28 FF 8 31 KK 21 32 LL 9 35 PP 22 36 RR 10 37 SS 23 38 TT 11 39 UU 24 40 VV 12,13,25 Not connected. 40 pin connector is numbered 1 (A) 39 (UU) 2 (B) 40 (VV)

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

OT : Merry Christmas/Newtonsday

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text Size: 385 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/20001225/27edd9af/at…

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Finite State Fantasies Book - now On-line!

by bill_r＠inetnebr.com

So long ago I had forgotten about doing it, I posted a message to this group looking for information about Richard Didday and/or Matrix Publishers/Dilithium Press. Just a few days ago, Richard e-mailed me out of the blue, responding to that message. Either he's really been stuck in the "Symbiosis Through Transmutation" device all this time, or he suddenly started reading archives of this group and saw his name. In any case, he has kindly given me permission to scan and post a sort of funky computer-cartoon book of his that was published in 1976. I reduced the size of the scans substantially to make for quicker web viewing, but if anyone wants a full-sized (300 dpi) scanned copy, let me know. To view it on-line, go to my "Historic Computer Publications" page at: http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r/historic_pubs.htm and scroll all the way to the bottom. Let me know what you think! -Bill Richman (bill_r(a)inetnebr.com) Web Page: http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r Home of the COSMAC Elf Microcomputer Simulator, Fun with Molten Metal, Orphaned Robots, and Technological Oddities.

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

PDP-11 SMD drive cabling

by dburrows＠netpath.net

>When I get the intermittent CPU problem on the 11/44 fixed, and find a >UNIBUS SMD controller, can I just attach the CDC drive to the 11/44 and >have it boot and go, or will I need to reconfigure something? That all depends on the controller in both systems. I have Emulex and Xylogics SMD controllers here and they are not interchangeable. Data is written differently. I have used Emulex in both Unibus and Qbus systems and they are compatible for data. System disks are another matter. Dan

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Switch settings

by dburrows＠netpath.net

If you look at: ftp://zane.brouhaha.com/pub/dan/emulex_uc07_08/ you will find just about everything you need. The UC07/08 is the Qbus version but the switch settings and firmware is the same for both. I have several here and use them in my test beds. If you need anything else from the manuals let me know and I will post them as well. If you upgrade your firmware to M or P it will support CD's as well. The HEX files are there as well. BTW: Thanks go to Zane for hosting this stuff for me. Dan >Another question to ask, I got an Unibus SCSI card, and I know that >it can be configured as either a tape controller or a disk controller. >Currently it is configured as a disk controller, but I would like >to know which switch settings change it into a tape controller. > >There is are 2 switch banks on the card, one with 10 switches, and >one with 4 switches, which is placed at the top. Furthermore, there >are 4 jumpers which can be set/removed. > >BTW, the card is an Emulex UC17. > >It works perfectly, yesterday I did build RSX 4.6 onto an Iomega >jazz drive. It only uses 600Mb out of the 1Gb though. > >Thanks, > >Ed > >-- >The Wanderer | Politici zijn gore oplichters. >quapla(a)xs4all.nl | Europarlementariers: >zakkenvullers >http://www.xs4all.nl/~quapla | en neuspeuteraars. >Unix Lives! windows95/98 is rommel! | >'97 TL1000S | WEG MET DE TOLPOORTEN!!

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Paging Mike McFadden

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

Mike: Could you contact me via private e-mail at: jeff.kaneko(a)juno.com? Thanks! Jeff ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

[Fwd: a JPL Christmas]

by jrasite＠eoni.com

Seeing that a number of us have either worked with these folks or *are* these folks... Best of the Season! Jim Arnott Union, OR

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Old online service file areas

by mark_k＠iname.com

Hi, Are the file areas or forums of any of the old online services still accessible? I'm thinking of Compuserve, BIX, AOL and any others. They probably (used to) contain many files which would be useful for older computers, but which are not available on the internet. A brief visit to the Compuserve web site didn't turn up anything interesting. Have all the old file areas/forums been deleted? Is it still possible to access any of the online services using a text-based interface? This question arose from reading the document at http://www.dateq.net/ftp/CD-DRIVE/HITACHI/HIHELP.TXT That contains info on old Hitachi CD-ROM drives, including ones which use a proprietary interface. [Related to this, the most recent MS-DOS drivers for old Hitachi CD-ROM drives are available from Hitachi's USA BBS but not their web site. I uploaded the file to http://home.clara.net/markk/Hitachi/8bit.zip] Anyway, part of the HIHELP.TXT file reads: Filename: HIHELP.TXT Written Feb 93 REVISED 01Jan94 10Aug94 For CIS distribution only - Permission required for publication elsewhere. So this file was originally available on Compuserve. Is it still there? -- Mark

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Lifetime of VAX NiCd packs?

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

Does anyone know the approximate lifetime of the NiCd battery on a VAX when it isn't turned on all the time? I've got several dead ones and it is irritating to set the language and boot device every time. I've tried "zapping" them, this brought one back but the other is quite dead. I've almost have enough to put together one get pack from cells in the bad ones :-) --Chuck

25 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

Old tandy 1000 keyboard 8 pin din pinout?

by claudew＠sprint.ca

Hi I am restoring a TRS80 model 2000 (1983), one of the rare machines to use an actual 80186 Intel CPU. I did not have the original keyboard. I have been told that an older 1000 keyboard (90 key type similar look to 4p keyboard) works fine as long as you make an adapter cable. I have the pin functions for the trs80 2000 5 pin din keyboard connector but not for the other end...the 8 pin male connector on the old 1000 keyboard... I looked and searched long and hard...all over...anybody got that? I am at the point of opening up the keyboard and looking at the circuit to figure out the pinout but I would like to avoid that... Thanks Claude

