"Doug Coward" <dcoward(a)pressstart.com> wrote:
> I would like hear from anyone that has done any archiving of their
>classic computer documents and manuals.
I agree with Aaron Finney's suggestions about using B/W "line art"
mode when possible, and the advantages of a 600 dpi laser printer
as opposed to 300 dpi. Also tinker with the JPEG compression settings,
you may be surprised how much space that will save, and how little
it will affect the images. Reload the saved images to examine the loss.
Yesterday I noticed that the latest version of an image thumbnailing
utility, ThumbsPlus, can save HTML versions of the thumbnailed
pages. This may be a very good way to organize your images for
the CD: it would make an HTML page, viewable in any browser, that
showed all the thumbnail versions of the images, and you could
click on any one to enlarge it.
See <http://www.tardis.ed.ac.uk/~itda/frames.html> where
two fellows have laboriously scanned, OCRed and converted to
Adobe Acrobat PDF files several documents including the Shugart
SA-800 floppy service manuals and several Terak docs. An 18-page
service manual with three-four pages of images is 262K.
I plan to archive the ASR-33 service manuals and other Terak docs.
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
<> I'm curious to know how people deal with old data found on systems
<> they rescue/restore. The question was put in my mind recently by
<> my acquisition of a MicroVAX 3800, with three intact disks overflowing
<> with data that had apparently never been erased.
This is something I've dealt with many times.
Generally I try to preserve any software and delete data. Right now to
give an idea, I aquired over 60 boxes of 8" disks with both. I will not
go into the several hundred 5" disks and handful hard disks.
I treat it as simply this, if I read it and it's not software I forget it.
I have other things to do mostly.
Allison
> I'm currently using a UMAX 300P that claims a maximum 24 bit color
> resolution of 300x600 dpi. I'm scanning into Photoshop4 and saving
> in JPEG format. I'm trying to save as much information as I can, so
> pages that have any color besides black and white, I'm scanning
> at 299 (that's the max for color) dpi in RGB and and everything else in
> 299 dpi grayscale. I'm averaging, for 8.5 x 11 pages, about 5.3 Mb
> for color and 2.1 Mb for grayscale. Just last weekend I burned
> my first CD of docs consisting of 26 color pages and 170 B/W
> pages for a total of 454 Mb.( I didn't fill the CD bcause I was anxious
> to try printing the files at work.)
> I printed two of the highest detailed B/W pages (schematics) today
> at 400 dpi. The results were disappointing. All of the fine details were
> lost. I assume I need to use a higher resolution for printing. I also have
> quite a bit of background clutter on the printed page. I'm having no
> problems seeing the smallest details when I magnify the pages in
> Photoshop.
There's not much point in printing at a higher resolution than the scan.
I'm not familiar with the Umax 300P. Is that 300x600 intrinsic resolution, or
interpolated? You almost certainly want any interpolation or dithering turned
off, because it will de-sharpen the image.
There's also not much point in using grayscale unless you're scanning photos;
if the text is B/W, scan in B/W. It saves a lot of memory/filespace, and has a
better chance of losing the background clutter. That's why photographers copy
documents with very high contrast "line" film, which basically comes out black
and white with no shades in between.
You'll probably want to retouch the images to get best results (obliterate any
remaining clutter, and/or fill in any missing pixels), and you may need to
adjust the scanner's contrast or intensity setting(s) to get best results. The
optimum settings will probably vary slightly between documents.
Also, don't use JPEG compression, unless you're only compressing by relatively
small amounts. JPEG is a lossy compression system; the compressed-and-then-
expanded image is not the same as the original; detail *is* lost. GIF or TIFF
is better.
All this is a bit general, but is based on my own experience. Once upon a time
I was a photographer (for a printing business) and I use a small desk scanner
myself, for faxes and assorted images. More often than not, I end up either
retouching the images, or rescanning with different settings, and quite often
pass them through image enhancement software afterwards.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
Hi Daniel,
sorry for the last one, copied the wrong filename.
the right is:
ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/academic/computer-science/history/pdp-11/hardware/
dhv11.config
cheers,
emanuel
----------
> From: Daniel A. Seagraves <DSEAGRAV(a)toad.xkl.com>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: ANyone have DHV11 docs?
> Date: Monday, March 30, 1998 4:36 PM
>
> Anyone have docs for the DHV11? Does it emulate a DH11?
> (It's the Q-bus 8-line MUX)
> I'd like to figure out how to tell mine what to do...
> -------
Hi Daniel ...
have a look at:
ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/academic/computer-science/history/pdp-11/hardware/
DLVJ1.info
cheers,
emanuel
----------
> From: Daniel A. Seagraves <DSEAGRAV(a)toad.xkl.com>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: ANyone have DHV11 docs?
> Date: Monday, March 30, 1998 4:36 PM
>
> Anyone have docs for the DHV11? Does it emulate a DH11?
