test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by engine＠chac.org

At 09:27 11/15/97 -0500, you wrote: >> Your problerm is that your starting with a passion for collecting >> rather than a passion for a particular machine, platform, or >> architechture . > >Unlike those of us who never _planned_ to accumulate a bunch of >"obsolete" hardware (Hell, some of it _wasn't_ when we got it), but >just have a serious problem throwing anything away. And then after >a few years decided to start filling gaps in the product line. Disclaimer -- I do have a serious problem throwing anything away. Nonetheless, with computers and me, it's not that. In June 1986 I bought two 10MHz 286 clones (1MB RAM, 20MB disk, green mono) from a nice guy in Scotts Valley for $2500 each. One of those belonged to an intensely practical person, i. e., my wife, and is now gone. The other one, however, was mine, and every time I went to chuck it, I said "Hey, I paid real money for this thing." So, in eleven-plus years, it's been a 286/10, a 386/40, a 486DX/33, a 486DX4/100....and is now, saddled with the cynical nickname of Millennium Falcon, my kid's second-string machine. Since it had a new PS sometime in the early nineties, the only original part left is the case, but bygawd I haven't wasted that $2500 yet.... It's like farmers who park their old cars in a row in a field. I mean, we have a house rule of "No computers in the living room or dining room, unless they're laptops or they're leaving," and even so, we have enough computers here that they take some time to count. __________________________________________ Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org http://www.chac.org/index.html Computer History Association of California

28 years, 5 months

HD Floppies in DD Drives

by manney＠nwohio.com

>William Donzelli wrote: > >> says that they will last at least ten years. The best solution (other than >> mylar punched tape) is probably the older WORM drives (not MOs!), as they > >Purely out of morbid curiosity, has anybody ever considered making Tyvek >tape? The stuff is damned near impossible to tear and difficult even to >stretch enough to lose data. I don't think that indestructibility of the tape is the issue...the coating is the problem -- sliding across the head. What are you gonna bond to Tyvek? (still, DuPont managed to bond Teflon).

28 years, 5 months

Tape backup unit: Any clues?

by Anthony.Eros＠digital.com

I've heard of these before, a large chemical company headquartered where I live used these to back up engineering data. There was some senior management concern raised though over the format -- "We've got to keep these under tight control. If they fall into the wrong hands, our competition might put them into a VCR and look at our data." I kid you not... -- Tony ---------- From: Bruce Lane[SMTP:kyrrin2@wizards.net] Sent: Saturday, November 15, 1997 12:52 PM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: Tape backup unit: Any clues? Hi, folks, Came across an interesting find recently. Manufactured by Digi-Data Corporation, out of Maryland (yes, they are still around), it's a Pertec-interface TBU that uses, of all things, a VHS cassette mechanism to back up as much as 2 gigabytes to a normal T120 VHS tape. Darndest thing I've seen this year! I've spoken to Digi-Data already, and it is still possible to get a manual for the thing (you better believe I'll be doing so!), so I intend to put it to good use. I'm just curious if anyone else has crossed paths with this unit. It's called a 'Gigastore.' -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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..."

28 years, 5 months

HD Floppies in DD Drives

by manney＠nwohio.com

>Since some of the software for my "old" (first generation PC) computers >is on 5 1/4" disks of dubious condition, I would like to make copies >onto new disks. Since HD disks are still readily available and cheap, I >thought this would be an ideal way to do so. Try asking for used DSDD disks...I have boxes of 'em that I get free. 'Course, you might get a dirty one... > >I also seem to have fried the 5 1/4" HD drive in my PC while sorting >through some old software. It seems a couple of disks had some dirt on >them which caused horrible screeching sounds when the disk was spinning, >and also deposited a very hard black coating on the heads. The only way >I could remove the deposits was to scratch it off with my fingernails >(alcohol would not touch it). However, I must have bumped the heads out >of alignment, because the drive won't read disks any longer. > >My question is: can I plug a Double Density drive into the same >connector in my modern PC and use it for my old disks? I know I will >have to change my BIOS setting, but is there anything else I need to >consider? No. Just specify it as a 5 1/4", 360K. You might want to test the drive you install (Norton, for example), to make sure it does a good job. For greatest archive longevity, I'm told that tape (pick something common, such as QIC-80) *if recorded on a new tape and then not read often* will outlast anything -- even CD-ROM's. manney(a)nwohio.com