25 years, 7 months

47
190
0 0

VT78 - lots of questions

by djg＠drs-esg.com

>Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 14:02:58 GMT >From: pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com (Pete Turnbull) >Subject: VT78 - lots of questions > >Is there anything in particular I should watch out for when I power it up? > This is an area of discussion. The full treatment is to inspect, reform big electrolytic capacitors (put a current limited voltage on them for a while), then separately test the power supply, then attempt to power up the cards. The other is to visually inspect, apply power for a short while, and if nothing bad happened apply power longer and try to run it. >I don't have the RX01 drives that originally came with it, but I do have >the connecting cable with a D-37 connector at the VT78 end and a DB-25 at >the other end (only 18 pins fitted). I also have a set of RX02s in the >adjacent rack, and I have the RX02 print set and manuals somewhere. I >assume I can set the RX02 (M7044) switches appropriately, and use that with >an appropriate adapter cable? Anyone know the relevant VT78 pinout? > My VT78 is running off of RX02's set to RX8E mode. They also have the DB25 plug on the back which will connect directly to the VT78 cable. If yours don't I should be able to dig up the pinout if you don't run across it in one of the manuals. >Documentation: all I can find that's even vaguely relevant is the DECscope >User's manual, RX8/RX11 Floppy Disk System User's Manual, RX8/RX11 Floppy >Disk System Maintenance Manual, the OS/8 Software Support Manual, and a >FOCAL-GT/RT User's Manual. I have borrowed copies of the Small Computer >Handbook (that's the one for 8/e, 8/f and 8/m) and the PDP8/a Minicomputer >Handbook. I should have the RX02 User Manual somewhere too. What else am >I going to need, that's downloadable from the net? > I have WPS, RX02 and OS/78, and COS manuals online. I have a complete VT78 printset but I have not scanned it yet. http://www.pdp8.net/query_docs/query.shtml What is FOCAL-GT/RT? >I should have some 8" floppies, though I'm not sure what's on them because >I've not actually found them yet :-) Is there anything I should try >downloading from the net? > I have OS/78, COS and WPS images online, poke around in ftp://pdp8.net/images/ If you have a OS/8 variant on the floppy that may be able to use my disk image dump and restore programs, dumprest.zip in ftp://pdp8.net/software/ I have never actually tried to use it on the VT78, I write the images >from the 8/E. If you find you don't have any bootable floppies I can make you one. My VT78 has gotten a little finicky, it sometimes needs a couple of power cycles before it runs right. Yet another thing for the todo list. David Gesswein http://www.pdp8.net/ -- Old computers with blinkenlights

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Fujitsu M3191F2 scanner

by mark_k＠iname.com

Hi, Just within the 10-year rule, I have a Fujitsu M3191F2 flatbed scanner. Date code on the label is 1990-08. A label on the underside refers to it as an M3191C-IS. I guess this would have been pretty expensive when new. It has a SCSI interface, resolution is 300dpi greyscale. If anyone can assist with getting it to be recognised when connected to a PC via Adaptec SCSI card, please let me know. Fujitsu were of no help, though a German user manual is available on their web site. Using the Adaptec diagnostic program, the scanner is recognised. However it is not recognised under Win 95, even after rescanning the bus. On my Amiga it is not recognised initially, but is after I rescan the bus. I'd like to find a copy of the OEM manual for this scanner. BTW, I have dumped the data from all four EPROMs in the scanner (three of which were soldered directly to the board...). -- Mark

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Atari questions from non-Atari person

by jhellige＠earthlink.net

At 08:07 PM 12/20/00 -0500, you wrote: >Toad Computers (www.toad.net) sold a card for the PC that ran ST software. >I think it was called the Gemulator. I believe Toad is out of the Atari business now...the last time I checked out their website, all of the Atari stuff had been removed. I've not been up to their store in a number of years though. The 'closet' that housed the 8-bit stuff was always pretty interesting to rummage through. I never used Gemulator, which does sound correct for the name, but I did use the 8-bit emulator they sold. Does Best Electronics still sell ST stuff? They were a bit pricey the last time I looked, but they carried quite a bit. At the time when I had only FIDO access they were the only place I could find a replacement ST/STE keyboard for my MEGA. Jeff ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Power Computing PowerCurve, 288mhz G3, Mac OS 9 http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757 Home Of The TRS-80 Model 2000 FAQ

25 years, 7 months

3
5
0 0

Lifetime of VAX NiCd packs?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> >Does anyone know the approximate lifetime of the NiCd battery on a VAX when >it isn't turned on all the time? I've got several dead ones and it is The battery will be dead in about 3-4 weeks of non power. The problem with the cells is they develop internal shorts when sitting discharged. the trick of blasting them using a 100,000uf cap charged to 20-30V sometimes open those shorts. Replacement is any 3nicad pack over 100mAH that can be fitted in the available space. Nicad lifetime in use or discharged varies all over the map. Allison

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

PDP-11 SMD drive cabling

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 24, 1:58, Tony Duell wrote: > > Now then, I've got an RL02 pack labeled RSX-11M, which I'm hoping > > contains a complete RSX-11M distribution. If I can get an RL02 > > I would doubt it. From what I remmeber, RSX11M 4.x was about 3 RL02 packs or > 5 RL01 packs, or 1 RK07 pack. 3.x might be a bit smaller, but it would be > a squeeze to get it onto a single RL02, I think. You can get a working system on one RL02, you can get a minimal working system onto a pair of RX03s (double-sided RX02), you can just barely get a bootable system onto a pair of RX02s (I've done all of the above). However, the distribution comes on five RL02s, of which you need at least two (maybe three, it's a long time since I did a SYSGEN) to build a working system. 3.x is indeed smaller -- I've seen several systems with all the system required on an RL01 and user data on a second one. > > controller board for the 11/73, will there be any problem with just > > connecting one of the SMD cables to the CDC drive and copying RSX-11M The bootstrap will be different, and what you need to do will depend on what your controller emulates -- it could be multiple RL02s, a few RK06s or RK07s, or a couple of RM02s. Or possibly other things; it will depend on the controller. Even if the boot block were the same (some drive types shared the same boot block), you still need the driver and that probably isn't present on a working RL02 pack unless the original system had both types of drive. It might be on your 11/73's disks, if you have RSX on there. As for booting from "any PDP-11", no it will depend on how the system was built. It will depend on the machine having at least as much memory as the original, whether it was built "mapped" or "unmapped" (memory management), and whether it was built for separate I&D space. Other differences will probably generate error messages, but as far as I remember won't stop it booting. I'm sure someone else asked about this on the list a year or two ago; it might be worth looking through the archive. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Almost forgot...

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

Oops! Almost forgot... Amongst the available machines for my project, add the following (sorry... one is about 1 year short of being a 'classic', and none of them are VAXen). --Mid-90's vintage Pentium system, dual-CPU, 64MB RAM. --Two NCR 3300 series MicroChannel/486 systems, at least 32MB RAM each. --One NCR 3450 series MCA Dual-CPU 486 system, 64MB RAM. --One IBM PS/2-90 series, 486/50, 32MB RAM. Thanks much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 (Extra class as of June-2K) "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates to me that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma).

