This one is light and small enough to be shipped. It's a 'Gigastore' drive from Digi-Data Corp. Best of all, it includes the operation/maintenance manual(!).
The 'Gigastore' is a weird device. What Digi-Data did is take a regular VHS VCR, make some modifications to the transport assembly, and added their own electronics to provide a Pertec interface. The result was a tape backup system that used regular VHS tapes, could store up to 2.5 gigabytes of data, and could interface to any Pertec controller.
This one's cheap: $25.00 or best offer, plus shipping.
Also, FYI: The HP 9-track drive I mentioned earlier would include the manual.
Thanks much.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy,
Blue Feather Technologies -- http://www.bluefeathertech.com
ARS KC7GR (Formerly WD6EOS) since 12-77 -- kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com
"I'll get a life when someone demonstrates that it would be superior
to what I have now..." (Taki Kogoma, aka Gym Z. Quirk)
"Stan Sieler" <sieler(a)allegro.com> wrote:
> Re:
> > See my earlier post about how they started back in '73;
>
> 1972, but the actual "start" date is hard to pin down. Was it first
> introduction, or the re-introduction (after it was pulled off the market)?
Development of Alpha started in 1968 and ran concurrently (if somewhat
on a back burner, because everybody thought the 32-bit Omega was a
more exciting project) w/r/t Omega until Omega's cancellation in 1970.
November 1972 is when the first systems (called HP 3000) were shipped
to customers. The re-release (which was somewhat improved hardware
and software and also called HP 3000 initially, but later came to be
called the Series I) was in October 1973.
(Reference for the above: Christopher Edler's "The Strongest Castle"
paper)
> The 16-bit HP 3000 was never multi-CPU. The HP 3000 Series III, introduced
> in 1978, *did* have one instruction that was intended to support
> having a second CPU, but nothing was ever done with it. The multiple-CPU
> support came with the PA-RISC system, with release MPE XL 3.0
Somebody had ideas about it being a dual-CPU shared-memory system
early on. Looking at the HP3000 Computer System Reference Manual from
September 1973, I see that locations %10-%13 were reserved for the
second processor's current PCB pointer, QI, ZI, and interrupt count.
The Series II added two instructions: LOCK and UNLK, which were used
to provide a sort of in-memory semaphore. I'm not sure they were
present in the Series III. The Machine Instruction Set manuals I have
handy have them footnoted with "Series II computer systems only".
What I don't know is whether MPE ever had dual-CPU support. If it
didn't, I wonder how they worked out that having an in-memory
semaphore would be a good idea.
-Frank McConnell
On November 17, Stan Sieler wrote:
> PA-RISC is dead/dying ... HP has said so. IA-64 killed it.
[knee-jerk reaction to a pet peeve follows]
Well, as long as "dead" can be defined as "salespeople don't want to
sell you a new one". For me, it can't. I can pick up the phone and
buy PDP8 equipment from a commercial vendor. How long ago was THAT
architecture discontinued?
For me, something is "dead" (or "obsolete" or whatever you want to
call it) when it can no longer do its job adequately and
cost-effectively. When Ford or Chevrolet discontinue a model of a
car, does every owner of that model of car go throw them away and buy
brand new cars?
This industry is absurd, and its practices and philosophies are
repulsive at best. I wish I didn't like computers so much. *grumble*
> (Indeed, PA-RISC was originally scheduled to be dead by now, but it had to
> be extended due to the lateness of IA-64.)
>
> Do I like this? Nope. But, it's as much "legacy" as Z80, 68000, and
> (probably) all x86 chips.
...all of which can be bought new today, and are being built into
systems (though not mainstream suits-doing-powerpoint-presentations
type of systems, but is that really what this crowd cares about?)
every day. "something new came out" != "this is now useless".
Now, Stan...I apologize if it seems as if I'm jumping down your throat
with this, and believe me I do get the impression that I'm precahing
to the choir. But I also believe that the vast majority of the folks
here understand that computers don't stop processing data when the
manufacturer no longer wants to sell new ones of the same type. This
group is likely the most enlightened of any on this subject. So why
go along with it?
Respectfully,
-Dave McGuire
--
Dave McGuire
St. Petersburg, FL
> According to the press release, they want you to migrate to 9000's or
> their PC servers products.
>
> As for MPE on other platforms.. tempting. They should open source the
> whole damn thing. That would be an *interesting* read.
fat chance. A group tried to liberate Domain/OS, which they didn't
even write, to no avail... I think Bob Supnik had the same response
>from them regarding the HP2000/2100 software.
Suits. Can't live with 'em, probably couldn't live without 'em.
-dq
hey list-
Just announced on /., the venerable HP3000 line will join HP calculators
in HP's new "we don't want to do cool stuff anymore" business model.
Well, maybe that's harsh. But it is still another sad day for computing.
- Dan
--
Dan Linder / dlinder @ uiuc.edu
Graduate Student, College of Engineering, Dept. of Computer Science
- Dept. of Computer Science Teaching Assistant
- DRES Computer Accessibility Researcher
On Nov 15, 10:57, Ethan Dicks wrote:
>
> --- Pete Turnbull <pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com> wrote:
> > There's a trick to soldering them. Stick the plug in a socket (or,
btter
> > still, a potato) to solder it. It stops things getting too hot and
> > melting.
>
> I've done the socket thing, but I've never done a potato... wouldn't you
> get lots of residual starch on the pins?
Not a lot. And it's not corrosive. Don't use an apple :-)
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
(Cross-posted to: classiccmp, and the port-sparc and port-vax lists at NetBSD.org)
NOTE: LOCAL PICKUP ONLY EXCEPT BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT: I'm sorry, but these are too big and bulky for me to easily ship unless you want to pay $150 for a special box plus the freight charges. Pickup location is Kent, Washington (southeast of Seattle).