> (It's the Q-bus 8-line MUX)
> I'd like to figure out how to tell mine what to do...
> -------
I've added a new page to my Weird Computing Machines site. The page shows
my two S100 machines. I invite you to visit, as these really are quite
fascinating computers - especially the first!!
http://www.comcen.com.au/~adavie/weird/
Please select "S100 bus" on the menu to view them.
Lots of software and documentation came with these machines - its a bit of a
dilemma... I'd love to get it all running again, but have neither time nor
space. They are destined to spend their time "looking pretty" for some time
to come.
Enjoy!
Cheers
A
Hi guys. I dropped off the list a few weeks back, too much for me to keep
up with I guess, what with subscribing to three red hat linux lists. (avg.
300 messages a day total)
Anyway, I've got three Digital VAXStation 3100's up for grabs at
www.haggle.com and thought you might be interested. I also have one HP
68030 workstation if anyone is interested.
http://www.haggle.com/cgi/getitem.cgi?id=201560664http://www.haggle.com/cgi/getitem.cgi?id=201560663http://www.haggle.com/cgi/getitem.cgi?id=201560662
Bidding started at a penny, auctions end April 4th, only have one bid on
one of them. I think they'll go cheap. Check the descriptions at the URLs
for details.
On Mar 30, 17:58, Seth J. Morabito wrote:
> Subject: Old Data
> I have a moral and ethical question to throw open for debate. No,
> I'm not looking for flames, just informed opinions.
I'm not sure how "informed" my opinion is but you're welcome to it anyway.
> I'm curious to know how people deal with old data found on systems
> they rescue/restore. The question was put in my mind recently by
> my acquisition of a MicroVAX 3800, with three intact disks overflowing
> with data that had apparently never been erased.
In Britain (and the rest of Europe) the Data Protection Act is supposed to
cover anything that could be considered "personal data", ie relating to a
person or persons, and data that can identify a person is particularly
protected.
Nonetheless, leaks occur.
> If it had been user data, personal mail, and so forth, I would have
> simply deleted it, no questions asked.
I'd do the same; in fact, I have done.
> But unfortunately, it's _not_ that simple.
[snip]
> I've since simply re-initialized the drives: My thinking was, "This
> data is not mine, I have no right to keep it. It may be sensitive,
> even though I don't understand it.
A few years ago, I was given a big Fujitsu SMD drive and controller. I only
really wanted the drive, so I hooked it up to a different controller (different
format). I was very surprised to find it was not only readable, but full of a
certain very well known insurance company's head office records, including a
lot of stuff that I'm sure was commercially sensitive. I just reformatted the
drive.
I've since had exactly the situation you describe with three RZ23s. One had
VMS, the other two had an assortment of what looked like someone's office
files. I wanted two for a unix box, so I reformatted them fairly promptly
without even bothering to see what the files really were. I kept the VMS one
for a while in case it was useful, but when I finally got my MicroVax, it had
all the drive space I needed, so eventually the last one got wiped too.
I've had this happen so often that I've almost given up looking to see what's
on drives; it's hardly ever useful or interesting. I used to keep useful
software, but I wouldn't read personal files. Somehow theft (copyrighted
software) doesn't seem quite as morally objectionable as peeping.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
On Mar 30, 16:25, Daniel A. Seagraves wrote:
> Subject: RE: ANyone have DHV11 docs?
> [DHV11]
> No, I awnt CSRs and programming info. It's in a PDP-11, and I'm playing
> with code outside of an O/S: (Read: depositing things in RAM and
> playing with things that way. No OS involved)
I've got the DHV11 manual somewhere in this huge pile of ring binders on the
floor... If you have any specific questions I can look them up, but I seem to
remember it's fairly similar to a DH11.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
The modem tester has been claimed. Thanks to anyone that maight have
been interested.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com
Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ # 1714857
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
--------------------------------------------------------------------
hello have been trying to find out about this piece of hardware for some
time and eventually tracked this site
i have in my posssession a virtually new ft60 and have some of the software
but no board --- as an ex service engineer that is now blind I cant bear to
throw it away someone talk to me and its theirs for the postage
david yerbury
I have two core memory boards that I took out of an 11/34 back around 1982 or so, worked when took them out, don't have driver board, lost that. Will trade for coco-3 or IDE drive (working) around 540mb or so. (haha)
Paul T. Barton
paulb(a)nuvision3d.com
Doug Spence <ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca> wrote:
>> I'll bet a doughnut there are at least two Sidecar sites on the net,
>> given the known rabidity of Amiga enthusiasts.
>
>Very possible, though I've so far not found them. There seems to be some
>product for the named "SideCar" though, because Alta Vista keeps coughing
>up links to articles on it.
Hmm. Guess that means I might owe you a doughnut. Did you try posting
questions to the Amigoid newsgroups? I'll check my basement archives, too.
