Just in case you're interested, I've set up a sharp MZ-80K oriented site
(below).
If you have any information which may be suitable for inclusion, please let
me know.
Thanks
--
Mike
http://www.boink.demon.co.uk/sharp/
On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 Nick Amato <naamato(a)wooj.merit.edu> wrote:
>I have the opportunity to snarf a DEC 5500 for free. This is a
>refrigerator-sized Q-bus machine that runs an old version of
>Ultrix (which is 4.2 BSD based).
>
>There are several cages of disks in the package. Supposedly,
>around 2 GB total storage. And, a few DECprinters (9-pin dot matrix).
>
>And, I'm told that it boots.
>
>Has anyone had any sort of experience with one of these?
>
Yeh, I've got one, and even better, the book for it.
It uses the KN220 CPU module set running at 30MHz, 32 bit data path
It has Ehternet support (both AUI and thinwire) using the DESQA controller.
It supports DEC's DSSI drives (i.e. RF71 380M, RF72 1G) and will mount
three of these in the BA213 cabinet
Mine supports SCSI drives (i.e. RZ55 300M, RZ56 600M) and has an iterface
for external drives
It will support DEC's SDI drives (i.e. RA series) using a KDA50 module set.
It has a serial console port using DEC's MMJ connector
Mine has a TK70 tape drive using a TQK70 controller
It will support the TK50Z tape drive on the SCSI bus
or the TK50 drive using a TQK50 contoller
It will support the TLZ04 tape drive on the SCSI bus
It will support the TU81 tape drive using a KLESI controller
(I think I have a spare controller somewhere.)
Mine has two MS220-AA 32 Mbyte memory boards, I think it supports 4 total
It supports the Ultrix operating system, version 4.0 or later.
This is the same as for the DS2100/3100, 5000, and 5400.
By all means snarf it up.
Mike
Well, since the failed codes I got says the HDA is toast, I got to back
this sucker up, real quick. I only have TU58's on the 44.
I have a lot of them though.
How can I tell RSTS 8.0-07 to back up to them?
-------
I thought it could only work in standard mode, but I will rotate them
and see. Could it be an weird parallel port? Also, what is the
assembly languge command for the line that is used for data on X1541?
(SELECT IN line)
>
>Hmm. Mine worked the first time, after I tried each of the parallel
port
>modes on my motherboard. Did you try varying those?
>
>- John
>Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
>
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
I'm interested. Please email me: marty(a)itgonline.com
______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: digital group Z80 computer
Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet
Date: 3/12/98 3:38 PM
I have a Z80 computer that I built from a kit in 1978 and I hate to just
set it on the curb and scrap it. It was designed and sold by 'the digital
group' of Denver, CO. It has a Z80 8 bit microprocessor, 2.5 mh, 64K
memory, 80 X 24 output to a monitor, dual 8" floppy drives added later from
Bell Controls of CA and a CPM operating system.
Components:
1 Cabinet containing processor board, memory boards, disk I/O boards, TV
output board and power supply.
2 Keyboard
3 Dual 8" floppy disk drive
4 19" monitor for output
5 Modem
6 Documentation
I would like to donate it. Interested?
Ron Slonneger
Peoria, IL
------ Message Header Follows ------
Received: from lists3.u.washington.edu by smtp.itgonline.com
(PostalUnion/SMTP(tm) v2.1.9i(b5) for Windows NT(tm))
id AA-1998Mar12.153824.1767.31402; Thu, 12 Mar 1998 15:38:26 -0500
Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13])
by lists3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with SMTP
id MAA24850; Thu, 12 Mar 1998 12:30:10 -0800
Received: from mxu1.u.washington.edu (mxu1.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.8])
by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP
id MAA04756 for <classiccmp(a)lists.u.washington.edu>; Thu, 12 Mar 1998
12:29:39 -0800
Received: from mtigwc04.worldnet.att.net (mtigwc04.worldnet.att.net
[204.127.131.33])
by mxu1.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.09) with ESMTP
id MAA27054 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Thu, 12 Mar 1998 12:29:38
-0800
Received: from [12.66.3.50] by mtigwc04.worldnet.att.net
(post.office MTA v2.0 0613 ) with ESMTP id AAA28480;
Thu, 12 Mar 1998 20:18:13 +0000
Message-Id: <l03130301b12df1681685(a)[12.66.3.28]>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 14:18:02 -0600
Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu
Precedence: bulk
From: Ron and Jean Slonneger <rnjslonneger(a)worldnet.att.net>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: digital group Z80 computer
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
X-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu, Anthony Clifton <wiredone(a)raccoon.com>,
tcarlson(a)ncsc.dni.us
X-Sender: rnjslonneger(a)postoffice.worldnet.att.net
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
<>> And not so recently starting with the AT and all after the keyboard
<>> interface chip is a slave cpu (8041a or 8042).
