Guys:
I have to ship a rather distressed pdp-8a
cardcage across the country. Do you think
I should ship the cards separately, or
the entire thing as a unit?
The whole thing weighs 60#, btw.
Thanks
Jeff
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
On May 25, 19:23, Tony Duell wrote:
> Subject: Re: Space, the next frontier
> > > Getting the right
> > > spare drive for one of those can really drive you insane.
> >
> > How do you think I got to be like this? :-)
>
> Probably in a similar, but not quite indentical way to me.... Not quite
> identical, because AFAIK you're not a workstation collector...
Not primarily -- I have the usual Apples, Beebs, PETs, Atom, ZX81, Sorcerer
-- and I've just found a Nascom-1 :-) -- and PDP-11s, but I also have two
SGI Indigos, an Indy, a VS3000, a couple of Arcs, a microVAX-II, a U-Micro
68000, a Sage-II, a DecMate. I'm not sure which of those count as
workstations, though :-)
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
<common-ish machines that _can_ do the formatting. 8" 'RX01' floppies can
<be formatted in most soft-sector 8" CP/M machines (and a PERQ will not
<only do the format, it'll even stick an 'RT11' directory on the disk).
Or if the cpm machine is running the RT11 package (a C program) it could
set a directory and read/write the disk as well! Still use that one here!
<You say 'some Rainbows'. I thought this was just a software
<consideration, and that the hardware of all 'bows was capable of
<formatting blank disks. Since the 'bow disk controller is just a WD179x
<chip (IIRC) on one of the micro's buses, it seems hard to figure out a
<way to stop it from formatting, although anything is possible.
The rainbow needed a formatter program to do it. It was generally
available. However DEC used the 1793 in a lot of systems (DECMATE,
PRO3xx, and a few other but hid it behind a 8051 microcontroller that
didn't have a format routine in the internal rom. Reason, the 1793 needs
to be fed every byte to write to the disk including gaps and marks.
DEC hardware that can format floppies:
Vt180 RX180 format.
PDT-11/150 RX01 format
Rainbows (RX50)
RQDXn (in either a Qbus MicroVAX or PDP-11) with software (rx50,
rx33, Rx23, rx24, and hard disks)
VS2000 (rx50, rx33, hard disks)
RX02 can reformat from RX01 (SSSD to SSDD and back). It just
cant do the initial format.
There maybe other but those are most common.
Of the non DEC hardware that can do 8" formatting
CCS2xxx systems (S100/cpm) (both 8 and 5.25)
Compupro S100 (various cpus) (both 8 and 5.25)
SDS " "
Teltek " "
Multibus with nonINTEL DD controllers (NEC BP2190 8", 5.25 or 3.5)
Xerox820
SB180 (8, 5.25, 3.5)
Ampro (8"SD, 5.25, 3.5)
and the list goes on.....
Allison
--- jeff.kaneko(a)juno.com wrote:
> Guys:
>
> I have to ship a rather distressed pdp-8a
> cardcage across the country. Do you think
> I should ship the cards separately, or
> the entire thing as a unit?
If I were receiving it, I'd prefer to have the cards bagged in static
bags and bubble-wrap and shipped seperately. Since that may compromise
the structural integrity of a "distressed" cage, see about finding a
cardboard box that fits somewhat snugly inside the empty cage, and pack
the cage in a box with at least 4" of space on all sides (to be filled with
peanuts and the like). You might consider shipping the PSU in its own box,
but that's not essential. It will reduce the inertia of the cage enough that
even distressed, an empty cage doesn't weigh enough to get badly damaged if
the container gets slammed around.
Remember this: if you wouldn't throw the box out of a car moving at 30mph,
don't ship the box - UPS has a conveyer belt that is 4' off the ground,
moving at 30mph. Stuff falls off every day.
-ethan
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
Near Red Bank, New Jersey, USA? Want a 3B1 with spare parts?
Contact dwfraser(a)lucent.com. (As seen in comp.sys.3b1.)
-Frank McConnell
------- Start of forwarded message -------
Date: Wed May 26 08:03:29 1999
From: Douglas Fraser <dwfraser(a)lucent.com>
Subject: Used (of course!) 3B1/7300 plus parts.
Topics:
Used (of course!) 3B1/7300 plus parts.
Re: Used (of course!) 3B1/7300 plus parts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 10:46:57 -0400
From: Douglas Fraser <dwfraser(a)lucent.com>
Subject: Used (of course!) 3B1/7300 plus parts.
Message-ID: <37496661.FCE6F4DD(a)lucent.com>
Well, child #2 has arrived and my free time factor has
gone to ZERO! The one working 3B1 and all the spare parts
must go. I will not box and ship, you have to pick it
up. Red Bank, NJ. Send me email.
Details
One working 3B1, with memory expansion boards.
Boots and runs. 3.51 on floppys that haven't been
read in two years. Don't know if they still work.
This is an OLD system board. The ASICs are implemented
in medium scale logic on a mezzanine. It does work.
Spares. Enough to create two more entire systems except
for the disk drives. Currently disassembled.
Misc. documentation including some copies of schematics.
All power supplies, keyboards, mice, displays are good.
Must take ALL. I am not interested in selling parts in
dribs and drabs.
Doug
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 09:24:33 -0400
From: Douglas Fraser <dwfraser(a)lucent.com>
Subject: Re: Used (of course!) 3B1/7300 plus parts.
Message-ID: <374BF611.C6873238(a)lucent.com>
References: <37496661.FCE6F4DD(a)lucent.com>
Next week, this whole thing goes out in the trash.
It will have a little note attached to it that says
"Works! Boots UNIX! No password!"
And a box that says "Documentation! Spare Parts!"
Up until then, you can reserve it for yourself by
sending me email.
Bye.
------------------------------
End of forward718K3y Digest
***************************
------- End of forwarded message -------
Does anyone know where I might be able to buy some thin black foam filter
material, to replace the stuiff that was used on my Teral computers?
These systems have a large fan that draws air into the computer, and
the intake air goes through this very thin filter, in order to capture
large particles such as lint.
