I had a customer who plugged in his IDE cable's middle connector (HDD one
end, motherboard on the other) into the sound board's IDE pins, because "it
looked like it fit."
Some people will do ANYTHING!
manney
----------
> From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
> To: Manney
> Subject: Re: Video connectors (was: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0
> Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 10:40 PM
>
>
> <example, certainly is. I'm not saying we don't need 15 pins; I say we
ne
> <15 THICKER pins, and since this connector is typically the only connecto
> <on the back of a VGA adapter, there's plenty of room.
>
> Par of the resoning was that it should have a connector that is not like
> any other. if it were a standard db9 or db15 you'd have people plugging
> into the serial port screaming it don't work. It's bad enough that you
> have people that will force things no matter what.
>
> Allison
>
In a message dated 98-02-04 13:25:22 EST, you write:
<< Hi. There's this guy, in Bahrain, who's got a PS/1 386 2MB RAM, that's
been
"sitting in his closet." Now, he wants to know what it would be worth. I
want to know what it'd be worth, too. (There's going to be arguements....
I'm sure.) Anyway, condition is currently unknown, but assumed in working
condition. >>
post the model number and i can give more info about it.
david
I recently purchased an Altair 8800b from the original owner. He told me
that last he used it (1984?), he was having trouble reading from the disk
drive, and he was sure that it needed alignment. Apparently an alignment
disk is required.
I suspect an oscilloscope as well.
I have two questions;
1) Can someone explain the process of aligning a disk drive, what is out of
whack, and how tricky it is for a rank electronics amateur like myself
2) Where can I obtain an alignment disk, if required.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the drive is an 8", the Altair model that has the
same basic case and look of the Altair itself. This repair is one of the (I
suspect) many that will be required to bring the Altair back to life.
I've managed to get it (almost) firing up during the self-test stage, but
one of the address lines doesn't behave (the light doesn't come on on A2
when I flick the switch that should light all of them, yet the light is
operational at other stages). I'll get to that one later.
Looks like a long, slow process. But worth it, no?
Cheers
Andrew
>
>I thought the multiplexed NeXT "Zilla?" used the SCSI ports...
>
Zilla's copyright 1990, (so off-topic, please excuse me.). It uses regular
ethernet networking. It's on my NeXT, but I've got no further information
and no contacts about it. (If anyone else does, please contact me by email.)
- Mark
(I can remember the simpler functions (multiply, divide & the
> like) but how to use the thing for calculus & whatnot I'm sure has
> "slipped" my mind... (lame) Pun intended ;^>
Lame is right -- you're slipping.
You can'y use 'am for calculus...you must be thinking of trig.
>
> And tho we did have some TRS-80 Model 4's (and an old IBM Series/1) in
high
> school, I did use it occasionally during geometry / algebra class when
> necessary -- took it to college a few times to, but just to watch people
> gawk... ;-)
I went through Navy Nuclear Power School in '76, and they were
required...even tho' calculators were cheap, then.
Texas Instruments was naming some of their calculators "SR" (for Slide
Rule) up until the mid-80's, at least. My first one was the SR-10...the LED
"wedge". $110, IIRC
Was that TI's first?
manney
The manual/documentation I have gives a procedure you can follow (manually
flipping the switches all the way) which is a self-test. Following the
procedure you can check if your 8800b is working correctly. Using this
procedure I tracked down several problems (loose wires to fron panel) but
still have the address light problem.
I'll track down the procedure and explain further, if there is any interest.
I appreciate the comments about the alignment problem, and can see how
basically I should be concentrating on the Altair first. So thats what I'll
do.
More soon.
Andrew
-----Original Message-----
From: Allison J Parent <allisonp(a)world.std.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Thursday, February 05, 1998 4:24 AM
Subject: Re: Altair 8800b + drive alignment
><From CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Wed Feb 4 11:40:41 1998
>
><> This repair is one of the (I
><> suspect) many that will be required to bring the Altair back to life.
><> I've managed to get it (almost) firing up during the self-test stage
><
><"self-test stage"? Is this a turnkey model with a boot in ROM,
><or not?
>
>ALTAIR 8800b (with altair disk controller) used a boot program or a boot
>rom card and DID NOT have anything resembling PC self test(or any
>diagnostics).
>
>Allison
>
>
<From CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Wed Feb 4 11:40:41 1998
<> This repair is one of the (I
<> suspect) many that will be required to bring the Altair back to life.
<> I've managed to get it (almost) firing up during the self-test stage
<
<"self-test stage"? Is this a turnkey model with a boot in ROM,
<or not?
ALTAIR 8800b (with altair disk controller) used a boot program or a boot
rom card and DID NOT have anything resembling PC self test(or any
diagnostics).
Allison
<I keep an 8" floppy disk in the front of my store to amaze people ("Jus
<fold it twice and stick it in your drive...it holds a lot!")
<
<Just how much do (did?) they hold? (I'm sure there were different data
<densities...just a range is all I want!)
standard single sided single density was 128bytes*26 sectors*77 tracks
or 256k.
The high end is double density two sided and around 1mb.
Allison
I used to support these machines but its been a while. i think the hard drive
is proprietary, but i do remember someone somewhere mentioning adding a really
big hard drive and getting it to work. send me another notice via private mail
reminding me, and i will check on it when i get back to work.
david
In a message dated 98-02-04 00:20:43 EST, you write:
<< Yes, its a 2011-c34. I have no problem booting from the rom. I hear
the hd spin up but then it slows down again and the light stays on. I
get a 1701 error and an indication to press f1. After pressing f1 the
computer boots from either the floppy or the rom.
I wish I could have made backups first but it was doa when I got it. Do
you know if the parts (hd floppy) are interchangeable with ps/2
hardware?
Thanks for the software source tip. >>
<>They may work muost just pull the 360k drives from an XT.
<
< Aren't SA 400's single density? XT drives are Double Density. Yes,
<they'll probably work but the media wouldn't be interchangable.
Sa400 would do FM (single density) and MFM (double density). the 360k
drive also do single density. It's the 1.2m 5.25" drives that are weird.
< Do you have the old NS* software that will run on the Alrair?
By default yes.. and no. The stuff will run on an altair but the IO
which is personalized for my NS* with it's two serial ports. there
is no way I can personalize it for the altair as I have no clue of the
IO (serial boards used and their addreses). The NS* motherboard
(backplane) has two serial ports and a parallel port plus a few
other useful things so their configurations were easier to be certain
of. You need to track down a set of NS* manuals or copies.
FYI: NSdos requires a minimum 16k of ram starting at 2000h it does not
use ram below 2000h (or care). Also it assumes the ports start at 00
and the port devices are 8251s with hard jumpered baud rates.
If you are going to configure an altair you need manuals, more manuals
and it doesn't hurt to be able do digital design to understand what they
did. You see the docs with early altairs were not amoung the best. Most
of what you may need to know often had to be extracted from the printsets
by understanding the logic. then you have the non-altair boards plugged
in that manuals are very handy for too. If the boards require extra or
specific software (some terminal interface or video display boards) the
hadware and software manuals may be needed.
Allison
<1) Can someone explain the process of aligning a disk drive, what is out
<whack, and how tricky it is for a rank electronics amateur like myself
It's tricky as you will need a good scope and the alignment disk and know
how to use both. also getting the alignment disk after so many years will
be a challenge.
<Oh, I forgot to mention, the drive is an 8", the Altair model that has th
<same basic case and look of the Altair itself. This repair is one of the
<suspect) many that will be required to bring the Altair back to life.
Before you align anything check to see if the head is clean and the head
load pad(felt) is there and intact.
<I've managed to get it (almost) firing up during the self-test stage, bu
<one of the address lines doesn't behave (the light doesn't come on on A2
<when I flick the switch that should light all of them, yet the light is
<operational at other stages). I'll get to that one later.
I'd check the switch (may be dirty contacts from age). then follow the
logic as it may be a poor contection or a bad chip.
<Looks like a long, slow process. But worth it, no?
Shouldn't be that bad. the altair 8800B was a later machine and far
better/different than the 8800 or 8800A. Of the Altairs it was the
industrial strength version. What will help your task is having
documentation (a must for any old machine!). It wouldn't hurt if you
have a techie near you that is familiar with old s100 hardware as a
PC kid genius would not have a clue.
Allison
At 03:34 PM 03/02/98 -0800, you wrote:
>"CP/M" machine is pretty vague. 8" floppy? 5.25" floppy? 3.5" floppy?
>
Sorry, it's for a Kaypro 4, which is 5.25" (i think)
>
>*Which* long filenames? CP/M is 8.3, too!
>
Sorry again, I am not familiar with CP/M. I was told however that when he
(the one with the Kaypro 4) tried to convert files before, the CP/M <-->
DOS <--> Mac conversion truncated his files, I must have misinterpreted
this to mean filenames :(
Thanks however for the link to the CP/M <--> DOS conversion utility, it
is much appreciated :)
ah yes, the first ps1 series to come out. i presume its a 2011-c34 or m01. you
might want to try this trick:
with the machine off, press and hold down both mouse buttons, then power on.
when it posts, let the buttons go. that will force an autoconfig, and make it
boot from rom again. that trick works on all ps1 models. you shoulda made your
disk backups when it was running, but too late now. you can still order the
core software from ibm. i think it's ~$45. ring the helpcentre at 800.772.2227
david
In a message dated 98-02-03 16:55:21 EST, you write:
<< I recently came into possession of a PS/1 model 2011. (I believe that
this was one of the initial PS/1 models). It has a '286 processor and
30 meg harddrive. Unfortunately, the harddrive seems to be DOA (1701
error on boot up). The system will boot up to a 4 quadrant screen from
the rom. I have downloaded the programs from IBM to switch the boot
sequence to the floppy, but I cannot access any of the software that
came with the system (MS Works et al.). The docs seem to imply that I
can create a diskette version to run the software, which would be great
if I had the original diskettes.