<>
<>Well, my 8089 data sheet is copyright 1980,
8041 series predates the 8089. Also the 8089 still needs the page
register as it's limited to 20 bit addressing when it's used with
286 and later parts.
I may add the 8089 was no fun to use.
Allison
This is the second time I've made one, and it STILL doesn't work.
Neither do I want to buy one. Hints? I am using StarCommander and
it doesn't detect the drive at all.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
lfb107(a)psu.edu (Les Berry) wrote:
>I know I saw a post on this a while back but I don't recall
>any of the suggestions for preserving old floppies.
I've archived a number of my Terak 8-inch floppies by sending a disk
image out the serial port, and capturing on a PC. I also wrote utilities
to extract the files and get directories from these disk images
containing UCSD P-System and RT-11 file systems. See my web page for
more info.
It would be great if there were a highly portable program that could
be adapted easily to any system that would somehow (serial, Ethernet,
file system, etc.) make a copy of all the blocks on a device. Of course,
some operating systems already have such utilities that can be called
into service for this task, but I think we need something that goes
a bit deeper.
For example, old media tends to have errors. This block-transfer program
(and perhaps its resulting disk image) need to be smart enough to mark
some blocks as "known bad" to let external programs work around the
problem. Various built-in block-copy programs might react to this
error in different ways, none of them pleasant to the data restoration
task, of course.
Most emulators can use a pristine disk image. Some emulators for archaic
computers have developed their own formats for storing floppy, hard disk
and tape images.
Tim Shoppa <shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca> wrote:
>I don't understand the difficulties here. You make a sector-by-sector
>image of the 8-inch floppy and store it on whatever medium you regard
>as being more archival. This is done quite easily on every system
>I know with an 8-inch floppy drive; if you're having difficulties, let
>us know your hardware and OS and a solution will be found.
It would be great if there were more utilities that could operate on
these floppy/hard/paper/cassette/N-track images: reading and writing
files to them, getting directories of them, etc.
jpero(a)cgo.wave.ca wrote:
>For any paper based media, clone data to acid-free paper, mylar
>or tyvek. Tyvek is nearly very HARD to tear and very strong.
Paper-based media? You mean manuals, or Cauzin soft-strips? :-)
Laser-printer and even some copier toners drive me bananas; a
little heat or pressure or out-gassing plastic nearby and they
fuse pages together or flake toner particles.
>Also stray magnetic field hurts the magnetic based stuff.
I may be completely off-base about this, but I've always regarded this
as an urban legend, too. Go ahead, try to damage the bits on a floppy
with a refrigerator magnet. It's not the same as a bulk eraser.
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
"Max Eskin" <maxeskin(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
>This is the second time I've made one, and it STILL doesn't work.
Hmm. Mine worked the first time, after I tried each of the parallel port
modes on my motherboard. Did you try varying those?
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
-----Original Message-----
From: Charles E. Fox <foxvideo(a)wincom.net>
> Check out the NY Times article at
>http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/03/circuits/articles/12die.html
>
I note that the registration page for their site says that registration is
free to US residents, so will I get a bill ;-)
Although the following page says that there is no need to register at this
time, if I enter the URL given I keep getting thrown back to the
registration page.
What is the article about?
Regards
Pete
Subject: OLD 8 inch floppy disks please take 'em.
From: aek <aek(a)all-electric.com>
Date: 1998/03/10
Message-ID: <350600A1.A84(a)all-electric.com>
Newsgroups: aus.ads.forsale.computers.used,aus.electronics
Y-ellow Y'all
I have an unknown number of old 8 inch floppies in 10 boxes. Some are
Burroughs brand others are verbatum. Plus two old disk cleaning kits. I
guess you could use the cleaning disks but the rest of the stuff looks
crusty.
Take 'em away or pay the COD if you really want 'em. If no-one want's
'em they're beyond history.
