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

Old bits (still) free for the taking (UK)....

by peter.pachla＠vectrex.freeserve.co.uk

I still have a few bits and pieces here which I want rid of ASAP....and they're getting perilously close to going in the next skip I come across.... List follows: Wang keyboard. Olivetti wide carriage daisywheel printer (from S100 based WP system) Star NB-15 wide carriage 24-pin printer Princeton Graphics EGA monitor (x2) Nixdorf VDU Televideo 950 VDU (x2) Zenith Z89 VDU The latter items would really only be good for spares, e.g. the Star Printer needs a new printhead, the Z89 is missing the video board, the TV-950s won't communicate with their keyboards, but it's all available for the cost of coming to get it. I'd rather not dump this stuff in a skip but that's where it's all headed and soon if someone doesn't take it away. I'm located in Birmingham, email me directly if interested. TTFN - Pete. -- Hardware & Software Engineer. Sound Engineer. Collector of Arcade Machines, Games Consoles & Obsolete Computers (esp DEC) peter.pachla(a)virgin.net | peter.pachla(a)vectrex.freeserve.co.uk | peter.pachla(a)wintermute.free-online.co.uk | www.wintermute.free-online.co.uk --

26 years, 11 months

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subscibe

by macierno＠cvm.msstate.edu

------- ICQ 40439199 http://www2.msstate.edu/~mja2

26 years, 11 months

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Tempest Macintosh pictures

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

Here are some photos I took of my tempest Macintosh. There's nothing particularly extraordinary about this machine unless you look at the details. I didn't get any photos of the inside because this thing is a total bitch to take apart. It took me about half an hour just to get the back cover off when I first cracked it open. It's not because of the hex screws or anything like that. This thing has a metal housing built into the case, with a bunch of finely machined screws holding everything together. To take the back cover off requires undoing more than just the standard hex screws. The nubs on the I/O connectors also have to be removed. Anyway... Back side of the unit. Note the toggle switch which replaces the old on/off switch. The knob below it is a fuse holder. Note the power cord is now permanently attached to the unit. The back I/O connector panel has been cutout and then re-attached with new cutouts to reduce the holes where emissions could escape. This panel is laced with a metal mesh. A CRT brightness control has been added to the left of the battery holder (the battery cover is missing). The small cover screwed into the case on the left side is where the slot for the security device used to be. http://www.siconic.com/crap/tempmac1.jpg Front of the machine. Nothing unusual except for the square slot cutout where the keyboard RJ14 connector used to be. A close-up view is coming up to show how the keyboard attaches. http://www.siconic.com/crap/tempmac2.jpg Side view. Guess what? That slot is another Sony 3.5" floppy that has been installed internally. The slot has been manually cutout. http://www.siconic.com/crap/tempmac3.jpg The backside label enlarged so you can read it. The manufacturer (or rather re-manufacturer) is Systematics General Corporation of Sterling, Virginia (a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Research Corporation). I mentioned this on the list when I first got this unit sometime in 1997 I believe (or early in 1998). I paid $10 for it. http://www.siconic.com/crap/tempmac4.jpg A close-up of the keyboard connector. It attaches to the unit via the modular plug. Then the panel screws on to the front of the machine. The duct tape looking piece of material is a metallic mesh that prevents leakage of emissions. Note the brass gasket attaching the shielded cable to the keyboard housing. The metal box on the back covers the old keyboard connector. http://www.siconic.com/crap/tempmac5.jpg Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out. Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0! See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 05/25/99]

26 years, 11 months

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Wang VS7110 System FREE

by jpl15＠netcom.com

An update on the Wang system I rescued from Certain Death.. I found a good portion of the manuals today while on an un-related mission to the warehouse. I was walking past 2-story-high pallet racks full of boxes of paper files, and a Wang binder caught my eye.. sure enough, what appears to be the operations documentation, including much custom work by the sysop(s) was in an open box. I now have it with the machine itself. Anyone on (or off) the List who is interested in acquiring this taken-out-of-service 7110 system... contact me via e-mail. It seriously wants a loving home and some 220-1 ph to eat. FREE FREE FREE Cheers John

26 years, 11 months

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New arrival... (s)?

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

Well, it just goes to prove once again that not all of the rocks have been turned over. Based on a recent tip from another collector, I've managed to knock one more item off of the Computer Garage 'Most Wanted' list with the arrival of an IMSAI dual floppy disk sub-system. No software or docs with it, but that just adds to the adventure! B^} Something about the unit suggests that the previous owner ran CP/M on it, but as to just what that clue is I will leave without explaination. (that way you have to look at the pictures) <G> The images are immediately post-unpacking, so the unit has not been cleaned, checked out, or powered up... but its here!!! Hmmm... I wonder if there is a copy of IMSDOS buried around here somewhere??? <BG> And hopefully (if Murphy does not interfere) by the end of the weekend yet another item will be struck from the list! Stay Tuned!! -jim --- jimw(a)computergarage.org The Computer Garage - http://www.computergarage.org Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

26 years, 11 months

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Wanna trade?

by dogas＠leading.net

I'm about to have an abundance of H89 systems (among others) and wonder if others are interested some light hearted swapping. ;) - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

