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

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 10:31 PM 11/16/98 -0800, Sellam wrote: > >If you want, I can play dupe and start negotiating with them independent >from your negotiations. I'll throw a low-ball offer at them to make your >offer seem reasonable. If they're smart enough to toy with David, then they'll believe they've got something valuable because now *two* people are asking about it, and they'll play you against each other, or arbitrarily raise the price, or both. :-) Better yet, convince them that they should sell them on eBay. - John

27 years, 8 months

7
10
0 0

uPDP-11 is working now!

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>Anyway, next task is how to get past the user name and password problem. >There recently was a discussion here regarding breaking into an MVII >running VMS. (Watch for a future msg regarding my unsuccessful attempt at >running up my MVII this morning) > >Can anybody describe a way to do this under RSX-11M+ v3.0? Of course, there >*may* be something about this in my RSX-11M manuals but please suggest >about which volume! >I'm using this PeeCee as a terminal. The simple communications program I >use can capture all text sent from/to the uPDP. After I type-in the time >and date the remains of a rather long script is run and the '>' prompt is >all I get after the dust settles. No users are logged-in and I believe MCR >is the CLI running. If you're at the MCR prompt at this point, very likely you've got a [200,200] UIC. Switch to a priv'd UIC (i.e. SET /UIC=[1,1]), do a RUN $ACNT, and use the menu options to set the password for the SYSTEM account to whatever you want. See chapter 2 of the _System Management Guide_ for more details. -- 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

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

My MVII is not working

by emu＠ecubics.com

Hi Christian, ---------- > From: Christian Fandt <cfandt(a)netsync.net> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > Subject: Re: My MVII is not working > Date: Wednesday, November 18, 1998 10:28 AM > > Exactly how does MicroVMS v4.7 compare to VMS v5.4 of which I have most > manuals for? I have some 5.4 tapes here, if you really need them. (TK50) cheers, emanuel

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Newbie's got a dead 386

by geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au

-----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, 17 November 1998 14:45 Subject: Re: Newbie's got a dead 386 >Or, of course, 'Failed UniBus Address Register' :-) LOL. I'd forgotten about that, I read about it somewhere, and was amazed it got past the marketdroids at digital. I'm not sure if I own a Unibus system. Were 8530's Unibus and BI? >There's also SNAFU (Situation Normal, All Fouled Up). I've usually heard it expressed with a less polite f-word. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Systems Manager Saint Marks College Port Pirie South Australia. My ICQ# is 1970476 Ph. 61-411-623-978 (Mobile) 61-8-8633-0619 (Home) 61-8-8633-8834 (Work-Direct) 61-8-8633-0104 (Fax)

27 years, 8 months

3
3
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Newbie's got a dead 386

by geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au

-----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, 18 November 1998 14:02 Subject: Re: Newbie's got a dead 386 >> >Or, of course, 'Failed UniBus Address Register' :-) >Rumour has that the designers were getting back at the marketroids for >preventing the sign-extend mnemonic on the PDP11 being SEX.... I wouldn't be surprised.... >Yep, sure, but I tend to keep such words for when they're needed - like >when I've dropped a PDP11 on my foot, or an EHT supply has decided that >my fingertip makes a handy ground point ;-) For PDP11 read RA81, same story. I had steelcapped boots on which saved my toes from being crushed, nice bruise on the instep though. Have been bitten by eht in tv's a few times as well. Got caught between an antenna cable with a grounded shield and a "hot" chassis tv set once too. Effect is about half mains voltage. Bearing in mind that our mains is 240vac, it lights you up pretty well. footnote: My then boss had "borrowed" the isolation transformer it was plugged in to while I was working on it, without telling me. (!) I was very unimpressed and made some fairly strong remarks about his parenthood, sexual habits, intellectual capacity and the likely consequences of any similar occurrence in the future. Only sweetener was when I fell over (yes it was that big a hit) I pulled the set off the bench and busted the tube, so he had to buy the customer another one. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Systems Manager Saint Marks College Port Pirie South Australia. My ICQ# is 1970476 Ph. 61-411-623-978 (Mobile) 61-8-8633-0619 (Home) 61-8-8633-8834 (Work-Direct) 61-8-8633-0104 (Fax)

27 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

uPDP-11 is working now!

by cfandt＠netsync.net

Has any of the DEC folks here had time to think about the questions I had regarding my posting per the subject line above? There were a couple of important ones regarding RSX-11M+ and the Syquest drive plus others. Should I post it again? I'd like to keep moving on this project. Thanks, Chris -- -- Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net Member of Antique Wireless Association URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Fwd: Blank Tapes and Disks

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

If y'all need 5.25" disks or Syquest Carts... >From: tmedia(a)ix.netcom.com > >--------------------------------------------------------------- > LIQUIDATION MAILING LIST NOTICE >--------------------------------------------------------------- > >WE ARE LOOKING TO CLOSEOUT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FROM OUR INVENTORY! > >Total Media Specials & Closeouts As of 11/17/98 > >Item Asking Price Qty Available >Computer >Maxell MF2-D 2S/DD Not Formatted 3.5" $0.05 50000 >Maxell MD2-HD 2S/HD Not Formatted 5.25" $0.05 65000 >Maxell MD2-HD 2S/HD Formatted 5.25" $0.05 32000 >Maxell DC2120XL 1/4" Data Cartridge $7.50 450 >Maxell RC-88 Syquest $10.00 100 > >Terms & Conditions of Sale > >Volume Purchasers Only!!! >All products are new and in stock! >All subject to current availability. When sold >out of above, current pricing prevails. >All manufacturers' warranties apply. >Total Media will refund/replace if not completely >satisfied within 30 days of purchase. >All reasonable offers considered. > >*Call Jerry at 1-800-848-4118 Fax 201 489-7322 >*Email Tmedia(a)ix.netcom.com www.TM-Tape.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

