test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by more＠camlaw.rutgers.edu

This past weekend, my aunt cleaned out her basement and presented me with all the old computer stuff she had stored there. Not much but I did get an old XT and a pretty complete IIe system. First, here's what I got: About 5 feet of disks (apple II) of which about 25 or so were CP/M (?) About 10 feet of books including (and I don't know why) users manuals and tape software for an "Epson HX20 Notebook Computer" (didn't get the computer tho :( looks neat no the cover) Since I am new to Apple's and really don't know what I'm talking about I will "attempt" to describe the system I got. Whomever had it before my aunt really did a number on it; all the punch-out plates in the back are gone and numerous ribbon cables are coming out every little crevice! First the basics: It came with 2 Disk II Disk Drives which I am still not sure even work. OPening the iie up I find: CPU has been replaced (?) with a ZIPCHIP 4 (?) In slots: AUX: This is probabl;y the most interesting board. It says Ramworks II on it and has a piggyback board attached to it that I think is supposed to be a RGB board. 1: is empty 2: has a Grappler + Parallel Printer INterface 3: Empty 4: Mouse Interface 5: Empty 6: Disk II Interface 7: (This one stumps me) Its a pretty long board and attaches by way of a wire to a panel on the back that says "VIDEX" The panel has a toggle switch and two RCA ports that say "M" and "A" Is this another Video board? OK, here's the problem! When I turn it on......nothing happens! The enhanced light comes on (?) and all I get on the screen is a sqaure pattern of reversed @ sysmbols and such. What is this? Other than that, the computer beeps once before this appears and the drives just blink their lights real quick (no motor spins, etc.) What's wrong here guys? Thanks, Les

28 years, 10 months

Don't laugh - simple ][e questions

by nickc＠ladyland.demon.co.uk

Hi chaps... I just picked up an Apple ][e complete with DuoDisk box and orange monitor. Great thing is it also has also the DOS 3.3 manuals and disks and bits and pieces in their original packaging! All i paid for was the petrol (yeah, i'm in England!) to go over and pick it up. Opening up the case reveals that it has a number of cards plugged in including a memory expansion card - does anyone know what size RAM this gives me? how can i check (forgive me for i have not RTFM yet!). It seems to work fine, so my big question is can i use any old 5 1/4" disks in it? is it capable of formatting any old 5 1/4" disks? I ask for two reasons: 1) so i can make back-up copies of the DOS 3.3 disks and 2) so i can save stuff. TIA...Nick. -- Nick Challoner nickc(a)ladyland.demon.co.uk Aviation photographs at: http://www.ladyland.demon.co.uk "Bother" said Pooh, as he deleted his root directory.

28 years, 10 months

HELP with Apple II+ booting!

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

This seems to be the weekend for Apple II series boot problems! My Apple II+ will boot a diskette called the "Zardax Utilities" but it won't boot anything else. When I boot with the Zardax Utilities diskette, I get "APPLE II" on the screen, some disk activity, then the Zardax menu comes up. When I put in a different bootable diskette, I get "APPLE II" on the screen, and then after a moment's pause, a bunch of garbage characters are added. This happens with various bootable diskettes, including some brand-new shrinkwrapped Atarisoft games (whose docs say they are bootable). With the garbage on the screen, if I hit Shift/Break or Ctrl/Break or whatever, I can get to the ] BASIC prompt. I've switched out the Drive 1 and the diskette adapter card. Any idea what's wrong? thanks Kai

28 years, 10 months

TRS-80 Model 4P

by bm_pete＠ix.netcom.com

Greetings, I'm hoping for a little advice here: While scanning an auction web page (http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=hok055925) I found an item I have in the garage. which sold there for $76.50. This brings two questions to my mind: 1: Is it worth $76.50? 2: Would be unethical to email the non-winning bidders with an offer to sell my computer to them? _______________ Barry Peterson bm_pete(a)ix.netcom.com Husband to Diane, Father to Doug, Grandfather to Zoe and Tegan.