26 years, 11 months

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3Com 3Stations

by peter.pachla＠vectrex.freeserve.co.uk

Hi Jeff, >You want some advice, eh? Okay. These beasties support >CGA or EGA (you set this up from the setup screen... Thanks, at least I know now not to fry an MDA monitor checking this out.... ;-) >....and AFAIK, I'm pretty sure they support 1mb simms. (the >later models had VGA, and supported more memory). That would make sense, wasn't the '286 limited to a total of 4Mb physical RAM (unless you added EMS)? >....worked fin for most MS-DOS appz. Yep, the fact that they're '286 based isn't a problem to me. I just want to use them under DOS for running stuff like TurboBASIC etc. >How do you make it boot? Ha. You have to have either: 3Com >3+Start server software, or 3+Open Start (for OS/2 LanMan).... Hmm, I was contemplating setting up OS/2 Warp on one of my machines....don't have LanManager though. :-( >I think I still have all of this stuff somewhere, ifn you >want it.... I'll contact you off the list about this. >....The only problem is, you'll need to dedicate a PeeCee >just to run the boot services (and whatever other network >services you want).... Well, I was thinking about having a play with networking....one of the reasons I dug the 3Com units out. :-) TTFN - Pete. -- Hardware & Software Engineer. Sound Engineer. Collector of Arcade Machines, Games Consoles & Obsolete Computers (esp DEC) peter.pachla(a)virgin.net | peter.pachla(a)vectrex.freeserve.co.uk | peter.pachla(a)wintermute.free-online.co.uk | www.wintermute.free-online.co.uk --

26 years, 11 months

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IBM/XT Y2K Compliancy

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

every IBM machine with a bios date of 1996 or later will automagically roll over to the next century. Previous machines will simply have to have the date command invoked to set the century. I set the date on my PCjr and it accepted 01-01-2000 no problem. supr 'building my bomb shelter for y2k' dave In a message dated 8/5/99 3:56:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mikeford(a)netwiz.net writes: << >>Are the IBM/XT, IBM/AT and PS/2 computers hardware Y2K compliant? I'm not Every brand of computer has a Y2K section on their website, best to refer to that for specific information. The only systems I am familiar with are several of the old 486 compaq's I have include a SIIG extended bios card that is supposed to make them Y2K compliant, and the IBM PS/2 model 95 have a bios patch for some units. >>

26 years, 11 months

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FS: lotus Approach 2.0 Database for Windows

by rhblake＠bigfoot.com

Have a sealed copy of Lotus Appraoch 2.0 Database for Windows....and no use for it. It says it has both 5.25" (1.2mb) and 3.5" (1.44mb) disks. It states 286 or higher, Win 3.0 or higher, hard disk, EGA or better video, mouse, 2 mb RAM minimum.. It says it's compatible with files from dBase III & IV, Paradox, FoxPro, Oracle SQL 6.0 and SQL Server databases in native format.. It also states that's it's network compatible with Noverll Netware and Netware Lite, MS Lan Manager, Banyan VINES and LANtastic networks. Allows grpaihics imports in BMP, TIFF, PCX, WMF and EPS. $5.00 plus whatever the postage would be and it's yours. Drop me a direct note if interested.

26 years, 11 months

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IBM/XT Y2K Compliancy

by elvey＠hal.com

Hi A while back, I had to come up with a clock system that would work with a simple clock chip that only went up to months but not years. The machine did have some other non-volitile memory so here is how I delt with it. I had what I called a half year counter. If when the machine turned on, the clock chip thought it was in early half of the year and the RAM said it was in the last half, I'd update the year and reset the bit. The only requirement here was that the machine had to be turned on at least once every 6 months or soemone had to reset the time. Why they couldn't have done something as simple as this for the century, I don't know. Dwight

26 years, 11 months

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Difinition confirmation (please read)...

by hhacker＠home.com

The term CRACKER is as old a the railroads, if not much older than that: it was used in the 1800's (and to some degree, this usage remains today) to refer to those persons with a nack for entering a safe without permission! Forget your history, and you are doomed to relive it! William R. Buckley -----Original Message----- From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 4:24 PM Subject: Re: Difinition confirmation (please read)... >The term 'cracker' was created to denote people who used their computer >skills to "crack" passwords, "crack" copy protection schemes on software, >and then used that ill gotten information for fame and sometimes profit. >--Chuck >

26 years, 11 months

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IBM/XT Y2K Compliancy

by zmerch＠30below.com

I have a (yea, nice, broad, vague) question... Are the IBM/XT, IBM/AT and PS/2 computers hardware Y2K compliant? I'm not really into the old Clone machines, and don't really know... (and personally I couldn't care -- but we had a customer ask about them and I could really use an answer...) Anyway, there are many folks on this list more intelligent than me, and figured this is the quickest way I could get an intelligent answer to my foolish question. ;-) If no-one else is interested in this discussion, I'd be happy to take it to email only. Thanks for any help y'all can provide, Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- 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, 11 months

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Definition confirmation (please read)...

by allisonp＠world.std.com

The current useage of hacker now is not the same as say 1984 and very different fro the 1975 thinking. It's evolutionary term. It's gone from a term that more about exprimentation and intutive design to a very negative pastime. Allison