After 22+ years, that foam is nothing more than dust.
I would need something almost 5 inches wide, that i could then trim to
the proper shape.
-Lawrence LeMay
Hi,
I picked up several AIM 65 computers. I've noticed that some of them
have two 24 Pin ICs in the lower right corner and some have five. Anyone
know what the difference is? Also some have only two of the 19 pin ICs in
the top right corner and other have eitht ICs there. What's the difference
there?
Anyone know of a site where I can find out more about these and the
commands to operate them?
Joe
>The resulting three disks will boot up the system and bring up Backup 5.5,
>or thereabouts. But when I undertake to do a backup/image/verify to
>floppy, I get the error message:
>
>"%BACKUP-F-CLUSTER, unsuitable cluster factor for DUA2:"
>
>Since I formatted the disks using T 70 I would assume that they are to
>MicroVAX/VMS standard. How do I get around this roadblock?
You formatted the floppies, but you didn't initialize them. Try
appending a /INITIALIZE onto your backup command.
>Incidentally, Tim, I do not intend to really use floppies for backup. I
>have a TK50Z. But, if I can get a better understanding of how they may be
>used, they may prove useful in getting software into the little bugger.
If you intend to use them for purposes other than image backup, you
ought to try INITing them and MOUNTing them as regular (Files-11) volumes.
Doing a HELP INIT EXAMPLES or HELP MOUNT EXAMPLES will prove educational.
Or - very handy for interchange purposes with micros that have the
ability to read/write RT-11 RX50's and RX33's - you can use
EXCHANGE to read and write RT-11 volumes. Go into EXCHANGE and type
HELP for more info on this. There are also some freeware tools
for reading and writing MS-DOS floppies from VMS; check out
ftp://ftp.wku.edu/vms/fileserv/mgpcx.zip
if this sounds useful. There's loads of other VMS freeware available;
just check the comp.os.vms FAQ for starters.
--
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
Hello all.
This year at the VCF we're opening up the exhibition, and changing it into
a computer faire. Want to show off your prized vintage computer artifact?
What better way than to exhibit it at the Vintage Computer Festival!
What's more, your exhibit can win you a ribbon in any of 11 different
categories, and the best exhibit will walk away with the coveted Best of
Show award and some fabulous prizes!
What should you exhibit? Your best looking, most interesting, most
complete, most well researched vintage computer artifact. Read the full
rules below for information on what judging will entail. The ambition of
this competition is to advance the hobby of collecting, preserving and
documenting vintage computers, and you'll see that reflected in the
competition rules.
Have questions? Please e-mail me <sellam(a)vintage.org> or post your
question to the list if you think it is applicable to the general
audience.
You have more than four months to prepare your winning exhibit, so don't
procrastinate. Get going!
VCF 3.0 is being held October 2nd and 3rd at the Santa Clara Convention
Center in Santa Clara, California.
VCF 3.0 Computer Faire Rules
============================
1) Each entrant shall enter no more than 2 entries for one class and
no more than 4 entries combined in all classes for competiton.
Computers entered for display only are not eligible for awards
and their inclusion in the exhibit is at the discretion of the
organizer.
Each entrant shall pre-register their exhibit and pay a $10
registration fee due by September 17, 1999. Entrants failing
to submit their registration and fee will not be eligible to
participate in the Faire, however exceptions may be made for
individual circumstances.
2) Each competitor's entry shall be entered in only one of the
following classes:
a) Home-brew, kit, or educational computer - Any vintage
b) Manufactured microcomputer - Pre 1981
c) Manufactured microcomputer - Post 1981
d) Mini-computer or larger system - Any vintage
e) Other
3) In each class, Best of Class, 2nd of Class, and 3rd of Class prizes
will be awarded. If less than three entries are present in a
class, the awards are at the discretion of the judges.
4) Each competiton entry, regardless of it having received any other
award is eligible to compete for any of the following special
awards:
Best Presentation Awards
a) Best Presentation Category - Display
b) Best Presentation Category - Research
c) Best Presentation Category - Completeness
d) Best Presentation Category - Creative Integration with Contemporary
Technology
Best Preservation Awards
a) Best Preservation Category - Restoration
b) Best Preservation Category - Recreation
c) Best Preservation Category - Simulation
d) Best Preservation Category - Original Condition
e) Best Preservation Category - Obscurity
Best Technology Awards
a) Best Technology Category - Analog
b) Best Technology Category - Non-Electronic
People's Choice Award
5) Each competitor will be given a date and time at which a panel of
judges will examine the entry. The examination is limited to no
more than 10 minutes. The entrant or an authorized representative
must be present at the time given. If nobody is present, the
judges will notify the entrant of a substitute time at which they
will return. If nobody is present at that point in time, the
entry is disqualified.
6) Only class winners or special award winners are eligible for the
Best of Show award. Each winner will be given a new time to make
their computer available for a repeated inspection for the Best of
Show award.
7) The panel of judges will consist of three individuals. The judging
will take place as a joint activity between the the judges. Any
judging decision will have to have at least a two thirds majority.
8) Each computer will start judging by having a perfect score of 30
points, five points each in the following catagories. The judges
will then subtract points in each catagory according to their
judging guidelines of which examples are given below.
- Appearance and Condition
- Authenticity
- System Completeness
- Functionality
- Documentation
- Software
a) Appearance and Condition
The judges can deduct points for any flaw in appearance and
condition. Lack of functionality or non-original parts do not
influence the score in this catagory unless it changes the
appearance of the computer.
b) Originality and Authenticity
The judges can deduct points for any part of the computer that is
not original as built by the manufacturer, or as constructed at
assembly time for kits. Replacement parts must be indicated to
the judges by the competitor. New old stock parts will be
considered to be replacement parts with a lesser point
deduction. A reproduction can not receive full points in this
category. Any consumables do not have to be authentic. Any item
that has questionable authenticity or originalty needs to have
supporting documentation.
c) System Completeness
The judges can deduct points for any part of the computer that
is incomplete. A complete computer is one that includes the
peripherals that were originally used on the computer or typical
peripherals that would have been used with the computer if
applicable.
d) Functionality
The judges can deduct points for any lack of functionality of
the complete computer as presented. This includes any aspect of
hardware or software. Original malfunction of the computer does
not lead to point deduction. A non-operational main processor
will result in zero points in this category.
e) Documentation
The judges can deduct points for incomplete, missing, or poor
condition documentation. Any documentation that was originally
delivered with the computer or otherwise obtained is being
judged. Any documentation relating to the design, construction,
manufacture, or delivery of the computer can be included. Third
party documentation is acceptable if no original documentation
is known to exist. Third party documentation can be beneficial
if they go beyond the standard documentation of the computer.