>I wish I had ordered something from IAM when they had their "boing logo"
>promotion, but I had recently purchased DiskSalv at a computer show, and
>already had the "Deathbed Vigil" video and T-shirt, and I wasn't
>interested in any of their other products at the time. It would've been
>nice to get the logos, though. (They were scoured from the garages of
>various ex-Commodore engineers.)
I attended the first "Amiga wake" party when Amiga Corp. closed in
Los Gatos. They had one of those "black box" wirewrap Amigas there.
I will continue to deny that I had anything to do with
the rescue of the Amiga sign from the lawn of the old office. :-)
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
Holy Cow... I guess the repair price this fellow got quoted was truly
astronomical!
Anyway... if you've got a VAXen of the type he's looking for, and you
want to get a good price for it and have it go to a good home to boot (pun
intended, of course), get in touch with the original author of the message
attached here...
-=-=- <snip> -=-=-
From: michaXrostock(a)t-online.de (Dr. Michael Storck)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: Looking for ...
Date: 29 Mar 1998 18:11:59 GMT
Organization: T-Online
Lines: 13
Message-ID: <6fm2tf$su6$1(a)news00.btx.dtag.de>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Sender: 0381685071-0001(a)t-online.de
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.03 [de] (Win95; I)
Path:
blushng.jps.net!news.eli.net!uunet!in3.uu.net!nntprelay.mathworks.com!ptdnetP!newsgate.ptd.net!newsfeed00.btx.dtag.de!news.btx.dtag.de!not-for-mail
Hi from Rostock, Germany
My old DecStation 5000 / 200 got hardware -problems.
Having it repaired is rather expensive with digital in germany.
As I still have data on two rz 55 / rz 56 disks I am looking for a
DecStation 5000 / 240 or 5000 / 260 system 2ndhand,
with a sytem 2 user license of ultrix 4.3 or 4.4
I would need only the system box (with hard disk built in ) as my
Dec (well rather Sony) 19" monitor is still well and alive ...
Shipping from US / CAN via UPS or DHL ...
Willing to pay about $ 500 (depending on type of sys and size of hard
disk)
Mike Storck
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, SysOp,
The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fido 1:343/272)
kyrrin {at} j<p>s d[o]t n=e=t
"...No matter how hard we may wish otherwise, our science can only describe
an object, event, or living creature, in our own human terms. It cannot possibly
define any of them!..."
I recently got a "Baby Blue CPU Plus" card by Microlog Inc. It's a CP/M
Card for PC's, and has a 4.77mhz Z80B with 64K RAM (available to DOS too).
Also "accepts several popular CP/M 5.25-in soft-sectored disk formats".
It's a full-length 8-bit ISA card, and has no docs or software, but the
original box has the installation info (including limited dip-switch
settings) printed on the back.
Anyway, anyone have a manual or software I could get a copy of? Thanks in
advance!
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Mar 22, 7:16, Doug Spence wrote:
> Subject: Re: Kaypro: 81-149C vs. 81-232
>
> Well, I've repeated what I did the other night. I plugged the Kaypro II
> into the Kaypro 2's drives, and vice versa. Just the ribbon cable, not
> the power. Whichever machine was plugged into the Kaypro II's drives was
> able to boot, the machine plugged into the 2's drives just sits there with
> the bootup message and eventually beeps and says "I cannot read your disk"
> (or similar).
I don't know much about Kaypros, but is it possible that one of the sets of
drives is 40-track and the other is 80-track? Or that one set is single-sided
and the other is double-sided? When you start up the machine and it tries to
boot, does a light come on, on the disk drive (which would indicate that the
drive is being accessed)?
> Anyway, the only other thing I could try is to make drive B in the 2 think
> that it's drive A, to see if I can boot from there. Does anyone know how
> these drives decide which one's A and which one is B? And can I switch
> their identities without removing the drives from the metal housing? I
> don't have the proper screwdriver to remove the drives.
Usually there's a set of jumpers, or sometimes a small DIL switch pack, which
select one of four disk addresses. They may be labelled DS0, DS1, DS2, DS3 or
perhaps D1, D2, D3, D4. D0=A and D1=B. You just need to switch the jumper
settings. Even if they're not labeled, you should find that all but one of the
jumpers (the drive select jumper) in one drive match the jumpers in the other
drive (of the ame pair).
If you open up the drive case and tell us what the make and model number of the
actual drive mechanism is, someone can probably tell you the jumper settings
and whether the drive is 40/80 or SS/DS.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
I had these posted in late February and had to "cold shoulder" a few
people since there were some people that said they definitely wanted
them. Those same people have not contacted me in some time and I'm
posting these again as I need to get them out of my way soon or they
will get new homes in the landfill....
Have three older terminals, condition unknown but in good physical
shape.