So I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that I could get a copy of
the diskettes that came with this system?
Thanks, >>
>If that works, you're lucky; if not, it's time for the needlenose pliers,
>at which point the game becomes "straighten one pin without bending
others."
Actually, that's why I choose a screw driver. It's small enough that I
don't worry about getting two pins, just the one that I want fixed. It's
worked 10 or so times, no problems, 10 min. MAX for each, usually no more
than 2 or 3.
>Now that you've said that -- how about a Centronics-type connector, with
>the female end on the end of the monitor cable, and the male end recessed
>into the card bracket, where it would just be another feature connector of
>sorts? This exact combination, when used for parallel printers or external
>SCSI, is almost indestructible.
That would work. Also, current monitors would be able to use it. You could
even have a little plug-in thing for current monitors/video cards, with no
re-design needed. I don't think that I've got the power to pull this off,
but I do know a guy at Diamond MM, reviewing products for my web site.
Ciao,
Tim D. Hotze
I recently came into possession of a PS/1 model 2011. (I believe that
this was one of the initial PS/1 models). It has a '286 processor and
30 meg harddrive. Unfortunately, the harddrive seems to be DOA (1701
error on boot up). The system will boot up to a 4 quadrant screen from
the rom. I have downloaded the programs from IBM to switch the boot
sequence to the floppy, but I cannot access any of the software that
came with the system (MS Works et al.). The docs seem to imply that I
can create a diskette version to run the software, which would be great
if I had the original diskettes.
So I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that I could get a copy of
the diskettes that came with this system?
Thanks,
--
Dan Rector
email: rector(a)usa.net
At 02:39 AM 1/30/98 -0500, you wrote:
>> Have you ever seen a Zenith "MiniSport"? Uses 2" floppies? I found
[...]
>do its upload and you've got at least one disk, you can probably
>(don't count on it, but probably) attach a parallel Zip drive).
Question: when did parallel ports become bi-directional (i.e., useable for
zip drives and such)?
Or, to put it another way, how likely would I be able to (ignoring software
issues for the moment) hook up my new SyJet drive to say, my m100? What
about my DG-1?
(P.S., off-topic tip: The Parallel port SyJet is really a SCSI-2 SyJet
with a fancy cable; if you've already got SCSI, and can maybe use the
Parallel port feature...)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
David Williams - Computer Packrat said:
>Also, I picked up a TRS-80 Model 4, again with out manuals or
>software. I have some software for the model 1 but can someone send
>me LDOS or other OS for the Model 4?
You can get LDOS with documentation and other Misosys software on
Tim Mann's TRS-80 page at
http://www.research.digital.com/SRC/personal/mann/trs80.html#down
or Stefan's Old Computer Stuff page at http://www.xs4all.nl/~rimmer/trs/trs.html
=========================================
Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com
Senior Software Engineer
Press Start Inc.
Sunnyvale,CA
Curator
Museum of Personal Computing Machinery
http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum
=========================================
>Agreed, "with care." But too much care for the average user. Even I, who
>like to think I know what I'm doing, repeat the mantra "Never jam in a VGA
>connector no matter what" whenever I have the D-shell in my hand, just to
>slow myself down properly.
Actually, I've jammed the $^\&* things a few times myself. The solution
(that I've come up with) is get a screw driver, (flathead) and then push it
up and straighten it out. I've done the same thing with IDE connectors. I
used the same solution, but instead of trial and error for getting them
strait, I would get it straiter, then put an IDE cable into ONLY the damaged
area, straiten it out a bit, see if it works, then try again.
>But it's not a simple ENOUGH solution because, when I'm in the field and
>detaching a monitor from its computer, 50% of the connectors I look at have
>one pin bent in an L and jammed against the inner wall of the shell. The
>design isn't adequate to real-world use, is my point -- whereas a DB9, for
>example, certainly is. I'm not saying we don't need 15 pins; I say we need
>15 THICKER pins, and since this connector is typically the only connector
>on the back of a VGA adapter, there's plenty of room.
Why not move away from this type of pins all together? Sure, it would cause
major monitor incompatibility, but VGA type connectors are aging rapidly,
and with new LCD monitors, the SVGA interface is reaching it's limits.
Maybe something like a ethernet-type connector, or, as you said THICKER
pins. Maybe switch the male-female part of this, with female-connector
monitors. And, re-align the pins so that you can use a correctly configured
(with the M-F type connectors, etc.) EGA, or CGA monitor.
>Coming Spring '98: The Windows 98 Bible by Kip Crosby and Fred Davis!
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Keep me updated. Of course,
MS wouldn't talk to me about reviewing it's products for my web site. :-(
Does anyone know of a conversion utiliy which will convert files from a
CP/M machine to Mac format? There is someone here willing to part with his
Kaypro 4 but needs to convert his old files first. I know there is a
conversion utility for CP/M to DOS, which then can be converted to Mac, but
then you would lose all the long filenames. A CP/M to Mac would be
preferable, any ideas?
So I have this DEC VT320 terminal in front of me and it does work (very
nicely, if I do say so). But what has me disturbed is the serial output
port on this thing - it's the stranges port I've seen. Like a phone jack
only not quite. And before I spend something like $50 on a cable, can
anyone tell me what the pin outs are?
-spc (Oh, and is it RS-232 even?)
I've started scanning photos of my collection, and want to build the web
pages for each machine. Unfortunately, I don't know everything about all
of them; so I'm asking for help. Here are the machines I've scanned so far:
Altima 2
Apple Macintosh Portable
Atari Portfolio
Data General One
Epson HX-20 Laptop
Grid GridCase3
Hewlett-Packard Vectra LS/12
IBM PC Radio
NEC PC8201A
NEC PC8401A "Starlet"
Radio Shack Model 100.
I'm looking for any info, specs, anecdotes, whatever you might know of
regarding these machines. Specifically, the specs I want to list (and I'm
open for suggestions on other info) include:
{mfr} Manufacturer
{location} Mfr's Location
{model} Model Number
{processor} CPU used
{opsys} Operating System(s)
{bits-int} bits, internal to CPU (ex: 8088 = 16b internal)
{bits-data} bits, external to cpu (ex: 8088 = 8b databus)
{ram-min} Minimum RAM
{ram-max} Maximum RAM (per Mfr)
{rom} Amount of ROM
{input} Type of input devices
{display} Display size/type
{stor-cas} Cassette Storage
{stor-fdd} Floppy Drives
{stor-hdd} Hard Drive
{expansion} Expansion Capabilities
{intro} Year introduced
{discon} Year discontinued
{cost} Intro price
{size} Physical Size
{weight} Weight
{power-volt} Power Supply Voltage
{power-conn} PS Type of connector
{power-polar} PS connector polarity
{notes} Other info
If you know of any online resources, please forward the URL's as well.
Thanks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
Hi!
I was just offered (possibly at a small cost - we didn't discuss any
prices) a very large collection of Atari computers (800, 800xl, etc),
plus manuals, books, software, peripherals and everything else you can
probably imagine. However, I already have four Ataris of different sorts,
so I thought someone else might appreciate it more (although, if you do,
I may be interested in a couple of items *grin*). Anyway, as the
collection is in Melboune I thought it might be of the most interest to a
Melbourne collector, and I don't know any. Is anyone interested? Let me
know and I can pass the phone number on to you.
Adam.
But, of course, MY PGA did. I've got a question I've been dying to ask: Why
the heck do (S)VGA montiors have 3 sets of pins, and "older" monitors only
have 2? I mean, the increased performance, for sure, but so many of the
pins are "not used", or used for an odd purpose. Why not say put in 2
differnet plugs of 2 rows each, so that I could use my *surely* functional
SVGA when testing out old computers?
Thanks,
Tim D. Hotze
-----Original Message-----
From: Kip Crosby <engine(a)chac.org>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)
>At 18:44 2/3/98 +0300, you wrote:
>>Isn't PGA Pin-Grid-Array? (It's probably wrong, but hay....)
>
>Na-na-na. Professional Graphics Adapter, IBM's "other" attempt (besides
>8514/a and XGA) at expensive design-grade video. It never went anywhere,
>much.
>
>__________________________________________
>Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org
> http://www.chac.org/index.html
>Computer History Association of California
>
>
At 09:08 2/3/98 -0800, Kai Kaltenbach wrote:
>PGA is a three-card sandwich, not two...
Mmm, no wonder it was so pricey. How many slots did it take?