Reprints or later editions of documentation will result in point
deduction. Documentation of research conducted pertinent to the
entry will be considered.
f) Software
The judges can deduct points for the lack of software for the
computer, if applicable. In order to score any points, the
essential software to operate the computer is required to be
functional. Any software that has been developed for the computer
either at the time of computer development or at any later point
will be considered, as will be supporting documentation. The
software does not have to be run from the original media.
Original media will be beneficial though and can be asked to be
demonstrated.
9) The judges will not operate the entry. The person exhibiting the
computer will be asked to start the computer, demonstrate the
functionality, the available software, and to show the
documentation. Any reasonable request by the judges to demonstrate
operation has to be fulfilled by the person showing the computer.
10) The judges will ask the person showing the computer to open or
disassemble the computer for inspection of major components within
reasonable limits.
11) If for any reason the person showing the entry can not fulfill a
request of a judge due to a malfunction or any lack of software,
documentation, or other, the entrant will be given an opportunity
to interrupt the inspection once and postpone completion to a
later point in time during the judging period.
12) At the end of the event at an announced place and time, the awards
will be given to the entrant or a representative. If the prize
recipient cannot receive the award in person, all shipping and
handling charges will have to be covered by the entrant. Should a
person not be present to claim the prize, the awards shall be held for
claim by the organizer for no later than November 1, 1999. After that
date the prize will be withheld and will not be re-awarded.
Any questions or comments? Please send them to sellam(a)vintage.org or post
them to the list if they are universally applicable.
I hope to see lots of people participate in this year's Computer Faire!!
Remember, this is your chance to show off that favorite part of your
computer collection to all your friends and colleagues.
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: 05/20/99]
On May 25, 19:42, Paul Thompson wrote:
> Subject: Re: 68020 vs 68EC020
> OK, my curiousity is piqued.
>
> What is the HC in MC68HC000 chips? The one I have is on a DEC RF31
> disk drive controller.
HCMOS process; "completely pin and timing compatible with MC68000, with
1/10th the power dissipation" of the NMOS versions.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
Is there anyone who knows anything about Canon Cats? Specifically, how to
repair them? Or, anyone who has a working one?
I got an e-mail from a writer in SoCal who has been using one for twelve
years to do all his writing. It was recently damaged in a brownout, and
he's "having a bad time of it without the use of my CAT." Most
importantly, he needs to get his data off the disks, but I gather he'd also
like to continue using it.
Any thoughts?
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
On May 24, 18:34, Tony Duell wrote:
> Old _working_ ST506 hard disks, however small in capacity should be kept
> IMHO. They may be useless in PCs, but there are plenty of machines that
> can use such drives but can't use IDE/SCSI/whatever. And it's getting
> ever harder to get working ST506 drives.
Having just spent several days obtaining a suitable 20MB ST506-interface
hard drive, I completely concur with Tony. The 3.5" versions seem to be
particularly hard to come by around here.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
I snagged a Tandy 2000 30Mb harddrive this weekend!!! The actual drive is a
Quantum Model (?)204(?). It is stinking huge (not mainframe huge but
desktop huge)!
Can anyone tell me about this drive? Is there an easy way to connect a
newer HD to this machine?
Arfon
----------------------------------------
Tired of Micro$oft???
Move up to a REAL OS...
######__ __ ____ __ __ _ __ #
#####/ / / / / __ | / / / / | |/ /##
####/ / / / / / / / / / / / | /###
###/ /__ / / / / / / / /_/ / / |####
##/____/ /_/ /_/ /_/ /_____/ /_/|_|####
# ######
("LINUX" for those of you
without fixed-width fonts)
----------------------------------------
Be a Slacker! http://www.slackware.com
Slackware Mailing List:
http://www.digitalslackers.net/linux/list.html
<Oh, hard cards. I was envisioning separate drives. Were there any of
<these?
Yes. The hard cards were made up of seperate drives but were sold
standalone too. For most the card/drive combo made sense as early one
most were upgrading from floppy only to adding a hard drive and not all
of those systems had enough drive bays.
Allison
<Of course, there are also machines with floppy drive systems that cannot d
<a low-level format. The most classic 8" floppy drive systems (specifically
<the IBM 3740) can't format floppies, for example. There are also 5.25"
Most of the S100 and other 8" systems could but the DEC and IBM systems
didn't as was the case for some of the systems like AES data.
<floppy drive systems that can't format - for example, the RX50 on a DEC
<Q-bus or Unibus controller. (On some Rainbows, it is possible to low-leve
<format RX50 media directly.)
Rx50 format can be fomatted by any system (usually s100, or cpm based) with
a WD 179x or later controller as it is a slightly bastard format that only
that chip can do.
Others like the older intel MDS800/200 systems with the DD drives (m^2FM)
could format but nothing else could read that format.
This ignores the system that used a standard LLformat but had a odd file
structure so data interchange was impossible.
Allison
< That's an interesting question! I wonder what the difference in the
<software is? I don't think I've ever heard of a CMOS AIM 65. The BASIC
<comes up as ver 1.1. I didn't see a version on the assembler. The ICs
<containing the assembler and BASIC don't have any special markings. They'r
<PN is the same as the PN of the two standard ROMs except one digit is
<different.
Same here. The AIM was out of production before the CMOS process was in
production as I remember... back then CMOS was stll expensive too, less
incentive to use it in the AIM.