Digital VT100, no keyboard
Digital VT220, no keyboard
Visual 102 with keyboard
I'm going to ask $5 for each plus shipping to more or less cover the
time involved in packing and running these to the shipper, but otherwise
they're here and awaiting some interested foster home to contact me
about them. Neither weighs a lot but due to the glass crt they aren't
featherwight either.
I also have for $10 each plus shipping three Hewlett Packard 700/44
terminals in great physical and electrical shape. They emulate quite a
few different things and come with like new keyboards as well and have
both a current loop and a 25 pin serial connection in the back.
If the people that said they wanted them are still reading the posts in
this area and still want them they need to contact me immediately. I'm
sure the Digitals are wanted irregardless of condition for parts or
collectability. The HP's are great dumb terminals for those of you
running minis and mainframes that otherwise have no human interface and
possibly even for automated data aquisition and test racks.
If I don't get a firm response by the middle of April (say tax deadline)
they go away for good. It's too much of a problem to have them in much
needed space here to mess with them. Those interested should let me know
what they want and their zip code to calculate shipping, either by UPS
or USPS. I can only take a money order or cashier's check for the amount
due and shipping, in advance of shipping.
COntact me directly. I'm in the process of finishing my new shop and
these are a definite nuisance to have to walk around since I personally
have no use for them
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com
Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ # 1714857
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Here us a URL that can provide you with MANY pinouts:
The Hardware Book:
http://www.blackdown.org/~hwb/hwb.html
--
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (300-2400bd) (209) 754-1363
Visit my Commodore 8-Bit web page at:
http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/commodore.html
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Got this off the Web site this morning, it's an interesting question. Reply
to poster with a copy, please.
>name=guy brutel
>addr=brutel(a)wxs.nl
>I am looking for a program that reads /writes on a
DOS-PC the 5 1/4 diskettes of my old Osborne 1.
Where to find such conversion programmes? Program sources that could be
adapted?
>Thanks!
TIA,
__________________________________________
Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org
http://www.chac.org/index.html
Computer History Association of California
Rerun of what I posted earlier. I really need to find a home for this!
Sanders and Associates 101 Modem Tester
Smaller sized benchtop case (11x4x10 approx that sits on handle) with 25
pin sub-d male and female connectors (RS-232??) as well as individual
test points for each signal on back. Nixie 3 digit error display, over
run/count gate/sync lost lamps, test pattern/test length switch,
BPS/sync/self test switch, 1 error 10(3) bits button and start button on
the front. The unit was made by Sanders & Associates Inc, Digital Comm
Dept, Nashua, New Hamster. It appears to be of middle/late 80's vintage
and is probably a worthwhile instrument yet for telecomm or network use.
I can just imaine what something like this went for new.
Asking $35 plus shipping (10 lbs maybe) for the unit. I'd really like to
find someone that can use this as I've been considering pulling the guts
and using the case for a homebuilt freq. counter, which I really don't
want to do.
Contact me by direct email if interested as soon as possible.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com
Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ # 1714857
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Televideo TS 803 plus, $10/OBO, Used
GIVEAWAY: Mint condition "Televideo" (old CPM system,
like Kaypros) from 1983. More than a word
processor--many functions. Reliable workhorse, beautiful
ergonomic design, never sick one day. Complete original
manuals, Wordstar disk & manual, other system disks, and
compatible Fortis printer in excellent condition. Worth much
more than price--$10.
For sale by private party
Los Angeles, California - L.A. Area 91030
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/
Doug Spence <ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca> wrote:
[8,349,320 lines of Sidecar wondering deleted]
I'll bet a doughnut there are at least two Sidecar sites on the net,
given the known rabidity of Amiga enthusiasts. I'll also bet that
by posting on the relevant Amiga news groups, you'll be in e-mail
contact with an engineer who worked on it. I've got most of the
Amiga dev con notes in the basement, along with some rare Janus
programming docs and disks, but I'm not sure they'd be relevant
to your ROM version.
A year or so ago, I saw a very interesting Amiga collection go up
for auction: a pristine, still-in-the-unopened-boxes Amiga 1000,
complete with RAM sidecar, parallel-port hard disk, etc. It was
something left over from Commodore that someone rescued in the
last days.
I'm still hoarding my collection of never-shipped aluminium "boing"
logos that fit in the little square on the corner of the A1000. :-)
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
Hello, all:
I received today a Diamond Computer Systems Trackstar e
pple ][ emulator board for my PC. Does anyone have any instructions for this
thing??
Thanks again.
Rich Cini/WUGNET
<nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use)
ClubWin! Charter Member (6)
MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking
============================================
At 02:34 PM 3/28/98 -0600, you wrote:
>The M15 works
>great and has a prototype sticker on it (S/N 00075) - I know this model
>made it into production, but I can't find much info on it. Does anybody
>have a production date and numbers for it? Circa 1985 is my guess.