My MVII is not working

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< Well, the negative things folks have said about RD53's are definitely tr < It would not spinup properly. Seemed to have a speed control problem as Classic RD53 spin down disease. the problem is the head positioner is stuck (literally!) to a rubber bumper. The fix, open the HDA, put power to it and when the platters spin up and the head lock unlocks give the head a push to the outer edge of the platter. If it makes noises and does a seek th the outer track your up and you can put the cover back on. The problem will occur avain when powered down. Seems there is a rubber bumper in the voice coil positioner that gets gooey and the head sticks. I have two I've had to remove that bumper from (not for the timid). < 2.. <more than a minute wait here> < ?54 RETRY Of course the boot device is not up so the boot fails. < The inside of the TK50 is rather dusty and dirty. I plan to take it out < get as much dust and junk out of it as possible before I put in a tape ( < got the DEC MVII Diagnostic tape, MicroVMS 4.2 and a DECUS tape with a < bunch of utilities :) ). How critical is it to have a very clean drive? < Seems the opening on the front of the drive with no tape inserted allow < too much junk to wander into it. vacuum it out! FYI: check the fans, that box should have all of them going(ba23 two on the side, ba123 three on the bottom.). < Anybody have an RD54 or equivalent they're willing to sell me? RD54 is a MAXTOR 2190 series that should help as they were used in other stuff. Allison

27 years, 8 months

2
1
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rd54s

by dburrows＠netpath.net

Depending on the SCSI board. Most of them you can boot from. Dan >Here's a question. I know there used to be SCSI boards for microvax IIs, >can you boot from those? If so, wouldn't it be better in the long run to >go SCSI, so you can just go out and buy a new disk instead of dealing with >10-20 year old failure prone disks? I guess that brings up a question that's >been slowly growing to me. > >Is it more important to keep a classic running, or to keep it original? If for >example I get my hands on a VAX 8350, is it preferable to keep the big old >disks that go with it, even though I KNOW they are way over MTBF already >(not to mention the space and power requirements) or to get ahold of the scsi >card for it and put a pair of half-gig SCSI disks from a surplus house in a >SCSI box and run the machine from those? > >I know there's no "right" answer, but I'm curious what folk think. >-- >Jim Strickland >jim(a)DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com >----------------------------------------------------------------------- >Vote Meadocrat! Bill and Opus in 2000 - Who ELSE is there? >----------------------------------------------------------------------- >

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

rd54s

by dburrows＠netpath.net

I agree on the prices but I find that over 50% of the RD53's I get in are bad and about 20% of the RD54's are bad. I get calls several times a week from dealers looking for RD5X drives. Just as soon as ther are formatted, RSX bad and a full disk copy/ verify is run on them I have them sold. The rediculous thing is none of the dealers try to upgrade their customers to SCSI. I have upgraded virtually all of my end users. I offer them the choice ofSCSI and ESDI (I have a lot of ESDI's avail.) and they always go SCSI even though it is over 5 times the cost. ( End user - commercial) Dan >>< Well, I found a place that supposedly is still selling RD54s, plus a ton >>< other stuff for old DEC machines. (they want $200 for an RD54). >> >>they are out of their minds! that price would have been considered >>too high 5 years ago. >> >>RD54 is a MFM drive, MAXTOR 2190 series. No majik. >> >>Allison > >I dunno, $150-200 seems to be the norm with the dealers. What gets me is I >just checked the page out, and they want $250 for a RD53!!! Personally I'm >happier now that I'm running on ESDI drives, as I've been able to find >several spares cheap. > >I'm still depressed that I missed saving a case of brand new RD54's from >being recycled by my local recycler, I missed them by about two days :^( > > Zane >| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | >| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.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.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ | >

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Radio Shack TV Scoreboard

by dogas＠leading.net

-----Original Message----- >I've got Model No. 60-3056. It takes six C cells to run. So that means >that this baby should run off of a 9 volt power supply. > >What should the tip polarity be? I better not get my trusty VOM out and >check that would be too simple. I know what I'll do. I let all the guys >on CLASSICCMP argue about it! Heh...Heh... Why should I do all the work? Ok... hitting the book again: 60-3056. This model is similar to 60-3051 and 60-3054. Refer to section covering 60-3051 to understand the operation of the circutry. Power Supply This model uses the same type used in the 60-3054 except that the zener diode CR1 has been changed from 10% to 5% 60-3054: Power Supply A zener diode is used without the help of a series-pass transistor 60-3051 cannot find tip side polarity though...( or even part # ) for adaptor interesting note from board schematic: The AC Adaptor supplied with the TV game is special type. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE ANY OTHER ADAPTOR WITH THIS GAME. It provides 9 volts DC at 225mA... Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