__________________________________________
Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org
http://www.chac.org/index.html
Computer History Association of California
Hi,
Recently I picked up an EEPROM programmer (An Elan Universe 1000 to be
precise) and I want to use it read and save the contents of the EEPROMs
in my old computers. There is a small LCD display on the programmer
>from which I can select various output formats, and I was wondering
which ones are the best / most popular? The format are:
Tek Hex
ASCII Hex Space
Binary
Motorola S Rec
Intel Std & 8086
Elan Fuse Map
Jedec
Mos Tech
Texas Tags
Also any specifications for the above formats would be much
appreciated.
Again through the LCD configuration options it seems that the programmer
can be remotely controlled using the following formats:
Chessels
Philips PMDS
Intel MDS
Elan Easycom
I have searched the Web but found nothing on these protocols. Can any
body help me?
Many thanks.
--
Kevan
Old Computer Collector: http://www.heydon.org/kevan/collection/
At 12:30 03-02-98 -0500, William Donzelli <william(a)ans.net> wrote:
>
>Just because the sticker says 30 amps does not mean it will draw that
>much! In general, those ratings are worst case (a fully blown system), and
>includes some safety factor (as well as some surge).
Oh I already knew that, William. A 30A breaker works out fine to handle the
six 9332 DASD units (IBM's accronym for these type of hard disks for some
of you other observers), 9345 tape drive, rack power controllers and the
9370-60 CPU.
>
>For example, the ex-NFSnet RS/6000s are rated for 240V @ 20 amps, but in
>their current state (loaded with memory, one DASD shelf), they only suck
>about two amps!
>
>Do not be suprised if that 9370 only sucks a few amps.
Can't recall exactly, but total draw was about 11 to 12 amps or so when I
checked last fall before I put the system to bed while we were shopping for
a house. 30A dual-pole breaker was on hand and turns out to handle surge
okay. I have done industrial wiring at work as part of my engineering
responsibilities so have experience with handling stuff like this.
Still dumped alotta heat! :-) We got cheap electricity in this town. $0.036
per KWH vs. about $0.08 or more per KWH outside of the area.
Can't wait to work more with the system later this year if the wife has no
additional remodeling in the new house for me to do :-(
-- --
=======================================================
Christian Fandt Phone: +716-488-1722 -Home
111 Harding Avenue +716-661-1832 -Office
Jamestown, New York Fax: +716-661-1888 -Office fax
14701-4746 USA email: cfandt(a)servtech.com
And it sucked!!!!!!!!!!
As for QuickBasic for DOS, it ended with version 4.5... sort of.
There was a professional version, called PDS, which ended at version 7.1
-Matt Pritchard
Graphics Engine and Optimization Specialist
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Withers [SMTP:bwit@pobox.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 12:29 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: Visual Basic for DOS?
>
>
> There actually was a Visual Basic for DOS product. It was very much
> like
> Visual Basic V1 execpt that everything was in character mode. It
> supported
> menus, listboxes, comboboxes, and like like without graphics.
>
> Bob
>
> At 04:56 PM 2/1/98 -0800, you wrote:
> >Max,
> >
> >There was a Microsoft QuickBasic for DOS. I believe it got up to at
> >least version 4.0. I used it long ago on a project or two.
> >
> >You probably can find a cheap (~$20?) copy of this at some used
> software
> >store, like Half Price Software.
> >
> >Dave
> >
> >Max Eskin wrote:
> >>
> >> It is my understanding that there was once a (Microsoft?) Visual
> Basic
> >> for DOS. Was it like VB for Windows, and was it any better than
> QBasic?
> >> If someone has a copy, could they let me (ahem) borrow it?
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________
> >> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> >Attachment Converted: "c:\program files\eudora\attach\vcard5.vcf"
> >
Someone said they would post it at an FTP site,and I lost the email
address; would the person email me?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
i decided to make a run for old computer stuff and i'm glad i did. i managed
to find the apple //c lcd display in its original box. used, but in good
shape. price? $3.18
no printed material came with it. i also saw a complete tandy 1000, a never
used colecovision with steering wheel, imagewriter 1, apple //c, //c 9 inch
monitor, apple 300/1200 modem in box, //c mouse never used, and //c disk drive
and some apple laserwriter carts. i may go back for some of the other goodies.
i might consider trades for the lcd.
david
It is my understanding that there was once a (Microsoft?) Visual Basic
for DOS. Was it like VB for Windows, and was it any better than QBasic?
If someone has a copy, could they let me (ahem) borrow it?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
PGA is a three-card sandwich, not two...
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Kaneko [SMTP:Jeff.Kaneko@ifrsys.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 8:07 AM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)
>
>
> It seems like it means "Professional Graphics Adapter"
>
> Hmmm.
>
> -Jeff
>
>
> > Isn't PGA Pin-Grid-Array? (It's probably wrong, but hay....)
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jeff Kaneko <Jeff.Kaneko(a)ifrsys.com>
> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> > <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> > Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 6:39 PM
> > Subject: Re: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)
> >
> >
> >
> > You sure this isn't PGA?
> >
> > > I'm sure my 3270pc handles a "better" quality CGA. It just looks like
> > > EGA, thought it was... It was running a version of Norton Utes and it
> > > was just beautiful turquoise blue set and clear characters.
> > >
> > > I'd have to think this was better than CGA, especially since it took
> two
> > > coupled long cards to run the video...
> > >
> > > -Mike
> > >
> >
> >
> >
I asked about the mass of the thing, just to dream about shipping it. 6 boxes, 250 kg's or so apiece (over a ton). It's a fairly large system, eh?
Aaron
From CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Tue Feb 3 07:40:40 1998
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From: John Foust <jfoust(a)threedee.com>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: RED ALERT! FREE VAX Cluster needs rescue!
Mime-Version: 1.0
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X-Cc: hulbertj(a)msoe.edu
X-Sender: jfoust@pc (Unverified)
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
Status: R
>To anyone interested, my school is looking to make the old VAX cluster
>disappear. It consists of two MV3600's, several racks of RA81/82's, one
>MVII, and a TU-something-or-other.
How large is all this equipment, in square and cubic feet? What sort
of power does it take? Anything particularly interesting or novel
about this system? MicroVAX III circa 1987, KA650 processor, QBUS,
~32 meg RAM, RA-82s are ~600 meg, VMS 5.x? Roughly 2.8 VUP?
Main unit, rack-mount half-height? Maybe a TU-81+, half-height rack tape?
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
>It was thus said that the Great Allison J Parent once stated:
>>
>> <just typing a B to the prompt would do it, or B <bootstrap device> such
>> <as
>> <B CSA0 ,,, Allison'd probably know better on this...
>>
>> You have three bootable devices...
>>
>> B DUA0 *RD5x in the box, never seen one external but it can be done.
>> B MUA0 or 7 *tk50 tape I forget the device number as it's slow.
>> B XQA0 *boot via eithernet. It was possible to run them diskless.
>>
>> B does the default device first (dua0) then tape then eithernet.
>
> Does this also apply to the uVAX 2000 (or are they in fact the same
>thing?) Also, do you have the specs about the boot protocol over the
>eithernet?
It does, assuming you use the right device name for the Ethernet.
There is a MOP demon for Linux that some NetBSD folks have used to boot a
2000 diskless; you could look into that for info about the boot protocol.
Roger Ivie
ivie(a)cc.usu.edu
Hello to the list members. I've just joined you.
Based in Australia, I have
Altair 8800b (don't ask the price!)
Kaypro II (found today - $30)
Exidy Sorcerer x 2 ($25)
Ohio Scientific Challenger 1P board (free)
Dick Smith Wizzard (aka. CreatiVision) ($10)
Sinclair ZX80 ($1)
Sinclair ZX81 ($1)
Sinclair Spectrum (trade for a slide rule)
Atari 800 + 810 (well my Mum has it, but I'm working on that)
Although not a big collector of the older computers, I am in general an avid
collector of smaller computing devices such as slide rules and calculators.
I'd like to announce my web-sites on these subjects...
Museum of Soviet Calculators
http://www.comcen.com.au/~adavie/slide/calculator/soviet.html
Slide Rule Trading Post
http://www.comcen.com.au/~adavie/slide/
My intent in joining, however, is to share my resources (boxes of software
for Exidy Sorcerer - but I can't load any of it - no working drive!) and
perhaps utilise the brain pool of this list to help me get my Altair up and
running, and also enable my Kaypro II to boot to anything but <System?> I
also have manuals for about 10 different Kaypro packages - email me for
list.
In any case, I was pleased to accidentally stumble on this list, and
fervently hope it is still an active one. I do welcome private
communications, but would generally prefer discussion on the list for the
benefit of all.
Cheers
Andrew Davie
> <just typing a B to the prompt would do it, or B <bootstrap device> such
> <as
> <B CSA0 ,,, Allison'd probably know better on this...
>
> You have three bootable devices...
>
> B DUA0 *RD5x in the box, never seen one external but it can be done.
> B MUA0 or 7 *tk50 tape I forget the device number as it's slow.
> B XQA0 *boot via eithernet. It was possible to run them diskless.
>
> B does the default device first (dua0) then tape then eithernet.
That's B ESA0 for the Ethernet. But if he can't type, he can't enter any of
those commands. I don't know what the various failure modes of an LK201
look like (none of mine have failed), so I can't say offhand what's wrong
with the keyboard. I would first try swapping it (since I have plenty of
them lying around) and, failing that, going for a serial console.