28 years, 10 months

Tandy TRS-80 Model 4's for UK collectors...

by kevan＠motiv.co.uk

Hi, I recieved the following email through my web site. I really don't have the room for these so if anybody is interested then feel free to contact him. (He does know I have forwarded this email.) Kevan ------- Forwarded Message

28 years, 10 months

Kaypro

by jeffh＠unix.aardvarkol.com

Here's an Email I recieved today, just in case any of you are interested. >To: JeffH >From: dasarno(a)aol.com >Date: 28 May 97 21:20:02 -0500 >Subject: Kaypro > > >Jeff - >I came across your name by reference the keyword Kaypro. I have a >mint condition Kaypro 10, all manuals, back-up disks. It looks like >it just came out of the box and works great. But, have absolutely no >use for it. Do you have any ideas? Is there an aftermarket or should >I donate it to some school computer lab. Thanks > >Don S. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Collector of Classic Computers: Amiga 1000, Atari 800, 800XL, MegaST-2, Commodore C-128D, Plus/4, VIC-20, Kaypro 2X, Mattel Aquarius, Osbourne Executive, Radofin Aquarius, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer 3, and Model IV. Also Atari SuperPong and Atari 2600VCS game consoles

28 years, 10 months

PS/2

by groberts＠mitre.org

At 07:59 AM 5/30/97 -0400, Roger Merchberger wrote: >> especially when the PS/2's came out. The PS/2's had *no* way to hook an >> internal 5.25" floppy > >Does the PS/2 not have any 5.25" drive bays? Weird. :) remember that at the time the PS/2 came out IBM was trying to re-assert their lead in the industry (they largely failed). they decided to move to a completely new architecture which they hoped would set a new standard (e.g. 3.5" floppy; Microchannel; VGA graphics). the microchannel failed because they tried to license the technology, but people found ways to breathe life into the old ISA bus instead. the small floppy and VGA were obviously successes, but IBM underestimated the need for backward compatibility to the larger floppies (obvious in hindsight). - glenn

28 years, 10 months

HELP with Apple II+ booting!

by BigLouS＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-05-29 21:36:06 EDT, shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca (Tim Shoppa) writes: > The chips aren't hard to find or replace, it's just that I've seen > neophytes smoke a half-dozen drives in a matter of minutes while > swapping cables around. (Yes, i've smoked a couple myself.) I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one frying Disk II's although I only seem to fry the 74LS125's on the drive. Lou

28 years, 10 months

monitors for use with old computers.

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

The Commodore 1084 is a versatile, inexpensive monitor on the used market. It has composite, Y/C, analog and digital RGB inputs with front-panel switching, as well as built-in audio (the 1084S is stereo). The Commodore 1702 is an older model that should be even cheaper. It has composite and Y/C connections switchable only on the rear panel, and monaural built-in audio. I'm sure both of the above were available in PAL versions, probably with the same features. Many older systems can be wired to use Y/C connections (e.g. Atari 8bit, C64) by using a custom cable on the video DIN connector instead of the Ch3/4 TV output. Y/C connections (also known as S-video) will yield a _much_ higher quality picture. The Commodore monitors use dual RCA connectors instead of the mini-DIN4 connector more commonly associated with S-video, but electrically it's the same. If you had a newer system with S-video output (e.g. PlayStation/Saturn) it would be simple to make a mini-DIN4-to-dual-RCA adapter cable. I use a Commodore 1084S for my Amiga, Atari ST and IBM CGA/EGA applications; a (ultra cool) Samsung GXTV (http://sosimple.com/gxtv.htm) for various systems, including those that have only Ch3/4 output (e.g. Mattel Aquarius, Timex-Sinclair ZX) and for watching TV in the computer room :), and a Sony PVM-2030 broadcast stacking monitor for the modern video game systems. I'd like to find a Sony GVM-1311Q, which is a 13" monitor that accepts composite, Y/C, digital and analog RGB, the latter at up to 1024x768. That covers just about everything except Hercules Mono. Kai > ---------- > From: Pete Robinson[SMTP:Pete@madhippy.demon.co.uk] > Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Sent: Thursday, May 29, 1997 12:15 PM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: monitors for use with old computers. > > I'm fairly new to the collecting scene and I'm looking for a monitor I > can use with some of my systems. I'm mainly interested in the 8bit > home > computers, spectrum, c64, atari, dragon, bbc etc > > I'd like to know if there is a particular type of monitor that can be > used on the above machines. I'd like to buy, say one, I can use with > all > of the above. > > I know there seems to have been a few different methods used in > producing the video signals and, from reading newsgroups, I get the > impression that it is sometimes possible to select video > outputs/monitor > inputs such that, even if the monitor is not directly compatible, a > reasonable result can be obtained. > > Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. > -- > Pete Robinson > pete(a)madhippy.demon.co.uk > http://www.madhippy.demon.co.uk - faqs, emulators, links, web > utilities. >