Microfiche Reader/Copier

by jpl15＠netcom.com

Peripherally on-topic... The Company for whom I solve the Equation: (1) Time[mine] = Money[theirs] is consolidating and cleaning up our mess of a warehouse. I have already rescued a bunch of HP 3000-series and a uVax II.. I have got some mid-80s IBM mini stuff coming, and a neat Voice Mailbox system.. more info when I get it home. Existing (and slated for the Evil Dumpster) is one, maybe two, Canon microfiche reader-printer thingys.... any interest among us on the List? They are kinda big (tabletop size), condition unk, been sitting in the warehouse for ten years probably, but the price will be 'You ship it, it's yours'. I know some of you have extensive fiche docs... Speak up rather soon (this or next week) and I'll get more info and poke into them further.. can also take/e-mail pics.... Let me know. Cheers John

27 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

rd54s

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< Here's a question. I know there used to be SCSI boards for microvax IIs < can you boot from those? If so, wouldn't it be better in the long run t Most of them, yes. I'm using a CMD board and it boots just fine. There is a disk size limit for the boot disk on some machines if its over 1gig. The problem is SCSI cards are not cheap even used. < I know there's no "right" answer, but I'm curious what folk think. To me a Microvax with a SCSI card is not an abomination. This would be especially true if you used a RZ55 or 56! Now if you put a SCSI on a 780, that would be a hack. However, it would allow the use of the CPU with a less power hungry disk. Allison

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

rd54s

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< Well, I found a place that supposedly is still selling RD54s, plus a ton < other stuff for old DEC machines. (they want $200 for an RD54). they are out of their minds! that price would have been considered too high 5 years ago. RD54 is a MFM drive, MAXTOR 2190 series. No majik. Allison

27 years, 8 months

4
3
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Teac fd problem, uPD77C25 data sheet/book & 30-pin SIMMs

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< The NEC uPD77C25 is some kind of DSP chip. I'm trying to find a data she < data book for this. No luck on searching the NEC web site. Does anyone k < where I can get this? < Likely you can't. It is a single chip 16 bit fixed point DSP DSP with ROM code and the code is specified by the engineer that designed the product it's in. The part is available as mask rom, OTP eprom and UVeprom. A data sheet will help ypu understand the part but will tell you little of it's programming in for whatever product it was in. Allison

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Outlandish mainframe rescues wanted

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>I don't remember the exact order of events any more as to which came first, >but I think the first thing that happened was that UW Protection and >Security, as they were then named, did manage to notice us, and a woman >officer questioned us. We explained the arrangement, and she took down our >identities, but, somewhat understandably, wanted further proof of the >arrangement. Heh. When I was at Caltech, the director of my lab gave the security folk strict orders that I was not allowed to bring any of my junk *into* the lab on weekends :-). Tim.

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

Radio Shack TV Scoreboard

by dogas＠leading.net

From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)ncal.verio.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Radio Shack TV Scoreboard >I just picked one up recently and you're in luck: it has an internal power >supply, so all you do is connect a two-prong electrical cord to it. Hi Sam, you must have the 3055 or 3056 model... I've now got service guides on these and other models. - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 8 months

2
1
0 0

My MVII is not working

by cfandt＠netsync.net

Hey MVII gurus! Along with working on my uPDP this morning I tried to get the MVII running. Well, the negative things folks have said about RD53's are definitely true. It would not spinup properly. Seemed to have a speed control problem as I could hear the drive electronics alternately whine and be quiet in rather frequent, constant intervals even after some lengthy period of time. It's shot I guess. Let's go through what transpires after either power turn-on or hitting 'Restart' as I wrote it down from the screen: KA630-A.V1.3 Performing normal system tests 7..6..etc. <this section passes okay> Tests completed Loading system software. 2.. <more than a minute wait here> ?54 RETRY 2.. <another wait> ?54 RETRY ad infinitum or at least untils the cows come home . . . <I turn off power here and give up> So, what we learned here is that the KA630 ROM is version 1.3 and the failure error is 54. What exactly does '54' mean (I have no tech manuals or anything for this machine to help here)? The inside of the TK50 is rather dusty and dirty. I plan to take it out and get as much dust and junk out of it as possible before I put in a tape (I got the DEC MVII Diagnostic tape, MicroVMS 4.2 and a DECUS tape with a bunch of utilities :) ). How critical is it to have a very clean drive? Seems the opening on the front of the drive with no tape inserted allows too much junk to wander into it. Anybody have an RD54 or equivalent they're willing to sell me? Thanks for your help again, Chris -- -- Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net Member of Antique Wireless Association URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/

27 years, 8 months

4
3
0 0

Teac fd problem, uPD77C25 data sheet/book & 30-pin SIMMs

by mark_k＠iname.com

Hi, Several things in this message. A 3.5" HD floppy drive in my old PC, Teac model FD-235HF, is showing a fault which I hope is easily fixable. Here are the details: - Normally when you insert a floppy disk, the drive motor spins until the spindle engages with the rectangular hole in the metal hub of the disk. - This does not happen with the faulty drive. Well very occasionally it does, so I guess the problem may be intermittent. Since the spindle is not engaged, trying to read a file or get a dir listing fails -- the motor does not turn at all when I try to do this. - If I manually turn the drive flywheel(?) slightly after inserting a disk, the motor does kick in and spins to engage the hub of the floppy disk. It's then possible to access the disk as normal. - The fault is definitely with the drive and not the computer's floppy controller (verified by swapping with a different FD-235HF drive). Any ideas? The NEC uPD77C25 is some kind of DSP chip. I'm trying to find a data sheet or data book for this. No luck on searching the NEC web site. Does anyone know where I can get this? If anyone (preferably in the UK) has some old 30-pin 1MB or 4MB SIMMs that they no longer need, please contact me since I could do with at least 2MB worth. I'm also looking for a 16MHz 387SX chip. Bye, -- Mark

27 years, 8 months

2
1
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Posted tonight

by DaveyGF＠aol.com

Could you detail how the issues of the Altair notes are sequenced? How many volumes? what years? how many issues per volume? When did they start? When did they stop? Thanks, David p.s. even if you don't have them all, if you know the answers to the above questions that would be good enough.