Olivetti
M15 (donated by Monique Pellaton)
Microprocessor - Intel i80C88
Memory - 512 Kb RAM
Video (Text) - 80/25 or 40/25 chars
Video (Graphics) - 640/200 dots
Disk drives - 2 x 3 1/2" 720 Kb
Bill Yakowenko <yakowenk(a)cs.unc.edu> wrote:
>>From very nearly the first day I bumped into a computer, I've
>>been finding sporadic references to MIKBUG, an early monitor
>>ROM for 6800 machines. For instance, most of the older 6800
>>monitor ROMs (SWTBUG, SMARTBUG, others?) claim preserve MIKBUG
>>entry points. And a lot of the programs in Motorola's ancient
>>6800 freeware archive refer to it. (That archive can be found
>>at this URL: http://www.mcu.motsps.com/freeweb/pub/usergroup)
>>But I've never seen one, or any any real documentation for
>>one. Can anybody out there help me find any of this stuff?
>>Of course I'd be happiest to find a binary image, source code,
>>and whatever docs originally came with it. But I'll take
>>whatever I can get. As it is now, the best I can do is to
>>extract some of its defined entry points from definitions
>>in those freeware programs.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Bill.
allisonp(a)world.std.com (Allison J Parent) wrote:
>Same here. I have a M6800D1 and MIKBUG but no source listing. The
>function is a very simple program loader/debugger. What was interesting
>is the code was written so that routines like TTYin, TTYout, PRINTCHR
>and PRINTnum could be called from external programs. Saving some coding
>effort.
>Allison
The first computer I built was a 6800 SS50 bus machine. Of course I wanted
to maintain compatiblity with MIKBUG. So I requested from Motorola their
Engineering Note 100 titled:
MCM6830L7 MIKBUG/MINIBUG ROM
And the good news is that I still have the Engineering Note.
The first 10 pages describes a little hardware, address decoding and address
spaces used. The next 8 pages is a full assembly source listing for MIKBUG.
The next 4 pages is the listing for MINIBUG.
MIKBUG occupied 512 bytes starting at address E000,
it used 128 bytes of ram starting at A000 for scratchpad and the stack,
and a PIA at address 8000 for serial interface to a terminal.
I rewrote the code to move the I/O bus from 8000 to F400,
and the ram from A000 to F000. With the original addressing scheme there was
only room for 32K on contigous memory, AND WHO WOULD EVER NEED MORE THAN 32K
:)
I recoded so that I could have 48K of ram and 12K of Eprom.
I also recoded it to use a parallel keyboard interface and to drive a Percom
video board. Terminals were not cheap then.
I later obtained a hex dump listing of a disassembler. Given the custom of
always using the standard MIKBUG entry points, I was able to figure enough
about the disassembler to have it disassemble itself and later to
disassemble an assembler. Given that info I rewrote both the disassembler
and the assembler and then later assembled a disk operating system from a
source listing published by some company that had one copy of the book left
when I called and ordered it. The DOS was called CP/68, not to be confused
with CPM/68, although CP/68 appears to have had its roots in CPM.
And now here it is years later and I don't even know how many computers
I've got, but I always look back at the time and effort that I put into
that first machine. I sometimes feel I put more into it than I got back
in terms of doing some productive, but then again what I learned from
that has proved worthwhile time and time again. I know that there are
those on this list that are barely out of their teens, and quite frankly
I wonder sometimes what their fascination is for these old machines. Then
again what they will learn from resurrecting some old beast will be worth
a lot more than what they learn in some course somewhere. The graduates
>from the 'school of hard knocks' always seem to be better.
Enough of my ramblings. I looked around the above mentioned web site and
did not find Eng Note 100. I would suspect that it may be out there
somewhere.
If not, and you're unable to get a copy from Motorola, I may be willing to
copy
the Eng Note and send it out. I just hope I am not deluged with requests.
Mike Thompson
Does anyone know where I can find a picture and/or specifications on
Ithaca Intersystems products? Specifically, a circa 1980
microcomputer? I've searched the web a lot, and have come up empty.
-Bill Richman
bill_r(a)inetnebr.com
http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r
(Home of the COSMAC Elf Simulator!)
For them in the Bay area, I want to reiterate that HMR USA is worth a
visit. And good news -- They're going to be open on Saturdays. They're
going to be open M-Th for businesses only, and Friday and Saturday for
individuals. They've got a new web site as well: <http://www.hmrusa.com/>
(with no hyphen.)
Anyway, I was there, and picked up:
AST PenExec (aka GRiD 2260/2270) *
Zenith ZFL-181-93 *
Toshiba T1100Plus
Toshiba T3100e/40
Toshiba T5200/100 (2)
Toshiba T5200
NEC MultiSpeed
NEC MultiSpeed EL
NEC MultiSpeed HD
Tandy 1400LT *
Halikan LA5040 *
IBM PS/2 L40SX *
Epson Equity LT
Generic "Portable PCIII" Lunchbox
Generic (different) "Portable 286" Lunchbox
Those marked with a * are ones I need info on the power supply
requirements, especially the PenExec, which uses the same kind of connector
as a Mac Serial cable, the IBM L40SX, and the Halikan which has a male
5-pin DIN connector.