28 years, 10 months

FS on Ebay: HP 86, Apple IIe, IIc

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

I'm cleaning out my closet due to financial need. (and lack of time and space). I put 3 computers on the auction yesterday: ? HP 86 Computer, Drives, Modules ? http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=otr9161 ? Apple IIe Computer, Duo Drive, 64K ? http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=cjt6509 ? Apple IIC Computer ? http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=znb774144 Much more to come. I'm seriously cleaning house over the next few weeks.

28 years, 10 months

Recent Finds & RE: laser discs...

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

Recent finds... Been adding to the Atari collection, last weekend snagged a 410 tape recorder for 99 cents, noticed a bit of rattling and discovered a plastic part had fallen off the rewind key mechanism (it triggers a reed switch, probably to mute the signal when rewinding.) glue or tape should fix it. Now all I have to do is find those games I have... I think I have a Telengard tape that has atari on it, I wonder how it will compare to the 64 version... And I also have an Automated Simulations game somewhere (the science fiction one like apshai?), it could have an Atari version on it as well... I might have a possible candidate for a power supply for the growing Atari collection (from a thrift store with a table full of various PSs, and mention of boxes more in the back, gotta check there more often!), it is a 9V AC 1.6 amp supply... so, how much difference is there between 1.6 and 1.7 amps? The least rated supply (listed in the Atari FAQ) to run on an 800/1200XL is a 1.7 amp, can the 1.6 cause problems? (I have yet to try this as the plug is the too small and I will have to solder on a more suitable one for it to work.) Also got an 810 drive, did a power test tonite, the disk went through a 'seek' of some sort (still one PS and no disks, so it's best I can do for now) Now I have disk drives that match the 1200XL and 800! Speaking of the 1200XL I mentioned earlier the keyboard was not functional, a fellow user on the comp.sys.atari.8bit newsgroup suggested checking the keyboard connector, and by-jimminy, it was loose! (Now who would open a perfectly good computer...well..ok, who wouldn't open a perfectly good computer. *grin*.) Books,tapes,disks are nowhere to be found for the Atari (at thrift shops/book stores/flea markets), so far (since a month or two ago) not a one spotted, and I thought Commodore books were hard to find. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Monochrome monitors are pretty cheap out there, picked up a basic Zenith green screen for someone for $2.95, saw a few more similarly priced. -=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- My best find of the week: one thrift store had a 128D unit sans keboard (a 128D is a Commodore C128 computer with built-in 1571 disk drive, latest ROMs, and 64k video RAM) for $7.00. I figured it would be a great 'parts source' for my flat C128 (which has only 16k VRAM and old ROMs), I assumed the 128D was DOA, only to discover it is functional, the drive seems ok too! (booted a CP/M system disk and Renegade, two disks with 128 boot sectors I knew of). Now I'm gonna have to scrounge/hack up a 128D keyboard. (dang it all!) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- RE: Laser Discs >From: bm_pete(a)ix.netcom.com (Barry Peterson) >Subject: Re: More p-code (was: Re: Another weekend haul story > On Tue, 27 May 1997 20:06:29 -0700 (PDT), someone said: >>Also, anyone remembers TI's videodisc controller card? I remember some of >>the ads and catalogs saying something to the effect of "The Videodisc=20 >>controller is for industrial use only, it is not for use in the home" >It's PHP 2300 "Video Controller", and listed in 1982 for $699.95! (I >didn't buy one) I got a couple LDs from thrift shops the first ($20) was the great grandaddy Magnavox 8000, still has major tracking problems but it can't interface to anything anyway. The second ($9.95!) is a Poineer 6010? Anyway, it is an 'industrial grade' LD player (had an Armstrong Flooring disc in it). I have some articles for LD interfacing: one for the VIC-20 in a 1982 COMPUTE! and one I think for RS-232 in a 1983 BYTE; but this LD player already has an RS-232 inteface built-in so that point is moot... I am waiting to bail it out of repairs (very minor ones fortunately). Anyone got a Dragon's Lair LD lying around??? Larry Anderson -- -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/ Call our BBS (Silicon Realms BBS 300-2400 baud) at: (209) 754-1363 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 10 months

HELP with Apple II+ booting!