25 years, 7 months

6
7
0 0

VT78 - lots of questions

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 23, 14:18, David Gesswein wrote: > >From: pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com (Pete Turnbull) > >Is there anything in particular I should watch out for when I power it up? > This is an area of discussion. The full treatment [...]. Well, I would do most of that anyway, but I wondered if there were any particular gotchas. I assume not, so I'll just take normal care :-) > >I don't have the RX01 drives [...] I also have a set of RX02s > My VT78 is running off of RX02's set to RX8E mode. They also have the > DB25 plug on the back which will connect directly to the VT78 cable. If > yours don't I should be able to dig up the pinout if you don't run across > it in one of the manuals. I don't see a DB25, but Tony has said something similar, and I should be able to hack an adaptor. Thanks for the tip about RX8E mode -- that's one of the things I was wondering about. I assume that the difference between RX8E (= RXV11/RX11) mode, and RX28 mode, is the denisty supported? ie, RX28 mode makes the drives behave as RX02 rather than RX01? Did'nt I read somewhere that some VT78s (or was it only DECmates?) can use RX02 mode? > I have WPS, RX02 and OS/78, and COS manuals online. I have a complete VT78 > printset but I have not scanned it yet. > http://www.pdp8.net/query_docs/query.shtml That's extremely helpful -- thanks! I knew you had several manuals but I've not had time to browse yet. > What is FOCAL-GT/RT? All I know is what the front of the manual says: FOCAL-GT is a version of FOCAL-11 extended to use a GT40 with graphics as well as a teletype. So in fact, it's not relevant at all, as it's meant for an 11/05. It was a red herring, sorry. > >I should have some 8" floppies, though I'm not sure what's on them because > >I've not actually found them yet :-) Is there anything I should try > >downloading from the net? > > > I have OS/78, COS and WPS images online, poke around in ftp://pdp8.net/images/ Even better, since I've unpacked al the boxes and can't find any VT78 floppies. Lots of other things I forgot I had :-) but not those. > If you have a OS/8 variant on the floppy that may be able to use my disk > image dump and restore programs, dumprest.zip in > ftp://pdp8.net/software/ > I have never actually tried to use it on the VT78, I write the images > from the 8/E. > > If you find you don't have any bootable floppies I can make you one. Well, before I go that far, I might try to get 8" drives running on an old PC that has an XT controler which *should* do SD, I think. Can I use something like PUTR to create a disk that way? Thanks for the suggestions and help. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

VT78 - lots of questions

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 23, 17:27, Tony Duell wrote: > I had to do almost the reverse -- my PDP8/e is a desktop system (I don't > have a spare rack for it at the moment), and the RX01 drive is in the > tabletop case. I had to make up the cable to link the DB25 on the back > of that to the RX8e card in the PDP8. The pins used in the DB25 (and the 37-way) are arranged at one end of the connector, in such a way that I am wondering if they're arranged to be easy to crimp a matching connector onto a ribbon cable. And I seem to remember that only the alternate pairs of pins are used on the RX02's 40-way Berg. Hmm, looking at the M7744 there seem to be 11 signal lines, so that idea's not quite right. Time to dig out the print set, I think. > AFAIK, you can set the DIP switches in an RX02 so that it behaves > identically to the RX01. This shouldn't give any problems. Yes, I've found the User Manual now, and it gives the DIP switch settings for use with RXV21/RX211, RXV11/RX11/RX8E, and RX28. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Fixing a MAC SE30 "horizontal stripe" board

by claudew＠sprint.ca

Hi I accumulted about 30+ compact macs in the recent months (128ks,512ks etc...). I am in the process of restoring/fixing the most interesting ones...and keeping just maybe one of each model for my collection... Really hate to throw this SE30 board in the garbage... Just get a bunch of horizontal stripes. Replaced all surface mount caps. Some had obviously leaked. All ram good. Simm Rom good. Putting board in other functionnal Se30 case still gives me horizontal stripes. Next step is getting scope in there but I have no schematics. Perhaps someone who has fixed a lot of these boards can point me to where most problems were. Thanks for reading Claude

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Let's try this again...

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

Fellow compu-folks, While I appreciate the advice given so far, NONE of it has addressed my original question. Let me clarify a couple of things. 1). I already have a perfectly good hardware firewall/router in the form of a Zyxel Prestige 312. I do NOT need to dedicate any other system to this task. 2). My ORIGINAL question: Given the list of machines I posted earlier, which system would be best suited to which function? Here are my current thoughts on this. Mail servers: Both SPARCClassics or a Classic and that accelerated IPX I have. (Future) Web server: The NEC RISCStation 2200. Plenty of headroom to grow there. The FTP/News box: One of the MicroVAX 3's. Lots of space up front for large-capacity hard drives. The maintenance node: That Motorola MVME147 tower. Ok? Any counterpoints? Thanks much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 (Extra class as of June-2K) "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates to me that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma).

25 years, 7 months

4
3
0 0

Advice Requested (kind of long...)

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

Fellow CLASSICCMP'ers and NetBSD Port-VAX'ers, I've reached the point where I need to make some decisions, and I would appreciate some insights from those who have obviously been computing since before I figured out how to pull apart my first alarm clock. ;-) I'm getting ready to create my own 'server farm' to place the bluefeathertech.com domain on. My ultimate goal is to be dependent on Qwest (or whoever my ISP ends up being in the long run) only for: --The DSL line --DNS support --Usenet (and maybe not even that if I choose to set up a caching news server locally). I want to take responsibility for everything else, including: --Two mail servers (primary and backup) --A web server (already up and running since last summer) --An FTP system that can do double-duty as a local caching Usenet server with a LIMITED (less than 50) newsgroups (I don't have a terabyte storage array). ;-) --A "maintenance" server that can be dedicated to netbooting other systems, if need be, and that will also serve as a central recording point for logging from the other machines. Everything will run a version of NetBSD as its OS. This is not negotiable. With all this in mind, and considering I have numerous retired systems available, I'm looking for suggestions on which platform to use for which purpose. Here is what I have active now: SPARC IPC (Local DNS, intranet only). SPARCClassic, 32MB RAM, 1 gig disk -- Web server. Here are the machines I have available that have yet to be put to use. --SPARC IPX with the Weitek PowerSPARC upgrade CPU, 32MB RAM. --At least one, possibly two more SPARCClassics, 32MB RAM each (both under consideration for mail servers). --NEC RISCServer 2200, dual CPUs, 64MB RAM (Under consideration for taking over as web server at a future point). --Two MicroVAX 3's, 32MB RAM each. --DEC 3000/600 Alpha system, 128MB RAM (under consideration as a future workstation). --VAXServer 3100, 16MB RAM (can possibly go to 24). --VAXStation 3100/M38, 16MB RAM (can possibly go to 24). --ApplicationDEC dual-CPU 486 system, 16MB RAM. --DEC 5000/200 MIPS box, RAM unknown. --Motorola MVME147 tower system, RAM unknown (at least 8, possibly 16MB), under consideration for the "maintenance" node mentioned earlier. So..... which machine gets to do what? Any thoughts? I have enough SCSI disks to give all the machines a minimum storage space of between 520MB-1 gig. I do have one 9-gig Seagate that I'm reserving for the FTP/Usenet box. Thanks in advance. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 (Extra class as of June-2K) "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates to me that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma).