Also, the ? on 7 indicates some sort of problem with the disk controller.
Roger Ivie
ivie(a)cc.usu.edu
Isn't PGA Pin-Grid-Array? (It's probably wrong, but hay....)
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Kaneko <Jeff.Kaneko(a)ifrsys.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)
You sure this isn't PGA?
> I'm sure my 3270pc handles a "better" quality CGA. It just looks like
> EGA, thought it was... It was running a version of Norton Utes and it
> was just beautiful turquoise blue set and clear characters.
>
> I'd have to think this was better than CGA, especially since it took two
> coupled long cards to run the video...
>
> -Mike
>
>To anyone interested, my school is looking to make the old VAX cluster
>disappear. It consists of two MV3600's, several racks of RA81/82's, one
>MVII, and a TU-something-or-other.
How large is all this equipment, in square and cubic feet? What sort
of power does it take? Anything particularly interesting or novel
about this system? MicroVAX III circa 1987, KA650 processor, QBUS,
~32 meg RAM, RA-82s are ~600 meg, VMS 5.x? Roughly 2.8 VUP?
Main unit, rack-mount half-height? Maybe a TU-81+, half-height rack tape?
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
<From: Captain Napalm <spc(a)armigeron.com>
<> You have three bootable devices...
<>
<> B DUA0 *RD5x in the box, never seen one external but it can be don
<> B MUA0 or 7 *tk50 tape I forget the device number as it's slow.
<> B XQA0 *boot via eithernet. It was possible to run them diskless
<>
<> B does the default device first (dua0) then tape then eithernet.
<
< Does this also apply to the uVAX 2000 (or are they in fact the same
<thing?) Also, do you have the specs about the boot protocol over the
<eithernet?
VS2k, uV2k and MV-II and a bunch of others. However if you have the
manual....RTFM comes to mind. :)
The NI boot protocal for small vaxen is MOP, to explain that requires a
book...come to think of it you may have that in your book.
Allison
>>Is it some kind of "Super CGA" that wasn't really supported by anyone?
>
> I know some game companies "tweaked" certain memory registers or something
> so that standard CGA could do 320x200x16 colors, but as far as I'm aware,
> there was only 320x200x4 and 640x400x2 for CGA, 640x400x16 for EGA, and of
> course 320x200x256 for MCGA. (The latter was what my Compact IBM PS/2 Mac
> wannabe had)
I never heard of 320 x 200 x 16 for the CGA - I seem to remember 160 x
200 x 16 - surely it would not have had the memory for the other?
The CGA never did 640 x 400 x 2 that I ever heard of - I assume that was
a typing error for 640 x 200 x 2.
The EGA did 640 x 200 x 16 on a CGA monitor, 640 x [was it 400 or was it
350] x [a number of colours dependent on the memory installed] on an EGA
monitor, and even did 640 x 350 x 3 (I think) on an MDA monitor.
I also once saw a demonstration on a CGA card that changed colours in
real time faster than the scan rate and so gave more colours than you'd
expect.
But I digress. What was the question again? :-)
Philip.
In a message dated 98-02-02 18:38:17 EST, you write:
<< Uncle:
Considering the rarity of this item, I'd say you made out like a
bandit. Not too many of these were sold as it cost alot more than
the computer itself!
Jeff
>>
i have one also, but the front plastic panel is missing. concerning the disk
drive, will an xt type floppy drive work?
david
At 06:57 PM 2/2/98 -0800, you wrote:
>It's not PS/2, it's MicroChannel Architecture. NuBus isn't PC, it's Mac.
And PCI can also Mac.
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
<just typing a B to the prompt would do it, or B <bootstrap device> such
<as
<B CSA0 ,,, Allison'd probably know better on this...
You have three bootable devices...
B DUA0 *RD5x in the box, never seen one external but it can be done.
B MUA0 or 7 *tk50 tape I forget the device number as it's slow.
B XQA0 *boot via eithernet. It was possible to run them diskless.
B does the default device first (dua0) then tape then eithernet.
Allison
I'm sure everyone knows about this, but for the few, such as I:
For a bunch of CPM systems, 68k, 8080, Z80, Z180, CPM-86, MPM, checkout:
http://cdl.uta.edu/cpm/download.html
They have it all including CPM-86 OS + C compilers, Basic Compilers,
Fortran and Pascal.
Plus the same for CPM Z80 & 8080 system:
Plus, the Digital Research Library with
GEM stuff for Atari and DOS, including GEM Desktop, Draw, Write, and GEM
Publisher
You could have a good 8088 or 8080/Z80 or Atari system, for just a
little time.
-Mike
>Ah but to answer the question with out philosophy - NO.
>In reality (with philosophy 8-) Yes! It is called networking 8-)
>
>Linux has been used in the Beowolf configuration where (I think)
>16?? machines were/are set up for parallel processing. You could
>net-research this and find a bunch of stuff.
>
>I have done it using Perl on two machines, one running a 6532 emulator
>and the other running a 6502 emulator.
>
>BC
(Sigh!) Well, it seems that I need more explanation. I was wondering if
this would be a more resource-conserving way to do it, and
technologically easier. I would do this with network cards if I had
them. Serial ports might be good, as well as parallel. Is there a way to
make the computer do TCP/IP via serial or parallel port? So, could you
please tell me, COULD I STICK A RIBBON CABLE INTO TWO DIFFERENT
MOTHERBOARDS AND PRETEND THAT THE MBs ARE CARDS OF EACH OTHER?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
From: John Higginbotham <higginbo(a)netpath.net>
Subject: Re: C-64c probs
>>Assuming the drive's device number has not been changed from eight, then the
>>correct command is LOAD "*", 8, 1
>
>What's the differenct between "$" and "*"? I've seen both used in this
>context.
LOAD"*",8,1 loads the first file off of a disk to it's recorded start
address in memory (This is usually the way you boot commercial software
disks, rarely anything with various programs on it.) Loading the
directory is done by loading "$", you can add file spec wildcards such
as "$pac*" (load the first program with a filename starting with 'pac')
> How does one change a device number? I'm not Commodore expert. The
>only other Commodore product I've had is a C-16, and that seems like ages ago.
>
Via software is pretty complicated, the hardware method requires you to
open the case of the 1541 and look for two 'jumper pads' on the circut
board and cutting one or both 'jumper' connections to change the number.
>>changed to 9, 10, or 11, then you will get a "device not found" error. Try
>>the other numbers in place of 8 until you find the correct one. If the
>>cable is bad or not connected properly, you should get a "device not
>>present" error.
>
>I'll give it a try. How long should I wait for a device not present
>message?
Should be an immediate response.
> It's just sitting there looking for the floppy. I've got both the
>C-64 manual and the 1541 manual, but can't see anything that'll help me.
>
They are OK, but many people don't take them seriously...
>>PS: I've got all kinds of 1541's if you really want/need one.
>
>I'd like to get a second drive if this one is good, or two drives if this
>one is bad, but I think the problem is just me sitting in front of it, and
>not the drive.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/
Call our Commodore 64 BBS (Silicon Realms 300-2400 baud) at: (209)
754-1363
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
From: Fritz Chwolka <Chwolka(a)nt-gmbh.de>
Subject: Re: C-64c probs
>John Higginbotham wrote:
>>
>[snip!]
>> What's going on here? Drive misalign? How do I realign? Bad drive? Bad cable?
>>
>> Anyone have one or two extra 1541 floppy drives they want to sell?
--
>I have my indos not by hand but I nelieve you must type
>type LOAD "$",8,1
> ^^^^
NOOOOOOO!!!! That will make the drive do a 'non-relocating load' with
the directory starting at memory location 1025 ($0401) which is screen
memory on the 64. The load address of $0401 is remenants of 4040/2031
code left in for use by people with PETs whose BASIC starts at $0401 and
cannot do any sort of relocating load.
use just: LOAD"$",8
Larry Anderson
--
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/
Call our Commodore 64 BBS (Silicon Realms 300-2400 baud) at: (209)
754-1363
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Since there seem to be a few folks who want to save their classics from
their kids, let me stray off-topic long enough to say my girlfriend is an
educator (best in the business, honest) so if any one wants suggestions for
kids software, let me know and I'll pass on her recommendations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
At 11:29 AM 2/1/98 -0600, you wrote:
>I'll try it next time I get the system out to play with it. We've got an 19
>month old running around now, and something like the Commodore with it's
>multiple cables and pieces is a prime target for her.
At 19 months, she's definitely ready to start using the computer! (Be it
classic or new.) Lemme know if you need software recommendations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> wrote:
> I wonder what a "virtual terminal" is?
I'm thinking that the "virtual terminals" are the workspaces.
> Do you remember how they moved text between windows? Is it a cut and
> paste operation like MS Windows?
Um, no. As I recall it used the logging function. You set up the
"to" device to be a workspace and then turn on log top or log bottom.
E.g. if you turned on log bottom, then as each line was received
it would be copied (by the terminal) over to the workspace set as
"to" device, and if that workspace is attached to the other datacomm port
then the line gets sent out that port.
So I don't think you can cut-and-paste very easily, but you can set
the thing up to do simple data logging.