27 years, 8 months

1
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Posted tonight

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Posted tonight to my Web site: - 3/77 issue of Altair Computer Notes (parts 1 and 2) [ Rich Cini/WUGNET [ ClubWin!/CW7 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/ <================ reply separator =================>

27 years, 8 months

1
0
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Source for anti-stat pink foam?

by rcini＠email.msn.com

On Mon, 16 Nov 1998 22:52:31 -0800 (PST), Sam Ismail <dastar(a)ncal.verio.com> wrote: > What is a recommend source for inexpensive pink antistatic foam rolls or > bags? I've looked in several industrial supply catalogs, like Consolidated > Packaging, but want to see if there is a better price out there. >>How about Dumpster Behind An Electronics Manufacturing Plant, Inc.? Look >>around your area for computer stores, electronics firms, etc. Usually >>they have a lot of anti-static bags and stuff that they've thrown away. You know, with all of the collecting that I have done, I have never gone dumpster diving. I guess that I'm afraid of my embarassment if I get cought. You know, if someone thought that I was an industrial spy or something. Who's going to believe that I was just looking for pink foam! [ Rich Cini/WUGNET [ ClubWin!/CW7 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/ <================ reply separator =================>

27 years, 8 months

4
3
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Outlandish mainframe rescues wanted

by kip＠nanospace.com

Er.... I'm freelancing for a US magazine that wants a story (provisionally called "Rusty Iron") about mainframe collecting and mainframe rescues. Naturally the deadline's Friday 11/20. I know there have to be some outlandish stories here and would greatly appreciate seeing them, either here or in mail, with an eye to arrangement for publication. tia, __________________________________________ Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org http://www.chac.org/index.html Computer History Association of California

27 years, 8 months

2
1
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rd54s

by jim＠calico.litterbox.com

Well, I found a place that supposedly is still selling RD54s, plus a ton of other stuff for old DEC machines. (they want $200 for an RD54). see http://www.agoraco.com/cgi-bin/dbshow.cgi -- Jim Strickland jim(a)DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Vote Meadocrat! Bill and Opus in 2000 - Who ELSE is there? -----------------------------------------------------------------------

27 years, 8 months

1
0
0 0

MAC/ Apple //c compatibility questions

by bpvh＠primenet.com

"Jason Willgruber" <roblwill(a)usaor.net> wrote: >I'm also looking for either the 3.5" floppy for the //c, or a >5.25" floppy for the Mac (the 3.5 for the //c would be better). >The drives don't necessarily have to Apple brand, as long as >they'll work.

27 years, 8 months

1
0
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A new (???) info source available

by dogas＠leading.net

From: Cameron Kaiser <ckaiser(a)oa.ptloma.edu> >Does it have any mention of the Commodore TV Game series? No, Cameron, it dosen't. Sorry... - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 8 months

1
0
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Aquarius Data Recorders Again

by cswiger＠wilma.widomaker.com

Sam Ismail[SMTP:dastar@ncal.verio.com] writes: >On Tue, 17 Nov 1998, John Foust wrote: >> Better yet, convince them that they should sell them on eBay. >Hey, yeah. Then we can all get 5 for a buck a piece. Rare! 480 data recorders, dutch auction. It just occured to me (duh) why epay is a sellers market, it's because it's a sellers market. I mean, people get into bidding wars. OBVIOUS but I just noticed *TWO* Dec. 1977 Byte mag's (Star Trek Cover) for sale - now if I can just get those two sellers into a price *cutting* war.... ;) Chuck cswiger(a)widomaker.com

27 years, 8 months

1
0
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uPDP-11 is working now!