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Hi, folks,
Due to shifting interests, and a massive cleanup, I'm getting rid of two 9-track SCSI interface tape drives. Both are multi-density, both are standard single-ended SCSI interface, no oddball connectors, and I'd like to ask for $100 OR BEST OFFER on each one. Here's the specific details.
HP 88780: Handles 800, 1600, and 6250 density tapes. Front-loading/autoloading, rackmount, and in pretty darn good shape. Originally badged as a Sun drive, and I seem to recall that it ID's as a Sun device. However, it worked just fine with standard SCSI hardware. Includes rack slides, functional when last turned on a few months back.
M4 Data Model 9914R (rackmount). Handles all four known densities: 800, 1600, 3200, and 6250. Also front-load/autoload, also in great shape. I can probably come up with a set of rack slides for it as well. Somewhat lighter than the HP in physical terms, and it can be easily converted to a Pertec interface by removing the SCSI interface board and changing one parameter in the NVRAM setup.
Thanks much for putting up with my blatant ad. ;-)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy,
Blue Feather Technologies -- http://www.bluefeathertech.com
ARS KC7GR (Formerly WD6EOS) since 12-77 -- kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com
"I'll get a life when someone demonstrates that it would be superior
to what I have now..." (Taki Kogoma, aka Gym Z. Quirk)
Hello, I have one copy of this CD left, it's new and the most current
version. Anyone like to buy it?
The "History of Computing: An Encyclopedia of the People and Machines that
Made Computer History," a CD ROM based reference containing over 1,000 PHOTOS
of early machines and technologies. (Win 95/98/NT & Win 2000, and above,
compatible)
Sells for $19.95 at amazon.com, see:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0944601782/qid=1002987031/sr=8-2/ref…
_8_7_2/002-0016231-5469635
Only $10 plus shipping! Best, David
David Greelish
Classic Computing
www.classiccomputing.com
"classiccomputing" on eBay
>The documentation that came with this machine implies it's already
>equipped with
>the DX2/66. Is there some sort of utility in the system that would make
>it easy
>to see what the thing perceives itself as having?
If you boot it, you will probably find a copy of Apple System Profiler in
the Apple menu. That will tell you what you have installed.
The stock 630 series is actually a fairly useful machine. It used 72pin
SIMMS (FPM, but EDO work just fine), there is only one RAM slot, so it
will max out the machine at 36mb (32mb chip + 4 on board). The VRAM is
non upgradable.
As a stock machine, they are good workstations (pending you use non PPC
only software, since it is a 33mhz LC040.. the LC040 is a 68040 without
the FPU built into the chip).
I have a 630 running right now as a mail server, keeps up with everything
I give it no problems (runs Mac OS 8.1, with Stalker Internet Mail
Server... hosts a few domains and a few thousand emails a day, with a few
hundred accounts... never even hiccups).
The HD is IDE, which makes it cheap and easy to upgrade.
Other things of interest. It may have an ethernet card, but if you said
it came with a modem, I doubt it has ethernet (was the modem internal?
You could get an internal 14.4 geoport fax/modem in the Comm Slot... the
GeoPort modem is similar to those WinModems that use the processor to
handle all the modem functions, and the modem acts pretty much as an
AD/DA converter. HOWEVER, you may have one of the modems that was made by
global village... THOSE modems are real modems, and VERY VERY good, with
supurb fax software). If the modem is external, then you might have an
ethernet card in the Comm slot (look at the back for an RJ45 connector).
If you have a Global Village external modem (common performa modem), the
bronze (probably the one you have) is 2400 fax. It is a VERY good fax
modem, with excellent software... not so good of a regular modem (some
extension conflicts with the modem control software). There is also a
Gold version that was 28.8 fax... much better regular modem (newer
software, cured most of the extension conflicts)
Also, your docs indicate that it has the DOS card installed. However, the
630 didn't ship with a dos card... that was the 640 (upgraded version of
the 630, the 640 came stock with a DOS card... IIRC it was available for
the 630 as a 3rd party add in by Reply, so it may have been added). The
quickest way to tell if a dos card is installed is look at the back of
the machine. You will see an expansion slot. If there is a fairly densely
pinned DB connector in the expansion slot, you have a DOS card. There
should be a dongle cable for it that will connect between the DOS card,
and the Mac's video out. The cable will then provide a RGB connector, and
a Midi/Joystick connector. If you don't have that cable, the DOS card is
useless... good luck finding a replacement cable.
Finally, the 630 supports Video In/Out and a TV Tuner. Again, look at the
back of the machine, if you see RCA connectors for video, left and right
audio (Yellow, Red and White, RCAs), you have the video In/Out card. If
you ALSO see a RF Coax screw on connector, you have the TV Tuner... if
you have these... contact me, I would be interested in possibly
buying/trading them with you (I have a need for the TV Tuner card, but
will take them as a pair). If you have the TV Tuner card, you should also
have a remote control. It will either be a skinny black remote, or a
little credit card sized remote. Failure to have the remote will not
prevent the card from working, it just means you have to do all the
controls on the computer. (The Video Player software supports all the
remote functions directly, the remote was just a nicity).
What else... If the DOS card is not present, then the 630 has an LC PDS
slot, there are a few cards available for it (network, video,
accelerators, odds and ends). I think that is pretty much it. The 630
series is a very good 040 machine, and can still be used for a number of
things.
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
> Even the ADB symbol predates USB by a goodly margin. It was
>introduced with the SE in 1987.
Actually, IIRC, it first appeared in the Apple IIgs shortly before
appearing in the Mac II, THEN in the SE... but I could be wrong
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
----------Original Message------------
<snip>
I was working for a small place many years ago that had recieved, by
Government contractor error, a 'classified' piece of radio gear stuck in a
truckload of other RF junk we bought. The Feds came storming in one
afternoon with the swat team (I am *not* making this up!!)