Allison
A CD-ROM. It tells about HyperGuide, and that it can either be installed on
the HD (taking up 12 MB), or it can be run from the CD-ROM. It also has
software much as Music Box, which is a primitive form of Windows CD Player.
///--->>>
-Jason Willgruber
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
-----Original Message-----
From: Max Eskin <max82(a)surfree.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 3:48 PM
Subject: Re: DatEXT CD-ROM questions
>On Tue, 25 May 1999, Jason (the General) wrote:
>>It's a Tandy MPC System software CD - Came with an OLD Sensation.
>
>Hmm...does the Windows setup program expect floppies or a CD-ROM?
>
>--Max Eskin (max82(a)surfree.com)
> http://scivault.hypermart.net: Ignorance is Impotence - Knowledge is
Power
>
>
On May 25, 21:47, Tony Duell wrote:
> Subject: Re: 68020 vs 68EC020
> >
> > An A1200 question: what's the difference between the 68020 and 68EC020?
>
> I believe the 'EC' version is for Embedded Control, and lacks some of the
> functions of the plain 68020 (probably MMU-related or something).
I'm not sure of the other details, but "EC" = "Embedded Control", as you
say. According to my Motorola cribsheet, it's a 68020 with only 24-bit
addressing, without the dynamic bus sizing, ands restricted speed range.
It does have the co-pro interface, though, and probably most if not all of
the instruction set (the crib sheet doesn't get very detailed).
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
On May 25, 23:13, Sipke de Wal wrote:
> Max Eskin wrote:
> > There have been 3.5" ST-506 interface hard drives?
> >
> Yep, They where put on a frame that included the MFM-controller (or RLL
> for that matter). This frame was put into a full length IBM-PC slot.
>
> They were sold as "Hardcards with usually 20MB (MFM) OR 30MB (RLL)
> capacity.
Only one of the 3.5" drives I've had was sold as, or for, hardcards -- they
were much more commonly sold just as hard drives.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
>> Q-bus or Unibus controller. (On some Rainbows, it is possible to low-level
>> format RX50 media directly.)
>You say 'some Rainbows'. I thought this was just a software
>consideration, and that the hardware of all 'bows was capable of
>formatting blank disks. Since the 'bow disk controller is just a WD179x
>chip (IIRC) on one of the micro's buses, it seems hard to figure out a
>way to stop it from formatting, although anything is possible.
On a Rainbow, a dedicated Z80 does the floppy I/O; the formatting
code has to be in the Z80's firmware (which, indeed, is a "software
consideration".). In some revisions of the Z80's firmware,
the format option for RX50's isn't present (it returns an error).
I'm currently looking for the "RX50 FAQ", put together by Charles
Lasner most of a decade ago, in hope that it discusses which firmware
revisions are/aren't capable of formatting. So far I've turned up
about 30 pages of Charles's notes on RX50 interleave issues, but
nothing about the Rainbow firmware!
--
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
What I meant was not that the AIM65 was CMOS, but rather, that the ROCKWELL
version of the CMOS 6502 was different from the NMOS version sold by MOS
Technology. One way of telling whether the assembler is written for the
NMOS or the CMOS version, would be to have it assemble a source file with a
few of the CMOS instructions in it and see how it handles them. What's
more, the unimplemented opcodes in their CMOS processor were all implemented
as NO-OPs while the NMOS version had that widely known (or at least
heard-of) set of odd-ball (undocumented) instructions Hans Franke wrote
about a month or two ago. You just have to look at the processor to
determine whether it's a CMOS processor, but the assembler could be for
either processor.
The BASIC is probably the version for the NMOS part. I assume that the
early release number is all one needs to tell that. Anything made after
1983-84 could go either way.
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 2:58 PM
Subject: Re: AIM 65 question
>Dick,
>
> That's an interesting question! I wonder what the difference in the
>software is? I don't think I've ever heard of a CMOS AIM 65. The BASIC
>comes up as ver 1.1. I didn't see a version on the assembler. The ICs
>containing the assembler and BASIC don't have any special markings. They're
>PN is the same as the PN of the two standard ROMs except one digit is
>different.
>
> Joe
>
>At 08:31 AM 5/25/99 -0600, you wrote:
>>NOW . . . The interesting question is whether the firmware versions you
have
>>support the ROCKWELL CMOS versions or only the NMOS parts. Rockwell made
>>the AIM 65 its evaluation system for their entry in the 6502 market, but
>>their CMOS version is the one whose instruction set I thought was the best
>>of all of them. If your AIM boards have the assembler and BASIC
interpreter
>>for the CMOS version, that's something to hang onto since it's still
current
>>as far as the compatible cores are concerned.
>>
>>Dick
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net>
>>To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
>><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
>>Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 4:15 AM
>>Subject: Re: AIM 65 question
>>
>>
>>>They are. Two are optional BASIC and the other is optional Assembler.
>>>
>>> Joe
>>>
>>>At 10:49 PM 5/24/99 -0700, you wrote:
>>>>These 24 pin chips sound to me like ROM's.
>>>>
>>>>William R. Buckley
>>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net>
>>>>To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
>>>><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
>>>>Date: Monday, May 24, 1999 2:59 PM
>>>>Subject: AIM 65 question
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> I picked up several AIM 65 computers. I've noticed that some of them
>>>>>have two 24 Pin ICs in the lower right corner and some have five.
Anyone
>>>>>know what the difference is? Also some have only two of the 19 pin ICs
>>in
>>>>>the top right corner and other have eitht ICs there. What's the
>>difference
>>>>>there?
>>>>>
>>>>> Anyone know of a site where I can find out more about these and the
>>>>>commands to operate them?
>>>>>
>>>>> Joe
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
<Talking about ST 506's, I have an old 5 MB one. It spins up, but I need
<controller for it. The only XT MFM controller I have is a WD XT-GEN, and
<they don't work with the 506's.
???? they don't???? I thought they were commonly found with ST506s! At
least that's the only one besides the ST412 (10mb) I've ever seen one with.