by cfandt＠netsync.net

Hey gang, I just got my MicroPDP-11/73 running this morning! It works quite well it seems. 'RSX-11M-PLUS v3.0 BL24D 512.KW SYSTEM:"GOOFY "' is the introductory line. Regarding documentation: I have a full set of RSX-11M (non-Plus) manuals for version 4.2 plus a small Pocket Reference for RSX-11M (non-Plus) ver. 3.1. How close is the RSX-11M-non-Plus 4.2 manuals to RSX-11M+ ver 3.0? I have absolutely no hardware docs though :(, so I have to depend upon Sunsite, etc. and you folks. Anyway, next task is how to get past the user name and password problem. There recently was a discussion here regarding breaking into an MVII running VMS. (Watch for a future msg regarding my unsuccessful attempt at running up my MVII this morning) Can anybody describe a way to do this under RSX-11M+ v3.0? Of course, there *may* be something about this in my RSX-11M manuals but please suggest about which volume! It will take some time for me to get used to where stuff is in that 'Orange Wall'. VMS and RT-11 are also OSes I will likely get into and I have most of a 'Grey Wall' for VMS 5.4 and all of RT-11 4.2. And I need to get back into the IBM 9370 'Wall' sometime too. Sheesh, wish I had a photographic verbal memory or even something close! I'm using this PeeCee as a terminal. The simple communications program I use can capture all text sent from/to the uPDP. After I type-in the time and date the remains of a rather long script is run and the '>' prompt is all I get after the dust settles. No users are logged-in and I believe MCR is the CLI running. If anybody wants I can email an attached text file of the text lines displayed while the machine is starting up and running the script. This should show all the script contents as they're run. I shouldn't post it here unless a big bunch of folks want to see it. Perhaps I could be enlightened as to what all is going on while those 80-90 or so lines are scrolling up the screen. It has an earlier model processor module: KDJ11-AB (M8192-YB). So I don't have the fancy bootROM the newer models have as mentioned in the Micronotes Tim Shoppa pointed us to a day or two ago. Therefore, it is stone quiet until RSX is started from the disk. Had me wondering if this machine was dead until I found the correct one of the eight terminal ports and the right baudrate :) It has a Syquest cartridge drive. I know absolutely nothing about Syquest except what I've recently seen here (they're now a dead company somebody said.) The drive is a model SQ 312RD. Anybody fill me in on the specs, etc? Carts available??? Any other tape/cartridge drive available I should replace this with? I have an Emulex TC02 controller in this box, no tape drive at all though. Don't even know if the Emulex board works as there's no cartridge to try the Syquest with. Is there a Pertec-formatted tape drive which can hang off the Emulex which is half-height, 5.25" form (to replace the Syquest)? Software drivers?? I have no other way to back the system up at this time (floppies are probably out of the question because of quantity needed and huge PITA-factor) Yes, as I mentioned some months ago, I would be asking 'newbie' questions about some of this load of DEC gear I got. So here I go . . . more questions to come on this and other stuff as I get time. . . Thanks much, Chris -- -- Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net Member of Antique Wireless Association URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/

27 years, 8 months

1
0
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modern removable media drives

by mark_k＠iname.com

On Sun, 15 Nov 1998 Chuck McManis wrote: >My understanding of MO drives was the the servo tracks were optical (and >thus very dense and accurate) but the data tracks were still magnetic with >a conventional read/write/erase head. No. The old "floptical" drives (made by Insite?) were I believe like that. Of course this method doesn't have any greater data integrity than a floppy disk. (What follows is really an oversimplification.) Magneto-optical drives use, as the name suggests, both magnetic and optical effects to read and write data. A layer within the media contains magnetically sensitive elements. When this layer is heated to its "Curie point", about 200 degrees C, the polarity of the magnetic elements can be changed by an external magnetic field from the drive head. To write data, the laser heats up the target areas of the disk, and the magnetic field is applied to record all 0s. On the next revolution of the disk, the magnetic field is changed, and the laser heats up only those areas which are to have 1s recorded. This magnetic field does not have to be localised, so there is no magnetic head in contact with the disk surface. Because the written polarity is "frozen into" the disk, MO disks are not susceptible to magnetic fields as magnetic media are. To read data from the disk, the laser is used at a low power. Depending on the magnetic polarity, the polarity of the laser light reflected from the disk is rotated a few degrees either way. This rotation is called the Kerr effect. The drive detects this, and thus determines whether a 0 or 1 was read. "LIMDOW" media uses a slightly different method, which enables writes to occur with no erase pass. On Sun, 15 Nov 1998 Stephen Dauphin wrote: >I'm not sure if the magnetic head in an MO bears any relation to the >heads of other magnetic media drives. The reason for this thought is the I don't think it does; the magnet is not used for reading, and its purpose is to generate a magnetic field whose polarity only changes at a per-disk- revolution scale, not a per-bit-written scale. >each tiny heated spot is extremely small. It also doesn't have to be >particualrly well targeted so I would think the head can be large, coarse >and not particularly close to the platter. That's right. >I also gather it is not a fluctuating magnetism but simply a single >direction attraction or repulsion. You need the two states, one to zero >the section of disk and the other to write the bits that will be ones. True. Even for LIMDOW media (which allows for improved write speed since no erase pass is needed) the magnetic field polarity is constant over the whole revolution. >partition and initialize just like hard disks using hard disk formatting >software. Or maybe they really don't do the format part. I notice, after >pulling the shutter back, that the platter has small radial marks, >seemingly corresponding to sectors. The disks also come with a fixed >number of bytes per sector. Anybody know? You can format them, both high level and low level providing you use the appropriate software. If you have a Fujitsu drive, check their web site as driver s/w and OEM manuals are available there. There is also free Mac MO driver s/w at the Pinnacle Micro web site. A low-level format allows you to tell the drive to rescan the disk surface and map out any bad blocks using a sector slipping algorithm. This is normally done at the factory. However, a very old disk may have more blocks mapped out over time due to dust. After cleaning the disk, you could reformat it to be able to access these blocks again. (Not that this really matters, e.g. a 640MB disk has over 2000 spare blocks, so bad blocks don't actually reduce the amount of data you can store -- but blocks found bad during use cannot be remapped by sector slipping, so access to these is slower.) MO disks have a fixed sector size; that's what the radial marks are for. For 3.5" disks this is either 512 bytes (for 128MB, 230MB and 540MB disks) or 2048 bytes (for 640MB disks). Unlike some hard disks, it is not possible to change the sector size by doing a low-level format. The data "density" of 540MB and 640MB disks is the same, the difference in capacity being due to the different sector sizes. The same goes for 2.3GB vs 2.6GB 5.25" disks etc. Another good thing about MO is that it is backwards-compatible, e.g. on my 640MB drive I can read and write 128MB, 230MB and 540MB disks. >I guess they are cleanable. The disk seems to be made of a polcarbonate >plastic. A manual cleaning doesn't look too easy as you would have to Fujitsu and other manufacturers make cleaning kits for both drive and disks. The disk cleaning kit holds the shutter back, and you turn a knob to revolve the disc inside while wiping with a cloth. I recently bought a dual-purpose MD/MO disk cleaning kit; cost was about the equivalent of US$5. For the drive itself, you just put a special disk in the drive and after about 10 seconds the drive spits it out. >They are a little slow but faster than a diskette. Best read throughput I >get is about 500Kb per second and when writing, the pace is about half 640MB drives are significantly faster than that, and modern units have a 2MB cache which can speed up reads and writes significantly. Some 5.25" drives have 4MB cache. Data transfer rate for the current generation of 640MB 3.5" drives with 540/640MB disks is 2.8-4.7MB/s, random seek time 28ms. You'll achieve near that for reading. Writing may be 1/3 of this unless you use LIMDOW media and/or disable the automatic write-verify feature. >that. One thing I do like is the lack of noise. Except for the fan, mine >are dead silent and I have been contemplating whether I can eliminate >that. Anybody know how hot would be too hot for the drive and disk? Proper cooling is a good idea for MO drives, though you could always try disabling the fan. The drive should shut itself down if the temperature gets too high -- indeed you can interrogate the drive to determine what the problem is; see the OEM manuals. Operating drive temp should be between 5 - 45 degrees C. -- Mark