<snip>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speaking of classified equipment among the junk, that reminds me of a story at:
http://www.cultdeadcow.com/cDc_files/cDc-363/
Novel twist on the car-in-the-side-of-the-mountain urban legend; a
little long, but I enjoyed it.
mike
Speaking of CDC, among the junk I'm cleaning out of my basement there's a
partial backplane out
of an old CDC something-or-other, connected to a panel with 2 AC outlets
(Monitor & Data Set), a fuse and a DB25 for the Data Set. There's also an
acoustic delay line and a large resistor/diode
matrix board which I think came from the same piece. Maybe a 60's era
terminal???
3 rows of cards; the two top rows A & B have 25 slots for 4 1/2x6", double
sided 31 edge
connectors cards, some with 10 test points along the edge and each
populated with one or two
dozen gold 10 pin TO5 cans marked M (as in Motorola) 115, 116, 117, 118
with what I assume are
date codes like 6624, 6644, and 6636.
The bottom row, C, 32 slots, contains a few smaller cards with pin
connectors that appear to be
some kind of programming cards, just containing jumper wires.
Anybody recognize these and maybe even have a use for a card or two, or can
I throw them out
without feeling guilty?
mike
If they do, I'm not aware of it. This may be the case, though.
Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
Amdocs - Champaign, IL
/usr/bin/perl -e '
print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
'
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lawrence LeMay [mailto:lemay@cs.umn.edu]
> Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 1:23 PM
> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: TRS-80 Model IV
>
>
> I thought that they required a PAL in addition to extra ram chips, in
> order to install a memory upgrade.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Erlacher [mailto:edick@idcomm.com]
> Maxing out the RAM is probably not a bad idea, but I'd
> suggest you attempt to
> figure out why the non-working ones don't work, and, if
> that's the only problem
> you can't solve, I'll happily send you the necessary DRAMs
> for the cost of
> postage.
I _think_ there are video problems with both units. They seem to attempt to
boot up, while leaving the monitor in a relatively empty state.
Regards,
Chris
Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
Amdocs - Champaign, IL
/usr/bin/perl -e '
print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
'
Hi again. :)
I just thought of another question. I have in my possession four TRS-80
model IVs. Two portables, (one working, one not), and two desktops (one
working, one not).
The desktop will run in Model III emulation mode. The portable will turn on
and ask for a disk.
Anybody know where I can find some operating system(s) for them?
I'm also thinking about taking the ram from the non-working machines, and
using it to max out the memory in the working ones. Good idea, bad idea?
Regards,
Chris
Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
Amdocs - Champaign, IL
/usr/bin/perl -e '
print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
'
In most cases you can type <ctrl>Z when it asks for the date and time.
Unless they were clever in the startup routines)
The you are logged in as [200,200]
SET /DEF [1,54] the "normal" system account.
Then your able to totally corrupt anything you want. Suggestion: DO NOT do
anything but read files in [0,0] They are the equivalent of the MFT.
You should find in [1,2] plain text help files for almost anything you
should happen to want to do.
I could help more if you had posted the version of RSX and whether it is M+
plain M or 11S. I doubt it is 11S as there it is uncommon.
When it comes to the older core memory UNIBUS systems - good luck. I lost a
couple in the fire and the hobby market has gone crazy for them over the
last couple years. I do know of a few still in commercial use that may
eventually be replaced but they are dual processor shared memory and
peripheral configurations that really complicates their replacement.
Dan - Going back to check on the RSX11M+ SYSGEN I started for a customer
when I started to catch up on the list.
-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Smith <csmith(a)amdocs.com>
To: Classiccmp (E-mail) <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Date: Friday, November 16, 2001 11:30 AM
Subject: Hello, and please help with RSX-11M/PDP parts
>
>This will be a lot to cram into one mail, but here we go...
>
>First off, Hi everybody. I'm newly subscribed to this list.
>
>Next, I was wondering whether anyone here can help my with my newly
acquired
>(IE rescued from the crusher) PDP-11/73.
>
>Straight to the point, I can get it to boot up RSX-11M, which is installed
>on the fixed drive, and do *stuff*. (please correct me if I'm wrong on any
>of this, by the way)
>
>I've figured out that the previous owner has disabled logins from the
>console port, perhaps to defeat the "forgotten password" procedure that I
>can't get to work ;) I can hit ^C and get an "MCR>" prompt, but nothing
>else.
>
>There is another port which has user [10,10] logged in automatically when
>the machine finishes booting, so I've been able to experiment with it some.
>I've managed to figure out that INS and REM are MCR commands to insert and
>remove images from the system. RUN seems to automatically insert, execute,
>and perhaps afterwards remove an image. HEL will log you in (but not
>without a password!), and BYE will log you out.
>
>What I'm missing here are basically any file-management commands! :) Does
>anyone have a short reference? I could also use suggestions on a recovery
>procedure to get access to the 0,0 account.
>
>Here are my thoughts:
>
>Put the drive in a MicroVAX-II (write-protected!), in place of the
>MicroVAX's system disk. MOPboot the VAX from another, larger VAX, and
><edit?/move/do-something-to> either the UAF or the startup files to change
>the 0,0 password, or change the boot procedure so that the "forgotten
>password" process will work.
>
>(Anyone know if this is possible, or whether there's an easier way?)
>
>My understanding of this "forgotten password" process is that you hit ^C
>early in the boot procedure to get the "MCR>" prompt, and run the command
>REM ...AT. to de-install the command-file processor so that the system
can't
>fully bring itself up. This somehow should cause the system to give you
>privileged CLI access.
>
>This system is a MicroPDP-11/73, with an "MFM" type fixed drive of unknown
>size, two 4-port serial boards, and an RX50 (I think that's the strange
>2-in-1 floppy drive?). It tells me on bootup that it's got 512k of RAM
>"mapped." I've been assuming that this is the full amount of built-in RAM.
>Please correct me if I'm wrong there. I'll get the CPU revision/OS
>version/etc if needed, but I don't have the system handy right now.