25 years, 7 months

6
6
0 0

VT78 - lots of questions

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

I've just got all my collection back out of storage and I'm hoping to get my VT78 up and running after Christmas. It's not been used in about 10 years (before I got it), so obviously some care and testing is going to be required first. And of course I have a "few" questions... Is there anything in particular I should watch out for when I power it up? I don't have the RX01 drives that originally came with it, but I do have the connecting cable with a D-37 connector at the VT78 end and a DB-25 at the other end (only 18 pins fitted). I also have a set of RX02s in the adjacent rack, and I have the RX02 printset and manuals somewhere. I assume I can set the RX02 (M7044) switches appropriately, and use that with an appropriate adapter cable? Anyone know the relevant VT78 pinout? Documentation: all I can find that's even vaguely relevant is the DECscope User's manual, RX8/RX11 Floppy Disk System User's Manual, RX8/RX11 Floppy Disk System Maintenance Manual, the OS/8 Software Support Manual, and a FOCAL-GT/RT User's Manual. I have borrowed copies of the Small Computer Handbook (that's the one for 8/e, 8/f and 8/m) and the PDP8/a Minicomputer Handbook. I should have the RX02 User Manual somewhere too. What else am I going to need, that's downloadable from the net? I should have some 8" floppies, though I'm not sure what's on them becasuse I've not actually found them yet :-) Is there anything I should try downloading from the net? -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

Free Computers in North Austin Texas.

by reyes＠orion.ae.utexas.edu

If you live in Austin several computers, printers, and monitors are available for free. The location is just north of the intersection of Burnet and Metric on Burnet. The stuff is located by the dumpster behind the Compass Bank building. The computers are 386 and 486 and were working when taken off line. The Monitors are VGA some are dim. Most of the printers are in the dumpster. A few SCSI drives and cables are also stacked by the dumpster. All are free if any thing is left it will be trashed Sat afternoon. What you dont want can be taken to Computer GoodWill on 183 or to "Computers-4Kids Thrift Store" on 2928 Manor Rd. in east Austin. The "Computers-4Kids" is also a good place to pick up old computers. Reuben

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Advice Requested (kind of long...)

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 22, 23:35, Zane H. Healy wrote: > On Dec 22, 22:12, Chuck McManis wrote: > >Personally if I were you I'd do my own DNS as well, especially if you're > >going to be connected 24 x 7. So what you're doing is creating your own > >"POP" (Point of Presence) > > I've got to agree here, while it's unlikely your ISP's DNS will fail, > having your own should allow for faster access I would think. I'm sure it will. If you don't want to run your own primary/secondary yourself, at least run one on the mail server(s); it will make quite a difference if you handle any volume of mail. That's why we run four: primary, secondary, and one on each of staff and student mail servers. > I see you've not mentioned a firewall, are you going to have all this > sitting naked on the internet? I *STRONGLY* recommend a Firewall running > OpenBSD!!!!!!!!!! Look at it this way, I'm a VMS type, not a BSD type, and > my firewall runs OpenBSD. Definitely! -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

3 inch floppy drive?

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> said: >"Nintendo floppy systems" > A floppy system on a Nintendo? I've never heard of one. What were they >used for? The only Nintendo devices that I've seen are the game machines >and they use plug-in ROM cartridges. In case this is not answered by the time I get the digest: Before the NES, Nintendo developed a personal computer that (I believe) only sold in Japan called the "FamiCom" or Family Computer. It had a floppy disk system available for it. The drive was powered by batteries and used a 3" yellow floppy that had the word NINTENDO embossed on it. http://www.atarihq.com/tsr/fds/fds.html Then the disk system was combined with the FamiCom to create the "Twin FamiCom". http://www.atarihq.com/tsr/odd/scans/twinfamicom.html I still have a couple FamiComs, a Twin FamiCom and a couple of the the disk systems. --Doug =================================================== Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com (work) Sr Software Engineer mranalog(a)home.com (home) Press Start Inc. http://www.pressstart.com Sunnyvale,CA Visit the new Analog Computer Museum and History Center at http://www.best.com/~dcoward/analog ===================================================

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

IBM Series/1 possibly available in MN

by vcf＠siconic.com

If anyone in the Minnetonka, Minnesota area is interested in the possibility of an IBM Series/1 mainframe, please contact me privately. I have a lead for you. Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org

25 years, 8 months

3
2
0 0

3 inch floppy drive?

by rachael_＠gmx.net

>On Fri, 22 Dec 2000, Joe wrote: > Some even reversed the +5 and +12vdc pin locations >in the power connector. (Talk about a dirty trick!) I did`nt check the pin location on a amstrad 3" externa drive as I tried to install a 3.5" floppy drive in it. Puff, the 3.5 floppy drive went up in smoke. Jacob Dahl Pind Public Pgp key available on request -------------------------------------------------- = IF this computer is with us now... = =...It must have been meant to come live with us.= = (Belldandy - Goddess First class) = --------------------------------------------------

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

3 inch floppy drive?

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Is anyone familar with the 3" floppy drives? Is that what these "http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/misc/3-inch.jpg" are? I pulled them out of a Loral 1553 bus analyzer. As you can see from the photo, a standard 3.5" floppy disk is too large for them. Do these use the same interface as the 3.5" drives? How many tracks do these support? Does anyone have a couple of 3" disks that they're willing to part with? Joe

25 years, 8 months

6
10
0 0

Snipe S/W?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 21, Aaron Nabil wrote: > If I can offer advise, use the proxy system. Enter the amount maximum > amount you are willing to pay. You have absolutely, irrevocably defused > ANY danger of sniping. If the item is commonly available through other sources, sure, I agree. But lots of stuff on eBay isn't. Rare is the "one of a kind" item, but if I see something that I've been looking for for years on eBay, my definition of "maximum" is a very subjective thing...and may have nothing to do with the "street value" of the item...it has more to do with how badly I want it, and how much trouble I'd have to go through to get it elsewhere. A good example of this is classic computers. Despite living in an area where there's either a three-letter agency or a DRMO warehouse on every street corner, PDP stuff (for example) is VERY difficult to find where I live. I'd pay several hundred bucks for a pdp11/34a in a heartbeat on eBay. Why? Because I've been looking for one for a LONG time and only recently got one locally by pure luck and the sharp eye of a good friend. You guys who are swimming in them may think I'm nuts...but you HAVE them. Get it? In other words, two points...One, sniping is an essential technique for non-mainstream items (in any category) on eBay, if your goal is to get the item. Two, the definition of "non-mainstream" frequently differs >from person to person. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

6
5
0 0

Painting a VT-100 ?

by jate＠uwasa.fi

Hello all! I'm a proud owner of two 102's and I just found a VT-100 (sans keyboard) and all of them have the same cosmetic problem ie. they're yellow. Different shades of yellow, one is mildly yellow, one is dark yellow etc. So, can anyone tell what was the original color (of the case, in case you didn't figure that out from my pretty poor English) in either approximated terms ("eye blinding white") or in something like Pantone:) I'd like to paint one of those VT's to get it as close as possible to the original color (I know you were thinking about flames and stuff when you saw the subject line. I did) I just don't know the correct shade. Re: computers and movies I think that Terminator II had a big bunch of HP 7925's blown up, they were those dishwasher sized disk drives. And WarGames had a couple of Televideo 950's (VT-100 like case but narrower). Does anyone know anything about the vector graphics used for big screens in the war room ? -- jht

25 years, 8 months

6
7
0 0

More Free Stuff

by elmo＠mminternet.com

I have at least 50 pounds of 486/ISA stuff, including a DX4/120, an AMD 586/133, four motherboards, a chassis, about 20 1M memory modules, sound cards, network cards, 4 VLB video cards (#9, C&T, Trident, etc, several 2 meg), as well as some tape drives and a CD or two available to whoever wants to pick them up in Santa Monica. You must take the whole lot. No, not all of it is 10 years old. I'm just cleaning out the closet, and my hands are just too scarred from dealing with VLB insertion/extraction.