27 years, 8 months

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860 (fwd)

by bskiver＠cac.washington.edu

This was sent to the list owners rather than the list itself. Original sender was Xerox860(a)aol.com . -- Rebekah Skiver Client Services bskiver(a)cac.washington.edu Computing & Communications 206-543-8121 Box 355670, University of Washington ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Xerox860(a)aol.com Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 21:59:40 EST To: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Mime-Version: 1.0 Subject: 860 Hi. I am patent atty, and have 7 working 860's. There were two types, one with a thick cable to the printer, and the printer was a HY-TYPE II, not a 630. A newer version used a small cable, DB 25 collector on the rear of the printer, and the cable could be disconnected easily. This is a Diablo 630 Pl. If you have the earlier version with the HY-TYPE II printer, I suggest that you do your computing with the printer disconnected, as it seems as if a design problem causes the l2 volt board to go. We have ordered a number of replacement boards for our machines, and if the printer is not connected, the supply stays put properly, and you can create, backup, initialize, and do what ever else you wish. XEROX does not help on this unit. Most of the employees don't even know what an 860 is. I do not have a good fix for this supply problem, aside from pulling the plug on the printer, which is, of course, a terrible idea. The problem does not exist with the later versions using the thin cable to the 630 Diablo printer. Indicentally, a good reference on printers is available from The Printer Works, out in California. E mail me if you wish, because the address is at my office. I have a few spare operator manuals which I can send, if you are interested. The machine is a fantastic piece of technology. Kind regards. Ken Lehmann. 5 Kent Rd., Easton, CT tel. 203.372.7695.

27 years, 8 months

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Newbie's got a dead 386

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< or just plain STUFFED. (not an acronym, AFAIK):^) Situation Terminal Under F***'n Field Exhibit and Display I used to work for DEC and anyone that was there may remember the book of DEC standard acronyms... it was more than a few pages! Allison

27 years, 8 months

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Question about VAXen?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< So there might be some small chance, depending on WHAT VGA monitor you w < use, and whether you're willing to risk its life and health. < -- Like I said, unlikely...not impossible. Also like someone else pointed out that model may not even have a video console. ;) Allison

27 years, 8 months

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A new (???) info source available

by dogas＠leading.net

I found a cool book last weekend: How to Repair Video Games by Robert Goodman 1978. So, technical answers can possibly be divined on: Radio Shack TV Scoreboard Games Magnavoc Odyssey Studio II General Instruments game chips Texas Instruments game chips National Semiconductor Video Game System Atari PONG Midway Home Pinball Games - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 8 months

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Question about VAXen?

by geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au

-----Original Message----- From: Huw Davies <H.Davies(a)latrobe.edu.au> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Tuesday, 17 November 1998 17:36 Subject: Re: Question about VAXen? >Sitting in a room not too far from my ofice is about $3million worth of VMS >gear so I guess I'm still a VMS person. Sounds like it......:^) >... (Of course, in the store room, there are more VAX systems that are far >more interesting than the ones in the computer room, in that I own them :-) Perhaps a working museum is in order? Thought has crossed my mind here, if the interest my 6220 gets from my Intenet Cafe customers are anything to go by. Cheers Geoff Geoff Roberts Computer Systems Manager Saint Marks College Port Pirie South Australia. My ICQ# is 1970476 Ph. 61-411-623-978 (Mobile) 61-8-8633-0619 (Home) 61-8-8633-8834 (Work-Direct) 61-8-8633-0104 (Fax)