Allison
NOW . . . The interesting question is whether the firmware versions you have
support the ROCKWELL CMOS versions or only the NMOS parts. Rockwell made
the AIM 65 its evaluation system for their entry in the 6502 market, but
their CMOS version is the one whose instruction set I thought was the best
of all of them. If your AIM boards have the assembler and BASIC interpreter
for the CMOS version, that's something to hang onto since it's still current
as far as the compatible cores are concerned.
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 4:15 AM
Subject: Re: AIM 65 question
>They are. Two are optional BASIC and the other is optional Assembler.
>
> Joe
>
>At 10:49 PM 5/24/99 -0700, you wrote:
>>These 24 pin chips sound to me like ROM's.
>>
>>William R. Buckley
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net>
>>To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
>><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
>>Date: Monday, May 24, 1999 2:59 PM
>>Subject: AIM 65 question
>>
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>> I picked up several AIM 65 computers. I've noticed that some of them
>>>have two 24 Pin ICs in the lower right corner and some have five. Anyone
>>>know what the difference is? Also some have only two of the 19 pin ICs
in
>>>the top right corner and other have eitht ICs there. What's the
difference
>>>there?
>>>
>>> Anyone know of a site where I can find out more about these and the
>>>commands to operate them?
>>>
>>> Joe
>>>
>>
>>
>
It's a Tandy MPC System software CD - Came with an OLD Sensation.
///--->>>
-Jason Willgruber
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
-----Original Message-----
From: Max Eskin <max82(a)surfree.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: DatEXT CD-ROM questions
>On Tue, 25 May 1999, Jason (the General) wrote:
>>The CD that I am using is Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0. I
>>used it previously to install Windows on my 5170.
>
>Windows 3.0 came on CD? Is this an original CD from Microsoft?
>
>--Max Eskin (max82(a)surfree.com)
> http://scivault.hypermart.net: Ignorance is Impotence - Knowledge is
Power
>
>
Hi folks,
I'm passing this on for a friend who is not a computer collector or
subscriber to ClassicCmp.
His long-serving Mac used in his realty office had to be retired because of
some sort of video failure. He didn't want to trash it and asked me if I'd
take it. I'm not into Apple at all as that would be Yet Another Interest
which I would dig into thus spending all kinds of money and time which I
have little of either. Some of you know already that I've got enough to
handle now ;)
So, I want to let you Apple polishers (or "Mac-adamia Nuts" ;-) have a
chance at taking the system. The problem with the main box is probably
simple to fix using parts from another dead box. He says there is just a
spot on the screen about a quarter inch or so in size. The system seems to
act normally otherwise, just that he can't see anything on the screen.
Apparently to me, just the video sweep section on the CRT board failed.
Please contact him directly at esr(a)netsync.net if interested in the system.
Paul Liuzzo is his name.
Here's the list of items with the understanding that I do not know if I've
given you enough info as I don't do Mac:
** Macintosh Plus (and says 'Macintosh Plus 1MB' on the large label on the
back of the case), model M0001A. Apparently runs System 6.0.2.
** Kingston cooling fan/power switching module. Fits on top of the box to
provide additional cooling and acts as AC power control center.
** Keyboard, model M0110A
** Mouse, model M0100
** External hard drive (he recalls 40mb), CMS Enhancements (the
Computerland label for accessories they sold) model STACK/3
** Apple Personal Modem, model A9M0304
** Two Apple Imagewriter II's
1.) model A9M0320 bought w/system above
2.) model A9M0310 given to him a couple years ago and never used by
him. It's been used by previous owner though.
Software included:
** Mac Utilities, etc., for ver 6.0.2
** Filemaker Pro
** Filemaker II
** Superspool for Imagewriter
** Semantic Antivirus for Mac ver 2
** CMS SCSI Utility for Mac ver 5.3
** more misc software
** A stack of documentation for most of the s/w listed above.
He doesn't want much except to have a collector take the system, all in one
lot. I imagine paying shipping costs plus maybe a couple extra bucks would
be okay.
Again, contact Paul Liuzzo directly at esr(a)netsync.net if interested in the
system.
Jamestown, NY 14701 is the shipping point.
Thanks much!
Regards, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
URL: http://www.ggw.org/awa
The CD ROM no longer spins up to read the disk.
The CD that I am using is Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0. I
used it previously to install Windows on my 5170.
///--->>>
-Jason Willgruber
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
-----Original Message-----
From: John Foust <jfoust(a)threedee.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 7:45 AM
Subject: Re: DatEXT CD-ROM questions
>At 06:15 PM 5/24/99 -0700, Jason (the General) wrote:
>>The unit was working fine when I powered it down and moved the computer
>>across my basement a few months ago. When I powered it up today, the
CD-ROM
>>driver will load, but it won't read any disks.
>
>Have you tried to read a *contemporary* CD, or a CD that you know
>is in pure old-style ISO-9660 CD format? Some of the newer extensions
>could be throwing the driver for a loop.
>
>- John
>
>
I have a (miraculously) surviving (sort of) 1986 DatEXT external CD-ROM on
my IBM 5170 AT.
The unit was working fine when I powered it down and moved the computer
across my basement a few months ago. When I powered it up today, the CD-ROM
driver will load, but it won't read any disks.
I took it apart to see if the drive was spinning up, and the first thing I
noticed was that the little plastic labels covering the window on a couple
of the EPROMs (or is it EEPROMS?) were peeling off (no longer sticky after
13 years). I'm guessing that this is the problem.
Does anyone know where to get EPROM images for this drive, and how would I
upload them to the chips? I'm assuming that I would need an EPROM burner.
Where would I find one?
ThAnX,
///--->>>
-Jason Willgruber
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
In a message dated 5/25/99 8:53:34 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
rickb(a)pail.enginet.com writes:
>
> I seem to remember, but not completely sure, that the CPU was essentially
> an ECL implementation of a 68000...a comparatively very fast 68000.
>
The DSP 90 used the 68020 CPU card that was used in the 5XX series of
workstations. It also contained the Apollo Ring network card to hook up to
the network. It may or may not have an extra memory card. It did not have the
display card as it was a rack mount server. It also had a Multibus 1 cardcage
which held a SMD controller, a tape drive controller or any other Multibus
card to drive interface one wanted to hang on the ring. It commonly had CDC
9" hard drives but you could use 8" or 14" SMD drives. Apollo also hung
Cipher tape drives on it also. You could put removable pack drives also.