28 years, 5 months

Tape backup unit: Any clues?

by kyrrin2＠wizards.net

Hi, folks, Came across an interesting find recently. Manufactured by Digi-Data Corporation, out of Maryland (yes, they are still around), it's a Pertec-interface TBU that uses, of all things, a VHS cassette mechanism to back up as much as 2 gigabytes to a normal T120 VHS tape. Darndest thing I've seen this year! I've spoken to Digi-Data already, and it is still possible to get a manual for the thing (you better believe I'll be doing so!), so I intend to put it to good use. I'm just curious if anyone else has crossed paths with this unit. It's called a 'Gigastore.' -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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..."

28 years, 5 months

Tape backup unit: Any clues?

by IVIE＠cc.usu.edu

Kip Crosby wrote: >At 09:52 11/15/97 -0800, you wrote: >>Came across an interesting find recently....a >>Pertec-interface TBU that uses, of all things, a VHS cassette mechanism to >>back up as much as 2 gigabytes to a normal T120 VHS tape. >> >> I'm just curious if anyone else has crossed paths with this unit. It's >>called a 'Gigastore.' > >Such a device, maybe not this particular make, was the standard OEM backup >for Alpha Micro minicomputers. Mid-eighties. Not madly reliable. The backup unit an Alpha Micro sysadmin _i_ knew converted the data to video to get it onto the tape; i.e., it wasn't a Pertec interface, but used standard everyday VCRs. Roger Ivie ivie(a)cc.usu.edu

28 years, 5 months

Hard drive rescue: Update

by kyrrin2＠wizards.net

It seems that my initial post about a couple of hard drives and enclosures looking for a home was partly in error. The fellow's just offering the drives, and intends to keep the enclosures. Sorry for the inconvenience. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- >X-Sender: cyber(a)prismnet.com >X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0 (32) >Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 02:14:17 -0600 >To: Bruce Lane <kyrrin2(a)wizards.net> >From: Tom Ray <cyber(a)prismnet.com> >Subject: Re: OLD hard drives and enclosure need RESCUE! > >actually, Bruce, what I was offering specifically was just the drives >themselves, not the external SCSI cases. I plan on using those. I'll send >the cables with the drives but there was nothing fancy about the enclosure. >They don't even have a fan to keep them cool, just a powersource and the >external SCSI connector. I'm still fairly new to SCSI so I am not sure what >I do or don't need out of the case. Let me describe as best I can. <remainder snipped> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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..."

28 years, 5 months

DOS 3.31

by manney＠nwohio.com

>In a message dated 97-11-14 13:04:53 EST, you write: > ><< I can supply original DOS disks for 3.31 >> > >I would most certainly appreciate it. The computer these would be used on is >actually a Visual Technologies Commuter--a colleague noted that although this >unit runs intel 8086, 8088, 80286, it can boot into DOS 6.22. I have yet to >find out if this is true or not; however, what can we work out so that I may >get those disks? Even a PC (8088) will run DOS 6. E-mail me privately with your address, and we'll work out details. manney(a)nwohio.com

28 years, 5 months

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

off topic, but speaking of JTS, egghead is/was selling JTS 1gig drives for $99. i bought one, and works great! quiet, and has a 3 year warranty. all i got was the drive in a box, but then again, that's all i wanted. david In a message dated 97-11-14 05:22:36 EST, mr hotze put forth: > Well, it won't help you now, but a company called JTS Corporation has the best > HDDs I've seen in a LONG time. I was using a WD Caviar 2.0 GB, and it was > LOUD!!! It also had a fairly good HDD Test Score: 2.6 by the Norton > Utilities > benchmarks. I ran the test with my NEW 2.0 GB JTS, which got a 4.0!!! Also, > > it's about $20-$40 cheaper than the equivelent Caviar. The best part: It > has a > cover with rubber on the outside. I had it IN THE OPEN for about 3 weeks, > and > it still worked just fine. The cover protects it from static electrictity > form > jerks like me, and from shock, stuff like that.