27 years, 8 months

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Radio Shack TV Scoreboard

by dogas＠leading.net

From: oajones <oajones(a)bright.net> >Does anyone have any information on the Radio Shack TV Scoreboard? I >need to know what kind of power supply it uses. Thanks... > model 60-3051 & 60-3052: 9v 110mA model 60-3054: not quite sure... model 60-3055 & 60-3056: 120v ac, 9v and 15v outputs model 60-3057: 9v dc 140mA Regards - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 8 months

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Posted last night

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Hello, all: Here's what was posted last night (all CSG data sheets): - 23128, 6500/1, 6508, 6509, 6510, 6526, 6532, 6551, 6582, 650x Family (CSG) [ Rich Cini/WUGNET [ ClubWin!/CW7 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/ <================ reply separator =================>

27 years, 8 months

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Aquarius Data Recorders Again

by dlw＠trailingedge.com

I finally received a response to my offer on the Aquarius Data Recorders. For those who don't remember, they have 3 pallets worth with 240 on each pallet. At first they accepted my offer on one pallet's worth but now they say they can't do it unless I buy two pallets of them. Somehow I feel it would be hard enough for me to move 240 of them much less 480. I'll keep you up to date on the deal. ----- David Williams - Computer Packrat dlw(a)trailingedge.com http://www.trailingedge.com

27 years, 8 months

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Question about VAXen?

by tech99＠mindspring.com

I found a VAX 3100 Model 40 for $40... It comes with 16MB memory and 2 100 MB Hard drives (the owner isn't sure about this) No monitor or mouse... I think I could figure alot out, since I am used to Unix from my use of Linux and I program a mainframe by profession...I know VMS is different, but I plan to get a hobbyist license. Ok...my question is...is this a good deal? What about the monitor,...all I have is SVGA monitors...can I just hook up a terminal or a serial cable to the PC and run via a terminal? Can the OS be installed this way? Is there an adapter so I can use a VGA monitor? What about CD player...got a Sanyo SCSI, and alot of IDE...can I install via this? Sorry for all the questions, but I was hoping someone would be familiar with VAXen... Thanks, Bill

27 years, 8 months

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Question about VAXen?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< It comes with 16MB memory and 2 100 MB Hard drives (the owner isn't sur < about this) < No monitor or mouse... Not bad. < I think I could figure alot out, since I am used to Unix from my use of < Linux and I program a mainframe by profession...I know VMS is different < but I plan to get a hobbyist license. VMS at the command level is like dos, more sophisticated though. < monitor,...all I have is SVGA monitors...can I just hook up a terminal < or a serial cable to the PC and run via a terminal? Yes, many do. < Can the OS be installed this way? Is there an adapter so I can use a < VGA monitor? VGA is unlikely. Also if a console crt is used you need a LK201 or 401 (DEC) keyboard and ther eis a cable to go with it. Yes, VMS installs via terminal. < What about CD player...got a Sanyo SCSI, and alot of IDE...can I instal < via this? IDE is useless but the SANYO SCSI may work. Try it and see. < Sorry for all the questions, but I was hoping someone would be familiar < with VAXen... There are a few of us. ;) I happen to have 3 VS3100/m10E, 3100/M76, two MivroVAXIIs and three VS2000s... I like vaxen and VMS. Allison

27 years, 8 months

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Document archive

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Hello, all: I made this offer to Hans Pufal, but I may as well open it up to all. If people on this list have any classic-related technical documents, like the MCS-4 manual, but are unable to post them because they don't have a web site, let me know off-list. Depending on the quantity/size of the docs, I may be able to accomodate them on my site. Also, I'm going to start posting the Altair Computer Notes this week. [ Rich Cini/WUGNET [ ClubWin!/CW7 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/ <================ reply separator =================>

27 years, 8 months

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Please ID

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I have two things that I hope someone can identify. One is an item in a 10-year-old office furniture catalog. It's the desk being advertised, but the computer is of interest. Could be a prop, but I doubt it. THe rest of the computers in the catalog are mostly XTs. The pictures are: www.geocities.com/researchtriangle/facility/2840/bell1.tiff www.geocities.com/researchtriangle/facility/2840/bell2.tiff If people can't read TIFF, I'll convert them to JPEG. The other thing is an Apple II card. It has a big red switch on the back, and has 8 sockets. It's labelled Apple ROM card, and has ROMs with numbers: 341-0016-00 3410001-00 3410002-00 3410003-00 C48037 They're all in a row, several sockets are empty. Anyone know what this card does? ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

27 years, 8 months

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iMac AddOn (was: Future Collectibles)

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Even if we ignore that the plain G3 systems would likely have been enough? I heard that Apple sold out of their new G3s even before the iMac came out. All of the detail to which you refer will be forgotten in 15 years. By historic, I mean of the magnitude of the original macintosh, or the PC XT, or Apple II, or Altair, or C64, and others. These truly changed the face of computing, unlike the iMac. > >> Of course, since the iMac has little historical significance, I doubt it > >Say what?! Jobs leaves Apple, Apple dies, Jobs rides his white horse back >to Apple, saves Apple with the iMac. What do you want, a big red sign >that says "COLLECT ME, I'M HISTORIC"? > >-- Doug > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

27 years, 8 months

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test message

by Xerox860＠aol.com

Hi. Test to see if mail goes thru. Lehmann.