25 years, 8 months

9
11
0 0

O/T: need some help

by mbg＠world.std.com

I know this is off-topic due to lack of age, but maybe since the company no longer exists (<sigh>), maybe it can be sortof ontopic Does anyone happen to know how compatible parts are between the Digital Hinote VP (TS31D) and another Digital Hinote VP(-535, TS30G)? I need to replace the battery, disk, cdrom and floppy for a TS30G and I have the opportunity to buy a TS31D... Thanks in advance... Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry!zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg!world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of '!' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg KB1FCA | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Snipe S/W?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 22, Aaron Nabil wrote: > I'm not sure I understand how your "very subjective maximum" at all alters > my assertion that using the proxy system entirely sidesteps the problem > of snipers. I think it is safe to say that the "maximum you are willing > to pay" is ALWAYS very subjective. > > How does bidding your maximum via the proxy system fail to defuse > snipers just becuase the item is rare? Because bidding via the proxy system means bidding your maximum ONCE. Over the course of several days during an auction, due to new information, new finds, other competing auctions etc etc, my "maximum" may change from moment to moment. Think of it as a cop-out...it's sometimes REALLY difficult to come up with a good "maximum value" and stick to it. If I want something badly enough, who knows! -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Rubber rejuvinent- Fedron

by Innfogra＠aol.com

Fedron is great. I have been using it for years. You can find it at a copier repair place. It works wonders with feed rollers but will dissolve some plastics so you want to be careful. Copier places buy it by the gallon. I just take a small bottle to them and buy like 1/2 a pint. You want a glass bottle with a good seal, it is highly volatile. A little goes a long way. I use a cotton cloth, dip a corner in the bottle and apply sparingly. Rotate the roller against the cloth. It works on inkjet feed rollers along with laser printer feed rollers. It has been a long time but I think I even used it on typewriter platen rollers, first cleaning them with alcohol to strip the ink. I usually do it outside, I don't like solvents in the house. Fedron works very well. I have no idea who makes it. Paxton Portland, OR

25 years, 8 months

3
3
0 0

Rubber rejuvinent?

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 22, 0:03, Neil Cherry wrote: > Mike Ford wrote: > > > > Any opinions on "rubber rejuvinent"? I want to give all my printers a once > > over during the holidays, and I've heard this stuff is just the ticket for > > lazy pickup rollers etc. Web searchs have shown a couple different aerosol > > products, but I think it also comes in bottles. Tomorrow I do some local > > hunting at a couple big electronics parts stores. Anybody have experience, > > or preferences? > > If you find something that works let me know my 550C has the same problem. In the printing industry, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used to deep-clean ink rollers and "blankets" on offset litho machines. It's a powerful ink solvent, and also causes rubber to swell very slightly, so it removes the glaze you sometimes get, and lifts the dents you get in the blanket as a result of a paper smash[1]. MEK works well on pickup rollers, and it doesn't harm the ozone layer. However, like many solvents, it does dissolve some common plastics (polystyrene, ABS, PVC, etc) and paint; it also leaches the oils and fats from your skin, so don't wash in it :-) Not for too long, anyway. It's also flammable. However, it's much safer than benzene, xylol, etc. It's a relative of acetone (nail varnish remover) and you can get it from print suppliers (they may call it something like blanket rejuvenator, and charge extra), lab suppliers, etc. Put some on a cloth and wipe the roller with it. I've used it on lots of printer rollers, and the carriages of daisywheel and dotmatrix printers. You don't really want to use anything that is a good solvent for rubber or rubber cement as that will end up distorting the roller or making it gummy and ultimately leave you worse off. [1] In an offset litho press, the image is transferred from an image "plate" -- a very thin sheet of metal or plastic wrapped round a large drum -- to a rubber "blanket", also wrapped round a large drum. From there, the image is transferred to the paper. If a sheet of paper gets crumpled in the press, it makes dents in the blanket, which then fails to pick up ink >from the plate in the low spots. This is called a "paper smash" or a "blanket smash". -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 8 months

4
3
0 0

Tektronix 8002 uProcessor Lab

by Innfogra＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/21/2000 6:54:03 PM Pacific Standard Time, rigdonj(a)intellistar.net writes: > I have to take a look at the CPU on this one but I'm pretty sure that > these don't use the DEC CPU. The model that uses the DEC CPU is a Tek 8560 > or somrthing like that. I have one of them too but It's not here so I can't > check the model number. > Joe is right. It is the 85XXs that used the DEC cards. I have had several of both. The 8540, 8550 & 8560 were Tektronix Microcomputer Development Labs. The 8540 hosted emulator/debugers and interfaced to VAX 780s. The 8560s were more stand alone and had an 11/23 processor. The 8561 was the Software Developing Unit and worked in combination with the integration emulator 85XX unit and a logic analyzer. To quote the 1984 Tek catalog, the 8561 had an 11/23 processor, 256K of Ram, 13.5 MB of HD, 1 Meg floppy (8"), 2 user ports and 2 printer ports. It could be upgraded to 8 users, 35.6 Meg of HD and 1 Meg of ram. It ran TNIX. The 8002 that Joe has is earlier and had been discontinued by '84. When Tek had their big Ross Dove auction here I got a truckload of this stuff. Includes were several 8002s and their associated Dual 8" floppy disk drive units, 8003s? The cards in these reminded me of overgrown S100 cards but they were tek's own. Stupidly I let my partner scrap them, not realizing it is the first units that are the ones to save. These date to the late 1970s. It reminded me of a 12 slot? S100 buss machine. The cards were about the same width but taller than S100 cards. I think the architecture was different but I never investigated. I am sorry, Joe, but I don't think I have anything left of that vintage, but I sure remember them. Paxton Portland, OR

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Rubber rejuvinent?