It was used as a Server on an Apollo Ring. It did data and program storage
mainly. If someone was going to set up an Apollo Ring for a museum it would
be great. As to what Jim could use it for I'm not sure. Prob. trading
material as I am not sure the Computer Garage has the space for an Apollo
exhibit.
If someone is interested in Apollo I have a working 580 system that I would
like to sell or pass on.
Paxton
Hi!
I saw this on our company bulletin board. A step in the right direction, but
what happened to mending things?
Philip.
**********************************************
Facilities are pleased to announce the introduction to Westwood of the Environ
Computer Recycling Scheme.
Set up in August 1998 with East Midlands Electricity, the ECR scheme involves
the refurbishment of IT equipment donated by companies. All original data is
destroyed for full confidentiality. The computers are checked for electrical
safety and to ensure they are in full working order. They are then refurbished
and new software is loaded. The computers are then sold as full systems to non
profit groups and for educational use. A small number are available for general
sale. All non working equipment is recycled to extract useful and valuable
materials, thereby reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
**********************************************************************
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
**********************************************************************
So... proving yet again that I just can't turn away a computer in need of a
home, I find myself looking at an Apollo Computers DSP90-3M computer with
an SMDE drive that is supposed to have the Apollo operating system on it.
(I was just expecting drives!)
I've got absolutely no background in Apollo gear, so I've got equally no
idea what it is that I'm looking at!
Anyone care to offer any insights? And... anyone care to offer it a home???
(I'm just NOT sure I'm ready to branch down the Apollo line...)
---
Parallel but random thot... In loading this latest group of items into the
'Garage', and having recently crawled thru the warehouse trying to find
something...
I'm strongly thinking of staging an 'archeological dig' and equipment
redistribution following the CP/M User's Group swap meet here in a couple
of weeks... If there is sufficient interest!
And perhaps even a tour thru the 'Garage' for those with even more of an
'Indiana Jones' bent...
---
See? You have to real ALL of the messages or you might miss something
really interesting that is not in the title! B^}
-jim
---
jimw(a)computergarage.org
The Computer Garage - http://www.computergarage.org
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
On May 24, 23:39, Tony Duell wrote:
> The other 'nasty' is machines that will only take a limited number of
> hard disk types (geometries). Sometimes only 2 or 3 drives are supported,
> and you can bet that they'll either be almost impossible to find a drive
> with all parameters in excess of the ones needed, or it will actually
> verify that the drive has the specified geometry (e.g. checking that a '6
> head' drive doesn't work when heads >5 are selected).
Tell me about it :-(
> Getting the right
> spare drive for one of those can really drive you insane.
How do you think I got to be like this? :-)
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
<Several days? That's pretty quick.... I've spent months looking for
<working ST506-interfaced drives in the past....
You don't want to know how many ST506s, ST412s, St225s and D540s I have
around here doing not much. And they are all good!
<The other 'nasty' is machines that will only take a limited number of
<hard disk types (geometries). Sometimes only 2 or 3 drives are supported,
<and you can bet that they'll either be almost impossible to find a drive
<with all parameters in excess of the ones needed, or it will actually
<verify that the drive has the specified geometry (e.g. checking that a '6
<head' drive doesn't work when heads >5 are selected). Getting the right
<spare drive for one of those can really drive you insane.
And you have to know that little detail beforhand. Then there is the
matter of formatting as some can't (require the disk to be formatted else
where) and some require special software if they can.
Allison
<
<-tony
<
Hey, are these Apollos the ones with the *GIANT* SMD disk units?
The ones I saw were *HUGE* 9" CDC's that had been refurbed by
Seagate! They were mounted in a big tray (kinda like a SABRE,
but bigger), with a powersupply, and some controller electronix.
This whole mess was about a foot square, by maybe 2 feet deep.
DOes that sound like it?
On Mon, 24 May 1999 23:00:55 -0400 (EDT) "R. Stricklin (kjaeros)"
<red(a)bears.org> writes:
>On Mon, 24 May 1999, James Willing wrote:
>
>> Anyone care to offer any insights? And... anyone care to offer it a
>home???
>> (I'm just NOT sure I'm ready to branch down the Apollo line...)
>
>I can offer insights, if you prod me with specific questions. Or
>alternately adopt it if it comes to that.
>
>> And perhaps even a tour thru the 'Garage' for those with even more
>of an
>> 'Indiana Jones' bent...
>
>I could be interested depending on scheduling...
>
>ok
>r.
>
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
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>c) On a related machine (I seem to remember Vaxstation 2000s can format
>drives for at least one of the standard Q-bus controllers).
Yes, the VS2000 format (and RCT table) is compatible with the RQDX3. You
can do the formatting on the RQDX3 as well, with the right diagnostics.
Of course, there are also machines with floppy drive systems that cannot do
a low-level format. The most classic 8" floppy drive systems (specifically,
the IBM 3740) can't format floppies, for example. There are also 5.25"
floppy drive systems that can't format - for example, the RX50 on a DEC
Q-bus or Unibus controller. (On some Rainbows, it is possible to low-level
format RX50 media directly.)
--
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
Hi!
At the moment I’m rather an unhappy user of an old PS/2 laptop computer. Why
unhappy? I’m not able to boot it up, alltrough i tried everything, started
>from disassembling it to the smallest part to changing the 3,5” floppy disk
drive and so on. I would really appreciate any information or hint about
starting it up. O.k, these are the specs of the machine:
Machine: IBM PS/2 Model L40 SX
Proc.: i386DX @ 20 Mhz
RAM: 2 Mb on-board
(the two blue memory slots are still free)
HDD: 60 Mb (Conner, Model CP2067, no OS on it)
FDD: 3,5” 1.44 Mb
(Panasonic, Model JU-237A03W, P/N 72X6074) < !