26 years, 11 months

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186 (was: CompuGraphics Question)

by peter.pachla＠vectrex.freeserve.co.uk

Hi Tony, >....Research Machines (a UK computer company who sold >machines for schools mostly) made a 80186 version of the >Nimbus. They certainly did, we still had a bunch of them at East B'Ham College when I worked there in '97. Mind you we also had a bunch of Beebs and some Apple ][s...!! TTFN - Pete. -- Hardware & Software Engineer. Sound Engineer. Collector of Arcade Machines, Games Consoles & Obsolete Computers (esp DEC) peter.pachla(a)virgin.net | peter.pachla(a)vectrex.freeserve.co.uk | peter.pachla(a)wintermute.free-online.co.uk | www.wintermute.free-online.co.uk --

26 years, 11 months

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AT/370 and XT/370

by CordaAJ＠NSWC.NAVY.MIL

I just called timeline... The information they supplied me is as follows... This is a 2 card cable-connected set; One card is labeled IBM XT 1602509, The other is labeled IBM AT 6236115. No software was available for the cardset. They also suggested that I call back later (when someone with a technical background would be available...) If I find out more, I'll drop the list a note... If anyone on the list happens to have the 370 emulator cardset, it would be nice if they could check out the part numbers. BTW, they also indicated that they had quite a few of these available. -al -acorda(a)geocities.com > -----Original Message----- > From: Hans Franke [mailto:Hans.Franke@mch20.sbs.de] > Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 10:14 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Re: AT/370 and XT/370 > > > > Just browsing through my browser bookmarks, as you do, I came across > > this: > > > "IBM 370 option XT and AT emulation boards $25.00 " > > > at > > > <http://www.digisys.net/timeline/blowout.html> > > > Are these the real thing? > > If anybody can veryfy this, I want one! > > Gruss > h. > > -- > Stimm gegen SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/de/ > Vote against SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/en/ > Votez contre le SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/fr/ > Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut > HRK >

26 years, 11 months

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Definition confirmation (please read)...

by roblwill＠usaor.net

O.K. I think that sorta clears things up a bit. I guess my little 'direct modem' could be considered a hardware hack. Although, don't hacks usually work?? :) ///--->>> -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1>

26 years, 11 months

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186 (was: CompuGraphics Question)

by edick＠idcomm.com

You wouldn't want to guess what I found in the basement behind the washing machine, yesterday, would you? I think a few of the screws are missing, along with the power supply (which was a BOSCHERT switcher) which is what I was scanvenging when I last looked at the thing. If you want it, I can arrange to send it to you. (the 3COM server with the '186 running it, I mean.) regards, Dick -----Original Message----- From: Jeffrey L Kaneko <jeff.kaneko(a)juno.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 10:53 PM Subject: Re: 186 (was: CompuGraphics Question) >On Wed, 4 Aug 1999 17:49:28 +1 "Hans Franke" <Hans.Franke(a)mch20.sbs.de> >writes: >> 186 ? Interesting ... it seams that there are way more 186 beaste >> than I have asumed... This could be a collecting theme on their own. > >You bet! There are at least two more '186 machines nobody mentioned. >ANyone remember the MAD 186? It was kinda like a mindset, but the >innards were different. TELEX also marketed a rebadged version of the >MAD computer-- the TELEX 1186. I used to have one of these (I think >I still have the PSU/FDD unit around here someplace). > >Two more rarely seen machines are the 3Com 3Server, and 3Server3's. >They both used 80186 CPU's (some guy at 3Com explained that they >used it because the chips built-in dual DMAC's gave good disk I/O >performance). > >Anyways, these beasts used a highly customized version of MS-dos, >which ran 3Com's LAN software. They were strictly servers-- these >things had no on-board video; you had to use a terminal to see what was >going on, if it refused to boot (which was often). It was a seriously >cool >box in 1986. I still have the software for it around here someplace . . >. > >I'm sorry I scrapped mine in 1993. > >Jeff > >> >> Gruss >> H. >> >> -- >> Stimm gegen SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/de/ >> Vote against SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/en/ >> Votez contre le SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/fr/ >> Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut >> HRK > >___________________________________________________________________ >Get the Internet just the way you want it. >Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! >Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

26 years, 11 months

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186 &188 computers

by Innfogra＠aol.com

In a message dated 8/4/99 9:25:26 AM Pacific Daylight Time, dastar(a)ncal.verio.com writes: > > Other 80186 computers include: > Tandy 2000 I believe. Many, many of intel's early Multibus I cards used the 186 & 188 chips, either as a processor or peripheral support. Paxton

26 years, 11 months

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Difinition confirmation (please read)...

by roblwill＠usaor.net

I need the following word defined/confirmed.... Hacker According to my dictionary, 'hack' means "to chop with exceptional force", "a violent cough", or "a horse let out out for common hire"... Same dictionary... 'hacker' "one who hacks" (no - really?....), or 'a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity' example is "A Polo hacker". I wonder which antique store I bought that dictionary from... :) Here's my definition: "One who adapts an existing piece of computer (or other type) of hardware to suit one's needs or to improve it without instruction from the original manufacturer." I also thought that the people who screwed with viruses and software and such were "crackers" (which my dictionary describes as a 'dry, thin bread substance"). Am I right? or am I just blowing smoke? ThAnX, ///--->>> -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1> PS>> The reason I wanted to know was because I was going to make a web page on a couple of old serial cards that I'm making into direct-connect modems to use on a few computer that don't have HD's, and I'm just not sure what it would be classified as!