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Still no joy on the Apple II+ boot problem. The machine appears to definitely have 48K RAM; at least the NEC chips have "416" on them. Any way I can tell in BASIC? I have 3 disk controllers and 3 drives. The disk controllers have 2 different ROM versions; one is half copyrighted 1979 and half 1981, while the other is all 1981. The card model is 650-X104. There's another ID number, one is 820-0006-02 and the other card is 820-0006-D. Help!!!! Kai > ---------- > From: Eric Fischer[SMTP:eric@fudge.uchicago.edu] > Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 1997 10:02 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Re: HELP with Apple II+ booting! > > kaikal(a)MICROSOFT.com says, > > > My Apple II+ will boot a diskette called the "Zardax Utilities" but > it > > won't boot anything else. > ... > > When I put in a different bootable diskette, I get "APPLE II" on the > > screen, and then after a moment's pause, a bunch of garbage > characters > > are added. > > My best guess is that maybe you have a 13-sector (DOS 3.2) disk > controller and one 13-sector disk (the one that works), and the > rest of your disks are 16-sector so the 13-sector controller > doesn't know what to do with them. Unfortunately I can't remember > where to peek to find out the DOS or controller version number, > so I don't know how you could verify this. > > The other alternative is that if your Apple II+ has less than 48k > of memory, the other disks may be expecting a 48k system and loading > DOS into a part of memory that doesn't exist on your computer. The > Zardax Utilities disk may be one with a relocatable DOS image on it > (a "master" disk) created with "MASTER CREATE" and the rest are just > plain fixed-address disks. This would certainly explain why random > junk was getting loaded into video memory instead of where it belongs. > > eric >

28 years, 10 months

monitors for use with old computers.

by Pete＠madhippy.demon.co.uk

I'm fairly new to the collecting scene and I'm looking for a monitor I can use with some of my systems. I'm mainly interested in the 8bit home computers, spectrum, c64, atari, dragon, bbc etc I'd like to know if there is a particular type of monitor that can be used on the above machines. I'd like to buy, say one, I can use with all of the above. I know there seems to have been a few different methods used in producing the video signals and, from reading newsgroups, I get the impression that it is sometimes possible to select video outputs/monitor inputs such that, even if the monitor is not directly compatible, a reasonable result can be obtained. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. -- Pete Robinson pete(a)madhippy.demon.co.uk http://www.madhippy.demon.co.uk - faqs, emulators, links, web utilities.

28 years, 10 months

Seen on web: ads of interest to this list

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Found these ads on the web, they might be of interest to some! ANTIQUE DATA GENERAL LAPTOP FOR SALE Data General MODEL NO. 2217A. I have a Data General One laptop (Model No. 2217A) with full size Expansion Chassis, and several original manuals and programs -- Lotus 1-2-3 Rel. 1A, Microsoft Multiplan, DGBlast (communications), GW-Basic, Programmers Manual, Flight Simulator II, and Ashton-Tate Framework. Laptop has 512 mg memory, dual 720 floppies (max available on machine at time; no internal hard drives in this generation). Expansion chassis has 4 available slots and a bay for a full-size hard drive. Purchased new in 1986. This is clearly an antique, and might be of interest to DG freaks (if there are any) or computer museums; this was one of first clam shell laptops. Interested? Please reply directly to Al J. Daniel, Jr.by e-mail.mailto:adnyc@ix.netcom.com SEAGATE 8 INCH HDD FOR SALE Used SEAGATE 8 inch HDD -- condition unknown. Any interest.E-mail. ice8(a)eosinc.com