The problem is that the FDD activity LED does not light up when the computer
is started, even when a disk is in the drive. Only the LCD symbol of the
3,5” disk drive on the computer panel goes on, but nothing happens. I never
had the chance to work on PS/2 computers and so I don’t know what to do now.
I’ve checked all connections and all cables. It seem like the FDD doesn’t
get any power input from the board, but i’m not sure. I think that the
problem is somewhere else. Later when the BIOS tries to boot up from the
hard disk, a message in Danish appears telling that the command interpreter
(COMMAND.COM) couldn’t be found … (The computer has a Danish BIOS on-board).
Please help me, I need help as soon as possible. Mail all hints and/or
advices to evilnet_genesis(a)yahoo.com or evilnet_genesis(a)hotmail.com. If
nobody can’t help me then please give me some links or adresses, where I can
find informations.
Thank you!
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Hi,
MARTIN_O'MURPHY(a)NON-HP-UNITEDKINGDOM-OM1.OM.HP.COM writes:
> One of our UK HP 3000 customers has a
> Series 70 that they no longer need/want.
>
>This system is available free to the first genuine
>respondent who is prepared to collect/transport
>it away.
>If no-one responds in a reasonable period, the
>70 meets Mr. Sledgehammer(TM) ;-)
The HP 3000/70 is a stack-based CISC machine that runs MPE. No, it can't
run any version of Linux or anything else. It's about 6' wide, 4'high, 2' deep.
It dates back to about 1983 or so.
BTW, I thought I had the TM on "Mr. Sledgehammer", see:
http://www.allegro.com/sportster.html
Stan
They are. Two are optional BASIC and the other is optional Assembler.
Joe
At 10:49 PM 5/24/99 -0700, you wrote:
>These 24 pin chips sound to me like ROM's.
>
>William R. Buckley
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net>
>To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
>Date: Monday, May 24, 1999 2:59 PM
>Subject: AIM 65 question
>
>
>>Hi,
>>
>> I picked up several AIM 65 computers. I've noticed that some of them
>>have two 24 Pin ICs in the lower right corner and some have five. Anyone
>>know what the difference is? Also some have only two of the 19 pin ICs in
>>the top right corner and other have eitht ICs there. What's the difference
>>there?
>>
>> Anyone know of a site where I can find out more about these and the
>>commands to operate them?
>>
>> Joe
>>
>
>
Hi Chuck and all
I've posted some pictures of the NCR core memory that I have
on http://ccii.dockside.co.za/~wrm/ccc/index.html. There's
also a picture of a PC network card (large thing with a Z80
on) that I'd like to identify.
Wouter
These 24 pin chips sound to me like ROM's.
William R. Buckley
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, May 24, 1999 2:59 PM
Subject: AIM 65 question
>Hi,
>
> I picked up several AIM 65 computers. I've noticed that some of them
>have two 24 Pin ICs in the lower right corner and some have five. Anyone
>know what the difference is? Also some have only two of the 19 pin ICs in
>the top right corner and other have eitht ICs there. What's the difference
>there?
>
> Anyone know of a site where I can find out more about these and the
>commands to operate them?
>
> Joe
>
Tim:
Thank you so much for this, and the earlier, message regarding
the RS11. I will look into my handbooks, though I must admit to
having only a few (like three) such manuals, and in them I have not
found descriptions of all the hardware that I have to date obtained.
William R. Buckley
-----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: Monday, May 24, 1999 6:06 AM
Subject: Re: Strange DEC heavyweight.
>>How big (storage capacity) might this device provide.
>
>512 kbytes for the RS03, 1024 kbytes for the RS04.
>
>>As for a picture, I shall look into providing same to the newsgroup.
>>I do not have a web page, so some other mechanism of image
>>distribution will be required.
>
>Doesn't everyone here have a mid-70's PDP11 Peripheral Handbook? They've
>all got a picture of the RS series drives (and RM, and RP, and RK, and
>RX, and ...)
>
>--
> 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
I believe _Some_ of the Tandy 1000's were like this. My TX originally had
some *unknown* brand HardCard with a MicroScience 3.5" MFM drive. The drive
always worked good (made a neat "chunking" noise instead of chirping), until
the spindle motor died (or something died). It wasn't frozen - it just
wouldn't go. It also had a "ready" and "access" light (red and green). I
ended up replacing it with a WD HardCard, which is about 50% slower than the
MicroScience.
Anyone have one of those old MicroScience drives that they want to get rid
of? My Tandy 1000 (no suffix) is yearning for its HardCard back :)
The model number of the drive was HH325.
ThAnX,
///--->>>
-Jason Willgruber
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
-----Original Message-----
From: Max Eskin <max82(a)surfree.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, May 24, 1999 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: Space, the next frontier
>On Mon, 24 May 1999, Allison J Parent wrote:
>>And you have to know that little detail beforhand. Then there is the
>>matter of formatting as some can't (require the disk to be formatted else
>>where) and some require special software if they can.
>
>Now, I've heard of this before, but I can't understand why anyone would
>want to do this. And, where is 'else where'?
>
>--Max Eskin (max82(a)surfree.com)
> http://scivault.hypermart.net: Ignorance is Impotence - Knowledge is
Power
>
>
I read somewhere that they work with the ST-506 interface, but certain
(newer) revisions won't work with the original 5MB ST-506.
I don't know why - I just know it won't work with the one that I have. I
think mine has a copyright date of 1989.
///--->>>
-Jason Willgruber
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
-----Original Message-----
From: Allison J Parent <allisonp(a)world.std.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, May 24, 1999 6:41 PM
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Space, the next frontier
><Talking about ST 506's, I have an old 5 MB one. It spins up, but I need
><controller for it. The only XT MFM controller I have is a WD XT-GEN, and
><they don't work with the 506's.
>
>???? they don't???? I thought they were commonly found with ST506s! At
>least that's the only one besides the ST412 (10mb) I've ever seen one with.
