- test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org - classiccmp.org

Gene Sequencer at rummage shop in Seattle.

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>The most truly amazing surplus story I've ever heard was that of a fellow that >acquired a surplus Plutonium processing plant from INEL, up in Idaho. The >government managed to stop him from shipping it to India, but it was a close >thing. A close second was when the Air Force was auctioning off their never-used Vandenberg space shuttle launch pad and auxilluary equipment. Sure, it doesn't do you any good until you've got a shuttle to launch, but who here wouldn't want to say "We already got one" to this? -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

26 years, 2 months

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Gene Sequencer at rummage shop in Seattle.

by Innfogra＠aol.com

One of my favorite surplus stories is when Intel sold us a new in the carton Cryogenic compressor as part of a large lot. It turns out it was a spare for the process line. Within a couple of weeks of us taking possession the main compressor failed. We sold it back for more than the price of the lot. We didn't soak them, we wanted more of their surplus. Someone in Seattle should go look at the "gene sequencer" and see what the Teletype is hooked up to. It could be a nice collectable. Paxton

26 years, 2 months

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Opening CP/M files (.asm/.bas)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

>Cp/M was a cross-platform operating system with several layers to provide >support for any platform for which the base functions of CP/M were >compiled. In other words, if your machine boots cp/m then you can run the >vast majority of CP/M programs. Some you won't. A good example of a >situation in which a program cannot run is if it takes advantage of >non-standard system calls to access the video subsystem. There are quite >a few of these programs but most are commercial such as CPT system >accounting, spreadsheet and word processing. The CPT had a very custom >full-page physical display. Well thats only true if unique BIOS calls or direct IO was done. If you used the standard BDOS calls then compatability was assured save for sillyness like terminal control sequences. The worst offenders for this were the modem programs as they needed speed and CPM could but often didn't have interrupt driven IO or IOBYTE implemented. >Probably the most important setting in CP/M is your terminal settings. >CP/M software will run on anything but does have to be informed as to what >termninal type (ie ADM3a, Soroc, Televideo, Etcetera) in order to operate >correctly. -- Often taken care of in the install program.

26 years, 2 months

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AOL Disks Collectable - why not?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

>Hi, I'm Doug and I collect AOL disks. Well, not really, but I do have >*one*. AOL actually produced a disk that was labeled "collector's >edition". I found it so funny that I saved it -- sort of a self-fulfilling >prophecy.... I use AOL, Earthlink and CS cdroms for things like IE4.01 as cdrom and there are other items buried on them like patches and infamous SPn kits from MS with security fixes. I don't however collect them as collectables and teh excess are cut up as sun catchers. ;) Allison

26 years, 2 months

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AOL Disks Collectable

by paulrsm＠ameritech.net

---------- > From: healyzh(a)aracnet.com > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: AOL Disks Collectable > Date: Thursday, April 27, 2000 09:01 PM > > Someone mind explaining what possible reason *ANYONE* could have for wanting > to collect AOL disks! I actually do have a set of AOL disks I am keeping. It installs the old GeoWorks desktop instead of using Windows. I do not know if I will ever use them, though. Paul R. Santa-Maria Ann Arbor, Michigan USA paulrsm(a)ameritech.net

26 years, 2 months

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Can a Mac Portable battery be "trickle charged"?

by mgregory＠vantageresearch.com

Hi. I've recently acquired an original Macintosh Portable, without any of the accompanying paraphenalia, most notably the AC adapter. I'm currently hunting for a PowerBook 1xx adapter, which I'm told is usable with the Portable, but in the meantime, I'm looking for other ways to fire up this new Mac to check it out. According to the specs, the Portable AC adapter is 1.5 amps at 7.5 volts, center positive. I have one of those "universal" AC adapters that can do 7.5 V, but only 300 mA. If I plug in this adapter to the Portable, will the internal battery eventually obtain a usable charge (assuming it's not totally dead, as so many are)? Any suggestions gratefully received. Mark Gregory

26 years, 2 months

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Opening CP/M files (.asm/.bas)

by ernestls＠home.com

I have an Apple II with a Z80 card, and lots of CP/M disks for it but I'm having a problem opening the .ASM and .BAS files. I thumbed through a book on both Mbasic and CP/M but neither of these books clearly describe how to work with these files. The Mbasic books says to open Mbasic, and at the "OK" prompt type RUN "B:MAINT.BAS" (for example)but when I do that, it gives me a "Direct Statement in file" message, and then it goes back to the "OK" prompt. I don't have a clue how to work with the .ASM files -like SUPRTRK3.ASM or BLKFRI2.ASM. I can see that they are games by typing TYPE SUPRTRK3.ASM but the text flies by so fast that I can't see much else. I have a lot of disks that have nothing but .BAS and .ASM files so any help that you can give me would be appreciated. Also, I have one disk that has a single large file called PILOTA.LST. What do I do with that? Thanks for your help. Ernest

26 years, 2 months

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Of course... a few more VMS questions... ;-)

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>> That is, DIR <...> ? > >Can I be curious? I left off I think (1988) before angle brackets >came in to existence, or at least in use at my office. They're compatible with the more conventional "[" and "]" brackets for specifying directories in VMS. The general concensus seems to be that they were put in so folks migrating from TOPS-20 (where angle brackets are the standard way of specifying directories) would be more comfortable. Tim.