28 years, 10 months

Another weekend haul story

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Well, thanks to a mobile GPS, I managed to visit 30 thrifts in one day this weekend, and ended up with: - Atari 400 - IBM Portable PC 5155 - Two more Osborne 1's (for trade) - An Indus GT floppy drive for Atari 8bit (this is the best Atari 8bit drive ever made!) - Apple Disk II new in box - Another TRS-80 Model I (system unit only) - Atari 1040ST and SC124 mono monitor (floppy wasn't working but I fixed it--I think) - Another Mac 128 (with bad floppy, I have the parts to fix) - Pile of diskettes for the TRS-80 Model 4/4P, including original TRSDOS, SCRIPSIT, ZORK I, etc. - Manuals for my TRS-80 Model 4P - Some shrink wrapped games for the Apple II, Atari 8bit, and C64 - TI 99/4A "P-Code Module", whatever the heck that is (goes in the expansion bay) - Atari 65XE game computer - Atari 7800 ProSystem with PS, RF adapter and 3 joysticks - Colecovision driving expansion module Kai

28 years, 10 months

Current for trade/wanted list

by josh＠netins.net

I am intrested in the macs, the 128 & 512. How much? I do have a few dos 3.3 master disks for the II series (the origional apple disks!). Intrested? I'll try to dig them out! Josh M. Nutzman +----------------------------------------------+ |"Life is like a river, you go with the flow...| | but in the end you usually end up dammed." | | -The Red Green Show | +----------------------------------------------+

28 years, 10 months

Forgot one more! UK folks pls comment (RE: Another weekend

by jonathan＠holly.ninja.ml.org

> Date: Tue, 27 May 1997 10:04:36 -0700 > From: Kai Kaltenbach <kaikal(a)MICROSOFT.com> > Almost forgot - I also picked up an Apricot F2. For those in the > US, this is one bizarre machine. It's only about 7" wide, 4" tall [...] > > Any additional information -- and pointers to a boot disk -- > appreciated! If you (or anybody else) want, I can copy your message into the Fidonet "APRICOT" support echo. There aren't all that many messages in there at the moment, but I am sure that there are still folk with working Apricot machines, that would be glad to help. Let me know, and I'll post your messages in there for you, and forward replies either to this list, or back to you personally. Best wishes, ___ _ _ ___ _ _| (_)(\)(-) | (-)(-)(\)

28 years, 10 months

HELP!!! Apple IIe - doesn't work!

by BigLouS＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-05-27 23:56:45 EDT, you write: > Should I take one of the video cards out? Are they supposed to BOTH be in > there? If when you boot the machine it comes up with Apple IIe then you have an enhanced IIE. If it says Apple II then you have an unenhanced IIe. Part of the enhancement upgrade involved replacing roms on the motherboard so perhaps the upgrade was done improperly (unlikely). Pulling cards is the best way to isolate the problem. First pull the videx card. If that doesn't solve the problem then pull the AE card, the mouse card and finally the printer card. If your still having problems then you may want to replace the Zip chip with a stock 65C02 (an enhanced IIe uses a 65C02 rather than a 6502). If you still have problems then you may want to try a different controller card or just throw the thing out the window. :-) Lou

28 years, 10 months

Terak's (was: Re: Another weekend haul story

by zmerch＠northernway.net

Whilst in a self-induced trance, Charles P. Hobbs happened to blather: >Hey, DOS *is* CP/M as far as I'm concerned (look how long it took to >kick that 8.3 filename habit! :-) It is not easy to calculate how long it took for them to kick the habit, as the habit has not yet been kicked... think of it as still being on the nicotine patch. The long filenames of Win95 are only a *bunch* of 8.3 filename placeholders conveniently disguised to the end user. Wanna waste a whole weekend over nothing? Run MS-DOS 6.22's scandisk/defrag on a Win95 volume and see how long it takes you to straighten that mess out... it's easier to reformat and reinstall. HTH, "Merch" -- Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed, Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* zmerch(a)northernway.net | be your first career choice.