>
>Allison
>
>
From: Don Maslin <donm(a)cts.com>
To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
Subject: (fwd) Xerox 820 FS/T/donate
-- forwarded message --
Path: nusku.cts.com!mercury.cts.com!nntp.flash.net!newsfeed.berkeley.edu!news.cis.ohio-state.edu!malgudi.oar.net!cyclone.columbus.rr.com!cyclone.rdc-detw.rr.com!news.mw.mediaone.net!elnws02.ce.mediaone.net!24.131.129.73!rmnws01.ce.mediaone.net.POSTED!not-fr-mail
Message-ID: <37499BD0.19633D48(a)ce.mediaone.net>
From: Dan Lurey <dlurey(a)ce.mediaone.net>
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.6 [en]C-MOEATL (Win98; I)
X-Accept-Language: en
MIME-Version: 1.0
Newsgroups: comp.sys.xerox
Subject: Xerox 820 FS/T/donate
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Lines: 14
Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 13:34:56 -0500
NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.29.200.133
X-Trace: rmnws01.ce.mediaone.net 927571374 24.29.200.133 (Mon, 24 May 1999 13:42:54 CDT)
NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 13:42:54 CDT
Organization: MediaOne Express -=- Central Region
Xref: nusku.cts.com comp.sys.xerox:339
I'm tired of tripping over an old 820 w/ 2-8" FDD's & monitor. I also
have s/w, manuals, and a couple of main boards (one bare???).
Help me find a home for this! PLEASE!!!???
--
Dan Lurey
E-Mail: dlurey(a)mediaone.net
-----
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
-- end of forwarded message --
On May 24, 17:38, Max Eskin wrote:
> Subject: Re: Space, the next frontier
> On Mon, 24 May 1999, Pete Turnbull wrote:
> >Having just spent several days obtaining a suitable 20MB ST506-interface
> >hard drive, I completely concur with Tony. The 3.5" versions seem to be
> >particularly hard to come by around here.
>
> There have been 3.5" ST-506 interface hard drives?
Yes, Seagate made quite a lot of them at one time. So did Teac, NEC and
WD. The first 3.5" ones were Rodimes, though. The hard drive system
sitting on the BBC Micro beside me has one: it's a home-designed system
which has an Adaptec ACB4000 controller (which is SCSI, but
SASI-compatible), and a BBC 1MHz Bus to SASI adapter, and presently has an
NEC 40MB 3.5" drive in it. Originally it had one of the first 10MB 3.5"
Rodime RO352 drives (which is now in a modified DEC TK50Z box, pretending
to be an RD51). I still have the receipts somewhere; I think the drive
cost about ?400 in the mid-80s.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
Talking about ST 506's, I have an old 5 MB one. It spins up, but I need a
controller for it. The only XT MFM controller I have is a WD XT-GEN, and
they don't work with the 506's.
Anyone have a spare controller that they don't need? Preferably an old
IBM??
ThAnX,
///--->>>
-Jason Willgruber
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
-----Original Message-----
From: Dwight Elvey <elvey(a)hal.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, May 24, 1999 12:18 PM
Subject: Re[2]: Space, the next frontier
>ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote:
>> And it's getting
>> ever harder to get working ST506 drives.
>
>Hi
> The biggest trouble with these drives is that the head
>stepper has a limit arm right where fools can get at
>it. Wipe the arm back and forth once, with the disk
>stationary, and you've made a nice groove in the surface.
>The other thing is on the braking of the spindle. Some
>used a mechanical brake but others used dynamic braking.
>The ones with dynamic braking are real sensitive to
>having the heads drag backwards because of rotational
>inertia. Both of these are handling issues. It does
>help to alway park the heads on the far end before
>moving the machine that has one of these drives. When
>removing, one should also tape a piece of cardboard over
>the steppers end so you don't bump the sector limit arm
>and move the heads sideways. Some also have spindle locks
>but be real careful to watch the rotational direction.
>Turn the spindle the same way that it normally runs, only.
> The reason these two things cause so much trouble is that
>the back side of the heads have a real sharp edge. It tends
>to dig into the disk like a carpenters plane.
> If your old setup doesn't have a head park routine, I
>would highly recommend that you write one. I recommend
>that you always park the heads every time before you power
>off. I have several 506's that are still running and
>have many hours on them.
>Dwight
>
>
I've read that DEC granted unrestricted reproduction rights to their old
documentation. I'd like to confirm this before I announce to the world the
URL where a PDF version of the PDT 11/150 mini maintenance manual can be
found. Any information regarding this topic would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill
<> Could be Futura.
<
<I can't remember now for sure, but I think I tried Futura (well, it's one
<of the obvious ones, so I'm sure I did) and found Helvetica a better match
The closest is Helvetica Bold Oblique(with the height to width ratios
altered), however the actual font is a sans serif monospaced block font.
I used to know what the acceptable substitute was. However most of the
fonts and their names postdate the DIGITAL logo font. A little tuning of
the metioned font passes real well.
If you can write Postscript and understand postscript fontmetrics it's a
easy hack to make 100% real looking DEC keys.
Allison
<>And you have to know that little detail beforhand. Then there is the
<>matter of formatting as some can't (require the disk to be formatted else
<>where) and some require special software if they can.
<
<Now, I've heard of this before, but I can't understand why anyone would
<want to do this. And, where is 'else where'?
Simple, the disk is factory supplied with the correct base formatting.
For example the average PDP-11 user or MicroVAX user cannot format the MFM
hard disks used in some subsystem without special formatting software that
is part of a diagnostic package. Or the case of the DEC 8" floppies
most of the systems (RX01/02) cannot format them at all. This has occured
elsewhere in the industry over the years. There are two cases for doing
this, your locked into sole sourced media (TU58 for example) or for lack of
capability incorperated into the hardware. Some cases like a few of the
removeable platter packs, the servo information required for head
positioning is done as a seperate manufacturing operation and cannot
easily be put in the drive.
Allison
On May 24, 15:05, Cameron Kaiser wrote:
> Subject: Re: FONT NAME question
> ::It's not very close to Arial. It's almost exactly standard Helvetica
Bold.
>
> Could be Futura.
I can't remember now for sure, but I think I tried Futura (well, it's one
of the obvious ones, so I'm sure I did) and found Helvetica a better match.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