27 years, 8 months

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Newbie's got a dead 386

by dburrows＠netpath.net

>Minor locational variations, in Oz it tends to be NFG (No F***ing Good) or >NBG (No Bloody Good) or just FUBAR (F***ed Up....... >a) Beyond Any Repair >b) Beyond All Recognition >c) By A Recruit >d) By A Repairman >e) By ARmy (of RAAF comms gear that was returned u/s after > being reluctantly "loaned" to the Army) > >and numerous other variations......:^) >or just plain STUFFED. (not an acronym, AFAIK):^) At 1 federal lab I used to work at we had an HP terminal that had 1 bad key switch so I stole the coma from the keypad and moved it to where it was needed. I then made a nice label for the bad coma key with NFG on it. The person in charge of the section said he would send anyone that asked what that meant to me. I was there for another 2 years and nobody asked either of us. Dan

27 years, 8 months

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Source for anti-stat pink foam?

by dburrows＠netpath.net

Your local scrap electronics dealer. They pull everything out and throw away the bags and foam. They are very happy to give it to you - It saves on what goes into the dumpster that goes to the landfill. They have to pay for everything that goes to the landfill. I have scrapper trained to save all of it for me. Sometimes he even gets in boxes of brand new bags and foam. :) For DEC Unibus and Qbus boards I use the BA11 expansion boxes and fill them up. I fit 5 BA11's in a rack and can still see quickly what I have and don't have to use my limited supply of bags until I have to final test and ship the board. For other items I have thought about using RL02/RA8X slide rails and making boxes lined with foam to hold them in the rack. Anything to help keeping things easy to find and protected. Dan Burrows > What is a recommend source for inexpensive pink antistatic foam rolls or >bags? I've looked in several industrial supply catalogs, like Consolidated >Packaging, but want to see if there is a better price out there. > > I've got so many boards...and so little time! > >[ Rich Cini/WUGNET >[ ClubWin!/CW7 >[ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking >[ Collector of "classic" computers >[ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ >[ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/ ><================ reply separator =================> > > > >

27 years, 8 months

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Posted tonight

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Hello, all: Posted tonight to the CCL site: - ComputerNotes issue 1/77, parts 1 and 2 [ Rich Cini/WUGNET [ ClubWin!/CW7 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/ <================ reply separator =================>

27 years, 8 months

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3270 emulation cards

by rhblake＠bigfoot.com

Anyone out there still use 3270 systems? I have a ton of microchannel 3270 A and B cards that I really need to unload on someone, maybe for a minor trade of some of their excess bits and pieces. They're really getting in my way. I have a bunch of varied token ring cards too but they seem to be doing fair on eBay at $2 each. Amazing to see an expensive Thomas Conrad card go for a lousy $2 or less, still just as usable as they were years ago but they don't do diddly when the former workstation PC becomes someone's home machine.

27 years, 8 months

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Source for anti-stat pink foam?

by rcini＠email.msn.com

What is a recommend source for inexpensive pink antistatic foam rolls or bags? I've looked in several industrial supply catalogs, like Consolidated Packaging, but want to see if there is a better price out there. I've got so many boards...and so little time! [ Rich Cini/WUGNET [ ClubWin!/CW7 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/ <================ reply separator =================>

27 years, 8 months

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Newbie's got a dead 386

by netcafe＠pirie.mtx.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Russ Blakeman <rhblake(a)bigfoot.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Tuesday, 17 November 1998 9:05 Subject: Re: Newbie's got a dead 386 >I used it all the time in the AF, when we had a bad unit we'd mark it FNG, >otherwise known as F***ing No Good. Minor locational variations, in Oz it tends to be NFG (No F***ing Good) or NBG (No Bloody Good) or just FUBAR (F***ed Up....... a) Beyond Any Repair b) Beyond All Recognition c) By A Recruit d) By A Repairman e) By ARmy (of RAAF comms gear that was returned u/s after being reluctantly "loaned" to the Army) and numerous other variations......:^) or just plain STUFFED. (not an acronym, AFAIK):^) >> CNTL-ALT-ESC and CNTL-ALT-F10 are two popular non-DEL bits. You can't >> do those at power-up. Boot from a floppy and start whacking keys at the >> DOS prompt. Have noted CTRL-ALT-S on some machines. Cheers Geoff Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au

27 years, 8 months

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Favorite Head Crash (was Re: modern removable media drives)

by franke＠sbs.de

> About the middle of the row of racks a red fault light flickered, then came > on brightly. The drawer of the middle disk moved out by itself and when the > top opened a greyish black cloud came out, paused for a moment over the > drive, and then was whisked away by the air conditioning. Wooha - it opend automaticly ? Dangerous. The first thing I learned on head crash was: Stop the unit Unplug power Unplug Interface Roll the unit out of the computer room At best out of the house Now have fun with the damaged parts :) At all this steps (but the last), especialy when a delay ocures, guard the top with your life. We once had a 144 MB unit crashing on saturday morning and running (the check logic was damaged) until monday morning (no operators). The heads have been scraped completly, and the crashed disk was just pure alu - no magnetic surface left ... The fun thing was that parts of the disk stack had been readable until sunday night ... We couldn't belive the transaction protocolls :) > "I believe that pack has crossed over to the other side." said the SP in a > complete dead pan protestant minister delivery. :))))) Gruss hans -- Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut HRK

27 years, 8 months

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