26 years, 11 months

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Pinouts needed

by roblwill＠usaor.net

Hi! Does anyone have the pinouts of both a a 25-pin and a 9-pin serial connection? I need to know which pins on the 9-pin correspond to the pins of the 25 pin. ThAnX, ///--->>> -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1>

26 years, 11 months

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186 (was: CompuGraphics Question)

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

On Wed, 4 Aug 1999 17:49:28 +1 "Hans Franke" <Hans.Franke(a)mch20.sbs.de> writes: > 186 ? Interesting ... it seams that there are way more 186 beaste > than I have asumed... This could be a collecting theme on their own. You bet! There are at least two more '186 machines nobody mentioned. ANyone remember the MAD 186? It was kinda like a mindset, but the innards were different. TELEX also marketed a rebadged version of the MAD computer-- the TELEX 1186. I used to have one of these (I think I still have the PSU/FDD unit around here someplace). Two more rarely seen machines are the 3Com 3Server, and 3Server3's. They both used 80186 CPU's (some guy at 3Com explained that they used it because the chips built-in dual DMAC's gave good disk I/O performance). Anyways, these beasts used a highly customized version of MS-dos, which ran 3Com's LAN software. They were strictly servers-- these things had no on-board video; you had to use a terminal to see what was going on, if it refused to boot (which was often). It was a seriously cool box in 1986. I still have the software for it around here someplace . . . I'm sorry I scrapped mine in 1993. Jeff > > Gruss > H. > > -- > Stimm gegen SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/de/ > Vote against SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/en/ > Votez contre le SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/fr/ > Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut > HRK ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

26 years, 11 months

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(no subject)

by JLO170＠aol.com

I have a Texas Instruments T1-99/4A computer and related books for it and I also have a Sinclair 1000 with related books. Can you tell me if they are of value and/or use to anyone out there ? Thank you for any help. Joe Oleksy JLO170(a)AOL.com

26 years, 11 months

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RT-11 DU: Handler Question

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

OK, as long as I don't run into any unforseen trouble that keeps me from having time, I plan on installing RT-11 on a large disk in the next few days. However, I won't be using the nice WQESD ESDI controller that I've got that makes partitioning disks easy. So I want to make sure I understand how partitioning works under RT-11. If I'm reading the manuals correctly I would first boot off of my RL02 pack and do the following .INIT/BADBLOCKS DU0: then .SQUEEZE/OUTPUT=DU0: DL1: .COPY/BOOT DL1:RT11FB.SYS DU0: and then boot the system from DU0: So far that's pretty straight forward, and except for using SQUEEZE to copy the distribution, pretty much the way I got it from RX50 to RL02. Now then since I'll want to use more than just the first 30Mb of the Hard Drive, I'll need to set up partitions. Do I do this prior to initializing DU0: or after booting from a freshly installed DU0:? I realize the command to do the partitioning is: .SET DU0 UNIT=0,PORT=0,PART=0 .SET DU1 UNIT=0,PORT=0,PART=1 .SET DU2 UNIT=0,PORT=0,PART=2 .SET DU3 UNIT=0,PORT=0,PART=3 Also I assume that a partition has to be 65,535 blocks, but does the last one have to be that, or will it simply be however much space is left? 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, 11 months

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MacCharlie

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 8/4/99 2:27:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time, g(a)kurico.com writes: << Anyone happen to have the software for this guy? Of course Dayna was of no use (esp now that they've been sucked up by Inhel). Also pinouts for the connecting serial cable would be nice, though I believe it just uses a standard (for the early Macs) serial cable. TIA >> there used to be a website for old mac drivers which is where i found the setup disk for the computereyes video capture card in my mac II. i coulda swore it was macdrivers.com, but coming up 404 on that one. you might want to try here -> http://www.zws.com/classicmacs/index.html

26 years, 11 months

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Difinition confirmation (please read)...

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

The term 'cracker' was created to denote people who used their computer skills to "crack" passwords, "crack" copy protection schemes on software, and then used that ill gotten information for fame and sometimes profit. --Chuck

26 years, 11 months

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Bernoulli stuff

by yakowenk＠cs.unc.edu

X-No-Archive: yes Hey all, I just scored a handful of Bernoulli Box stuff: four cartridges and some manuals and floppy disks. If you are interested, the details are listed on my "for trade" web page, at this URL: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~yakowenk/classiccmp/fortrade.html Cheers, Bill.

26 years, 11 months

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Austin Goodwill has some good stuff!

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

Someone in Austin might want to get down to the Goodwill Computer Works quick. Look at the stuff in this picture: http://www.austingoodwill.org/dg/compwork/nostalgi.htm This page also has pricings for vintage computers they have for sale. The Computer Works is apparently where most of the old computers that get donated to Goodwill in Austin end up. The prices are a tad inflated (in some cases unreasonable) but I'm sure you can talk them down. Let us know if you make out. Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out. Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0! See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 05/25/99]

26 years, 11 months

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186 (was: CompuGraphics Question)

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

> 186 ? Interesting ... it seams that there are way more 186 beaste > than I have asumed... This could be a collecting theme on their own. Every DEC TQK50/TUK50 (Q/U-bus TK50 tape drive interface) has an 80186 on it. I've also seen them as drive controllers on several different brands of SCSI drives. They seem to be rather common in the device/embedded market. -- 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, 11 months