>
>Once I get the machine up and running, I'll need to make a good backup of
>the drive, in some kind of bootable form, since it's the only copy of RSX
>I've got. I hear there's a stand-alone BRU. Is that the way to go? It's
>likely I'll backup to floppy, and image the floppies to CD. I may also
>remove a tk50 and controller from a MicroVAX II, so that I can backup to
>tape, and dump the tape into a file using one of my VAXen.
>
>Given all of the above, any suggestions?
>
>If I've kept your attention this far, let me also ask another, more
>open-ended question.
>
>I'd like to get an older, unibus based PDP-11 eventually. Ideally, here is
>what I'd like:
>
>Core memory
>Programming switches on the front-panel
>Reel-to-reel tape
>Small package (meaning half-size to 2/3 size a normal rack. I've seen
>pictures of things like this.
>Some kind of disk storage
>Multi-port serial
>
>Any advice on collecting parts, or finding old parts/systems? I've already
>been given, and taken the ebay advice. No luck there yet.
>
>Regards,
>
>Chris
>
>Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
>Amdocs - Champaign, IL
>
>/usr/bin/perl -e '
>print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
>'
>
>There's a connector on the back, which I'm sure is
>"stock," that has an indicator on the back of the box suggesting it's a
>network
>connector of some sort. It's a 4-pin mini-DIN.
Little 3 pronged thingy icon... thats ADB... plug the keyboard in there,
chain the mouse thru the keyboard (you'll find the same connector on the
keyboard) 4 pin mini din should only be ADB on a Mac... at least in terms
of "stock" connectors.
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
>I've really never seen
>anything involving hardware that could be done cheaply AND easily on a MAC.
>Most things seem to be both insanely difficult and excruciatingly costly.
I'll give you the expensive part (up until the latest machines with their
USB, most mac hardware has been up to twice as much as the same thing on
the PC). But EVERYTHING about Mac hardware is easy. Things just work.
>IIRC, I once ordered a simple router of some sort, a PC/AT + "fancy"
>monitor +
>HP LaserJet printer + extra LJ memory + software for MUCH (nearly half) less
>than it cost to attach the half-dozen MAC's in our office to an Apple laser
>printer. Most of the cost for the Apple solution was for the Apple
>printer, of
>course, but it still left quite a margin! The fact that the Apple printer
>used
>postscript probably contributed mightily to its cost as opposed to the
>LJII, but
>it probably didn't cost that much. I could have used a postscript
>cartridge, I
>guess, but the software managed that problem.
The postscript card probably would have been much cheaper. I don't recall
if the HPLJII had provisions for adding localtalk or ethertalk, but there
were boxes available back then that could provide it (plugged in to the
parallel port). The two combined probably would have been cheaper than
your PC + monitor. Which, of course, I won't argue was probably a cheaper
solution than buying some of the Apple branded printers.
>I can see why the MAC users of the mid '90's liked the MAC. It shuts down
>right
>away, as opposed to making you wait around to shut off the computer. Of
>course,
>I don't know how it behaves on a network. I've read that the reason the PC
>under Windows shuts down slowly is because it takes time to dismiss the
>various
>connections, logical and physical on the LAN. I'm not convinced, however,
>but
>that's one excuse that's been published.
Well, that is the advantage of using a GOOD OS (strictly speaking in
comparison to Windows of the era, so compared to Win up to and including
win95). Oh, and it behaves just fine with network connections (regardless
of protocol)... far better than one would expect if you use Appletalk
(once again... it just works... chatty, but works).
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
That's an Ultrix Workstation Software manual, free for cost of
shipping. Spine says:
System Management
Volume 1
Advanced Installation Guide
Capacity Upgrade Instructions
Intro to System and Network Management
System Environment Setup
Email me offlist if you wanted, first come first served...
G
>Actually my Performa 631CD has a DOS card from a Performa 640 and it
>doesn't need the three headed cable that the DOS card in my Powermac
>6100 does. The 631's DOS card uses the Mac video output and you use a
>command enter keysequence to switch between full screen DOS to Full
>screen Mac. The back panel on the DOS card only has a D-15 joystick
>connector that connects to the tiny Sound Blaster Vibra 16 card mounted
>on the DOS card. I've never finished setting up the 6100's DOS card to
>know how the video works on it.
Interesting. I have used the DOS card on the 610 (both the Apple
"houdini" card, and the Reply marketed card), the 6100, and the
4400/7200. ALL needed the DOS card cable. And although I haven't used the
7 or 12" PC cards apple sold for other PCI PowerMacs, I have seen them,
and they all use the dongle cable too.
That means, the 640's dos card was the ONLY one sold by apple that didn't
need the cable. Very interesting indeed.
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
there were 2 basic mod 4's IIRC, a unit that required a PAL upgrade for
more ram and a Non-pal unit... I don't remember how to tell the difference
anymore though :(
At 02:08 PM 11/16/01 -0600, you wrote:
>If they do, I'm not aware of it. This may be the case, though.
>
>Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
>Amdocs - Champaign, IL
>
>/usr/bin/perl -e '
>print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
>'
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Lawrence LeMay [mailto:lemay@cs.umn.edu]
> > Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 1:23 PM
> > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
> > Subject: Re: TRS-80 Model IV
> >
> >
> > I thought that they required a PAL in addition to extra ram chips, in
> > order to install a memory upgrade.
On Nov 16, 8:36, Ethan Dicks wrote:
>
> --- Eric Dittman <dittman(a)dittman.net> wrote:
> > > > I'm in the process of converting most of my systems to FDDI...
> >
> > According to what I've read, the card is FDDI and not CDDI (which is
how
> > I refer to FDDI over copper, since there's not any F in CDDI).
>
> Is that like the joke with the line "there's no F in Chocolate"?
LOL! I thought that too, but there's only an 'F' in FDDI on my net :-)
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
On November 15, Eric Dittman wrote:
> > Yup, they made 'em. Scarce as hen's teeth. I finally got one
> > (purely by chance, actually!) after a *lot* of searching.