Also, one of the front hinges/supports on the PenExec is broken. Do y'all
think it's okay to just super-glue or epoxy it?
Thanks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/
If anyone can help this fellow out, please reply directly. Besides
looking for a VAXStation or similar, he also has some MVII boards
available.
-=-=- <snip> -=-=-
From: mrbill(a)texas.net (Bill Bradford)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: WTB: Older VAXstation or entry-level Alpha
Reply-To: mrbill(a)texas.net
Message-Id: <slrn6hn10n.78t.mrbill(a)staff2.texas.net>
X-Newsreader: slrn (0.9.4.3 UNIX)
Lines: 29
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 10:48:55 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: 207.207.0.39
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Path:
blushng.jps.net!nntp.snfc21.pbi.net!news.pbi.net!howland.erols.net!feed2.news.erols.com!erols!nntp.giganews.com!news.giganews.com.POSTED!not-for-mail
If you've got an old VAX system (VAXstation, etc) sitting around in
your closet, I'm interested - I want to get a VMS box up and running
here at home. Alternatively, I'm looking for an AXPpci33 motherboard
and CPU to run AlphaLinux on.
I was given a MicroVAX II about a year ago, but the system arrived in
beat-up-and-unusable condition without drives. I ended up giving the
chassis away, after stripping out all the cards, adapters, and various
serial ports, etc. I still have all of that stuff in a box if anyone
is interested. In fact, I'll give them free to anyone in the Austin
or San Antonio area if you want to come pick them up.
I can be reached at mrbill(a)texas.net.
Bill
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, SysOp,
The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fido 1:343/272)
kyrrin {at} j<p>s d[o]t n=e=t
"...No matter how hard we may wish otherwise, our science can only describe
an object, event, or living creature, in our own human terms. It cannot possibly
define any of them!..."
In a message dated 98-03-28 09:24:11 EST, you write:
<< > <1) Does this really work? I thought you couldn't over clock a true AT?
> < (This particular motherboard is a "256/512 K System Board" with
> < piggy-backed RAM chips. It has lots of "ECOs" on the pin side of
> < the board. I don't know if my other one does, too. Note: ECO =
> < Engineering Change Order.) >>
its my understanding that the original AT bios dated ~1984 would work ok if
the machine was overclocked. later versions of the AT bios were fixed so
overclocking will give you a post failure for your efforts. of course, my type
1 AT had an aftermarket bios so i didnt have that problem, and i could also
specify custom drive types.
david
<Obviously this is meant to over clock the 286, with the rotary switch
<allowing increasing the clock frequency until the 286 fails.
Overclocking another retrorevionistpc idea.
No most likely it allowed you to buy the fastest 286 and clock it at it's
native speed.
<1) Does this really work? I thought you couldn't over clock a true AT?
< (This particular motherboard is a "256/512 K System Board" with
< piggy-backed RAM chips. It has lots of "ECOs" on the pin side of
< the board. I don't know if my other one does, too. Note: ECO =
< Engineering Change Order.)
The AT might go a little faster, at some point the DRAM timing goes flakey
and otehr things start to get cranky.
That's especially true of the ISA cards!
<2) Would increasing the 286-6 to a 286-8,10,12 increase the frequency
< at which it could reliably run? I have a PGA 286-8, but I'm not
< sure there are faster PGA 286s?
There are it went all the way to 12 or 16mhz. I have a LCC version thats
12 and the PS/2m50s I have are 10mhz.
<3) Any software needed? (The ROMs appear to be the same as on my other
< machine.)
None but the rams may get unhappy of pushed to fast (data takes time to
get out).
Allison
> I received today a Diamond Computer Systems Trackstar e
>Apple ][ emulator board for my PC. Does anyone have any instructions for
this
>thing??
>
Yes. I email them to you separately.
-- Kirk
I found an IBM PC/AT (for spare parts for another recently acquired one)
with a small card placed in between one power supply lead to the
motherboard. It also has a lead clipped to the motherboard, presumably
to insert modified clock frequency to the 286.
On the board it says "Megahertz Corp (c) 1986 286-2 REV 4". The board
bolts to the back of the chassis and has one button (reset) and two
switches (6MHz-Turbo and rotary 8-9-10-11-12).
Obviously this is meant to over clock the 286, with the rotary switch
allowing increasing the clock frequency until the 286 fails.
So, this suggests these questions:
1) Does this really work? I thought you couldn't over clock a true AT?
(This particular motherboard is a "256/512 K System Board" with
piggy-backed RAM chips. It has lots of "ECOs" on the pin side of
the board. I don't know if my other one does, too. Note: ECO =
Engineering Change Order.)