26 years, 2 months

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AOL Disks Collectable

by zmerch＠30below.com

Rumor has it that Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) may have mentioned these words: >Why collect AOL disks? >Because, at least for the older ones before they switched to CD, they are >easier to reformat than beenie babies or Pokemon cards. I don't think so... I can reformat beenie babies & Pokemon cards *very* easily! You just need the right equipment.[1] Come to think of it, I can even reformat AOL CD's with the same equipment! Roger "Merch" Merchberger [1] The right equipment in this case being a Chainsaw... ;-) -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger --- sysadmin, Iceberg Computers Recycling is good, right??? Ok, so I'll recycle an old .sig. If at first you don't succeed, nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* be your first career choice.

26 years, 2 months

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Gene Sequencer at rummage shop in Seattle.

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

At 09:54 AM 4/28/00 -0700, you wrote: >A few days ago, I walked into a no-name rummage shop, on Pine and Summit in >Seattle, and found a large Gene Sequencer, with attached teletype, ... > ... like from the late sixties-early seventies (just a guess.) The interesting thing for this list is that often times there is a classic computer "buried" inside these things. If its late sixties it could be a PDP-8, if it is early 70s it could be a PDP-11. Or a Honeywell 160, etc etc. Why not go back, try to follow the teletype connections back to the innards and see what is inside. --Chuck

26 years, 2 months

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Of course... a few more VMS questions... ;-)

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

Allison wrote: >> Roger Ivie wrote: >> > >> > $ dir *.? >> > %DCL-W-PARMDEL, invalid parameter delimiter - check use of special characters >> > \?\ >> > $ >> >> That's interesting. Do angle brackets still work in directory specs? >> That is, DIR <...> ? > >No. Huh? Angle brackets certainly do still work: $ DIR/GRAND/SIZ=ALL <...> Grand total of 7342 directories, 128634 files, 9436890/9477680 blocks. > The ? may be a holdover from earlier RSTS, RSX and RT11. Huh? Booting into RT-11, I find that the CSI won't even take "?"'s on a command line: Starting system from DU3 RT-11ZM (S) V05.07 .DIR ??????.??? ?KMON-F-Invalid command In RT-11 the single-charcter wildcard is "%". A similar error message comes from RSX, where the single-character wildcard is "%" as well. I don't know too much about RSTS (as opposed to RSTS/E). The only PDP-11 operating system I know that uses "?" for single-character wildcarding is XXDP (if you want to call it an OS...) DOS-11 might take it too. -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

26 years, 2 months

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RCA Cosmac Dev. System IV update

by dogas＠leading.net

From: allisonp(a)world.std.com <allisonp(a)world.std.com> > >I'd love to get a copy of the 18s801 floppy interface schematic if you >have it. > >Allison Do you want a schematic of the Parallel I/O board CDP18s646 (got that,) I don't have one for the CDP18S801 floppy system that I do have and the manual for the (FDS II I think) CDP18S805 floppy system dosent have much in the way of schematics, except....a schematic of CDP18S813 (the disk interface module for the CDP18S005 CDS) Will any of that help? Cheers - Mike

26 years, 2 months

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RCA Dev System IV another update...

by dogas＠leading.net

From: technoid(a)cheta.net <technoid(a)cheta.net> >Excellent. What are the specs on the machine or do you know yet? The options installed in the machine are listed at: http://users.leading.net/~dogas/classiccmp/cosmac/cosmac.htm It's an 1802 microprocessor based system (of course) with 60K of ram, 15 slot (Microboard buss) "card nest", rom( ut21 utilities/monitor), parallel&serial i/o interfaces, integrated ascii keyboard and crt, extertnal dual 8" floppies (CDP18S801), and ports that tightly link in an external Micromonitor (CDP18S030) microprocessor ICE unit. CDOS, The disk based operating system has (I'm looking for) programs for full screen editing program and various levels of interpreters/compilers for Basic, Assembler, Pascal, etc... I found a source for the PLM compiler and MOPS (the Micromonitor Operating System) so the machine won't be completlely without software soon and I can already now hand assemble stuff and poke it in through the the ut21 monitor ;) - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

26 years, 2 months

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RCA Cosmac Dev. System IV update

by dogas＠leading.net

I got everything cleaned up and after a scary session adjusting the horizontal hold near the hot end of the CRT, booted it into CDOS 4.1. The CDP18S801 Floppy Drive System (RCA Cosmac badged but from Pertec) is run off the parallel card of the computer. That seems to make them maybe portable across different systems. I can't do much with the machine however because all the disks that I have for it although bootable, don't have any of the other CDOS files. They all contain what appears to be EPROM dump files. Does anyone have any software for this system? God, I hope so... ;) - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

26 years, 2 months

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RCA Dev System IV another update...

by dogas＠leading.net

The machine isn't the lame duck that I first thought. I just finished reading the UT21 Utility Commands There's a great monitor down there with easy disk access and a "bios (including uart)" Woo Hoo! It beckons... ;) - Mike: dogas@leading,net

26 years, 2 months

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Can a Mac Portable battery be "trickle charged"?

by John.Honniball＠uwe.ac.uk

On Thu, 27 Apr 2000 21:26:15 +0100 (BST) Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote: > Tell me about it :-). I've never managed to recover a lead-acid battery > that's been discharged and then left -- there's no 'zapping'-type trick > that works. If anyone has any ideas on recovery methods, I'd be > interested to hear them. I have a World-War-II era book called "Accumulator Charging", which goes into some detail on lead-acid batteries. I expect it'll say what to do, but it may also assume that you're willing and able to dismantle the battery, fix it and then reassemble -- in the case of a 12V battery, repeat for all six cells! I'll dig out the book and take a look -- I won't be able to supply an ISBN, though, because it's too old for that sort of thing! -- John Honniball Email: John.Honniball(a)uwe.ac.uk University of the West of England