>
> You wouldn't happen to want to sell yours, would you?
Nope, sorry man.
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire
St. Petersburg, FL
Again, there is one desktop, and one portable. I was relatively sure to
keep all the cables in the proper spot. On the other hand, I can't say I
checked well for corrosion/loose connections/etc.
Chris
Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
Amdocs - Champaign, IL
/usr/bin/perl -e '
print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
'
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Nadeau [mailto:menadeau@mediaone.net]
> If you're not talking about the portables, I'd check the
> obvious first. Open
> up the case and reseat the video cables. Check for tarnished/corroded
> connectors. I haven't opened a Model 4 in years, but as I recall it's
> relatively easy to pull and twist the video cables in the
> process, affecting
> the connection.
On November 16, Jeffrey S. Sharp wrote:
> There is no honor in being pounded in the ass by someone called Bubba. I
> recommend that we do only legal things regarding this CDC 960.
Jeff, if I can't remove all of this Dr. Pepper from this keyboard, I
will hold YOU responsible! ;)
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire
St. Petersburg, FL
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jerome Fine [mailto:jhfine@idirect.com]
> Without the name of the actual hard drive (RD53,RD54?, etc.?) it is
> difficult to help. PLUS, I don't have any idea of what RSX-11
> consists of internally.
I *think* it's an RD53. I have never seen one before, but that's what I
believe it to be. It's not an RD54... smaller than that.
> However, what you suggest can easily be done with the current hardware
> if you just use RT-11 and boot from a floppy on the RX50
> drive!!!!!!!!!
That would be my first thought, except that I have nothing that will boot
any PDP except for that disk. :) Of course, if anyone can supply media for
RSX-11, RT-11, RSTS/E or something else, that would be an option.
It is my understanding that RSX (except possibly RSX-11S) uses
FILES-11/ODS1, to which I have recently acquired the specification.
> If that is OK, I can tell you exactly what to do if you tell
> me exactly
> what bits you want to change - which block on which hard
> drive and to what.
> The latter will require someone who knows RSX-11. I have no clue at
> all about what you need to change. But it might be as simple
> as a start-up
> command file and changing the text - if you know where to find it or
> what the name is.
That is my thought. Either a startup command file, or a UAF file.
> Suggestion! If you do this, start by placing the hard drives in WRITE
> PROTECT mode if that is possible!
It is, and I've made a habit of switching the write-protect button every
time I try something strange. Don't want to loose my only copy of the
system software.
Regards,
Chris
Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
Amdocs - Champaign, IL
/usr/bin/perl -e '
print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
'
About to trash 2 doa rc-25s unless someone local (Houston area)
wants them for parts.
Also /ot/ for pickup only, about a 10 - 12 year collection of
QST, Lowdown, NRC Journal plus a couple cartons of older PC related
docs and misc radio/ham mags.
All free, pickup only ... contact me off-list ..
-nick o.
I'm in the process of converting most of my systems to FDDI, but
a QBUS FDDI adapter is holding me up. Does anyone have a DEFQA
they want to sell or trade?
--
Eric Dittman
dittman(a)dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
This will be a lot to cram into one mail, but here we go...
First off, Hi everybody. I'm newly subscribed to this list.
Next, I was wondering whether anyone here can help my with my newly acquired
(IE rescued from the crusher) PDP-11/73.
Straight to the point, I can get it to boot up RSX-11M, which is installed
on the fixed drive, and do *stuff*. (please correct me if I'm wrong on any
of this, by the way)
I've figured out that the previous owner has disabled logins from the
console port, perhaps to defeat the "forgotten password" procedure that I
can't get to work ;) I can hit ^C and get an "MCR>" prompt, but nothing
else.
There is another port which has user [10,10] logged in automatically when
the machine finishes booting, so I've been able to experiment with it some.
I've managed to figure out that INS and REM are MCR commands to insert and
remove images from the system. RUN seems to automatically insert, execute,
and perhaps afterwards remove an image. HEL will log you in (but not
without a password!), and BYE will log you out.
What I'm missing here are basically any file-management commands! :) Does
anyone have a short reference? I could also use suggestions on a recovery
procedure to get access to the 0,0 account.
Here are my thoughts:
Put the drive in a MicroVAX-II (write-protected!), in place of the
MicroVAX's system disk. MOPboot the VAX from another, larger VAX, and
<edit?/move/do-something-to> either the UAF or the startup files to change
the 0,0 password, or change the boot procedure so that the "forgotten
password" process will work.
(Anyone know if this is possible, or whether there's an easier way?)
My understanding of this "forgotten password" process is that you hit ^C
early in the boot procedure to get the "MCR>" prompt, and run the command
REM ...AT. to de-install the command-file processor so that the system can't
fully bring itself up. This somehow should cause the system to give you
privileged CLI access.
This system is a MicroPDP-11/73, with an "MFM" type fixed drive of unknown
size, two 4-port serial boards, and an RX50 (I think that's the strange
2-in-1 floppy drive?). It tells me on bootup that it's got 512k of RAM
"mapped." I've been assuming that this is the full amount of built-in RAM.
Please correct me if I'm wrong there. I'll get the CPU revision/OS
version/etc if needed, but I don't have the system handy right now.
Once I get the machine up and running, I'll need to make a good backup of
the drive, in some kind of bootable form, since it's the only copy of RSX
I've got. I hear there's a stand-alone BRU. Is that the way to go? It's
likely I'll backup to floppy, and image the floppies to CD. I may also
remove a tk50 and controller from a MicroVAX II, so that I can backup to
tape, and dump the tape into a file using one of my VAXen.
Given all of the above, any suggestions?
If I've kept your attention this far, let me also ask another, more
open-ended question.