-Frank McConnell
>>Is it some kind of "Super CGA" that wasn't really supported by anyo
> >
> > I know some game companies "tweaked" certain memory registers or so
> > so that standard CGA could do 320x200x16 colors, but as far as I'm
>
> I never heard of 320 x 200 x 16 for the CGA - I seem to remember 160
> 200 x 16 - surely it would not have had the memory for the other?
I have an ATI Graphics Solution board that does:
40x25 character
80x25 character
320x200 color graphics
640x200 color/graphics
600/200 b/w modes
plantronics color/graphics
ati 640x200x16 color graphics
640x200x4 color
320x200x16 color
132x25 color text mode
IBM mono (MDA)
Hercules graphics mode
132x25 mono
132x44 mono
Off hand the 6845 could likely be programmed for other more odd modes.
Allison
<You talked about a system where the bus had to be arbitrated, that
<wouldn't necessarily be needed if you went through SCSI, would it...
I've done it with shared memory, SCSI, and most buses. SCSI worked well
with AmproLBs. the physical medium does not determine what networking
protocal is or can be used only the physical layer. So IP over scsi
is doable as is DECNET in shared memory or simple async serial lines
(DDCMP).
Allison
At 08:53 PM 2/2/98 -0700, you wrote:
>I think John's on to something here. How about connect together a
>S-100, EEEI-696, EISA, MCI, PCI, VME and Multibus plane and create a
>monitor that will allow CPU and memory on each system running
>concurrently with mix and match boards as you like (or have) running
>Concurrent CPM?
>
>To play PONG on.....
Pong? Pong? At least have it run Spacewar, for pete's sake!
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
> Checked on usenet, now I remember why I didn't go there at first:
> --I am not interested in Making $$$$$
> --I DONT NEED PASSWORD FOR SEX SITES
> --I have nothing to sell and I don't want to buy anything.
> I better try the mailing list.
The worst part is, rgvc is considered pretty high-signal these days.
It's been a bad week, though.
BTW, I think I just gave you the list address, rather than the list
request address. At least, I got your subscribe message, and I suspect
the rest of the list did too. You might want to try
classic-videogames-request(a)moose.webworks.ca for the actual subscribe
request.
Sorry about that,
--
Ben Coakley http://www.math.grin.edu/~coakley coakley(a)ac.grin.edu
Station Manager, KDIC 88.5 FM CBEL: Xavier OH
Wow, this is global. -Mtn Goats
At 07:26 AM 1/31/98 +0300, you wrote:
>Actually, I was wondering what the heck Microsloth was thinking when they
>made it 8 characters. And, the fact that in the next 5 FULL RELEASES
If I'm not mistaken, the 8.3 convention comes from (at least) CP/M.
Possibly from some other OpSys before that as well. When you've got 16K of
memory, you probably don't want to waste 30 bytes when 8 will do just as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
An even better stupid bus trick would be to connect all those bus types
together, and have any card on any bus recognized by any computer. (But
don't look at me, I'm just an idea man!)
At 04:20 PM 2/2/98, you wrote:
>It would be a LOT easier to connect them via a null-modem or just use
>LapLink or something similar (Fast Lynx is my preference).
>
> Joe
>
>
>At 11:47 AM 2/2/98 PST, you wrote:
>>Could I attach two PC motherboards (ISA? PS/2? PCI? EISA? NuBUS?
>>Others?) together via a ribbon cable by the bus connectors and then
>>transfer data among them, of course having written the approporiate
>>drivers?
>>
>>______________________________________________________
>>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>
>
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
>To the original poster - you may have better luck asking on the classic
>videogames mailing list (classic-videogames(a)moose.webworks.ca) or if you
>have usenet access, on rec.games.video.classic.
Checked on usenet, now I remember why I didn't go there at first:
--I am not interested in Making $$$$$
--I DONT NEED PASSWORD FOR SEX SITES
--I have nothing to sell and I don't want to buy anything.
I better try the mailing list.
--
Ben Coakley http://www.math.grin.edu/~coakley
coakley(a)ac.grin.edu
Station Manager, KDIC 88.5 FM CBEL: Xavier
OH
Wow, this is global. -Mtn
Goats
Those of you in or near Milwaukee may want to take note of this... ;-)
-=-=- <snip> -=-=-
>Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 15:12:35 -0600 (CST)
>From: "HULBERT JOSHUA" <hulbertj(a)msoe.edu>
>To: port-vax(a)netbsd.org
>Subject: Free VAX Cluster!
>Sender: port-vax-owner(a)NetBSD.ORG
>Delivered-To: port-vax(a)NetBSD.ORG
>
>Hi,
>
>To anyone interested, my school is looking to make the old VAX cluster
>disappear. It consists of two MV3600's, several racks of RA81/82's, one
>MVII, and a TU-something-or-other. I haven't had time to go down and look
>at the innards of any of the machines, but I will if anyone expresses an
>interest in them. The whole shebang was operational the day they took it
>to the basement, so I assume it still is.
>
>We also have two or three VS3100's, but I'm really not sure what shape
>they're in.
>
>We are located in downtown Milwaukee, WI. The machines would be free for
>the taking, or if anyone wants to pay the shipping, we could work
>something out. I'd really like to see it all go toward the NetBSD cause,
>otherwise they'll be scrapped for the gold :(
>
>Please get back to me as soon as possible. I'm guessing we have until the
>end of the week, at which time the scrap metal man comes. I've had
>phantasies about bringing the stuff home, but "home" is actually a dorm
>room. Dunno if plugging the 3600's in will actually cause a brownout or
>not. Housing wouldn't be pleased, I'm guessing.
>
>Cheers!
>
>Joshua Hulbert
>Milwaukee School of Engineering
>hulbertj(a)msoe.edu
>(414) 287-4827
>
>
>
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272)
(Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin2(a)wizards.net)
http://www.wizards.net/technoid
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own
human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
At 09:09 PM 2/2/98 -0600, you wrote:
>As a side note... the Tandy 1000 line also supported three-voice digital
>sound--also stolen from the PCjr. You will also find this supported in
>those games too.
Yeah, I played quite a few games on my 1000tx with both these features.
Sure beat standard CGA and PC speaker!
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
At 08:59 PM 2/2/98 -0500, you wrote:
>logic that drives those busses is strong enough that if one were to
>assert a logic 1 and the other a logic 0 the result literally would be
>smoke.
But wouldn't it be fun to watch as a spectator? :)
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> wrote:
> Thanks Frank. I have two HP 2626s coming. I'd like give them a try just
> for kicks. I understand that they'll support up to four sessions
> simultanously. Seems stange to think of running the Altair via something
> like that.
2626A or 2626W? The latter were intended for use with a word-processing
product for the HP3000, called HPWORD. But that's another story, and
as terminals they don't behave much different from each other.
It's been a while since I did anything with them but I do remember
setting one up to do the multi-session thing just to see how it
worked. Conceptually it goes something like this: the terminal can
have up to four workspaces, where each workspace has a chunk of the
terminal's display buffer memory. You can then split the display into
two or four windows (tiles) into the workspaces and associate devices
with the workspaces (don't remember the details of this). But you
only have two datacomm ports, so I'm not really sure how you can
manage four sessions.
Oh, how well did it work? I seem to remember thinking that it was
cumbersome to use, difficult to switch between workspaces and to
resize them as you were going. But I knew some other people who used
this to move small chunks of text between two connected host
computers, so maybe it was just something that you could get used to
after a while.
> I do have some junk VT-320s that I had forgotten about. I'll see if one
> of them works in the mean time.
Should be OK too, even if you end up working with software that expects
a VT100. But I bet the Portable Pluses are easier to move!
-Frank McConnell
Could I attach two PC motherboards (ISA? PS/2? PCI? EISA? NuBUS?
Others?) together via a ribbon cable by the bus connectors and then
transfer data among them, of course having written the approporiate
drivers?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
OK
Thanks for the pointers.
>To the original poster - you may have better luck asking on the classic
>videogames mailing list (classic-videogames(a)moose.webworks.ca) or if you
>have usenet access, on rec.games.video.classic.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francois Auradon.
Visit the SANCTUARY at http://home.att.net/~francois.auradon
<an Intel Multibus Single Board Computer 80/10A, and an Intel Multibus 80/
<card of some sort. The only reason I picked up the Intel Multibus board
the 80/10a was a multibus 8080 card. I have a few but they are fried.
When I get crazy I'll fix them. The 80/10 desn't date from '76 though
the '76 is the date intel trademarked the MULTIBUS name.
Allison
FROM: maxskin(a)hotmail.com;
<make the computer do TCP/IP via serial or parallel port? So, could you
<please tell me, COULD I STICK A RIBBON CABLE INTO TWO DIFFERENT
<MOTHERBOARDS AND PRETEND THAT THE MBs ARE CARDS OF EACH OTHER?
Max I answered the question and you didn't understand.
----> NO!!! YOU CAN NOT. <----
Doing that would have the two opposing CPUs competing without any way
to resolve that nondestructively. That last word is important and the
logic that drives those busses is strong enough that if one were to
assert a logic 1 and the other a logic 0 the result literally would be
smoke.
Allison
you asked for an straightforward answer? it's NO.
In a message dated 98-02-02 17:49:20 EST, you write:
<< >>Could I attach two PC motherboards (ISA? PS/2? PCI? EISA? NuBUS?