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RX02 Repair

by steve.lubbers＠barco.com

Tony, Thanks for the suggestions, I'll see what I can see tonight. I have a copy of the RX02 Field Maintenance Print sets, so I can follow what you are describing. I don't think I have a spare 2102, but could get one easy enough. I didn't think of the load/dump sector buffer approach. That sounds like I good idea! Any programming help you have would be great! I was trying to figure out how to get a logic analyzer, but your idea will use the drive to diagnose itself. I posted a follow-up on the mailing list. Essentially, as you said, the disk does spin. I even checked the rotational speed. Plus/minus my scope's accuracy, it is spinng OK. I've cleaned the heads, but didn't go any further with mechanical adjustments. I was assuming that a drive sitting in a box didn't fall out of adjustment too far, and given that it reads a good portion of the data correctly, I thought I would probably make things worse. >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk [mailto:ard@p850ug1.demon.co.uk] >>> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 1:43 PM >>> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers >>> Subject: Re: RX02 Repair >>> >>> >>> > >>> > I've been trying to bring my old RX02 drive back to life, >>> with little >>> > success. >>> > >>> > I just received a good bootable floppy, and get the same >>> results as with all >>> > my old disks, so now I'm looking for hardware problems. >>> > >>> > On a PDP-11/03, With RXV21 controller, and an RX02 drive, >>> the RX02 >>> > initializes, attempts to read the boot block, and crashes >>> to ODT at 000600. >>> >>> I am going to assume that this is a double-density disk >>> (and thus has 256 >>> byte sectors) and that the DIP switch inside hasn't been >>> moved since it >>> last worked on an RXV21 (I can't find the info quickly, or >>> I'd tell you >>> how to set it). >>> >>> > >>> > >>> > > In examining what my system reads as it attempts to >>> boot, it looks like I >>> > > read every other 128 byte chunk correctly. I haven't >>> figured out a >>> > pattern >>> > > to the corrupt sections. >>> > >>> > >>> > Does anyone have any RX02 diagnostics, or hardware >>> trouble shooting tips? >>> >>> >>> Argh!. Fixing an RX02 is a lot worse than fixing an RX01 (I've done >>> both). The RX01 has an internal diagnostic connector that >>> you plug an >>> KM11 into. You can then single-step the microcode, >>> halt-on-error, etc. >>> >>> Anyway, back to the RX02. The controller is the upper board >>> in the drive >>> unit. Undo the screws and hinge it up. On it there's a microcoded >>> processor based on 3 2909 sequencers and 2 2901 ALUs, 1K of >>> ROM and a lot >>> of TTL glue. There's also a 2K bit sector buffer based on 2 >>> off 2102 RAMs. >>> I can talk you through it if you can get the printset. >>> >>> >From the fault, I suspect that most of it is working >>> correctly (most of >>> the logic is the same for all bits in the sector), and that >>> the most >>> likely problem area is the sector buffer and/or its address counter. >>> >>> There are some things you can try. Firstly (if you have the >>> programming >>> info - if not I'll find it), you can try transfering 256 >>> bytes from the >>> PDP11 to the sector buffer and then transfering it back >>> again (without >>> going via the disk). This will test most of the controller >>> logic and the >>> sector buffer RAM. My guess is that this will fail. >>> >>> Now look at the siganls to E56 (a 2102 RAM that's the high >>> half of the >>> sector buffer). Does it ever get enabled (pin 13 goes low)? >>> Check back to >>> E29f (74LS04) if not. If that inverter is OK, then suspect >>> the address >>> counter (E63, E57, E51). >>> >>> Also suspect E56 itself (this is the most likely problem, >>> actually). If >>> you have a spare 2102-1, it may be worth replacing it. >>> >>> >>> > >>> > >>> > Steve >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> >>> -tony >>>

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CompuGraphics Question

by ravenw＠hargray.com

I recently picked up a very large desktop-like computer labeled CompuGraphics MCS-100. I would like to know if anyone knows anything about this machine. I hope to turn this into a pet project, but I need some general info. Any help would be greatly apprieciated. Thanks. Darrell Watson

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186 (was: CompuGraphics Question)

by edick＠idcomm.com

The only 'xt-type machine I have kept since the "old days" when such things were common, is a "Challenger" motherboard (made ??? but sold through an outfit in Boston) which was a 10MHz '186 as the processor in the 'XT architecture. It had some 16-bit slots, though I never checked them out for functionality, since there were few devices suitable for that. Since the integrated peripherals could be relocated to an "out of the way" location that was almost the first thing that happened in the ROM code. I've held onto one just in case I ever needed to develop something for a '186 again. That and the '188 and the NEC V-40 and V-50 were my favorites of the time. I liked those built-in memory selects that allowed you to build a system with almost no glue logic. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Hans Franke <Hans.Franke(a)mch20.sbs.de> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 10:00 AM Subject: 186 (was: CompuGraphics Question) > >> The machines I worked on were dual-floppy based, 1 Meg RAM, 80186 for the >> processor, and run a specialized program for typesetting. AFAIK, they >> cannot run anything else... but it might be a fun project to see if you >> could get them to do other things. Hope you're good with x86 assembly (and >> maybe disassembly) as I do believe a part of the OS they used was on ROM. >> How much was ROM and what was booted from Floppy, I couldn't tell you... > >186 ? Interesting ... it seams that there are way more 186 beaste >than I have asumed... This could be a collecting theme on their own. > >Gruss >H. > >-- >Stimm gegen SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/de/ >Vote against SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/en/ >Votez contre le SPAM: http://www.politik-digital.de/spam/fr/ >Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut >HRK