Batz ________ _ _
/ ____|| | // AEK C/o
/ /| |____ | |// 11 Henley Beach Road _-_|\
/ __ ____|| < Henley Beach / \
/ / | |____ | \ \ South Australia 5022 \_.-*_/
/ / |______|| |\ \ (+618) 8356 4081 v
All Electric Kitchen http://www.all-electric.com
Well this has been really a slow wek on the finds. today I picked up IBM
6156 portable disk drive bay that holds 3 drives for the IBM RT PC. I got
the user manual and the service manual with it for $25 at Goodwill. Picked
up a MAc 512ke unit that I've been looking for at a thrift for 80 cents
does not work, no screen display. Picked a complete manual set for the NCR
PC6 along with 4 setup disk. A AST Bravo/286 for 80 cents without monitor
or key broad have not tested it yet. today I also picked about 30 books and
manuals covering all makes of hardware and some software titles. I've got
hurry and a warehouse setup for the museum. Well that's it for now I will
list some of the other items later. Keep computing !! John
>Return-Path: <CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu>
>Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 22:13:20 +0100
>Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
>Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu
>From: RICCARDO <chemif(a)mbox.queen.it>
>To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Re: AT&T 6300
>X-Sender: chemif(a)mbox.queen.it
>X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
>
>At 12:54 09/03/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>>
>>I don't recall if there was a "WGS" or not (in storage now) but it does have
>>the 25 pin video connector. The color scheme is brownish-black base with
>>the top being approx 1 1/2" white bordered and about half of the middle
>>section being black, the other half, or course, depending on the color of
>>the drives in the system.
>About the drives bay(s), have anyone a transparent-red HD cover in these
>positions, like the Olivetti version have?
I've wondered about those too. There are several AT&Ts in a trift store
here and some have the red covers and some have a second drive in that
position. I guess it's just a blank cover.
Joe
>
>
>
>????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
>? 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 ?
>????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
>
>
>Here's a question: What's the differences between a VAX 785
and a 780?
>
Hmmm, going strictly from memory, wasn't the 785 some kind of
dual-processor or failsafe setup? I remember it dropped off the
VMS supported hardware list back on V5.something or other.
Jack Peacock
To first update all of you on the three terminals I advertised before,
the two Digitals are presently spoken for and the Visual 102 w/keyboard
is still available. I need $5 plus shipping for it and an answer before
the 15th or it finds a hole to fill in the nearby dump.
I also have three Hewlett Packard 700/44 terminals with keyboards that
look just like new and work great. Not sure which emulations they can do
but while going through the setup before I saw quite a few. These have a
current loop connector as well as a 25 pin RS-232 connector on back. I
need $10 each plus shipping (pretty light for their size) or all three
for $25 plus shipping. I'll hang onto these as I have money into them
(swapped for labor charge equivalent) but I do need to find out soon
before I bury them in my storage building for a while.
Contact me by direct email please.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 / Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com
Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
--------------------------------------------------------------------
At 12:54 09/03/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>I don't recall if there was a "WGS" or not (in storage now) but it does have
>the 25 pin video connector. The color scheme is brownish-black base with
>the top being approx 1 1/2" white bordered and about half of the middle
>section being black, the other half, or course, depending on the color of
>the drives in the system.
About the drives bay(s), have anyone a transparent-red HD cover in these
positions, like the Olivetti version have?
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
? 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 ?
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Do they have the service manuals for the CPC et al too? If so I would be
interested in the 6128 manual. What are the coordinates of the company?
Thanks
-------------------------------------------------------------
Francois
Visit the Sanctuary at: http://home.att.net/~francois.auradon
-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, March 10, 1998 6:57 PM
Subject: Re: Amstrad disks
>BTW, the service manual (an Amstrad Service manual = parts lists +
>schematics _only_, virtually no text) is available from CPC in the UK if
>anyone needs one. It's not that expensive (say about \pounds 15.00).
>
>>
>> Joe
>>
>>
>
>-tony
>
Hi. After noticing how boring stuff was getting (between exams (no
homework), and decrease of after school activities), I've decided to beef-up
my involvement. So, I'm offering my help doing classiccmp/semi-classic
stuff. I can't do everything, but I can do web pages, basic tips, etc. If
anyone wants my help, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thanks,
Tim D. Hotze
Here we go... I moved the RA81 to school. Whilst running the RA81
checkout tests in the manual, I get to step 11 of the checkout tests, and
I get the following:
%RA81-TEST: SUBTEST:0F ERROR:D8 UNIT:000
%RA81-FRU-SERVO,HDA
This indicates that the HDA needs replacing
-------
> From CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Wed Mar 11 12:38:47 1998
> Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
> Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu
> To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: Preserving old floppies, fixed disks...
> Mime-Version: 1.0
> X-Sender: dwollmann(a)ibmhelp.com
> X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
> X-Lines: 72
>
> At 11:46 AM 3/11/98 -0500, you wrote:
> >
> >I know I saw a post on this a while back but I don't recall
> >any of the suggestions for preserving old floppies. I have
> >a few things on 8 inch floppies that are pretty much irreplacable
> >so any ideas are welcome!