28 years, 5 months

Classic "Laptops"

by manney＠nwohio.com

>I've recently heard of someone who told me about an 8080 laptop from >someone who has been into computers longer than I have. He said that >there was a laptop... in the 1970's, that was smaller than the origional >Compaq. It was soupossed to only have a little RAM, and it was used by >journalists, who would connect with a modem an upload the files. Is >this true? If so, what on earth ever happened to these? (Does this >sound like something else... H/PC come to mind? Journalists around here used the Radio Schlock thingie (Tandy 100?) Don't know the processor, tho'.

28 years, 5 months

Caution!

by lfb107＠psu.edu

>On Wed, 12 Nov 1997, Tim Shoppa wrote: > >> Tim Shoppa | Internet: shoppa(a)triumf.ca >> TRIUMF, Canada's National Meson Facility | Voice: 604-222-1047 loc 6446 > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > >Hey Tim, what is a Meson Facility anyway? > Mesons are simply either pions, muons, or kasons! That's all! LeS

28 years, 5 months

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by mcquiggi＠sfu.ca

At 11:16 AM 97/11/15 -0500, you wrote: >> > The most amazing thing is being in a real computer room (i.e. dozens >> > of 14" drives) when the power suddenly goes *off*. The silence is >> > astonishing. >> >> What would be even MORE amazing is when the power comes back ON a second >> later, with all the power switches still on, and everything tries to spin >> up at once... >> Or is there some safeguard against that? A lot of mainframe/mini drives have a configuration option called "spindle delay" that allows for a settable delay between power on and spin up. One sets the drives to spin up individually rather than all at once. Kevin --- Kevin McQuiggin VE7ZD mcquiggi(a)sfu.ca

28 years, 5 months

Older computers FS

by manney＠nwohio.com

>On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, PG Manney wrote: > >> Our local NASA is selling off older PC and other stuff. I'm local, if anyone >> wants anything. >> >> Stuff is at >> >> http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/WWW/Logistics/sales.htm > >Lots of stuff I'd like to see preserved, however if I read the details on >the site correctly the bidding closed yesterday (13-Nov.) > >DRAT! ...but look at the other one, under Plum Brook. It has some Zeniths, closing on the 23rd, I think.

28 years, 5 months

Who Was Looking for the RSX-11/M Manual??? Please Respond!

by mcquiggi＠sfu.ca

Hi Daniel: I've copied the manual and will mail it today or Monday! Sorry for the delay, Kevin At 07:29 AM 97/11/15 -0600, you wrote: >I was the guilty party. > >Daniel Seagraves >106 West Forest Ave >East Peoria, IL 61611 > >I've lost addresses before, this is nothing new... > > > > --- Kevin McQuiggin VE7ZD mcquiggi(a)sfu.ca