26 years, 2 months

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Kind-of OT (but interesting): Raymond Scott

by af-list＠wfi-inc.com

There is a 2 CD compilation of Raymond Scott's electronic works (from the 50's and 60's) being released, which can be had before the official release date through raymondscott.com. Thought there'd be more than a few people on this list interested - my copy's on it's way. If you don't remember who he is, he's the guy who wrote all that cool Warner Brother's cartoon music, like Powerhouse and Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals. For those not interested in experimental electronic music (and to stay slightly on topic for the list), he inadvertantly contributed to computers as well with several patents on magnetic tape positioning equipment and sound generators. I know that IBM, HP, Atari, and others used his ideas in their own designs, sometimes years after he implemented them. Cheers, Aaron

26 years, 2 months

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Of course... a few more VMS questions... ;-)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

>Okay... I'm getting accustomed to the VMS directory structure, and have Dir dka0:[000000...] ;) >even installed a few apps from one of the CD's, which (of course) failed >the tail-end of the install due to my not having a DECUS membership number >yet (pending) or VMS hobbyist license (also pending, and will get right >after DECUS gets back to me.) Not failed, just not licensed. >Now, will that license be good for anything I install as far as software, >or will I have to get a license for every type of program I want to run? (I >sincerely hope the former... ;-) Mainly, I just want to do some C and >BASIC programming for now. that license covers a set of programs that happens to be on the hobbiest CD including C, Pascal, TCP/IP networking and a bunch of other things. VMS itself includes a fairly nice editor (TPU) and a raft of goodies. With DCL (command language{script}) you can do most anything. >And one other question which I've not found or figured out myself... How do >I get a directory listing of *just the subdirectories*? I've figured out >how to search for a particular filename or extension recursively thru the >subdirectories, but what's the VMS equivalent to DOS's dir /ad or linux's >ls -lAF|grep '/$' ??? {there are lexical functions in DCL with would do things that grep can do} Dir *.dir works! Directories have the extension .DIR. Dir [...]foo*.asm Will find anything in the current or subordinate directories that match that pattern. Dir [-]FOO??.A?M A ? is a single character wild card and the "[-]" says search the directory level above the current one. VMS directories start at [000000] and decend from there. so dir dka300:[000000] will get you the top level directoy of the SCSI drive on bus A with ID 3. Help dir will get you info. VMS is known for the rather rich set of operators that modify the basic action. My favorite device modifier... Set device=flamethrower/temperature:plasma You get the picture. I have a list of DCL functions, ailiases, and logicals that I use to make things friendlier. Most often used are: UP same as SET DEF [-] {cd ..} DO*WN decend to either list of availabile directories or create a new one. {only one level down from current} same asCD FOO or mkdir At some point once I have a web page going I should make the DCL scripts I use frequently available as they can be handy. No law says you can't create a ailias to do exactly what MKDIR, CD, REMDIR and friends do in the unix world. Implement them in DCL and insert the code/defs in the login.com file. Hint, system is a dangerous account like root. Create a user account with some privs as a safety net. Also every account should have a login.com which is like a DOS autoexec.bat though DCL is more powerful. Allison

26 years, 2 months

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sgi.pi

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Apr 27, 13:08, Scott Hall wrote: > Thanks for the reply, Mark. This PI is on circa 1994 Irix 5.3. Nope, > this cut of Blender is IrisGL, so I don't think that's it. > > Certain stock Irix 5.3 demos don't work. Launching the MahJong is fine, > so is the flight sim. Launching the mandelbrot fractal maker is a no > go--says 24-bit is needed. The Porsche driving sim. comes up but puts > up an error message that says "gconfig: not enough bitplanes for RGB > mode." Some of the demos are intended specifically to show off capabilities, or demonstrate how to program, the 24-bit or Z-buffered systems, so I wouldn't expect them all to work or even compile on an entry-level graphics system (if you only have entry-level graphics, some of the headers and libraries will not be there). > Mark Green wrote: > > > > > A student of mine has a circa 1990 SGI Personal Iris with GR1.2 > > > > graphics--apparently less than 8-bit. He wants to run Blender on > > it > > > > <www.blender.nl> and he'll need at least 8-bit graphics to do > > that. > > > > > > Anybody have a PI graphics board that's 8-bit or better to give or > > sell > > > to him? > > > > > > > There's something wrong here. I know of no SGI with less > > than 8 bits of graphics, all the PIs have at least 8 bit > > graphics, and most of them have 24. So the problem must > > be somewhere else. Mark is right: GR1.2 is 8-bit. Some GR1.2 boards are apparently upgradable to TG (the next level), if the big chip in the middle is socketed rather than soldered (you replace it with a TG piggyback board). I *think* all versions can be upgraded to 24-bit. Whether you'd find an upgrade now is another matter, of course. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

26 years, 2 months

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Opening CP/M files (.asm/.bas)

by KB9VU＠aol.com

In a message dated 4/27/00 09:54:59 Central Daylight Time, ernestls(a)home.com writes: > These disks were produced by an old CP/M user group, and they are labeled by > disk number (5a, 5b, 28a, 28b for example,) and they are a confusing mess. > Some of the programs have files scattered between numerous disks, mixed in > with bits and pieces of other programs. Sheesh. It's going to take some > time to sort this headache out. I must be out of my mind. > > Ernest If the old CPMUG is still functioning (I think it is), get a copy of their catalog. Most of the public domain stuff was in that data base at one time. I bought some disks from them in 1996 so I know they were still around them. There was a CPMUG on Compuserve also. Try that bunch for sure as they had several folks knowledgable in CP/M 2.2 and CP/M 3.0. Good Luck. Mike

26 years, 2 months

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Another VaxStation 3100 revisited...