2) Would increasing the 286-6 to a 286-8,10,12 increase the frequency
at which it could reliably run? I have a PGA 286-8, but I'm not
sure there are faster PGA 286s?
3) Any software needed? (The ROMs appear to be the same as on my other
machine.)
Thanks for any information anyone can shed on this.
Dave
Thought someone in the group might be interested. As usual, if you
are discovered, I will deny any knowledge of your existence.
>We have an OLD Data General One Laptop from 1983!!!!
>
>We would like to sell it!
>It works well, has a modem, and an HP Think Jet Printer!
>
>No reasonable offer will be refused!
>
>-------
>PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS:
>Send all inquires to: mldat(a)the-pentagon.com
>
>Thank you!
>
-Bill Richman
bill_r(a)inetnebr.com
http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r
(Home of the COSMAC Elf Simulator!)
Although directed at Tim or Allison (as the two other DEC-savvy folk on
here), this one's wide open. I got the attached E-mail from a visitor to my
web site. Unfortunately, I'm not that familiar with the hardware he's
gotten hold of.
Can someone else get in touch with him and give him a nudge in the right
direction? Thanks!
-=-=- <snip> -=-=-
>From: MHarvey863 <MHarvey863(a)aol.com>
>Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 22:32:25 EST
>To: kyrrin(a)jps.net
>Subject: Please help me
>X-Mailer: AOL 3.0.i for Windows sub 161
>X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by dry.jps.net id
TAA11206
>
>Hi there.
>
>I need to beg for help. My department at university has just offloaded its
>junk on me & I've got half a dozen VAXstation 2000's, a VAXServer 3550 and a
>MicroVAX 3500. Your's is the only site that gives refernce to any of these
and
>Digital wanted to charge me ?100 before they'ed even give me the time of
day.
>
>Can you help me with any VAX info or machine info. I believe they all work,
>but the only compatible monitor I had blew up just before I aquired them.
I've
>got the odd three-way cable to connect the mouse, keyboard & monitor and I
>would ideally like to restore the client/server setup that they were in
before
>they were junked.
>
>Thanks very much
>
>Matt Harvey
>
>
>
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272)
(Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin(a)jps.net)
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own
human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
> > Your guesses seem correct about the function of the
> connectors, but I'm
> > not so sure about the mapping of the 26-pin connector --
> they seem like
> > they might be reversed from what I would expect. Here are
> a few I buzzed:
The 1488 and 1489 are level shifters (+/-12Vdc to/from +5Vdc) for an
RS-232 interface. This is consistent with an RS-232 port. Remember,
the 26 pin connector will be wired to match whatever serial cable came
with the board, they aren't all the same.
Jack
The other day I picked up a Commodore 128D. [Along with a Timex
Sinclaire 1000 with some sort of module hanging off of it that I'm not
sure about, Also a Commodore 1541 Floppy all for $25 at a Pawn Shop)
Anyhow, I plugged in the C128 and I get only a black screen. I checked
the fuses and notice one had been blown. I replaced it and still only
had a black screen and a newly blown fuse. I'm going to do some checks
on the power supply to see if I can fix the fuse blowing and hopefully
the black screen.
I also have picked up an Atari 520ST with the external floppy drive - no
power supplies or cables. My thinking is that I can always build those
if I need to. What all of this is leading to is - Does anyone know of
any good resources for pinouts, schematics, etc on the old PC's? Also,
does the black screen on the C128D ring any bells for anyone?
Thanks!
Mike
So what's new?
-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel A. Seagraves <DSEAGRAV(a)toad.xkl.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Friday, March 27, 1998 2:25 PM
Subject: More Proof that Intel is Backwards.
>God, I hate Intel...
>Playing with PDP-11 assembly. Did x86 assemble before.
>
>X86 move: MOV Destination,Soure
>Everything else move: MOV Source, Destination
>
>Just spent 20 minutes trying to find out why "MOV SP,#1600"
>caused a stackfault every time... (SP goes negative on a push, as 1600/ 0)
>
>Intel is Backwards...
>-------
God, I hate Intel...
Playing with PDP-11 assembly. Did x86 assemble before.
X86 move: MOV Destination,Soure
Everything else move: MOV Source, Destination
Just spent 20 minutes trying to find out why "MOV SP,#1600"
caused a stackfault every time... (SP goes negative on a push, as 1600/ 0)
Intel is Backwards...
-------
Ithica Audio, some pretty neat systems. I used to call on them as an
apps engineer back in 1980. I wouldn't mind finding one or at least the
floppy controller as I had some influence in the design.
<> I also found a National Semiconductor Board Level Computer (BLC). It's
<> 8080A single-board computer from 1977. There's also an unpopulated RO
<> board in the small card cage. I know zilch about this one. There are
<> plenty of unconnected edge-connectors on the CPU board and an on-board
<> 8251, so I assume I can make this one fly if I simply figure out the I/
<> connections and power requirements.