26 years, 11 months

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MacCharlie

by g＠kurico.com

Longshot here but ... Anyone happen to have the software for this guy? Of course Dayna was of no use (esp now that they've been sucked up by Inhel). Also pinouts for the connecting serial cable would be nice, though I believe it just uses a standard (for the early Macs) serial cable. TIA George

26 years, 11 months

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suggestions on backplane cleaning? (or, HP2100 continued)

by jlwest＠tseinc.com

One major problem with my 2100A has been solved (sort of). I had a card that wouldn't work properly in a particular slot, finally got the bright idea to move it to a different slot (I'm using polled mode, not interrupt, so this is possible). The card works great. Problem solved? No..... In the troubleshooting process I noticed a few slots that no cards would quite work right in. I checked the back of the backplane (it is a hand-wired backplane), no loose wires, etc. After very close inspection of the backplane slots, I determined the problem is the contacts are dirty/corroded/whatever. I tried the best I could to clean the contacts inside the slot, but this is virtually impossible. I also cleaned the card edge with an eraser just to be sure. Bingo - card now works fine but only in the cleaned slot (or one that worked previously). So, given that it's a delicate hand-wired backplane, does anyone have any magic tricks for how to clean the gold contacts inside of the backplane edge card connectors? I'm afraid to experiment and looking for wisdom... :) Thanks! Jay West

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186 (was: CompuGraphics Question)

by edick＠idcomm.com

I've been persuaded (by a couple of the guys who worked on the Boca-Raton development of the PC) that Intel provided them with a prototype board used in the development of the '188 and that it became the hardware model for the PC motherboard. It's hard to dispute, considering that the timers, DMAC's, etc would have been prototyped using "real" hardware. That would also explain some of the stupidity surrounding interrupts on the PC. Not even IBM would have done something so silly as to use positive-going interrupts, except perhaps out of fear that fixing it would break something. They were on a tight schedule, you know. Dick -----Original Message----- From: allisonp(a)world.std.com <allisonp(a)world.std.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 10:55 AM Subject: RE: 186 (was: CompuGraphics Question) > >> > 186 ? Interesting ... it seams that there are way more 186 beaste >> > than I have asumed... This could be a collecting theme on their own. >> >> Every DEC TQK50/TUK50 (Q/U-bus TK50 tape drive interface) has an 80186 on it. >> I've also seen them as drive controllers on several different brands >> of SCSI drives. They seem to be rather common in the device/embedded >> market. > >Since it was aimed specifically at the embedded controller market, that's >no surprize. It didn't do well as an 8088/8086 upgrade as the peripherals >on chip were not PC compatable though they are better than the PC >implmentations. > >Allison >

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186 (was: CompuGraphics Question)

by edick＠idcomm.com

The '18x series was the first, and possibly last, evidence I ever saw that Intel could build something fairly sensible. I think the '18x series was designed for military applications, originally. The disk-drive applications I've seen normally use the '188, since they offer byte-wide interfaces up to the EIDE types. It's entirely conceivable that the '186 was used as well. I saw one on a WD ESDI controller for the PC. Dick -----Original Message----- From: CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com <CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 10:33 AM Subject: RE: 186 (was: CompuGraphics Question) >> 186 ? Interesting ... it seams that there are way more 186 beaste >> than I have asumed... This could be a collecting theme on their own. > >Every DEC TQK50/TUK50 (Q/U-bus TK50 tape drive interface) has an 80186 on it. >I've also seen them as drive controllers on several different brands >of SCSI drives. They seem to be rather common in the device/embedded >market. > >-- > 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, 11 months

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186 (was: CompuGraphics Question)

by edick＠idcomm.com

My very first 'x86 machine was based on a board called a "Slicer" which later was offered as a two-board system. It had a 6 MHz '186 and enough of those weird stackable memory sockets which allowed you to put two 16-pin RAM packages in what was essentially a single 18-pin site, to accomodate 128K-bytes of the 64K DRAMS. It provided a little serial I/O and little else other than the FDC. The add-on card, which was offered later, had a SCSI port and some parallel I/O (?) It's been a long time, but I think it added another 128K bytes of RAM. Dick -----Original Message----- From: John Honniball <John.Honniball(a)uwe.ac.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 10:08 AM Subject: Re: 186 (was: CompuGraphics Question) > >On Wed, 4 Aug 1999 17:49:28 +1 Hans Franke ><Hans.Franke(a)mch20.sbs.de> wrote: >> > The machines I worked on were dual-floppy based, 1 Meg RAM, 80186 for the >> > processor, >... >> 186 ? Interesting ... it seams that there are way more 186 beaste >> than I have asumed... This could be a collecting theme on their own. > >The first laptop PC that I ever used was a dual-floppy >system called the Tava Flyer. It had an 80186 CPU, but I >can't remember how fast. > >-- >John Honniball >Email: John.Honniball(a)uwe.ac.uk >University of the West of England >