I'd like to get an older, unibus based PDP-11 eventually. Ideally, here is
what I'd like:
Core memory
Programming switches on the front-panel
Reel-to-reel tape
Small package (meaning half-size to 2/3 size a normal rack. I've seen
pictures of things like this.
Some kind of disk storage
Multi-port serial
Any advice on collecting parts, or finding old parts/systems? I've already
been given, and taken the ebay advice. No luck there yet.
Regards,
Chris
Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
Amdocs - Champaign, IL
/usr/bin/perl -e '
print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
'
"Richard Erlacher" <edick(a)idcomm.com> wrote:
> Anothr thing I found among the Apple stuff in this last haul is a Z80 card with
> the required extra 16K DRAM on board that's apparently made by Franklin
> Computer. It's labelled ACE 80. That's the first one I've seen with the extra
> DRAM block on board.
IIRC it's a badge-engineered PCPI Applicard. Should have 8 64KB DRAMs
on the board. And yes, those are the Z80's RAM.
-Frank McConnell
>S-100 sound card. I believe Solid State Music started out as a company
>that made S-100 sound cards.
Indeed. It was not the first but certainly one of the better.
>And then wasn't there also a sound card for the PDP-11 circa the early
>1970s?
Gigilo, I have one. Also based on two AY-mumble sound chips with stereo
outputs.
Allison
Any one familiar with a wonderful series of loose leaf binders from
DataPro ... "Reports on Minicomputers" circa 1978-80 or so?
I just saw a set and would love to find a set for sale! More info than
I've ever dreamed of ... all in one place .. and covering just about
everything you ever wanted to know about many mini systems. ie: they had
a really full writeup on InterData systems w/info I had never been able
to find [maybe 30 pages of stuff .. all stamped "Not to be Reproduced"]
anyone know if they are still in bix and would object to reproduction?
Thanks, Craig Smith
> If you want to know why I did this, think about :
>
> 1) Who do you associate with apples (the fruit, not the computer)
Johhn Appleseed. Wait, he's an American, you most like wouldn't
be referring to him. Must be Adam. No wait... Ok, Leibnitz!
No wait, it's that guy that copied Leibniz, what's his name, they
even named a chair after him.... Newton?
> 2) When was he born
Before me...
> 3) Some of us celebrate his birthday rather than another event (possibly
> birthday-related) on the same date :-).
Must be Guy Fawkes' Day... no, that's in July, aint it?
Columbus Day?
All kidding aside, your galvanic battery is a great
experiment; I think we did potato batteries in either
Cub Scouts or school. I wish we'd had extremely low-
power devices to hook up to it; we just used a voltmeter
to demonstrate the output.
-dq
Dear sir,
I have a DEC PDP11/53 computer with Graftek Single Board Display Adapter
Board. I dont get any display out from the card. The self test on the
display board flashes LED 5 times indicating that possibly the DMA interface
is problem. How do I go ahead in troubleshooting the board.Pl. send me
enough information
Thanking You
Mrs.T.EZHILARASI
Sceintific Officer/Engineer
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
Department of Atomic Energy
Kalpakkam
India
phone : 91 4114 80306
fax: 91 4114 80081
Anyone out there have a HD50, 4 bay external SCSI enclosure they are
willing to part with (trade/money/etc.)? I've noticed that I've accumulated
a small pile of old IDC50 1gig SCSI drives and I have decided to actually
use them instead of allow them to keep my computer room door propped open.
I've verified that they work, etc, but my little case cannot fit more than
2 drives (yes, a sucky mid-tower) and logically, an external would suit my
needs. Finding them on ebay is like looking to pay porshe prices for a
yugo. I last saw one (actually a 2 bay HD50) go for about $130 US, USED
without power supply! Is there anyone out there willing to help spare my
sanity for my SCSI obscession? Maybe it will give me room to play with my
2X SCSI CD-ROM drive and 250Meg Tape Drive...
-John Boff.
----------------------------------------
Founder, Lead Writer, Tech Analyst
and Web Designer Boff-Net Technologies
http://boff-net.dhs.org/index.html
---------------------------------------
-----------Original Message----------
Date: 15 Nov 2001 8:57:4 +0100
From: "Iggy Drougge" <optimus(a)canit.se>
Subject: Cromemco + DIAB
There's been some talk about Cromemco recently, and in one single Usenet post,
I read something about a Cromemco UNIX box actually being a DIAB design.
Presumably, this would be a 680[23]0 design. Do you have any ideas?
-------------------------------------
Don't know if DIAB had anything to do with the design, but FWIW,
Cromemco's Unix systems were S-100 based, first using a 10 MHz 68010
(XPU card), and later a 16.7 MHz 68020 with a 12.5 or 25 MHz 68881 (XXU
card); don't know if anything came after that, maybe Cromemco in Europe
might have more info.
mike
On November 15, Ethan Dicks wrote:
> > I'm in the process of converting most of my systems to FDDI, but
> > a QBUS FDDI adapter is holding me up. Does anyone have a DEFQA
> > they want to sell or trade?
>
> I didn't know they ever made one. Is it _real_ FDDI or FDDI over UTP
> (CDDI, sometimes called)? I recently passed up a small box of EISA CDDI
> cards. Too much other schtuff in the car and it was a pay-per-trip to
> scavenge stuff. Got a dual P-150, though. Make a nice Linux box.
Yup, they made 'em. Scarce as hen's teeth. I finally got one
(purely by chance, actually!) after a *lot* of searching.
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire
St. Petersburg, FL
An acquaintance (freeware developer of VMS web/proxy server package) is
looking to source some memory for a Microvax 3100 that some organisation in
Macedonia (not sure which Macedonia, but probably the FYR) wish to use for a
Web server. (seriously!) Anyone have anything in that line they would be
prepared to part with cheap? I've offered a complete (minus drives) MV3400
and/or a 6000 but the freight would be nasty even on the 3400, so they
really just want some ram. Sources in Oz or Europe preferred, but if the
price is right, wherever....