>>Others?) together via a ribbon cable by the bus connectors and then
>>transfer data among them, of course having written the approporiate
>>drivers?
>>
>>______________________________________________________
>>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
For one thing, please answer the question without going into philosophy.
The other is that I am looking not to transfer files, etc. but for a
way to have two computers share information a la multiproc. systems.
>>
In a message dated 98-02-02 17:09:25 EST, you write:
<< >Didn't the IBM Portable (or convertible...whatever) do that?
I seem to recall that the convertible (the laptop) had a printer available
that attached to the rear, although iirc, right side up and ready to print.
(It connected directly through an expansion port on the back of the
computer.) >>
uncle is right, the pc convertible has a small printer that connects right to
the back of the computer, and other options can plug into it. it can print on
thermal paper, and print on regular paper i think too. i found the printer for
my convertible at a thrift store for $1. talk about lucky!
david
Last week (while running around trying do recover from a disk crash) I
picked up a TI 99/4a Expansion Box. Has a couple of cards and a (loose)
disk drive, but to be honest, I haven't even had a chance to take it out of
my girlfriend's trunk (too much sh*t going down lately).
Anything interesting that might be in there? Did I do good at $15 (with
some elec. screwdriver bits thrown in)? Any info is appreciated!
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
I just thought I'd give yous guys a sneak peek of some of the things I am
working on...
The Vintage Computer Festival v2.0 - the continuation of the legacy! ;)
This year's show will be bigger and better than the first. More vendors,
a bigger exhibition, more great speakers and workshops, more more more!
Tentatively scheduled for late summer. Keep your eyes open for further
announcements.
The First Vintage Computer Festival Auction - you won't want to miss this.
There will be a bunch of incredible stuff auctioned off this spring to
help fund VCF 2.0. Check the VCF web page (www.siconic.com/vcf) this May
for details.
A new & improved VCF web-site. Thanks to TCI's cable modem service, I'll
be hosting my own internet services. Among other things, I will launch a
vintage computer software archive. Online history, trivia, interviews
with industry legends, a comprehensive vintage computer gallery, and a
comprehensive list of links to other vintage computer sites on the web.
This will become the one-stop shop for vintage computing.
The Vintage Computer Collector & Trader Web BBS. This will be a BBS as
was discussed a couple weeks ago in the discussion. It will provide two
services. First, it will offer free advertising for those wanting to
buy/sell/trade vintage computer hardware, software, literature, etc.
Second, it will provide a registry for those wanting to network with other
collectors around the country. Post a message describing what you want
and how much you're willing to pay. Other collectors around the country
scour their local flea markets, thrift stores and salvage yards looking
for your requests. You work out the final details with each other.
Automatic database management insures that requests stay current. Stale
requests get removed automatically.
The Vintage Computer Software Archives - the plan is for an FTP site with
all manner of software archives for all platforms: CP/M, DOS, Unix,
microcomputers (Apple, Atari, Commodore, TI, Radio Shack, etc.),
mini-computers (DEC, Data General, Sun, IBM, etc.), mainframes...whatever
is legal to archive and make publicly available will be there. The
archived equivalents of disks, magnetic tapes, paper tapes, punch cards,
whatever, will be made available for download.
ALL THIS AND SO MUCH MORE! A VERITABLE NERD EXTRAVAGANZA TO SATISFY YOUR
VINTAGE COMPUTER HUNGER!
Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
Coming Soon...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0
See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
Hi,
I found a Channel F on saturday. I'm having some problem with it:
The horizontal lines are dashed.
Could someone point me to a good hardware ref or help me out in troubleshooting it?
Also it doesn't read the carts, I can select the internal game but the carts are not seen.
Thank you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francois Auradon.
Visit the SANCTUARY at http://home.att.net/~francois.auradon
At 08:14 PM 1/30/98 -0500, you wrote:
>(Sharp PC-7100)
>
>> printer (I've only got one) that attaches to the back for portability.
>
>Didn't the IBM Portable (or convertible...whatever) do that?
I seem to recall that the convertible (the laptop) had a printer available
that attached to the rear, although iirc, right side up and ready to print.
(It connected directly through an expansion port on the back of the
computer.)
The Sharp PC-7100's printer tips up* to attach for portability; to use it
you have to detach it, set it down, and hook up a standard printer cable.
*Tips up: take your standard mx-80 or what-have-you and grab the rear
corners. Lift, rotating along the front bottom edge, and stand it on the
front side. Now put your lunchbox in front of it. (Well, maybe Andre the
Giant's lunchbox.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
At 01:25 PM 1/30/98 -0800, you wrote:
>No way! Maybe $50 at the top end, but $75 is way too much. These are not
[...]
>someone was trying to sell one at a swap meet? What would you expect to
>pay for an old-assed, obsolete computer with no current support that some
>guy had lying on the ground in a parking lot? For a Coleco Adam, I'd say
>that number is between $25 - $30.
Well, certainly, one can always hope to find a deal. I recently paid $750
for a non-running, 1959 Land Rover with no rear wheels and last registered
in 1988. The seller told me that the next day someone showed up at his
door with $2000 in cash.
So, yes, if you want to wait 'til you find one at a flea market, then you
should be able to get one for $25-30. (Heck, I've seen 'em (missed out on
'em) for free!)
But, if you want one, and you know of one for sale, with some extra parts,
I don't think $75 is an unreasonable asking price. Not everyone will pay
it, of course; many will wait for the flea market, but there will be those
who would just as soon pay a little more to have it now.
For comparison purposes, I bought my main Land Rover ("Indy") 8 years ago
for $10K. It's also a '59. (Though in better shape, a long-wheelbase
model, and had a few extras.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
If anyone's desperate for an AT&T 6300, I saw one for $30. Dunno if it
works, or if it's complete, but it's there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
At 01:39 PM 2/2/98, you wrote:
> Does it say anything about what it's looking for or what port it expects
>to find it on?
Well, there's only one 25-pin RS232 port on the GRiD, the other serial port
is taken up by a 1200 baud modem (state of the art in 1985). I'm gonna try
to find a cheap one at the next hamfest to tinker with it. Who knows? Maybe
it'll work on the first try. (yeah, right)
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
< I had forgotten that I have a pile of VT 320s, will they work?
ANY vtXXX. A VT320 is ok too. It only has to be RS232 or 20ms interface
and not blockmode. Most of the latter terminals only do rs232/rs423
and 20ma was TTY or DECwriters.
< Sounds like just picking up old software is a waste of time and money.
<It's to be exactly right for the system that it's going on.
Pretty much the case back then or you had to know it was hackable.
< I wondered about using the drives out of an old Osborne model OCC 1 th
<I have.
They may work muost just pull the 360k drives from an XT.
< You're right. I have manuals for NS* CPM, CPM assembler, CPM
<interface, etc. I haven't had time to read all this stuff yet. I'm gla
<you told me that CPM will run on an 8080. I've seen some very old CPM
<stuff but I didn't think I could use it. But there is a chance.
It was never a question. I've been running CPM for 21 years and also
have a NS* horizon thats now 20 years old.
< Actually now that I know what I'm looking for, my NS* CPM manual says
<16K of Ram with an origin of 2000 Hex. I have a bunch of NS* manuals, I
V2.x and later it had to be 20k so that is v1.4 (likely from lifeboat
associates).
<like to find the NS* software that goes with them. BTW the NS* CPM book
<says that the NS* board is supposed to have a PROM on it that contains th
<IPL.
I did say it had a minimal boot.
Allison
<Could I attach two PC motherboards (ISA? PS/2? PCI? EISA? NuBUS?
<Others?) together via a ribbon cable by the bus connectors and then
<transfer data among them, of course having written the approporiate
<drivers?
Only if you want to kill both of them. Use the parallel port via laplink
or other software.
Technically it can be done via the bus if you created an interface card
to resolve the bus conflicts that would result from a direct connection.
Allison
< I'd like to get away from having to use a terminal. The only terminal
<I have are big HP things and I don't know if they would work with the
<Altair (too fast?, block mode instead of character mode?)
The hp thing would not work. Try and scrounge up a vt100 or other more
commonplace terminal vt100, vt220, heath/zenith h19, PC running Procomm
or other term program.
< I'm aware to the addresssing problems. Sounds like you have to
<re-address everything to match the program or else hack the programs to
<change all the device adresses, program loation etc.
That's putting it mildly. Some of the CUTS and tarbell format tapes
assumed you were using their monitor programs in rom. If you weren't,
zap, a whole lot of IO code was missing.
< I have a NS disk controller. I don't know if it has a IPL or how that
<has to be done. The manual I have doesn't say. I also need to find a
<Shugart SA 400 to go with NS controller. I know other drives are
<electrically compatable with the SA 400 but I don't know if the track
<spacing and other physical parameters are the same or not. If the physic
<parameters aren't the same then the media would not be compatable.
First you don't have the software manual or the hardware manuals as they
do explain that. The NS* controller has a minimal boot as part of the
hardware. If it's the single density controller it will work with an
8080, however if it's the later double density controller a z80 at 4mhz
is a must. The NS* OS has an area that must be configured to match the
IO in your system if it is not it will boot and hang. As to the disk your
not locked to the sa400 there are hundres of different drives that will
work. Sa400 was 35 tracks 48tpi single sided, any single sided drive
other than a few oddballs will be 48tpi. Most older 360k full or half
height drives will work as well despite being two sided.