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Mike Ford <mikeford(a)socal.rr.com> wrote: > Any opinions on "rubber rejuvinent"? I want to give all my printers a once > over during the holidays, and I've heard this stuff is just the ticket for > lazy pickup rollers etc. Web searchs have shown a couple different aerosol > products, but I think it also comes in bottles. Tomorrow I do some local > hunting at a couple big electronics parts stores. Anybody have experience, > or preferences? Back in the 1980s the HP CEs used to carry a bottle of something called Fedron that was very aromatic and good at making rubber printer rollers just grabby enough to pull paper through. It was so good I figure it caused the hole in the ozone layer and that's why you can't find it any more. Lately I've turned up (at Fry's, surprisingly enough) a 100ml bottle of something differently aromatic called Rubber Renue. It's from M. G. Chemicals <URL:http://www.mgchemicals.com> and is their catalog number 408A-100ml. It seems to have made the rubber pads on the supply reel fingers in one of my HP 88780 drives a bit more grabby than they were, which was desired. I haven't tried it on printers yet. Fair warning, wherever you use this stuff will be pungent for a couple of days if the ventilation isn't good. It doesn't smell bad to me but your tastes may differ, and it's an eye/skin/lung irritant as well as flammable. Chemical contents are claimed to be dimethylbenzene (CAS#1330-20-7) and methyl salicylate (CAS#119-36-8). -Frank McConnell

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Rubber rejuvinent?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 21, healyzh(a)aracnet.com wrote: > I believe there is a brand called something like "Rubber Renews It", our ex > printer/plotter guy absolutly swore by the stuff. Unfortunatly he retired > last week after about 21 years of doing the job, it was *scarry* how much he > knew about printers! I think it's "Rubber ReNu"...I saw that stuff work once, years ago...it was amazing. Haven't been able to find it, though. If anyone comes across a supplier, please let me know...I'd love to add a bottle of that stuff to my bag of tricks. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

OT mailer test

by vaxman＠qwest.net

Sorry for the spam... I'm setting up a new firewall, and I'm having trouble convincing sendmail.cf to do what I want.... Cross your fingers... clint PS You'll only see this if it works, not the many trys that didn't work :)

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Snipe S/W?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 19, Ernest wrote: > I have a very low opinion of bid snipers. They're like the proverbial "bad > apples" that spoil it for everyone. I believe that most new bidders on ebay > go into it with honest intentions but they (like me) learn quickly that a > last second bid sniper will likely ruin the joy for them. Bid sniping is a ... I think you're missing the point...the notion of "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game" is something that parents say to their children to stop them from crying when they lose. It has nothing to do with eBay. For buyers, eBay is a venue for getting things that they want. For sellers, it's a venue for getting rid of things they don't want. It's not there for "enjoyment" or "fun" or anything of the sort. If there's something on eBay that you want, the effort (and money) that you expend to get it is determined by how badly you want the item. It's really as simple as that. Ernest, as a frequent sniper, I sincerely apologize to you on behalf of other snipers for ruining your experiences. But please try to see it from the other side...it's a means to an end, it's nothing personal. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

12
18
0 0

Tektronix 8002 uProcessor Lab

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 21, Tony Duell wrote: > > Does anyone have one of these or is anyone familar with them? I just > > I have something similar. > > The box with the floppy drive(s) (or maybe a Micropolis 1200 hard disk in > place of one of the floppies) is essentially a PDP11. There's a real DEC > CPU card (normally an PDP11/03, sometimes an 11/23) CPU card in there, > along with special Tektronix cards containing RAM, boot ROMs, disk > controller, serial ports, etc. The backplane has one normal DEC Q-bus > slot for the CPU and some Tektronix slots for the other cards. What?? REALLY? Damn, I passed up one at a hamfest this past summer. I really regret it now. That sounds like a really neat system. I had no idea Tek embedded DEC processors in their development systems. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

3
2
0 0

Comments? VAX pages

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

I'm trying to put together some pages on the VAX and have put them up under my computers section <http://www.mcmanis.com/chuck/computers>. One of the pages is a pricing guide for VAXen :-) Now that should start an interesting discussion :-) --Chuck

25 years, 8 months

2
2
0 0

Tektronix 8002 uProcessor Lab

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Does anyone have one of these or is anyone familar with them? I just picked one up last week. I dug through my odds and ends and found a couple of manuals for it and several boxs of TekDOS operating system disks with the Z-80 assembler and software. I scanned a picture of the system from one of the manuals at "http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/tek/tek8002.jpg". The two pieces that I have are shown at the top right. Joe

25 years, 8 months

2
2
0 0

Free DEC LA100 main board

by claudew＠sprint.ca

Hi I posted free/trade DEC stuff not too long ago. I had a taker for a DEC cdrom now I have a LA100 mainboard that will go in garbage soon if I get no replies. No idea if it works. Complete and looks ok. I have no idea if it's worth anything...not familiar with DEC stuff... Free for shipping cost from Montreal, Canada. Expect $3-5US approx. Claude

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Fwd: DEC stuff for sale, central Ohio

by jfoust＠threedee.com

An unsolicited e-mail I received today: >From: "evan stickney" <estickney(a)hotmail.com> >To: jfoust(a)threedee.com >Subject: vax >Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 09:18:57 -0500 > >Some DEC stuff I have for sale. Dear Sirs; We have the following items for sale in Central Ohio: Digital LP26 printer DEC writer VAX 11/750 TU80 tape drive RA60 disk unit/ RA 61 module DF03 modem VT125 terminal (5) RA 60 disk media 23 DEC tape II cartridges 64 tape cartridges with DEC software titles 4 Hammermill Paper boxes of documentation (27) B-300-600 ribbons I realize some of these items are bulky or in excess of 300 lbs. I will consider parting out larger units since many people just need pieces to keep theirs running. Software/documentation titles on request. I think that the tapes are good but have no way of checking.

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Old SGI's?!

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 21, 17:00, Sean Caron wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <LFessen106(a)aol.com> > To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> > Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 4:09 PM > Subject: Re: Old SGI's?! > > > > << Hmm, I dunno about reputable, I called them to try and sell them this > > stupid > > origin 200 I have an the guy was a total ass.. he asked me if the stupid > > thing was stolen.. what a moron > > >> > > > > I looked at their "reasonable" prices.. *Not*. > I guess it's all relative. Granted, SGI systems are workstations, and if > you're > looking to purchase stuff from a reseller, it's going to be rather expensive > any way you go, because they're generally geared to the sort of clientele > that will purchase and pay larger amounts of money for workstations and > workstation parts. It's hard to keep this in mind sometimes when we are > so used to getting equipment for free or extremely cheaply, but sometimes > there's that part that we just really don't have much choice for. > > I didn't mean to point anyone in the "wrong" direction. I was just > suggesting > them as they certainly have the parts, and I personally have had nothing but > positive experiences with them in the past. I second Sean's point of view. I've dealt with Reputable, as have a few of my friends, and we've always found them helpful. The prices are reasonable, especially compared to others (including private sellers) in the workstation market. If you don't like them, you could try negotiating. Will, any reasonable reseller will check the provenance of something like an O200 -- not the sort of thing you usually find privately owned. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Old SGI's?!

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

I just would like to say that I'm not saying that Reputable is necessarily a bad place, only that my experience with them did not exactly make me happy. I just don't appreciate people implying that I might have stolen a computer, that's all... Will J _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Old SGI's?!