28 years, 10 months

Atari 800 XL (fwd)

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

If you're looking for an Atari you might want to talk to this guy. Bill ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 18:29:18 -0700 From: Steve <stevemr2(a)televar.com> To: bill(a)booster.bothell.washington.edu Subject: Atari 800 XL Hi Bill I have an Atari 800 XL along with several cartridges, tapes with programs and the 1010 player. This machine is like new as I take care of my equipment. I haven't used it for several years and have been thinking about selling everything. Even back then I saw how computers were advancing and I decided not to try to keep up. Last year I finally decided to buy a new computer. Quantex with P133, 2.1 gig HD, etc. I was into the computer thing in the late 50's early 60's when still a kid. If you know of anyone who would be interested in this equipment, which is in cherry condition and all power supplies, cables etc come with it along with several programs on tape (Zaxxon, Chess, Slot Machine, Sky Chart, E-Factor and LOTS more), several carts (Missile Command, Donkey Kong, Defenders...and more). Thanks....................Steve From: Steve Hagensicker <---<----->---> stevemr2(a)televar.com Homepage: Netsurfer Central <-----> http://www.televar.com/~stevemr2/

28 years, 10 months

Forgot one more! UK folks pls comment (RE: Another weekend haul story)

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Almost forgot - I also picked up an Apricot F2. For those in the US, this is one bizarre machine. It's only about 7" wide, 4" tall and 16" deep. It has a wireless infrared keyboard and wireless hand-held trackball! I never knew these were sold in the United States. It's marked 60Hz so it's not an import. About all I know about it is from a couple of web references -- 1985, 8086 CPU, 512K RAM, dual 720K drives, ran a modified OEM version of MS-DOS. Any additional information -- and pointers to a boot disk -- appreciated! thanks Kai > ---------- > From: Kai Kaltenbach > Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 1997 9:40 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Another weekend haul story > > Well, thanks to a mobile GPS, I managed to visit 30 thrifts in one day > this weekend, and ended up with: > > - Atari 400 > - IBM Portable PC 5155 > - Two more Osborne 1's (for trade) > - An Indus GT floppy drive for Atari 8bit (this is the best Atari 8bit > drive ever made!) > - Apple Disk II new in box > - Another TRS-80 Model I (system unit only) > - Atari 1040ST and SC124 mono monitor (floppy wasn't working but I > fixed > it--I think) > - Another Mac 128 (with bad floppy, I have the parts to fix) > - Pile of diskettes for the TRS-80 Model 4/4P, including original > TRSDOS, SCRIPSIT, ZORK I, etc. > - Manuals for my TRS-80 Model 4P > - Some shrink wrapped games for the Apple II, Atari 8bit, and C64 > - TI 99/4A "P-Code Module", whatever the heck that is (goes in the > expansion bay) > - Atari 65XE game computer > - Atari 7800 ProSystem with PS, RF adapter and 3 joysticks > - Colecovision driving expansion module > > Kai >

28 years, 10 months

bringing heath 120 back to life

by groberts＠mitre.org

i'm trying to fire up the old Heath H-120. it seems to have "forgotten" how to see the floppy disk controller, i get: DEVAULT DEVICE CONTROLLER ERROR i've checked quite a few things (e.g. reseat card and chips, look for cold solder joits, etc. - see my more extensive posting on comp.sys.zenith.z100). it seems like maybe getting hold of another H207 card (floppy controller) would be worth trying - or maybe even a whole Z100 system for swapping parts. are these still showing up at auctions? (DOD was of course a big Z100 customer). How do i find out about these auctions? anyone know of a source for spares or help with this sort of thing? thanks. - glenn +=========================================================+ | Glenn F. Roberts, Falls Church, VA | Comments are my own and not the opinion of my employer | groberts(a)mitre.org

28 years, 10 months

New Finds...