< This is an 8080 machine. Will it run CPM? I thought that was for Z80s
Go back and read up on history. CP/M-80 ran on all 8080 systems with
a miimum of 20k ram starting at 0000h, a floopy disk system and some
kind ot terminal.
< Yes, I know. Bill Gates first commercial product.
First commercial hack done using borrowed time on his employers cpu.
Oh, he wan't that good it was Gates and Allen.
Allison
allisonp(a)world.std.com (Allison J Parent) wrote:
> Gee Frank vt100 was not the only thing in the list.
Granted, on re-reading it (and thinking a bit) you did mention an
H19 and that is not a VT100-compatible or superset.
But what really got my attention was the statement that the HP
terminals won't work. They work just fine, providing you've got the
straps set right. And while you can set the straps so the terminal
starts in block mode I can't recall that being done ever in the last
20 years save by accident (typically user getting into config menus
and whacking buttons not knowing how to get back out, getting
frustrated, calling me to come out and reset the configuration).
And what was I really reacting to? Well, yeah, this is one of my hot
buttons from way back, and I apologize if I came across too strong.
> A terminal emulator on a PC was suggested as if you posted here it's a
> fair likelyhood you have a PC. I'd have suggested a MAC and term emulator
> but I don't know that space.
And as I said that's probably more functional. Quite frankly that's
one of the reasons I carry an HP palmtop and keep a couple of the
older HP Portable Pluses around: the former makes a tolerable LCD
VT100-alike and the latter do good VT100 and HP emulation (with
Reflection in ROM).
-Frank McConnell
allisonp(a)world.std.com (Allison J Parent) wrote:
> < I'd like to get away from having to use a terminal. The only terminal
> <I have are big HP things and I don't know if they would work with the
> <Altair (too fast?, block mode instead of character mode?)
>
> The hp thing would not work. Try and scrounge up a vt100 or other more
> commonplace terminal vt100, vt220, heath/zenith h19, PC running Procomm
> or other term program.
Remember complaints about programmers thinking "all the world's a
VAX"? Now it's time to work on the ones who think "all the world's a
VT100."
I used to use an HP2645 as a terminal on a Compupro CP/M system, so
am sure it can be done. But it definitely depends on the expectations
of the software running on the computer. If it isn't assuming
anything more capable than a Teletype, things will be fine. If your
BIOS or other terminal I/O support wants the terminal to do ^S/^Q flow
control it will be disappointed (264xs don't, 262xs and later can be
configured to do so but don't by default). If your applications
expect the terminal to act like a VT100 by way of responding to VT100
or ANSI escape sequences (i.e. suffering from "all the world's a
VT100" disease) then the easiest thing to do is to get a VT100-alike
as Allison suggests.
All that said, if you want help getting the HP terminal working feel
free to ask. If you'd sooner use a terminal emulator on some other
computer, that's OK too and probably more functional.
-Frank McConnell
At 19:54 29/01/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Am I sure they're RJ11, no. They're physically the same jack with six
>live wires. But beyond that, how would I know???
Because DEC plugs are different from RJ11:
RJ 11= 4 pin; DEC=6
They share the same insertion size, but the DEC have "unplug key" not in the
center
as other RJ's
ASCII-SAMPLE I=========I I=========I
I ^^^^ I I ^^^^^^ I
I I I I
I-----i_i-I I---i_i---I
DEC RJ11
>Does Xenix see these when it loads or do I have to tell it?
You need its own device driver to let it go.
>(Xenix/at 2.2.1)
>
>Do you if they are compatible/similar to anything that might recognise
>the board and work it in today's UNIX world???
They were made for today's Unix world.
The problem is to find its own software.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
? Riccardo Romagnoli,collector of:CLASSIC COMPUTERS,TELETYPE UNITS,PHONE ?
? AND PHONECARDS I-47100 Forli'/Emilia-Romagna/Food Valley/ITALY ?
? Pager:DTMF PHONES=+39/16888(hear msg.and BEEP then 5130274*YOUR TEL.No.* ?
? where*=asterisk key | help visit http://www.tim.it/tldrin_eg/tlde03.html ?
? e-mail=chemif(a)mbox.queen.it ?
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
At 13:15 13-01-98 -0500, William Donzelli <william(a)ans.net> wrote:
>> Me too! But I think a 4381, say or even a 9370, would be easier to work
>> on.
>
>Getting a 9370 should not be a problem - they are dogs that really were
>not sucessful. I have seen quite a few in the scrap yards (none suitable
>for taking, however).
>
I'll agree it's no problem. I got the old 9370 from my company setting at
home. Paid an official $1 to act as a transfer of ownership. It's just
barely a classic now. Obsolete as heck -not too long after we paid $200k+
for it in '86/'87. Lot of Tylenol used to sooth aching back muscles when I
dragged it home piece-by-piece. (Should have seen the wife look at me...)
It's a dog, but nevertheless, something important in the line of S/370
lineage which I literally rescued from the dumpster.
Notably, it is said to be the first actual production unit sold. Don't
exactly recall complete serial number, but it probably is first since it is
something like xxx0001. Will get back to the list later with SN, etc. if
anybody interested in confirming this.
I need OS books (VSE, I think) and help in bringing her completely up.
Xerox, I believe, kept the OS manuals since they did all the software
maintenace under contract. IBM did hardware maintenance, of course. We used
the Xerox Business Management System (XBMS) product to run our company.
Have virtually all other hardware books and most periferal books safely at
home.
Heard that AIX could run on the 9370 under (I think) VM or something. Any
AIX and VM OS's around that I could scrounge for this iron??
Have tried to bring it up at home but, apparently, lack of certain
periferals it expects to see hung off the terminal ports causes the IPL to
quit before OS completely loads. Need a guru or present-day user to help
figure this out.
Any of you folks willing to help me with this project later in the year???
Wife and I just bought another house and will not be settled until
summertime or later. I'm making provisions during my rewiring of the house
to include a 30A double-pole breaker since the 9370 takes 230V, single
phase. Will duct the air coming out of the CPU to heat the house instead of
using the furnace (just kidding, but there's quite a few BTUs dumped outta
the thing and could keep the house above freezing in the winter at least.)
Will tell the list anything more on this machine if any interest.
Regards, Chris
-- --
=======================================================
Christian Fandt Phone: +716-488-1722 -Home
111 Harding Avenue +716-661-1832 -Office
Jamestown, New York Fax: +716-661-1888 -Office fax
14701-4746 USA email: cfandt(a)servtech.com
<I remember CUTS, but someone else mentioned 88-ACR and I'd never
Altair cassette interface which was narrow FSK at 300baud. The actual
board set was called 88-ACR and was a mits sio with a modified modem
board (tx/rx frequencies the same).
bell 103 uses differet tones for TX and recieve so for modem use it was
useless. It is however narrow FSK.
Allison
At 07:07 AM 2/2/98, you wrote:
> If you run it with no ERPOM burner attached, it will probably give you
>an error message stating that the burner is not attached to port X. That
>should give you a clue.
It runs fine, it doesn't go out looking for the burner until you tell it to
actually burn something.
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
> >I found a Channel F on saturday. I'm having some problem with it:
> What is a channel F, some kind of game machine like an Atari? There is
> (was?) a Fairchild game machine in a trift store here. I don't remember
> the name but I don't think it was channel F.
The Fairchild Channel F is an old video games console - I believe it
predates the original Atari VCS by a few months. They're regarded as
pretty neat finds these days.
To the original poster - you may have better luck asking on the classic
videogames mailing list (classic-videogames(a)moose.webworks.ca) or if you
have usenet access, on rec.games.video.classic.
--
Ben Coakley http://www.math.grin.edu/~coakley coakley(a)ac.grin.edu
Station Manager, KDIC 88.5 FM CBEL: Xavier OH
Wow, this is global. -Mtn Goats
From: Frank McConnell <fmc(a)reanimators.org>
<Remember complaints about programmers thinking "all the world's a
<VAX"? Now it's time to work on the ones who think "all the world's a
<VT100."
Gee Frank vt100 was not the only thing in the list.
I suggested those as I know they are common and usable. up here in MA
(DEC country) they are as common as house flies. Actually an adm1 or
three was more likely then.
A terminal emulator on a PC was suggested as if you posted here it's a
fair likelyhood you have a PC. I'd have suggested a MAC and term emulator
but I don't know that space.
Allison
Actually, I think that OS/2 prices'll drop soon. As for Linux, there are
several "minimal distrobutions" avaible. One is called "Mini-Linux" which
includes X-Windows, several games, a word processor, etc. as well as full
Linux support, and runs under MS-DOS FAT 16 or FAT 32, as well as OS/2's
system, no repartitioning necessary. It also is in 4 .zip files, each under
1.44MB for diskettes. Another is called "Monkey", which includes Navigator,
X-Windows, all kinds of stuff, and once again, runs without a partition.
Each take up no more than 30MB. I haven't gotten either working. If anyone
can help me.... anyway, they're both first class operating systems.