by allisonp＠world.std.com

>I have a bajangle[1] of VMS CD's (from a friend) but only one boots >(labeled VMS 7.1 Binaries)... It seems to boot VMS (for the very little >I've ever seen of VMS -- Why didn't I pay attention over the last few >years... ;-) but it's a very stripped VMS as the only command that seems to >exist is the "b" command, which seems to invoke some form of backup command >that can take a "/IMAGE" parameter that I can't seem to get working... Ok I don't have the paper handy but thats the disk you want. the bootable image is standalone backup and is used to copy and start the real install. >Does VMS install from a backup type file, or do I not have any actual >install CD's? Yes, from a backup. Sounds like you have the right disk. All you needs is a license and instructions. The license see the DECUS.org site for and also check Montagar.com as they supply a $30 VMS 7.1 cd for those that don't have. >BTW, main disk is DKA0, subdisk is DKA200, floppy is DKA500, and CDROM is >DKB400. Ok... DKAnnn means SCSI A disk 0->7 as in 0, 100, 200...700. DKBnnn is the second scsi bus. The typical drive IDs are any other than 6 (thats the vax). What device is the default boot is based on a SET command. You can have no default set in which case it powers up to the system command prompt, making and addressable device (disk, tape, network) bootable using the correct >>> B {device}. >Ultrix seems to run fine from DKA200, but seems kinda slow... (of course, >this is in comparison to running Linux on a dual-processor P2-350 w/256Meg >RAM, but in these days of instant gratification... ;-) Well keeping mind the 3100 you have was fast when 386dx33s and 486DX33s were the hot stuff. You'll find that in some ways it's faster than that dual P350! Just load it down and then ask it do do a directory... >BTW, when the machine boots (to the ROM monitor) I get the F...E...D... >etc.. with all dots until it gets to (IIRC, machine home, me work): > >3_..2_..1?.. > >and then spits out what appears to be a memory address. Ethernet's not Fairly normal selftest (like PC post). There is a list somewhere for wehat that means. Also the boot monitor has a fairly long list of commands for doing things like INITing disks and such. Check some of the links at the NetBSD VAX-port area. The 3100 series is pretty popular and lots of them around. >hooked up -- any chance one of those is the network interface saying >"Hello... Anybody out there?" and any speculation as if the machine might >have some heartburn? Yes, Sounds like that one has the ESA0 (eithernet) set to boot using DEC MOP protocal. Yes, once VMS is on it you can have that one MOP load another(or even install to it!)! Allison

26 years, 2 months

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New COSMAC stiff amd a VaxStation offer

by mranalog＠home.com

"Mike" <dogas(a)leading.net> said: > Wow. UPS just delivered and opening the boxes was better than sex. = > Newly aquired: a complete COSMAC Development System IV. =20 > > Check out:=20 > http://users.leading.net/~dogas/classiccmp/cosmac/cosmac.htm > > Included with the pile were also about 65 original RCA documents = > covering Cosmac systems and options (that are listed in the above URL.) = > If anyone needs any related into looked up or copied... Mike, I just wanted to publicly, that this is damn nice of you to offer this information. I've been able to find plenty of information on all of my ELF computers, but the development systems is another story. I'll do the rest of my groveling offline. :) --Doug ==================================================== Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com (work) Sr. Software Eng. mranalog(a)home.com (home) Press Start Inc. http://www.pressstart.com Sunnyvale,CA Curator Analog Computer Museum and History Center http://www.best.com/~dcoward/analog ====================================================

26 years, 2 months

1
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VAX 11/730 available

by lemay＠cs.umn.edu

There is a VAX 11/730 available in Minneapolis. Obviously i'm not shipping it, or having anything to do with it. if you want it, and can come tpick it up in minneapolis, i can put you in contact with the person who has it. Otherwise, i will of course attempt to grab any useful boards and such before it goes to the recyclers. At that time, i would then post what is available to the list. -Lawrence LeMay lemay(a)cs.umn.edu

26 years, 2 months

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Details on Apollo Workstation (Ottawa) - Also Intergraph station & screen, DEC, etc..

by charp＠bitflash.com

Ok, here are the details for as much as I could figure them out (I am not too terribly familiar with the Apollo). It is an Apollo series 400, manufactured 9-14-90. This is an operational unit. The keyboard and screen (big) are present. There is a tape unit behind the front bay door. The backplane has tons of connectors, notably: - Lan - Parallel - SCSI - Thin Lan - RS-232 - Video board: A1416A (BNC RGB connectors) There are actually 2 screens close to this machine. The HP that I assume came with the unit, but there also is an Intergraph screen as a companion to a working Intergraph workstation.. All are in working order. I have no idea of the size of the the hard disk on the Apollo. I could investigate further if you are interested. This unit is sitting in a computer recycling building. It bears a price tag of $50 (canadian). The Intergraph is in the same price range. ---------------- The back of this building has a lot of big iron stuff. DEC, Honeywell, etc... There are some hard disk assemblies the size of a coffee table. Tons of packed and wrapped Gandalf chassis & communications equipment (Gandalf recently ceased activities in Ottawa - their stock obviously ended up in this warehouse.). Saw a number of MicroVax servers & workstations. Tons of Sparc workstations and cubes... Couple of fridge-size tape units. Cases of VAX-looking circuit boards. Most of the stuff looks in working order. There was a Silicon Graphics system there 2 days ago. Gone today... of course. And the list goes on. The stuff does not stay there very long. It ends up in a smleter for chmical and metal separation. Frederic