26 years, 11 months

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AT/370 and XT/370

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

> We have a 3270 machine somewhere, but I haven't gotten around to see if > it's complete. IBM also issued a software package to turn their PC's > into 370 terminals. > > On Wed, 4 Aug 1999, Mike Ford wrote: > >> The PS/2 newsgroup has been talking about the AT and XT models that >> included a pair of cards that allowed fairly complete, if a bit slow, 370 >> mainframe emulation. Anybody every run across any of these? I don't think the 3270PC was what Mike meant. There was a PC with a couple of boards in it that became a self contained machine running the 370 instruction set. It was intended as a 3270 variant, though - developers would download their code to the PC, debug it on the local processor, and upload the next version, freeing the big machine (of which many companies had only one, after all) for users who wouldn't grab oodles of processor time with an incorrectly terminated loop or whatever. I, like Hans, have never come across one of these, although I heard of them back at IBM in '85 or '86. But I recall a rumour from another source that the 370 emulation was based on the 68000 circuitry but with custom microcode. These machines would run VM but not MVS, I think. Philip. ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of computer viruses. Power Technology Centre, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottingham, NG11 0EE, UK Tel: +44 (0)115 936 2000 http://www.powertech.co.uk **********************************************************************

26 years, 11 months

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IBM TPC 4 pictures

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

I've posted pictures of the IBM TPC 4 for those who are interested: Shows a close-up of the extended connectors in back http://www.siconic.com/crap/TPC4-1.jpg Shows the front of the unit http://www.siconic.com/crap/TPC4-2.jpg Shows a close-up of the front http://www.siconic.com/crap/TPC4-3.jpg Shows a close-up of the back connectors http://www.siconic.com/crap/TPC4-4.jpg Shows the unit from the top with the cover removed http://www.siconic.com/crap/TPC4-5.jpg Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out. Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0! See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 05/25/99]

26 years, 11 months

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AT/370 and XT/370

by peter.pachla＠vectrex.freeserve.co.uk

Hi, >The PS/2 newsgroup has been talking about the AT and XT >models that included a pair of cards that allowed fairly complete, >if a bit slow, 370 mainframe emulation. Anybody every run >across any of these? Yes, I can't get at it right now but I picked up an XT/370 a few years ago at a radio rally. Unfortunately the machine had been fairly comprehensively rebuilt with a '286 motherboard and some sort of half height hard drive (despite having a full height "IBM" hard drive front plate on the front). I managed to get the original motherboard (broken expansion connector) and tape streamer out of the guy, but the monitor, keyboard, cards, etc were already gone.... :-( TTFN - Pete. -- Hardware & Software Engineer. Sound Engineer. Collector of Arcade Machines, Games Consoles & Obsolete Computers (esp DEC) peter.pachla(a)virgin.net | peter.pachla(a)vectrex.freeserve.co.uk | peter.pachla(a)wintermute.free-online.co.uk | www.wintermute.free-online.co.uk --

26 years, 11 months

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RX02 Repair {Follow Up}

by steve.lubbers＠barco.com

Thanks All for the suggestions I've received so far. To answer a few of the additional questions that cropped up: I've had the drive for about 11 years. About 5 years ago it worked correctly, so I'm assuming that internal switch settings are correct (though I don't have a reference to verify them), and the controller/drive match. I have a huge collection of disks, some marked RX01, some RX02, none will boot. I am currently working with an RX02 disk that was used to boot another PDP-11, then sent to me. I checked that both drive belts are in place, and used a scope on the photo transistor that detects the hole. The drive RPM was correct. tony- This would help >>>There are some things you can try. Firstly (if you have the programming >>>info - if not I'll find it), you can try transfering 256 bytes from the >>>PDP11 to the sector buffer and then transfering it back again (without >>>going via the disk). This will test most of the controller logic and the >>>sector buffer RAM. My guess is that this will fail. >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: steve.lubbers(a)barco.com [mailto:steve.lubbers@barco.com] >>> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 8:51 AM >>> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers >>> Subject: RX02 Repair >>> >>> >>> I've been trying to bring my old RX02 drive back to life, >>> with little >>> success. >>> >>> I just received a good bootable floppy, and get the same >>> results as with all >>> my old disks, so now I'm looking for hardware problems. >>> >>> On a PDP-11/03, With RXV21 controller, and an RX02 drive, the RX02 >>> initializes, attempts to read the boot block, and crashes >>> to ODT at 000600. >>> >>> >>> > In examining what my system reads as it attempts to boot, >>> it looks like I >>> > read every other 128 byte chunk correctly. I haven't >>> figured out a >>> pattern >>> > to the corrupt sections. >>> >>> >>> Does anyone have any RX02 diagnostics, or hardware trouble >>> shooting tips? >>> >>> >>> Steve >>> >>>

26 years, 11 months

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Orange County Computer Works

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

Here's the Computer Works for the Orange County area. Mike? You reading this? http://santana.ocgoodwill.org/computer_works/index.html Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out. Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0! See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 05/25/99]