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 21, Sean Caron wrote: > > I looked at their "reasonable" prices.. *Not*. > > I guess it's all relative. Granted, SGI systems are workstations, and if > you're > looking to purchase stuff from a reseller, it's going to be rather expensive > any way you go, because they're generally geared to the sort of clientele > that will purchase and pay larger amounts of money for workstations and > workstation parts. It's hard to keep this in mind sometimes when we are > so used to getting equipment for free or extremely cheaply, but sometimes > there's that part that we just really don't have much choice for. > > I didn't mean to point anyone in the "wrong" direction. I was just > suggesting > them as they certainly have the parts, and I personally have had nothing but > positive experiences with them in the past. I second this voice of support for Greg at reputable.com. I've had nothing but positive experiences with him as well, and his prices *are* reasonable...if you keep in mind the fact that he is a RESELLER, not a surplus organization or a college equipment dump, and he deals with lots of large corporations. It's like dealing with Black Box. You'll never get the best price >from them...but when you're in a pinch, what you need will always be on your doorstep before you wake up the next morning. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

New musuem Item

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Today I picked up a HP 3000 980/100 at auction for $45. Still have not unloaded it yet need a way to get it off the van, they loaded it with a forklift. I just have the cpu no monitor or keyboard. Anyone have spec's on this unit. John Keys

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Inquiry: Frieden 132 Electronic Calculator

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

Perhaps a quickie for the classic 'calc types amongst us: Just acquired a Frieden 132 Electronic Calculator, and while it appears to function, the screen display is somewhat distorted. It appears to be overscanning and a bit to the dim side. So, any common POF on this one? -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174 Note: the 'computergarage.org' domain is currently offline. The original 'Garage' site (URL above) is still out there and is currently being updated.

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Old SGI's?!

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 21, 10:57, Mark Green wrote: > On Dec 21, 12:27, LFessen106(a)aol.com wrote: > > Neither one has a KB, Mouse or Monitor, and although a decent SVGA works > > fine, I can't for the life of me find the KB/Mouse for these anywhere (they > > have the ps2 style connector, but are *not* ps2 compatable). Mark has answered that. All I will add is that (apart from the PS/2 keytboards and mice used on Indigo^2, Indy, O2, and later) keyboards for different 4D machines and original Indigos differ only in the plug fitted. You could try Greg Douglas at www.reputable.com or Doug Mashek (look in the comp.sys.sgi.* newsgroups; you'll find them). > > from one to the other? I read somewhere there was a prom command to > > duplicate hard drives??? Not exactly. If the drives have *exactly the same* geometry (you can check this by using the standalone fx command that may be included in partition 8) then you can use cp from the prom to copy the entire disk. Otherwise, format (only if necessary!), label, and partition the drive (using fx, either from the prom or IRIX) then do a mkfs on it, and finally you can use tar to copy one filesystem to another. IRIX tar -- at least in 5.3 and possibly in 4.0.x -- is smart enough to "do the right thing" for entries in /dev. > > Is there someone on the list willing to part with an old copy of Irix? These > > machines will only run up to 5.0.3 I think. Up to 5.3; I don't think there is a 5.0.3. 5.3 came on CDs, so start looking for a SCSI CD-ROM that can be fixed in hardware to do 512-byte blocks. Older Toshibas are excellent for this. Some Apple, Sun and DEC CD-ROM drives may work too -- there's a document at ftp://viz.tamu.edu/pub/sgi about this (and lots more). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Old SGI's?!

by LFessen106＠aol.com

<< Hmm, I dunno about reputable, I called them to try and sell them this stupid origin 200 I have an the guy was a total ass.. he asked me if the stupid thing was stolen.. what a moron >> I looked at their "reasonable" prices.. *Not*.

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Snipe S/W?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 21, Eric J. Korpela wrote: > > . I'd pay several hundred bucks for a pdp11/34a in a > > heartbeat on eBay. Why? Because I've been looking for one for a LONG > > time [...] > > I don't think this invalidates the point Aaron made. In fact it validates > it. Enter several hundred bucks for your maximum and you won't have to > snipe. If it goes above that, well, it was more than you were willing to > pay. What's the problem? If you are disappointed you didn't get it, then > you apparently didn't have your maximum set high enough. You do have a point there, I must admit. > That's usually not the goal of sniping. The goal of sniping is to get the > item for less that you think others would be willing to pay. Then again > if they really had entered their maximum, the technique wouldn't work. The > problem is that most people really don't think through what their maximum is > and are willing to change their "maximum" several times over the course of > the week. This is a VERY good point. If one is doing it for business, say, buying and selling Ciscos, it's easy to attach a dollar figure to an item. But when I do a search for "pdp* -plasma", it's sometimes difficult to figure out how much money something is worth to me. Often it even varies with my mood! > I usually bid my maximum right away. I'm never disappointed because someone > else was willing to pay more, because I am unwilling to pay more. Sniping > really doesn't buy you anything but the satisfaction of knowing you've paid > more than you were originally willing to. I assume you mean "less"? -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Old SGI's?!

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Hmm, I dunno about reputable, I called them to try and sell them this stupid origin 200 I have an the guy was a total ass.. he asked me if the stupid thing was stolen.. what a moron _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Snipe S/W?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 21, Mike Ford wrote: > When I snipe I'm not taking your candy, it was never yours. The reason I Amen! Very well said. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Box of TK50 and QD6150/6250 tapes!!>PLEASE RESPOND<!!

by rthompson＠efw.com

Do you still have the TK50s for sale? Ron Thompson Calibration / Integration Specialist EFW, Inc. 4700 Marine Creek Pkwy. Fort Worth, TX 76179 rthompson(a)efw.com

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Snipe S/W?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 21, Ernest wrote: > Oh, I know. Getting mugged isn't personal either, it's just a means to an > end. Oh good grief. > ...and like every fantasy, most of learn at a young age that there will > always be someone to ruin it for us. That's why snipping is self > perpetuating -if you know that there's going to be a jerk at the end no > matter what you do, the jerk might as well be you. Thus, the snipping > continues. Oh good grief, again. Let me guess...do you actually BELIEVE that "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game"?? The world is an unfair place. Either deal with it, or go see a shrink. It's really as simple as that. I'm not going to give up my favorite shopping venue because some idealistic fool wants to turn it into some form of K-12 entertainment. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Snipe S/W?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 20, Doug Salot wrote: > Personally, I find sniping inconvenient because to do it well requires > third-party software -- it should be built into the system. But it's just No it doesn't...all you need is a web browser. NOBODY'S connectivity is so bad that you can't get a URL out on a TCP connection in less than a few seconds... -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Snipe S/W?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 21, Iggy Drougge wrote: > But do the end justify the means? I have also found it an unpleasurable > experience to lose something which I have put a bid on in some cases several > weeks ago, only to be outbid at the very last minute, possibly when I'm at > school or fast asleep. In a real-life auction, there are the three rounds in > which you may increase your bid, giving everyone a fair chance. On Ebay, the > auctions do instead go on for weeks, and jumping in at the very end of this > time frame is really quite dishonest. Some play with their cards on the table, > whereas the snipers literally rip the thing out of your hands. It's really > annoying, and and example of very bad behaviour. Perhaps the reason why > anarchy doesn't work very well. While I do agree, and I admit that this is no excuse, I must point out that a *lot* of people snipe. It boils down to this...if you want a particular item, either snipe...or be sniped. People need to stop comparing eBay to a "regular" or "real life" (what exactly is "real life"?) auction. While eBay calls itself an "auction", it is very different from what is traditionally known as an auction. That's just the way it is. If you think this is a good thing, so be it. If you think it ISN'T a good thing...well, don't use it! As long as eBay has many happy buyers and many happy sellers (I happen to be both!) it will do fine...and anything that has happy followers will always have a group of people with sour grapes who do nothing but complain about things. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Vintage computers in movies