26 years, 2 months

1
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Focal Manual

by djg＠drs-esg.com

I have one on my web site http://www.pdp8.net/lang/index.shtml This is for the PS/8 Focal which also runs under OS/8 but is a little different in file operations than the Focal in the PDP-8 programming handbook. Scanning the programming handbook has been on the todo list for a while. I think the paper tape version should be a subset of this. The System User's Guide for PDP-8/I PDP-8/L and PDP-8 PDP-8/S PDP-5 also has a section on Focal. It seems to be missing from highgate so I have put it in http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~djg/ It appears that all the other links don't work any more but this page is only a temporary home until things get moved to the correct location. Looks like I need to check the highgate collection against mine to see what else didn't make it. David Gesswein

26 years, 2 months

1
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Looking for TU56/Trade

by broth＠heathers.stdio.com

My search continues for a TU56. If anybody knows where I can find one, I have many DEC and non-DEC items available for trade. I am also looking for 5 G-888 modules to fill out the empty spaces on my TC11. Thanks to all in advance, Brian.

26 years, 2 months

1
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Packard Bell dead?

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 4/26/00 12:54:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time, technoid(a)cheta.net writes: > I keep hearing rumors that Packard Bell is out of business. As a tech I > can say I haven't seen any really new ones in a while. Never a PB PII or > K6-2 machine. Whats the deal? Thier website is up and makes no mention > of any trouble. they were bought up by NEC IIRC. i did see some PB models a few months ago when i did onsite warranty work. to their credit, the latest models were standard ATX form factor machines, but still cheaply made. DB Young ICQ: 29427634 view the computers of yesteryear at http://members.aol.com/suprdave/classiccmp/museum.htm --You can lead a whore to Vassar, but you can't make her think--

26 years, 2 months

2
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Hunting

by at258＠osfn.org

Today we received a donation of a lot of odds and ends, but a nice Wang VS-15 with some very large archiver chassis, a 2593 cabinet and boxes of manuals, especially for PACE. Also a Televideo server, PM-N4? or similar number and a Televideo terminal. A number of derelict PC's, mostly good for parts, etc. Next month we go to Canada to get a Burroughs system.

26 years, 2 months

5
5
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PDP-10 yellow pages

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Apr 26, 14:12, Pat Barron wrote: > I've decided that, as soon as I can get a scanner and a copy of Adobe > Acrobat 4.0 (i.e., the full version, not just the reader), I'm going to > cut the pages out of the binding on my copy and scan it in. It breaks my > heart to do that, but the paper is deteriorating really badly, and it's > not going to last all that much longer anyway. You won't be the first to do that, and in the long run, it's probably the kindest thing to do to it if you do it properly. Before you do, though, take a look at http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/book/index.html -- if you've not already seen it. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

26 years, 2 months

1
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VAXstation 4000VLC

by Anthony.Eros＠compaq.com

Hey, that sounds like a really neat idea! I recently picked up 5 VLC units and would love to do something similar. Would you mind if I tried to piggy-back off your efforts? -- Tony > ---------- > From: Zane H. Healy[SMTP:healyzh@aracnet.com] > Reply To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2000 2:34 AM > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: VAXstation 4000VLC > > On the topic of VAXstations, does anyone one the list have experience with > hacking VLC's and or LCD's? I'm wondering how feasable it would be to > hook > an LCD display up to a VLC, and if it would be possible with off the shelf > hardware. > > The other alternative I'm thinking of would be to pickup a cheap laptop, > load Linux/X-Windows on it, and use it as an intelligent X-Terminal. > > At this point, you're probably asking, what on Earth am I trying to do. > Well, I've decided I want a VAX "Laptop", and while I really doubt I can > have it battery powered I want to see what I can do starting with a VLC as > the base. I figure as long as I can get the final product about the size > of an old Toshiba 5200 I'm on the right track. Of course I'm also > thinking > that if I can find the time to do this and do it right I'll have to build > my own case for all the guts of the pieces. > > If nothing else a VLC and a Laptop used as a terminal should make a nice > small easily portable VAX. I figure I'll initially try this out with my > Mac PowerBook 540c since it's got built in ethernet and I can run eXodus > on > it for DECwindows support. However, as the 540c is only 640x480 I figure > it's only good for a couple Mac telnet windows or a DECterm via X. > > Anyone have any ideas? I hope to start in on this next weekend, but it > will depend on how soon the VLC I just bought for this takes to get here. > > As for the why, well, why not :^) > > Zane > | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | > | healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast | > | healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | > +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ > | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | > | and Zane's Computer Museum. | > | http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ | >

26 years, 2 months

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PDP-10 yellow pages

by allisonp＠world.std.com

>> Anyone ever hear of a manual refered to as the PDP-10 yellow pages? > >Yes, any of the PDP-10 Handbooks. They were printed on roughly phone-book >grade paper that may have been slightly yellow to start with, but has >definitely yellowed more with age. Also referred to as "phone books". that and also one o fthe manuals had a yellow cover, I believe it was this programming manual. Allison

26 years, 2 months

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OT: WTB: Mac II Monitor Cable

by kla＠helios.augustana.edu

Sorry to bother you folks, but all local sources are turning up negative. You might recall a few weeks back I reported that my son was given a Mac LC II computer for free, sans monitor. Well, now we were given a monitor, but it lacks, sure enough, the DB-15 cable to connect it to the computer. The world here in the Midwest seems to be solid into the PC world, with tons of SVGA cables, including at stores that formerly sold Apple products. Where can I get a replacement Mac monitor cable? Thanks. Kevin Anderson * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Kevin L. Anderson Ph.D., Geography Department, Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois 61201-2296, USA phone: (309) 794-7325 e-mail: kla(a)helios.augustana.edu -or- gganderson(a)augustana.edu * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent the administration of Augustana College.