OTOH, if someone in Europe has a complete VMS/Vax system that might be
suitable and can arrange it to get there, that would be good too.
Cheers
Geoff Roberts
Computer Systems Manager
Saint Mark's College
Port Pirie, South Australia
geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au
ICQ 1970476
If anyone is interested, go for it. Please reply directly to original
sender.
Reply-to: iain.barr(a)stbedesschool.org
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 16:36:12 +0000
From: "Mr Iain Barr (Director of IT)" <iain.barr(a)stbedesschool.org>
Subject: Computer Donation
We have recently de-commissioned a network of:
1 x RM LM Server (OS2) - hard disk failure
12 x RM Nimbus diskless workstations (286/386 M-Series PCs) + 14" VGA monitors
plus some BNC cabling and a repeater (or two)
We would prefer to donate rather than bin! We are an independent school in
East Sussex.
Are you interested?
Please reply asap
xxxxx
xx xx
x i b x
j
|--
Mr Iain J Barr
Director of IT
St Bede's School
----------------------------
http://www.stbedesschool.org
----------------------------
STANDARD DISCLAIMER: This message is confidential. You should not copy it
or disclose its contents to anyone. You may use and apply the information
only for the intended purpose. Internet communications are not secure and
therefore St Bede's School does not accept legal responsibility for the
contents of this message. Any views or opinions presented are only those of
the author and not those of St Bede's School. If this email has come to you
in error please delete it and any attachments.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
* Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *
At 11:27 AM 11/15/01 -0800, you wrote:
>There were at least 2 versions of Sider drives/Cards...
>
>One was a straight ribbon cable... The other looked like a standard SCSI
>cable but I don't remember if it was a real scsi interface or not...
>
>George Rachor
Someone should try one of the old Tandy 8MB 8" HD chassis on one of those,
they used a SASI interface also.. it might work :)
Hello all,
I recently received a Xebec Sider drive (external hard drive for the Apple
II) -- Thanks RE!
It did not, however, come with the card that goes in the Apple II, nor did
it come with the cable.
Judging by their going price on eBay, I know this is a futile attempt, but
does anybody have a spare card/cable that they'd be willing to part with (or
could be pried out of their hands by $)?
I'd rather not pay eBay prices, so perhaps a trade??
Anyway, let me know, and try not to laugh too hard....
Thanks!
Rich B.
"They that can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety deserve
neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin
On November 15, Ethan Dicks wrote:
> Speaking of the 8200, does anyone have any 8250 CPUs lying around? I
> would love to take my 8300 up to an 8350. I'd rather trade than buy
> at this point - it's a very low-priority upgrade.
I may have a couple. I will keep my eye out for them as I unpack my
stuff post-move. If you don't find some in a few weeks, ping me.
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire
St. Petersburg, FL
On Nov 15, 8:33, Ernest wrote:
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
> > [mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Pete Turnbull
>
> > What would it look like? I assume it would have a ribbon
> > connector between
> > the Apple card and the Sider. Do you know how many pins? I don't
think
> > the card I have is what you want, but you never know...
>
> It has a Xebec label on the card, and a wide rainbow ribbon cable comming
> directly off the tail end of the card.
Yeah, but how wide is "wide"?
The card I have seems not to be what's required. It's intended to connect
to a Xebec card all right, but the connector is only 26-way. Thanks to
Dick Erlacher who mailed me with the details, I know the Sider needs rather
more wires (all 50, probably).
My card was made by HAL Computers Ltd in 1983, labelled "APPLE 2/3 XEBEC
INTERFACE REV 1", and the only strings I can find in the EPROM are "(C) HAL
COMPUTERS LTD 1983 A/XHAL SHARED RESOURCE WINCHESTER SYSTEM", "NOT
CONNECTED", and "SRS ERROR". If anybody knows any more about this, I'd be
interested to hear about it, otherwise it will languish in my box of odd
cards for a day when I'm particularly bored and decide to try it out (yes,
I have a spare Xebec controller and ST412 drives).
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
On Nov 8, 21:54, Don McClure wrote:
>
> [ plain text
> Encoded with "quoted-printable" ] :
Yes, I am learning to hate them too. I ruined two mini-DINs when trying to
> solder them up. I'm going to try again using crimp connectors instead,
when
> I locate some.
I've never seen any crimp miniDINs, so don't wait too long ;-)
There's a trick to soldering them. Stick the plug in a socket (or, btter
still, a potato) to solder it. It stops things getting too hot and
melting.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
On November 9, Iggy Drougge wrote:
> Isn't this rather odd? The MicroVAX II is supposed to be 0,5 VUP, right? So
> what have the DEC engineers done to make it just as fast in the Dhrystone and
> even faster than the 11/780 in the Whetstone benchmarks?
0.9 VUP, not 0.5.
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire
St. Petersburg, FL
In some previous message, Marvin Johston wrote:
> Subject: OT again Re: food
It never ceases to amaze me how messages that start out pertaining to
classic computers can become transformed into messages about food and
then into messages pertaining to philosophy, mythology and
religion. :-)
To help steer things back on-topic, is anyone here familiar with AI
programs pertaining to mythology used on classic computers?
> I can't believe there is anybody who doesn't believe in God.
I could reply with: Hey, why'd you leave out the other half, the
Goddess that some of us also believe in? :-) ...although perhaps some
of us don't believe in a God and Goddess literally, but as balanced
manifestations of the divine. However...
Let's please not have religious warfare on this list; the world has
seen more than enough of that.
Some of us believe in some form, or forms, of deity literally; some of
us take an approach similar to that of Albert Einstein, an agnostic
approach, and just consider it all to be a mystery that we don't have
definite knowledge of, but feel that some form of deity and afterlife
exist and still value spirituality, etc. Are these not all just
different paths to the same thing, with more similarites than
differences once the dogma is stripped away? There's n benefit to
arguing or fighting over the differences... different spiritual
beliefs work for, and are helpful to, different people. Then, there
are the atheiests who don't believe in the spiritual at all - but it's
not for me to censure them for their disbelief, just as it's not right
for them to censure anyone else for their beliefs.