28 years, 5 months

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by manney＠nwohio.com

I dunno...I dropped one off my desk (2 1/2 ft), and it survived fine. I dropped a 1.2 GB HDD (WD, I think) BRAND NEW off my desk onto a carpet, and it died (couldn't have been a ST-157, no-o-o-o.) Depends on how it bounces, I guess. Anyone wanna try this with a 9 gig, in the interests of science? >Now.... just for fun, try to get a modern PC, drop it on your toe (A >sacrifice for science) and then watch it break into DOZENS of piece. Chip >out of socket, RAM out of socket, motherboard out of case, power supply out >of case, HDD crashed, disk drive not in a working condition, CD-ROM drive's >laser swears that there's no disk in. They don't make 'em like they used >to!!! > >---------- >From: Jeff Beoletto <jbeolett(a)ssi.net> >To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers ><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >Subject: Re: Classic Computer Rescue Squad >Date: Saturday, November 08, 1997 6:28 PM > > > >On Sat, 8 Nov 1997, Daniel A. Seagraves wrote: > >> On Sat, 8 Nov 1997, Hotze wrote: >> >> > At 23:18 11/7/97 +0000, you wrote: >> > >I am conviced that a lot of people (probably not on this list) >wouldn't >> > >know a well-designed or well-built computer if it was dropped on >them... >> > >> > Naturally not, they'd be too busy limping around howling. >> > >> >> I DID THAT! I DID THAT! I successfully managed to crush Jeff Beoletto's >> (One of my friends) toes with >> a PDP-11/44. We were trying to move it sideways. BTW, his foot healed >up >> quite well. And he wasn't limping around, he was curled up in a little >> ball on the floor, cussing a blue streak :) A week ago we were moving >the >> RA81, and I almost did it again... >> >> >> > Seeing how it was me that Dan managed to drop it I can agree to >the limping, and ironically enough it's the same foot that I had broken 3 >times in the month before he crushed it. And just yesterday hauling a pc >down to our storagge office on the 5th floor I tripped and fell down the >steps and have just re-broken that very same ankle. Computers are >hazerdous to your health. =+) > > > >

28 years, 5 months

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

You're right, also, they can make great places to keep things... convert a black case into a storage area for you're CDS, empty out a power supply to make an industrial-style case. Also, what are "popular" micros; I need to start getting collecting, but I'm not sure what to start with. By the way, that warehouse that was full of classics... what ever happened? When I say "popular"; I mean what are good, not something that's worth money. (No 5,000 pound Nova's, please) Bye, Tim D. Hotze ---------- From: Daniel A. Seagraves <dseagrav(a)bsdserver.tek-star.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Classic Computer Rescue Squad Date: Saturday, November 08, 1997 7:01 PM On Sat, 8 Nov 1997, Hotze wrote: > Now.... just for fun, try to get a modern PC, drop it on your toe (A > sacrifice for science) and then watch it break into DOZENS of piece. Chip > out of socket, RAM out of socket, motherboard out of case, power supply out > of case, HDD crashed, disk drive not in a working condition, CD-ROM drive's > laser swears that there's no disk in. They don't make 'em like they used > to!!! > Why break a new PC? They can be used as terminals for the *REAL* computers!

28 years, 5 months

Help with Mac Plus

by bwit＠pobox.com

Another thing to consider is that the Mac allocates a max amount of memory for each program. If this "partition" is too small the program will not run regardless of the amount of memory in the machine. To view and/or change the memory setting for a program select it's icon and pick the File->Get Info menu item. A dialog will be displayed showing current memory requirements. These values may be changed to increase the partition available for the program. Bob ---------- From: SUPRDAVE@aol.com[SMTP:SUPRDAVE@aol.com] Sent: Friday, November 14, 1997 2:37 PM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: Re: Help with Mac Plus as specified before, if the "about this mac" doesnt show it, you may have to remove the case and look at the simms. plus models came with 1 meg standard in 4 256k simms. other mem configurations are 2 1meg simms and 2 256k ones for 2.5 meg and 4 1meg simms for a total of 4 which is what my platinum mac plus has. i've noticed two mac plus designs; one in the apple //e beige colour and the other in corporate gray. i presume they are identical though. In a message dated 97-11-14 10:49:08 EST, PG Manney put forth: > Can anyone with Macintosh experience help me, please? > > 1) How do I check the amount of memory installed without ripping open the > beast? > > 2) The machine was running some programs (Chess, for example) and suddenly > refuses to do so, claiming, "xxx K needed to run this program. You have 512 > K). Customer doesn't know how much was installed. Might this be a > configuration problem, or has it lost contact with half its RAM? (and it > hasn't even hit 40 years yet!) > > Thanks, > manney(a)nwohio.com >