IF it has two edge connectors it's multibus and it was made a few years
later as National was not in the multibus market till 79-81ish.
Allison
Hello,
I'm enjoying the demographics thread for Mar '98. Followed for some
time.
None of the collections seem to mention a Sinclair ZX-80. I had/have
the 4k ROM version, then upgraded to the 8k ROM. "The Monitor Exposed"
(I forget the excellent author's name) was and is my kernel in computer
science, which is how I now make a modest living.
Timex came out with a Sinclair-based machine, too. The Timex 1000, I
think. It had more RAM. Both had an expansion port for RAM They ran
on a Z80 MPU (Thanks to Rodney Zak! I know my Z80 stuff).
There was a magazine called Sync. It had a "alternative" look to the
cover.
My collection is based on computers with which I've had person
experiences. So far, I'm missing some Apples (which shouldn't be hard
to find if I get to cities) and a PDP-11/70, which I probably couldn't
get to work if I had one.
--J. Lynn Hogg
jhogg(a)bigfoot.com
To implement the "slow" mode, the ZX81 has the NMI line connected to
something or other. I have one Timex 1000 and a ZX81, the difference
being 1k (1k in the ZX81, 2k in the Timex) but of course, everyone "has"
to have one of the wobbly 16k packs!
For those interested, you can roll your own ZX80, thanks to the lack of
custom chips! (That's right - Z80, RAM, ROM, and a handfull of TTL
chips...) Schematics and ROM images (also for ZX81) are at
http://www.babytalk.demon.co.uk/zx80/zx80.html
--------------------------------------------
Joachim Thiemann
DSP Coder, Castleton Network Systems
I doubt therefore I might be.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Ruschmeyer [SMTP:jruschme@exit109.com]
> Sent: March 26, 1998 22:52 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: ZX-81 Re: Sinclair ZX-80
>
> > Hi Lynn,
> >
> > Timex 1000s are EASY to find! I've passed up dozens of them at
> yard
> > sales. I have four that I ended up with for one reason or another.
> BTW
> > I found a ZX-81 the other day. Is anyone familar with it? What's
> the
> > difference between it and a ZX-80?
>
> The ZX-81 is basically a ZX-80 with an enhanced ROM and some extra
> circuitry
> which let it display while computing (SLOW mode).
>
> The TS-1000 is a ZX-81 with 2K of RAM instead of 1K.
>
> <<<John>>>
SyQuest?
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joe [SMTP:rigdonj@intellistar.net]
> Sent: Thursday, March 26, 1998 10:28 AM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: What is this? AST 88 Mb drive
>
> I picked up an external drive in a bunch of computer parts. Can anyone
> identify it? It looks like a Bernoulli or Syquest drive but is marked "AST
> Technologies" and "88 MB C". It's the same size as a Bernoulli
> Transportable drive and the cartridge looks like it is *almost* the same
> size as a Bernoulli 90 Mb (but it's not!) It has two 50 pin SCSI
> connectors
> on the back along with a socket for a power cord and two AC outlets. It
> included a SCSI cable that has a male DB-25 connctor on the other end.
> What kind of cartridge does this take? Is it worth bothering with?
>
> Joe
I picked up an external drive in a bunch of computer parts. Can anyone
identify it? It looks like a Bernoulli or Syquest drive but is marked "AST
Technologies" and "88 MB C". It's the same size as a Bernoulli
Transportable drive and the cartridge looks like it is *almost* the same
size as a Bernoulli 90 Mb (but it's not!) It has two 50 pin SCSI connectors
on the back along with a socket for a power cord and two AC outlets. It
included a SCSI cable that has a male DB-25 connctor on the other end.
What kind of cartridge does this take? Is it worth bothering with?
Joe
Received this message... Hope someone can help him out...
>From: "Joe's Second e-mail" <kainjb(a)mysolution.com>
>Subject: For Sale
>
>While cleaning up my basement I found my Atari 800 with three memory
cards, Bit 3 80 column card, original documentation, a game cartridge,
BASIC cartridge, several joysticks, and a new floppy drive that was never
plugged in (Bought a MAC). I did notice that the space bar was cracked, but
it does work :-)
>
>I would like to sell it all off. Please pass this message to any
interested party.
>
>Thank you in advance.
>
>Joe Kain
>219-436-9966
>219-459-1120 Fax
>kainjb(a)mysolution.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/
I bought this thing with all packaging and manuals. It's called the
AccuCard, and is made by Emerson UPS. It fits into an 8-bit ISA slot,
and goes between the power supply and motherboard in terms of power.
If the power supply should turn off, the thing will keep the mother
board on. It claims to save something to disk, but I don't know how
it keeps the drives on. I don't think my power cable will reach, but
I will try to install it, and report back.
______________________________________________________
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