26 years, 2 months

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Collectors from Holland & India please contact me...

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Apr 26, 16:09, John Honniball wrote: > I've heard the area around Cambridge, UK, referred to as > "Silicon Fen". The Fens are a low-lying area of > countryside near Cambridge. > > Also, in Scotland there's "Silicon Glen". Somewhere near > Edinburgh, I think. Possibly referring to the HP works > there. It's actually the area around Glenrothes, on the other side of the River Forth (and parties on both sides would be offended to be confused with the other :-)). There used to be (still are?) lots of electronics companies around there -- though HP is in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, not in Silicon Glen. The most famous Glenrothes company I can think of is (er, was) Rodime. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

26 years, 2 months

1
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WTB: Mac II Monitor Cable

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 4/26/00 12:34:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jbmcb(a)hotmail.com writes: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kevin L. Anderson" <kla(a)helios.augustana.edu> > To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> > Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 10:44 AM > Subject: OT: WTB: Mac II Monitor Cable > > > > Sorry to bother you folks, but all local sources > > are turning up negative. > > > > You might recall a few weeks back I reported that my son > > was given a Mac LC II computer for free, sans monitor. > > > > Well, now we were given a monitor, but it lacks, sure enough, > > the DB-15 cable to connect it to the computer. > > > > The world here in the Midwest seems to be solid into the PC > > world, with tons of SVGA cables, including at stores that formerly > > sold Apple products. > > > > Where can I get a replacement Mac monitor cable? > > Thanks. Kevin Anderson its just a 15 pin straight wired cable. i think dalco.com carries the cable, but since an IBM joystick extender cable seems to be the same thing, wouldnt that work? DB Young ICQ: 29427634 view the computers of yesteryear at http://members.aol.com/suprdave/classiccmp/museum.htm --You can lead a whore to Vassar, but you can't make her think--

26 years, 2 months

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Collectors from Holland & India please contact me...

by dastar＠siconic.com

Someone writing an article for Playboy magazine wants to interview someone from Holland and India (specifically mentioned cities: Amsterdam and Bangalore) about their local computer culture. Please e- mail me directly <sellam(a)vintage.org> if you perhaps want to be interviewed. Also, she would like information about the different locations around the world trying to model their local high tech economy around the Silicon Valley, and calling themselves "Silicon <something>", ie. Silicon Corridor, Silicon Gulch, etc. If your local high tech community is referred to as the "Silicon <whatever>" and you can talk a bit about it then please contact me <sellam(a)vintage.org> and I'll pass your info along to her. Thanks! Sellam International Man of Intrigue and Danger ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for a six in a pile of nines... VCF Europe: April 29th & 30th, Munich, Germany VCF Los Angeles: Summer 2000 (*TENTATIVE*) VCF East: Planning in Progress See http://www.vintage.org for details!

26 years, 2 months

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Opening CP/M files (.asm/.bas)

by gpine＠gri.org

It's been a long time since I used my Apple II with CP/M, but I'll give you the dubious benefit of my decaying knowledge of the subject. First, I don't see anything obviously wrong with what you're doing to try to run the basic program. I don't remember the exact syntax, but I assume that you've got that correct from the MBasic book. As far as the ASM files are concerned, you should be able to use your EDIT program, which should be on your CP/M boot disk to look at the files in a somewhat more leisurely manner that allowed by using TYPE. For that matter, any editor that you may have that can display ASCII files (Wordstar in the "non-document" mode, for example) can be used to examine the files. I don't know what assembler you have with the Apple CP/M disks, but you should have at least ASM, the 8080 assembler, and perhaps M80 as well. I'm not an assembly language programmer, but if you can find an old reference on assembly language programming under CP/M, it should tell you the steps necessary to compile, link (to libraries), and run the programs. You may even already have the executable files ready to run. Look on the disk for a file with the same name as for the ASM files, but with a .com extension. I hope this helps get you started. "Ernest" <ernestls(a)home.com> on 04/26/2000 11:08:32 AM Please respond to classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org cc: (bcc: Gerald Pine/GRI) Subject: Opening CP/M files (.asm/.bas) I have an Apple II with a Z80 card, and lots of CP/M disks for it but I'm having a problem opening the .ASM and .BAS files. I thumbed through a book on both Mbasic and CP/M but neither of these books clearly describe how to work with these files. The Mbasic books says to open Mbasic, and at the "OK" prompt type RUN "B:MAINT.BAS" (for example)but when I do that, it gives me a "Direct Statement in file" message, and then it goes back to the "OK" prompt. I don't have a clue how to work with the .ASM files -like SUPRTRK3.ASM or BLKFRI2.ASM. I can see that they are games by typing TYPE SUPRTRK3.ASM but the text flies by so fast that I can't see much else. I have a lot of disks that have nothing but .BAS and .ASM files so any help that you can give me would be appreciated. Also, I have one disk that has a single large file called PILOTA.LST. What do I do with that? Thanks for your help. Ernest

26 years, 2 months

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Focal manual online?

by kla＠helios.augustana.edu

I've managed to get the PDP-8 emulator running on one of my computers (the Sun box at school here took it with no problem; my Linux box at home is still not dealing with the keyboard correctly....). One program I loaded was Focal. However, I don't know beans about Focal, other than that I know it is an interpretive language of some sort developed by DEC. Is there a scanned Focal manual online anywhere? Thanks. Cheers, Kevin Anderson * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Kevin L. Anderson Ph.D., Geography Department, Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois 61201-2296, USA phone: (309) 794-7325 e-mail: kla(a)helios.augustana.edu -or- gganderson(a)augustana.edu * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent the administration of Augustana College.