Ciao,
Tim D. Hotze
-----Original Message-----
From: Philip.Belben(a)powertech.co.uk <Philip.Belben(a)powertech.co.uk>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, February 02, 1998 8:43 PM
Subject: Re[2]: Development, round II
>> > >BTW What is Warp? Is it the OS/2 windowing system? If so, why would
I
>> > >want to use it at all, let alone on a 286? ;-)
>> >
>> > Warp is OS/2v3. You couldn't use it on a 286, but if you had, say, a
>> > 486/33 -- do pardon me for mentioning a nine-year-old part -- it would
>> > begin to be worth playing with. My copy of Warp is still very much to
>> > hand, and I think anyone who can scrounge up an appropriate computer
should
>> > run it (for a while) if they have the opportunity, because it's a real
>> > education.
>>
>> Runs just peachy on my old 386/25. Faster than Windows 3.1 did, not
>> that that's a compliment. I will admit that I prefer it, though of
>> course all of my high-end machines run Linux.
>
>I seem to be reading a lot of good things about OS/2 here apart from the
>price. Since it looks as though I may have found a source of decent
>hard disk drives for my Compaq LTE Lite 20 machines I shall seriously
>consider OS/2 for one of them. The other one, of course, will run
>either Linux or Free BSD - Linux seems to have the vote so far.
>
>Thankyou everyone.
>
>Philip.
>
> > >I don't know of any *real* military surplus stores around SF anymore;
> > >though you'd think there would be some, what with Mare Island Naval
> > >ShipYard, Treasure Island, Alameda (Nuclear Wessels!), The Presidio,
etc.
I know. The Nuclear Wessels were hard to find. Actually, back to the
off-topic topic, there *might* be another wave of stuff, depending on how
many new gadgets various govenrment branches can make, and what we end up
doing with Iraq. (Albright's coming here tommorow.)
> > >There are a few electronics surplus stores around, especially down in
the
> > >(silicon) valley.
Wha? (That seems strange to me)
> As far as military surplus electronics goes, the end-all and be-all will
> always be Fair Radio Sales of Lima, OH. They're even on the web now:
> http://alpha.wcoil.com/~fairadio/
>
>Yeah, but they're still a rip-off. Their prices were high in the
>late 70's when I used to get their catalog, and they're high now.
Of course they are. I mean, as has been pointed out, they can make a profit
out of it. And, people GIVE them the money. I'm betting that many of the
people buying the stuff haven't even heard of Hamfests.
Also, on Classifieds 2000, they've got UNREASONABLE prices on classics
under "Old Computers." I mean, I got a II+ form Jeff Kaneko for $10, and I
saw several advertised, as "Real Rare Classics" for 3 digit figures. And,
if people can make money that way....
Tim Shoppa <shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca> wrote:
>OK, I'll build a web site this weekend that describes the Kansas-city
>and Tarbell standards. Will this be useful?
Yes, that would be great. I haven't gotten around to digging through
my old Kilobauds yet. Which other formats should I research?
I remember CUTS, but someone else mentioned 88-ACR and I'd never
heard of that. I'm sure Bell 103 is quite simple. Then there's
all the other cassette formats: CBM PET, VIC-20, C-64, Sinclair, etc.
>If you wanted to make some digitized fragments available, I'd gladly
>make some guesses as to the format.
You can still recognize them "by ear"? :-)
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
> > >BTW What is Warp? Is it the OS/2 windowing system? If so, why would I
> > >want to use it at all, let alone on a 286? ;-)
> >
> > Warp is OS/2v3. You couldn't use it on a 286, but if you had, say, a
> > 486/33 -- do pardon me for mentioning a nine-year-old part -- it would
> > begin to be worth playing with. My copy of Warp is still very much to
> > hand, and I think anyone who can scrounge up an appropriate computer should
> > run it (for a while) if they have the opportunity, because it's a real
> > education.
>
> Runs just peachy on my old 386/25. Faster than Windows 3.1 did, not
> that that's a compliment. I will admit that I prefer it, though of
> course all of my high-end machines run Linux.
I seem to be reading a lot of good things about OS/2 here apart from the
price. Since it looks as though I may have found a source of decent
hard disk drives for my Compaq LTE Lite 20 machines I shall seriously
consider OS/2 for one of them. The other one, of course, will run
either Linux or Free BSD - Linux seems to have the vote so far.
Thankyou everyone.
Philip.
At 01:21 AM 1/30/98 -0600, you wrote:
>I don't know of any *real* military surplus stores around SF anymore;
>though you'd think there would be some, what with Mare Island Naval
>ShipYard, Treasure Island, Alameda (Nuclear Wessels!), The Presidio, etc.
>
>There are a few electronics surplus stores around, especially down in the
>(silicon) valley.
I wasn't into computers at the time (I was 6 or 7) But my father used to
take me on Dumpster Safaris at Charleston Naval Base, where he worked
(civilian). Man, they used to throw out all sorts of stuff, some of it just
had a few scratches on it. I remember seeing oscilloscopes, radio gear,
terminals, tools, office furniture, you could live in one of those
dumpsters (Hey, I was 6. I didn't have great expectations.) My big thing
back then was swapping wires on connections, juicing it up, and see what
explodes. Now I'm all grown up! :)
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
I think this RD54 may have died. It DID have the spin-up disease, (Wouldn't
spin up), but this was just a bad case of stiction. I spun the disk and it worked.
Now, I try to format the disk (test 70 on uVAX 2000) and it acts funny.
Before, it would only recognise as unit 1. It would fail
the RdMbb step, format would be OK, and the Checkpass would take eternity.
(I let it run overnight, it completed 3 dots.)
I set it to unit 0, same trick but the RdMbb is OK.
Jumper problem?
-------
I came across a program yesterday called GRiDROM.EXE. Apparently, it was
used to drive an EPROM Programmer via the GRiDCase 3's serial port. My only
question now is this:
Would this most likley be a proprietary EPROM Burner or could I use any
model, as long as it talked through the serial port?
I know nothing of EPROM Programmers, so be gentle. :)
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
You Smart Folks:
Can anyone give me some clues on a minimal set up to program boot ROMs
for IBM PC & AT comps. I want to build DOS & ? boot roms, but I only
have a faint idea where to start.
What's the minimum and what are some good lowend chips to use that can
be easily reused as development goes on??
Thanks,
-Mike
(PS, I don't want to get too far off topic, so please mail me directly,
if poss..)
mallison(a)konnections.com
Thanks
I found this link this morning and thought that it would be of great use to
the group, so here it is:
The Hardware Book
http://www.blackdown.org/~hwb/hwb.html
Welcome to the Hardware Book. Internet's largest free collection of
connector pinouts and cable descriptions. Created and maintained by Joakim
?gren.
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ken Hall
Kermit(a)talent.com.au
9452 6280
0414 264 065
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: John Higginbotham <higginbo(a)netpath.net>
Subject: C-64c probs
>
> I was playing around with the C-64c I picked up last month... It came with
> a 1541 floppy...
>
> I think I have a problem:
Don't believe what those 'other' people say, collecting old computers is
O.K. *grin*
>
> Turn on floppy
> turn on C-64c
> C-64c inits the drive (light blinks, then goes out)
Sounds normal for a 15xx reset...
> insert disk
> type LOAD "$",8
> nothing happens, no drive light, no response from the 64.
>
> What's going on here? Drive misalign? How do I realign? Bad drive? Bad cable?
I'd start with the cables and connectors... Also try loading ,9 10 or
11, it is possible that they rigged that 1541 to be a higher device
number than 8. Have you tried reading the error channel:
10 open 15,8,15,"i0":rem initilize disk (no, this is not a format
command...)
20 input#15,e,e$,t,s:rem read error channel
30 close 15: print e,e$,t,s
if the disk is alive and device 9 it should report something like "0
ok 0 0"
> Anyone have one or two extra 1541 floppy drives they want to sell?
I find them pretty regularly at thrift shops and flea markets for a
fraction of what the shipping would be. I would suggest you hunt about
a bit first.
If you want to brush up on Commodore 8-bit drive usage I have two guides
on-line:
http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/diskbasics.htmlhttp://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/loadingbasics.html
Larry Anderson
--
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/
Call our Commodore 64 BBS (Silicon Realms 300-2400 baud) at: (209)
754-1363
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
On Sat, 31 Jan 1998 08:32:45 -0800 (PST), Tim Shoppa
<shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca> wrote:
>>Either Orange or Blue DEC binders, depending on the upgrade path that
>>the previous owner took.
All of the binders that I have have grey covers.
>>Look for two files of the form DISMT.COM and DISMT2.COM. These
>>will have the definitive list of all files on the official RT-11 V4.00
>>distribution. If you're missing these - or any other files - tell
>>me what media your machine has and I'll get you copies of these and
>>whatever other files you're missing.
Nope, I don't have either of these files. I got 4 RK05 packs with this
system, three of which work. None of these disks have these files on them.
I'd love to get a whole copy of the V4 distribution, if you have it
(since it would match the manuals that I have). Right now, the only media
that my machine has is the RK05 disk packs. I'm looking to get a paper tape
reader/punch, but I haven't been able to find one yet. I'd also like to put
an RX02 (??) dual-floppy on it. Maybe in February, when I go to my Temple
Univ. "supply house."
What interface boards do I need to hang a dual-floppy off of the
PDP-11/34a?
Rich Cini/WUGNET
<nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use)
ClubWin! Charter Member (6)
MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking
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