--
Copyright (C) 2001 R. D. Davis The difference between humans & other animals:
All Rights Reserved an unnatural belief that we're above Nature &
rdd(a)rddavis.net 410-744-4900 her other creatures, using dogma to justify such
http://www.rddavis.net beliefs and to justify much human cruelty.
Anybody ever see anything that uses hard sector 5 1/4 disks? I've only ever
seen one in my lifetime - just curious if they were ever used anywhere else
(the one I saw was used to load microcode into a mainframe CPU)
On Nov 14, 14:32, Rich Beaudry wrote:
> I recently received a Xebec Sider drive (external hard drive for the
Apple
> II) -- Thanks RE!
>
> It did not, however, come with the card that goes in the Apple II, nor
did
> it come with the cable.
What would it look like? I assume it would have a ribbon connector between
the Apple card and the Sider. Do you know how many pins? I don't think
the card I have is what you want, but you never know...
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
Skip to the the end part of this message to learn what typical
American meals truly consisted of in the pre-vegetarian times. Hint:
...it wasn't fast food or hamburgers. :-)
On Fri, 9 Nov 2001, Chad Fernandez wrote:
> You forgor the 80's..... hamburger chains WITH salad bars! Wendys was
> the longest running, well into the 90s, but Burger King had one for a
> short while too, maybe even McDonalds too... I don't recall.
The first fast-food chain that I recall having a salad bar, and that
was back around the late 1970's, was White Coffee Pot Jr... not sure
if they were just a Baltimore area phenomena or if they existed
elsewhere. They were not the typical fast food chain, as, in addition
to the salad bar, one could get fried shrimp, carrot cake, crab soup,
and towards the end, cheese steak subs. The french fries were
delicious as they were cooked in chicken fat (that was back in my
pre-semi-vegetarian days); trying to remember if they sold fried
chicken as well - I think they did, but can't swear to it.
Next, Gino's hamburger chain had a salad bar - that was back in the
late 1970's as well. It was an "all you can eat" salad bar, and, if
one purchased a hamburger, one could use any toppings one wanted from
the salad bar on it - the styrofoam packaging used back then made it
very convenient to fit lots of salad toppings in with a hamburger to
go.
> Mike Ford wrote:
>
> > Different foods have there times, around the 60s it was "chili bowl"
> > joints, 70s salad bars, 80s hamburger chains (that failed to go away).
> > Whats an orthodox diner meal, lettuce salad, meat and potatoes with gravy,
> > some kind of veggie, and a slice of pie. How about a guess on the top ten
> > favorite foods in USA (by meals eaten)?
Ok, to help the rest of the world understand the truth about American
food, here's what typical American meals really consisted of in the
pre-vegeterian times:
When I was growing up, we always had a wide variety of vegetables -
and they were fresh, not frozen/canned, when in season (corn, peas,
string beans, lima beans, peas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, brussel
sprouts, lettuce, tomatoes, etc...) with meals; potatoes were often
mashed and served with gravy - sometimes they were baked and topped
with salt, pepper and butter or margarine. Meats consisted of roasts,
steaks, pork chops, ham, chicken, lean ground beef, shrimp, and
occasional Cornish game hens. In the summer we also had fried
chicken, crab cakes, hamburgers outside on the grill, fried tomatoes,
corn on the cob, fried eggplant, fresh salads (definitely not limited
to lettuce, by the way), watermellon, etc. There was always fresh
fruit to go along with lunches, such as apples, peackes, nectarines,
pears, oranges, etc. ...then meals with a turkey to be sliced on
Thanksgiving and Christmas. ...and for breakfast, one or more of:
cereal with milk, toast, scrambled eggs, waffles, french toast,
grapefruit, bacon or Taylor's pork roll, and orange juice to drink.
--
Copyright (C) 2001 R. D. Davis The difference between humans & other animals:
All Rights Reserved an unnatural belief that we're above Nature &
rdd(a)rddavis.net 410-744-4900 her other creatures, using dogma to justify such
http://www.rddavis.net beliefs and to justify much human cruelty.
Mike Ford wrote:
>Maybe I am being simple, but putting in the top bid seems like the sure
>route to acquiring this unit.
>Anybody have a CLUE as to its value as scrap?
If somebody can give me an idea of how many boards there are in such a
machine, ideally a picture of some boards, or at least an estimate as to the
dimensions of said boards and what sort of package chips they used, plastic,
ceramic, gold capped or gold pins etc, I'll try to come up with a ballpark
figure, and might ask some other people I know in the business for input. I
scrap/dispose of/remarket gear for a living, so I've dealt with a lot of
scrap, though nothing really mainframe related. Gold processors like Pentium
60's have around $50 a pound worth of gold in them, never pentiums maybe only
$35 to $40(that's what's in them, the scrapyards will pay around half that)
The presence of other things like platinum, palladium, rhodium or other more
exotic metals can complicate these calculations, and old processors most
likely have more precious metals content than the old pentiums. If they use
anything like the TCM modules in IBM mainframes (the HUGE PGA package chips
maybe 4 inches on a side, and use them in any quantity, there may be some
real scrap value, since those things have around $75 worth of metals apiece
in them by current prices. Standard PC motherboards go for around 65 cents a
pound, daughtercards go for almost $1/lb, card edges $25/lb. Aluminum drives
go for around 10 cents/lb or so, more like 15 when the Al market is decent.
The racks are pretty much worthless if they're steel. I've heard figures as
high as $3/lb on old Q-bus boards, though I'm not sure if the place was
buying them for scrap or resale as Q-bus boards. If anybody can get me any
further information I'll do my best to come up with a figure.
-Chris