26 years, 11 months

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Cool IBM PC find

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

Ok, here's something very cool as far as IBM PC artifacts go. Its an "IBM TPC 4 System Unit" (the model is 4459). Its a tempested PC! Its basically an unfinished PC case inside a bigger case that provides the shielding. The connectors in the back all extend out to the outer shell, which has a metal screen around the connector openings. The power supply power plug connector is a threaded round connector. The power switch is relocated as a radial knob on the front of the chassis. Its got a 5.25" floppy drive and a hard drive (can't wait to see what's on it) enclosed in an inner cage to sheild them. The motherboard is a 256-512K version. The cards inside are pretty standard (I/O, hard drive/floppy interface, expanded memory). Very neat. Anyone ever heard of this? Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out. Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0! See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 05/25/99]

26 years, 11 months

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Cool IBM PC find

by peter.pachla＠vectrex.freeserve.co.uk

Hi, >If it has a hard drive, it was probably not used as a Tempest machine. >The TPC I have contains only two floppy drives, and my understanding >is that a tempest machine must have media that can be removed >and cannot have fixed media. I found a bunch of XTs in Tempest casings at a scrapyard in Oxfordshire about 6 years ago. All of these machines had a single 360K floppy, a pair of Bernoulli removable drives and (I think) a tape drive. No fixed media in sight! Didn't find anything other than the machines themselves though, IE no keyboards, monitors. TTFN - Pete. -- Hardware & Software Engineer. Sound Engineer. Collector of Arcade Machines, Games Consoles & Obsolete Computers (esp DEC) peter.pachla(a)virgin.net | peter.pachla(a)vectrex.freeserve.co.uk | peter.pachla(a)wintermute.free-online.co.uk | www.wintermute.free-online.co.uk --

26 years, 11 months

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OT: Routing

by a2k＠one.net

Thanks all. Problem solved. No idea what was wrong or why it didn't work. In the process of one of the reboots, it decided to talk again. Thanks to everyone that helped. Kevin ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It's you isn't it? THE BASTARD OPERATOR FROM HELL!" "In the flesh, on the phone and in your account..." -- BOFH #3

26 years, 11 months

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Cool IBM PC find

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<At the risk of sounding fundamentally stupid, what's a tempest machine? < <Kevin Any computer that has been hardend to not radiate _any_ EMF. The assumption is that any signal radiated can be analysed and reconstituted to recover the information. So shielding, LOTS of shielding is used. I've seen PDP-11, VAXen, PCs all done up this way. Allison

26 years, 11 months

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oops

by fauradon＠mn.mediaone.net

I think I forgot to attach the photo. Here it is. Definately not a masterpiece. Sue

26 years, 11 months

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(no subject)

by edick＠idcomm.com

Yes, I can tell you how they're related . . . it's a temporal relation, though, not a contextual one. ('nuff said?) I hit the send button at the wrong time, having inserted a piece of text in the wrong place. (I think !??). I thought better of remarking that though a number of folks, myself included, didn't particuarly like the TI 99/4, that didn't make it worthless as somebody had implied. Unfortunately, I must have overflowed the stack (mine, not the computer's) and put that other paragraph in the wrong place. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 5:04 PM Subject: Re: (no subject) >> >> Since I have their latest CD, I have all the data sheets. What I'm after is >> the information about the logic cell resources, clock drivers, routing >> resources, etc, generic to each family and not specific to a given device. >> The individual sheets seldom have that data. > >The message you're replying to seems to be talking about the TI99/4A home >computer. The above paragraph seems to be talking about some kind of FPGA >or PLD devices. Perhapes somebody can enlighten me as to how they're >related.. > >-tony >

26 years, 11 months

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paper tape winding - suggestions???!?!

by jlwest＠tseinc.com

Most of the paper tape software that I have is on rolls, not fanfold. So - unlike my nice PDP-8 PC04 that folds paper tape that was just read all nicely on one side..... after reading a tape roll on my HP I have a very large and fragile mess of a tape pile on the floor. I'm sure that many of the inventive folks on the list have come up with interesting ways to re-roll paper tape after it's read (short of the "by hand" route that takes forever). I don't have an electric or manual tape winder, but figured people around here had found some other thing that would do it well. I *THOUGHT* I had found a great solution - one of those old fashioned hand crank drills. I wrap the paper tape tightly aroung the tip (without a bit in it), set it point down on a cushioned chair, turn the crank and viola - my tape rolls up quickly. However, last night as I saw my cherished diagnostic configurator tape slide right into the gears of the drill, I figured I had better ask for other solutions <grin>. Is there something common around a typical house that folks have found works well for winding paper tape rolls? Thanks! Jay West

26 years, 11 months

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WAY Off Topic : routing

by jlwest＠tseinc.com

You wrote... >I believe that ppp0 is the default gateway on my p166. ppp0? I'm a freebsd person myself, not linux, but isn't ppp0 the SLIP/PPP interface over a serial connection? I thought we were talking ethernet here... >Trying 192.168.1.2... >telnet: Unable to connect to remote host: No route to host Aha... How can you have an IP address/subnetmask on the interface without getting a network (192.168.1.0) route via your ethernet interface? Since there's no route to the host, just show us the output of a "netstat -rn" (that's a - r n not a -m) on each machine and that will show the problem for sure. Also, in your configuration I would suggest not running any routing daemon (routed, gated, etc.) - they'll just get in the way. Jay West

26 years, 11 months

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RX02 Repair

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>correct voltages. The drives may have mechanical ill. The most common "mechanical ill" these days is the drive belts falling off. Funny, how it's hard to read a disk that isn't turning :-). Tim.

26 years, 11 months

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