> >
>
> Other than storing them in a cool, dark place I don't thing there's a whole
> lot you can do to curb the aging effects. We're starting to see problems
> with 9 Track and QIC tapes (5-10 yrs. old or >), not so much with 8"
> diskettes--yet.
The concensus on the "Community Memory" computer-history list, IIRC, was
that to preserve the DATA it was a good idea to periodically migrate it to
newer (types of) media. If you want to continue using the same PHYSICAL
media (type), for purposes of "completeness," sentiment, etc., I assume
you could simply (?) read-and-rewrite the data back onto the "same" media
(whether the "same tape," or just "another tape of the same kind," is up
to YOU). I can however envision situations in which system resource
limitations might make it difficult to do that -- only one drive, no spare
"blank" media, insufficient memory to buffer a copy of ONE tape/disk
while swapping to the next one (more of a problem with tapes than with
disks). You might be able to get around some of these problems with
clever programming (i.e. tracking media position and restoring positions
around multiple medium-swaps!) -- but I'm not about to assume that you guys
can all PROGRAM all the machines you COLLECT. (Can you?)
Me, I'm a DIY-software-head. I don't buy, or even dumpster-dive for,
much hardware that I can't at least POTENTIALLY program...
Chris Chiesa ("the still-pretty-new guy")
I know I saw a post on this a while back but I don't recall
any of the suggestions for preserving old floppies. I have
a few things on 8 inch floppies that are pretty much irreplacable
so any ideas are welcome!
Also, I have a number of machines that I don't use on any sort
of regular basis that have hard drives in them. I don't expect
these things to last forever but is there something I can do to
prolong the life of some relatively unused machines. (An old
Xerox comes to mind) Should I "start 'er up" every so often
(like a car in storage) or is it better to just leave well enough
alone?
Thanks!
Les
lfb107(a)psu.edu
[tony duell]
:> oh, add a sirius one to the list; we forgot it.
:Still sure you don't want to LART me? There's a few about - I was
"lart"?
:given one a few months back. Strange machine - the disk controller
:has a 8048-series microcontroller and a lot of TTL on it. It's an
:8088 machine, but virtually all the I/O chips come from the 65xx
:family, etc.
not surprising, considering that chuck peddle designed the 6502 in the
first place. he was especially keen on the 6522 and tended to scatter
them around his designs like confetti... ;> the disk drives used gcr and
ran at variable speeds, not unlike the mac's (although was the gcr
encoding method a more traditional 4 bits onto 5, as opposed to apple's
software-based 6-to-8?) and also boasted a capacity of 1.2Mb and a data
rate of 500kHz. and an 800x400 screen that took memory from the main
map, rather than its own little partition off somewhere else.
it wasn't a cheap design, but it was what the ibm should have been if it
*had* to use that particular architecture...
:Yes, 'everybody's got an 11' - but it's the sort of machine you
:should have anyway :-). IMHO it's a very clean architecture.
hmm. maybe. *grudge grudge* yes, it is a very nice architecture,
particularly in the way both the source and destination operands can be
specified as being in memory for all instructions (rather than just
loads) - but our objections to actually having one are not based in
rationality in this case...
:And surely it's better to have a real PDP8 than to have a simulator
it depends what you want it for. we want it for the programming
challenge (what can usefully be done within 4k?) and it makes sense for
programming challenge phase 1 to be hacking out a simulator. getting the
real pdp8 is something we'd see as the last step, not the first.
:Well, a Daybreak (the smallest, commonest D-machine, I think)
:turned up at a radio rally a couple of weeks ago. It was the first
:one I'd seen outside a museum....
hmm - so how much did you pay for it then...? :>
[tiger]
:The design was sold to HH electronics,
:who went broke (no idea whether the cost of making the Tiger had
:anything to do with this), and the machine never went into
:production.
probably - ram was expensive, modems were expensive, 7220s were
expensive... it would have been a hacker's dream, but for most
hobbyists, possibly overkill.
-- Communa (together) we remember... we'll see you falling
you know soft spoken changes nothing to sing within her...
Net-Tamer V 1.08X - Test Drive
This morning I went to a trift store and found an IBM PC that said
"Personal Computer 3270". How rare are these? I've never seen one before.
I have seen AT 3270s but not a PC. This one had a full height hard drive
with IBM logo on it and a full height 5 1/4" floppy drive with IBM's logo.
It had model 5271 marked on the back.
Also a few weeks ago I saw an IBM AT that was marked "Personnal Computer
AT Store Controller". What is it for? I've never heard of one. The owner
said that he had already "modified it" to make it a regular computer.
Joe