by mmcfadden＠cmh.edu

Can anyone tell me what kind of computers were in the movie "Colossus the Forbin Project (1969)". I found a pointer and I vaguely remember the movie, but I don't remember the computers. U.S. and Russia develop computers to control nuclear weapons, the computers take over. http://www.stanford.edu/~mgritter/colossus.html Mike mmccfadden(a)cmh.edu

25 years, 8 months

3
2
0 0

Snipe S/W?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 19, Jim Arnott wrote: > Snipe software??? Available for a Mac? If so, where? Uhh, ftp.netscape.com? The only thing one needs for effective sniping is a web browser, good connectivity, and perhaps an alarm clock. Some tips, from one of the most effective snipers I know (ME!): - Use the "sign in" feature...saves keystrokes when bidding. - Use two windows side-by-side: one on the main auction page, keep hitting "reload" to watch the countdown; one with a pre-prepared bid ready to hit "place bid". Scroll this one up a lot to minimize mouse movement distance to hit the button. - If you think another sniper is watching, it doesn't hurt to have another pre-prepared bid window ready to hit "place bid" but with a higher amount. Keep it iconified and out of the way, but keep it accessible. - Bid odd amounts...not $150.00, but $156.56. Shift to the high side of ones or cents. Often people will bid even amounts like $150.00 or slightly higher like $150.01. - Keep a running idea of network lag between you & eBay as you hit "reload" on your main auction page watching the countdown. Use this information when placing your bid. - The faster your connectivity (actually its more the latency that counts, but faster connectivity usually means lower-latency connectivity) the better off you are. I usually shoot for the last 3-4 seconds of the auction. - Know the "deep pockets" bidders. People like "at90210", "dimethyl", and "shirotori"...these folks have more money than all of us put together, and have no qualms with spending it to keep you from getting what you want if you piss them off. Don't snipe the big spenders, or you'll never win an auction again. It's as simple as that. - Know who your friends are. If you find yourself constantly coming up against the same person on stuff, send him or her some email. Get to know the other person. Try to form some sort of working relationship that facilitates communication on a per-auction basis. Decide amongst yourselves who wants or needs the item more. Concede once in a while. It's better to have friends than enemies...and sometimes those friends spot things that you may have missed. Is sniping morally wrong? I dunno, ask a priest. Is it rude? Definitely. But there are SO many people who do it, screw it. If you snipe someone and can't live with yourself afterwards, then don't snipe anymore. But if you're sick of BEING sniped, or of simply not winning the auctions that you want to win, then go for it. It's a cold, cruel world out there. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 8 months

24
60
0 0

MACLISP

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> Anybody know where I can find a MACLISP reference manual? > > (BTW, In this case, MAC refers to Project MAC (Multiple > Access Computer?), and not the cute little box from Cupertino). I have a copy of Bernie Greenburg's MacLisp manual. However, due to an on-going problem in which I sent my DECsystem-10 Commands Manual to Eric Smith for copying, and due to the fact that despite his best intentions, I still have not received it back, I'm a bit reluctant to let it out of my grasp for scanning. I'd photocopy it, but it's already a third generation copy, I think, so I'm not sure how well it would turn out. I'll bring it in to the office and give it a try... However, if anyone could get Eric Smith to actually get me my DEC manual back, I'd feel a little safer in letting it go. Bear in mind I consider Eric to honest and forthright, he's clearly just spreading himiself a little too thinly. But when things like this happen in transactions with people I meet in a public forum, I'm just unable to bring myself to take a chance again... conditionally. Regardless, if it looks like it will copy OK, I'll just send you a copy. Regards, -doug q

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

$3551 Sol???

by r.stek＠snet.net

Obviously, the "true" worth of the Sol has been realized! <g> Bob Stek Saver of Lost Sols

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Pro/Rainbow case

by Innfogra＠aol.com

The Pro 325, 350 and the 380s use the same case which is about 3 inches wider than the Rainbows. The Pro series can be upgraded by just swapping the Motherboards. They also have an interior upright cardcage for the accessory cards. I think this is why they need the larger case. In the Rainbow the accessory cards lay parallel and on top of the Motherboard. Both use different floor stands that look alike but are different sizes. Paxton

25 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Pro/Rainbow case

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

I can be 100% certain that my Pro 325 is in the large case (same length as the desktop BA23 pretty much). And the Rainbow and Pro 350 that I have seen were in the same size case.. I dunno if I saw a 380 or not, but if Emanuel has one then I've seen it and it would live in the same case also... If anyone has manuals and software for the 325 let me know, I have none and am about to deepsix it due to frustration. Will J _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

First computer singing

by vcf＠siconic.com

In case anyone has never heard this before: http://vortex.com/rmf/daisy.ram Bell Labs IBM 7094 Sings Daisy Requires RealPlayer, which sucks horrifically. *** Does anyone know of a way to download and save streaming RM files and then convert them to another format? *** Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org

25 years, 8 months

7
14
0 0

Need TU10 Vacuum Sensors

by cube1＠home.com

I have a TU10 that has worked, generally, for the 10 years since I got it. However, earlier this year it failed, with problems during the load sequence. I have traced the problem to failed (and nearly failed) vacuum sensors. The two "fail safe" sensors at the bottom of the two columns had both failed (I suspect because during operation they were always in a low pressure state), and one of the other sensors near the bottom of one column had also failed. I suspect at least one more failure is imminent. (The test is easy: if you can suck air thru it, its bad. ;-) I suppose there is some kind of diaphragm in there which gets a hole it in when it breaks). I was able to pull some from a DG tape drive, but clearly I need either find a good supply of good ones, a supply of equivalents, or learn how to repair the buggers (seems unlikely). I have two different (presumably equivalent part numbers) for it: The original part is: Fairchild P/N PSF 100A Another (probably replacement) is: Micro Pneumatic Logic, P/N MPL 503. (These guys still exist! So I am sending them an e-mail. But new ones are bound to be pricey). Thanks in advance for any help. Jay --- Jay R. Jaeger The Computer Collection cube1(a)home.com visit http://members.home.net/thecomputercollection

25 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

test-drb