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

Saturday my wife had chanced upon a Commodore 64 system (computer, 1541 drive, cables, power supply) whith some books & magazines. Since the flea market was closing there was a final offer of $10.00. Needless to say I bought it (for $8.36, all the change I had left), mainly because it was worth $10.00 for the stuff and the disks, books, and magazines caught my attention. Besides the system I got a users guide for the computer and drive, a programmer's reference guide, and a couple software manuals. Many of the disks seem to be copies of stuff, I'll have to scan them to see if there are any lost treasures... The Magazines included 6 Commander magazines from 1983/84 (this is the first time I've had the opportunity to flip though this publication.), Commodore Power/Play June/July 84, a Popular Computing and a Personal Computing magazine (the latter two have very little Commodore coverage and were talking about the Apple II and IBM as on even playing fields.) Also a Scholastic K-Power Collection of computer programs, "10 awsome/original/unusual/super/fantastic/computer puzzles and games" The computer seems to be dead ('m glad he didn't sell it to someone for the $50 he was asking for it), the drive is in great shape (as it helped copy many disks for me today) and the magazines are facinating. In the Magazines: I finally saw an ad for the OSCAR bar code reader, looked good to me, one argument they had in the ad was the unreliability of tapes, heck, I have tapes older than that ad that still work, but it would be cool to have a bar code reader for my computer(s). The issue of Popular Computing had a review on the Jupiter Ace 4000 (looks kinda like a Sinclair ZX80, but has FORTH as it's built-in language) Pretty in-depth too, 5 pages long with a screen shot and an overview of the differences of ACE FORTH to other FORTH standards. The K-power is kinda a rosetta stone of BASICs with similar programs for Adam, Apple, Atari, Commodore 64, IBM PC, TI-99/4A, TRS-80 Color Computer/Model III/4, and VIC-20. Some programs deal with at least low-res graphics and another with music. Later on I fondled a Compupro 10 at a thrift shop, like like it was a multi-user machine with 4 console ports, 3 printer ports, a SCSI/SASI port and an 8" drive port (to compliment it's two 5.25" drives bays it already has. Will have to browse the web and see if I can see what it was about. Larry Anderson -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare Call our BBS (Silicon Realms BBS 300-2400 baud) at: (209) 754-1363 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 10 months

'Uniform' from Micro Solutions, 1986

by jeffh＠unix.aardvarkol.com

I pulled out a disk I had sitting here which I totally forgot I had. It's the program 'Uniform', version 2.02, from Micro Solutions and is copywrited 1986. This is the PC version, and I hadn't tried it before because it's been quite a long time since I had a PC with the 5-1/4" drives. Well, I installed it onto the MS-DOS 2.11 boot disk copy I keep with the IBM 5155 and began trying different CP/M formats with it, including Kaypro 4 and Osbourne Executive formats. It read both formats flawlessly, though I've not tried formatting an Osbourne or Kaypro disk on the PC and then reading it on the real machine since Uniform does that as well. The leaflet which comes with the disk says that on an XT, the program supports 110 different CP/M formats, while on an AT it supports 160 (I'm assuming with a HD disk drive). I knew that I could read a number of different CP/M formats using CP/M 3.0 on the C-128, but hadn't given this program much attention before. Is there anyone out there who still uses this program for data exchange? Jeff jeffh(a)unix.aardvarkol.com <--- new address ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Collector of Classic Computers: Amiga 1000, Amiga 3000, Atari 800, Atari 800XL, Atari MegaST-2, Commodore C-128, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore VIC-20, Kaypro 2X, Mattel Aquarius, Osbourne Executive, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer 3, TRS-80 Model IV Plus Atari SuperPong and Atari 2600VCS game consoles

28 years, 10 months

TRS-80 Model 4P

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

> On Mon, 26 May 1997, Barry Peterson wrote: > Gee, it's started already 8-( No, it started a long time ago. > No, it worth about $0.50. Of course, you have all the documentation, and > the disks that go with it. That might make it worth $1.50. It's worth what someone will pay for it. Nobody is forcing anyone to pay "too much" for anything. It's called supply and demand. > It's much better to get rid of it locally - $25 and it yours. Come pick it > up! Better for you, better for it. Nice if you can find someone locally to take it off your hands. Why do you think there are so many computers at the thrift stores with garage sale price tags on them. The general public doesn't want them. > > 2: Would be unethical to email the non-winning bidders with an offer > > to sell my computer to them? > > Only to those of us who want to preserve the beasts - rather than sell > them off for a profit. I don't think there's any harm in trying to get a fair price for anything. We're not talking about selling food to starving people at ridiculous prices and this stuff is selling way below it's original cost. As more of this stuff is trashed and recycled, it's just the way it works. Best thing to do is get your stuff while it's still cheap. Then someday, if you ever get rid of it you can donate it to a needy collector and feel really good about it. I'd really like to pick up a 1964 mustang convertible for $500 but those greedy bastards want more than they cost new! Can you imagine? All I want to do is preserve it.

28 years, 10 months

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