26 years, 2 months

1
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Apple A/D + D/A

by wrm＠ccii.co.za

Hi all I scrounged a Mountain Computer Inc A/D + D/A card, Apple ][ form factor. No manual, no software :-( Preliminary inspection: R8, R11, R15 and R22 are missing (I assume these are 10T pots). Also U1, U5, U6. So, tell me more... what can I do with this card (1 channel in and 1 channel out)? Frequency? What software do I need? What are the missing chips, and resistor values? Hey, and while I'm axing questions :-) Anybody out there with Elektor for Feb 89? I have a set of PCBs that claim to be a MOSFET amp, EPS87096, not a computer but within the 10 year rule :-) Seeya all Wouter

26 years, 2 months

1
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Where has everybody gone?

by foxnhare＠jps.net

> Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 08:31:33 -0700 > From: Mike Ford <mikeford(a)socal.rr.com> > Subject: Re: Where has everybody gone? > > >>>> Is anybody out there? > >>>> > >>>> Frederic Charpentier > >>> > >>> Didn't you get a notice, the list was purchased by MicroSoft. > >> > >> That's a *dirty* thing to say, man. > >> > >> -Dave McGuire > >> > >Disgusting . . . . but not unlikely! > > > >I will give up my Amiga only when Bill Gates pries my cold dead fingers from > >around the keyboard and mouse . . . . . > > You didn't get your manditory Windows 2000 upgrade notice either? Yep, starting 'real soon now' the list will be sent in Word 2000 format. Better upgrade! I myself have been busy hopping up my Commodore 64 BBS with a 14.4k modem interface and Super CPU 20 Mghz accellerator (still got a way to go...) -- 01000011 01001111 01001101 01001101 01001111 01000100 01001111 01010010 01000101 Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (209) 754-1363 300-2400 bps Commodore 8-bit page at: http://www.jps.net/foxnhare/commodore.html 01000011 01001111 01001101 01010000 01010101 01010100 01000101 01010010 01010011

26 years, 2 months

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VAX FORTRAN RX50 disks, need a new home.

by whdawson＠mlynk.com

I found these 3 disks in my storage area. I haven't a clue as to where they came from. They are in a plastic DIGITAL diskette storage case and appear to have never been used. The first $5.00 takes them, shipping included. Please email me off list if you are interested. I'll post to the list when they are spoken for. Also, if I don't reply to your email message, it means someone got there ahead of you and they've already been nabbed. I'm totally VAX ignorant, so I'm just going to list what's on the diskette labels: BL-CJ52H-BE 091880 VAX FORTRAN V4.6 BIN RX50 1/2 FORT046 FORT01 BL-CJ53H-BE 091881 VAX FORTRAN V4.6 BIN RX50 2/2 FORT046 FORT02 BL-CJ54-BE 091882 VAX FORTRAN V4.6 BIN RX50 1/1 FHLP046 FHLP01 Bill Dawson whdawson(a)mlynk.com <mailto:whdawson@mlynk.com> ?

26 years, 2 months

1
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IBM 3725 In Central Illinois

by dlinder＠uiuc.edu

List, There is an IBM 3725 available in Champaign/Urbana Illinois at a local scrapper. It is large, blue, and runs on three phase (as far as I could tell). Please let me know if anyone is interested in saving it. No docs, no media, no nothing... Just a large heavy blue computer. I certainly have neither the space nor the juice to house this beast. I'm also quite interested in what it is. Thanks for your replies, and please email if you have an interest in the system. - Dan Linder / dlinder(a)uiuc.edu / upside(a)mcs.net - - Riot sounds start riots. / keep talking... -

26 years, 2 months

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PDP flip-chips

by allisonp＠world.std.com

>I have bucketloads of later FlipChips (M series, some later G series) >that I don't really need, but I guess you don't really need them either. >I also have a stack of system modules - I should see if that PDP-5 guy >needs any (and should probably check to see if I need any for my machines). If not that it would be fun to take a handful wire them up to something trivial but operational, say a counter or pseudo random number generator. Allison

26 years, 2 months

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PDP flip-chips

by lemay＠cs.umn.edu

I have a lot of M (Maroon) flip chips, with IC's on them. I have a fair number of G (Green) flip chips with transistor logic, and I have only a few of the types you mention below: R002 Diode Cluster 2 flip chips R107 Inverter 2 flip chips R111 Diode Gate 2 flip chips R602 Pulse Amp 2 flip chips B134 Diode Gate 4 flip chips B152 ? 2 flip chips B683 50 Ohm Or Bus Driver 6 flip chips -Lawrence LeMay lemay(a)cs.umn.edu > What kind of FlipChips? I need the older ones (R, S, B, W) for a gutted > LINC-8. I have some PDP-8/e stuff left, if that interests you. > > William Donzelli > aw288(a)osfn.org >