28 years, 5 months

HX20 - again!

by NOSPAM＠ptolzserv.com

Dear Tony, Sorry - forgot to mention, I also have about 15 blank rom cartridges (you need a 2764 or 27128 eprom - I have a bit of software that formats the files correctly that I can give you). Julian

28 years, 5 months

HX20

by NOSPAM＠ptolzserv.com

Dear Tony, Yes - I've got all the bits and pieces for the HX20, including a system dsisk. I also did some software for it, such as an assembler/dissasemlber/debugger. I've got: HX20 TF20 Micorcassette Manuals (system, and user, repair, programming) The TF20 is a complete CP/M compatible computer (I know of one guy who turned it into a CP/M machine!). It uses the serial i/f to talk to the HX20 using a packet system a bit like xmodem. The same i/f also talked to the old video display interface (the one bit I never bought!). Best wishes, Julian

28 years, 5 months

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-11-15 09:30:25 EST, HOTZE put forth: > Yeah, I know... real quiet, fast, and the waranty is unbeatable (500,000 MTBF > at > 5,400 (5,200?) RPM ain't bad.... kind of like warranties with REAL computer > parts > back in the 80's. Real computer warranties? hmmm, the warranty on my apple //+ was only 90 days if i'm not mistaken... david

28 years, 5 months

Model 100, again

by transit＠primenet.com

Ok, I still haven't been able to find out what's wrong with the LCD in my Tandy Model 100 (the rest of the machine works fine, as I was able to tell by blind-writing BASIC progs that beep the speaker). I opened it up, and the cable between the LCD module and the rest of the computer *looks* fine, as does the LCD module itself. I hope I don't have to replace the entire LCD module; I read on the tandy newsgroup that a new one, ordered via Radio Shack, costs upwards of $200!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles P. Hobbs __ __ ____ ___ ___ ____ transit(a)primenet.com /__)/__) / / / / /_ /\ / /_ / / / \ / / / / /__ / \/ /___ / -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 5 months

Anyone have a used copy of this book?

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 07:34 PM 11/11/97 -0800, you wrote: >Try http://www.powells.com next to Amazon they're about the biggest >bookstore in the world. Plus they've the advantage of actually being open >to the public. They have a really awsome Technical bookstore. Powells is >a must see if you're ever in the Portland Oregon area, it's almost a >tourist attraction! However, I've no idea if they've got the book you Actually, Powell's *is* a tourist attraction. At least, we make a point of stopping there whenever we're in town. The main store is a full city block. If you're in the area, you definitely have to check it out. I don't know if they've got their full selection on-line; if not you can always call them and ask someone to check, I suppose. They do carry various Land Rover manuals and books too. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad sinasohn(a)ricochet.net that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 5 months

Probably not counting... DECserver 200/MC

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

I just got a DECserver 200/MC to act as a termserver for my 11/34 when it comes back up... ANyone know how to get setup on here? This may not count as a computer, but I do need help...

28 years, 5 months

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< <> > HDDs I've seen in a LONG time. I was using a WD Caviar 2.0 GB, and it <> > was LOUD!!! < <Hey! What is wrong with loud disk drives! The more noise the create, the <more fun they are... I've seen several of them and they werent loud save for one that had a bad bearing! Allison

28 years, 5 months

What's this?

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

I bought a nice piece of luggage today, it has a few DEC disks and the CR04 diag cards (Card reader for PDP). But what are the disks? It's about 12-18" across, says decpack, 2200 BPI-12 on it. There's 3, 2 for XXDP+, one scratch. Are these RL02 packs? It's a single platter affair.

28 years, 5 months

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