26 years, 2 months

2
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OT: Jagermeister [was: Re: VCF Europa & My Appearance at Oxford]

by netsurfer_x1＠hotmail.com

>Oh christ. > >One of my cars gets wrenched on by the guy who >maintains the Jaegermeister >934; one of the perks (or >perhaps a prerequisite) of the job appears to be >an >endless supply of Jagermeister and related banners, >glasses and the >like. There's a Jagermeister shrine of >sorts in one corner of the shop, >consisting of cases of >the stuff, a dedicated refrigerator filled with it, > >assorted dirty glasses and a 55-gallon drum which is >usually overflowing >with empty Jagermeister bottles >(which is a staggering sight). > >Every time I collect my car after one of its multi->month sojourns in this >shop there's an obligatory >ritual of being offered a shot of this stuff >for the >road because, and I quote, "...it's completely >harmless...", an >assertion I find (literally) difficult >to swallow given that the stuff >seems to be composed of >equal parts herbal cough syrup and Draino. > >-- >Chris Kennedy >chris(a)mainecoon.com >http://www.mainecoon.com >PGP fingerprint: 4E99 10B6 7253 B048 6685 6CBC 55E1 20A3 108D AB97 Harmless!?!?!? I don't see how that stuff is harmless! I don't know if you know this, but Jagermeister has a certain little opiate in it (I'm not kidding!) that makes you extremely violent. (If you've had too much, that is.) ____________________________________________________________ David Vohs, Digital Archaeologist & Computer Historian. Computer Collection: "Triumph": Commodore 64C, 1802, 1541, FSD-1, GeoRAM 512, Okimate 20. "Leela": Macintosh 128 (Plus upgrade), Nova SCSI HDD, Imagewriter II. "Delorean": TI-99/4A. "Monolith": Apple Macintosh Portable. "Spectrum": Tandy Color Computer 3. "Boombox": Sharp PC-7000. ____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

26 years, 2 months

3
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New COSMAC stiff amd a VaxStation offer

by dogas＠leading.net

Wow. UPS just delivered and opening the boxes was better than sex. Newly aquired: a complete COSMAC Development System IV. Check out: http://users.leading.net/~dogas/classiccmp/cosmac/cosmac.htm Included with the pile were also about 65 original RCA documents covering Cosmac systems and options (that are listed in the above URL.) If anyone needs any related into looked up or copied... And... I've now driven approx. 500 miles and spent alot of time diging for parts to get my VaxStation 3100 running (unsuccessfully.) I have other toys screaming for my time (reference above) so I therefore propose this trade: All I want is a harddrive with VMS( and DECwindows ) and a C compiler that I can just install in my machine to plug and play. In exchange for this pre-loaded harddrive, I'll trade an internal DEC CD-ROM (and controller card for the 3100,) an internal DEC TZ30, an external RRD40 CD-ROM, and 2 VaxStation 3100's for parts. Hell, I'll through in a BA11-KE crate (minus the power supply) if you want one too.... Thanks - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

26 years, 2 months

1
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Netscape on Solaris 2.4

by technoid＠cheta.net

I have Solaris 2.4 (or Sunos 5.4 or whatever they are calling it this week) on my Sparcstation 330. The architecture is SUN4 as opposed to Sun4m or Sun4u etc.... The openboot prom is the old style so no 'OK' message, just a wedge (>). I have installed Netscape and get the following message when I execute it. # ./netscape xlib: connection to ":0.0" refused by server xlib: Client is not authorized to connect to Server Error: Can't open display: :0.0 Other programs such as ADMINTOOL run fine. I can ping and have name services over my lan via a default router (192.168.0.3) and ftp'd Netscape onto the machine from ftp.netscape.com so I know things are working. The installation gave me a completion messages without snags. What more do I need to do? Thanks all Technoid

26 years, 2 months

4
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Altair 680 software

by charp＠bitflash.com

Hi, Does someone have a copy of the old paper tapes containing the resident editor/assembler and/or the Basic interpreter for the Altair 680? Both were bundled with the 16K memory boards. Thanks in advance, Frederic

26 years, 2 months

1
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Shugart 851 power problem

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>#2 Power up the IMSAI box: >At the drives: > 5 volt line reads 1.2 > -5 volt line reads -0.9 > 24 volt line reads 2.6 >and (needless to say) the drives don't work. The Cromemco >ROM monitor gives all sorts of errors trying to access them. >... >[And other times when you power it on things are fine] >... >What gives? Does this make sense to anybody out there? It looks to me like one or more of the stepper motor phases are shorted (or their drivers are shorted) by garbage signals that come over the 50-pin Shugart interface from the IMSAI when it's powered on. Garbage signals are a fact of life, and the circuitry on the drives shouldn't respond in such an awful way to them. Two things to do: 1. Ohm out the stepper motors looking for shorted phases. 2. Check the driver transistors on the 851's. If any are hot when the problem occurs, it's almost certainly related. It's not impossible that the circuitry that drives the driver transistors is screwed up, too. It wouldn't surprise me if the foldback protection in your floppy power supply folds all the outputs back simultaneously. This certainly seems likely based on the voltages you see. If you can unhook the 24V output from the power supply (this is what runs the stepper motors) and try again, this might be useful. -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

26 years, 2 months

1
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Where has everybody gone?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On April 24, Mike Ford wrote: > >Abrupt end of list... Solitude... Anguish.... > > > >Is anybody out there? > > > >Frederic Charpentier > > Didn't you get a notice, the list was purchased by MicroSoft. That's a *dirty* thing to say, man. -Dave McGuire

26 years, 2 months

8
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Identify this LSI-11 floppy controller

by lemay＠cs.umn.edu

I have a couple floppy disk controllers from a device that contained an integrated LSI-11 cpu and a few other boards. The floppy controller is from Charles River Data Systems (C) 1978. On the connector, one of them has FC-202 / 1613 on it, the other has FC-202 / 1703. The floppy disks that were connected to it were single sided shugarts (801-2 if i recall correctly). I'm curious if these can handle DSDD, and anything else that anyone knows about it. Also, is their a web site with information on pdp-11 boards, similar to the PDP8 omnibus lists and such that are available? i'd like to be able to look up what should be common boards, such as LSI-11 cpus, 32K 18 bit MOS memory boards, various serial and parallel interface cards, etc. -Lawrence LeMay

26 years, 2 months

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