I had a customer who plugged in his IDE cable's middle connector (HDD one
end, motherboard on the other) into the sound board's IDE pins, because "it
looked like it fit."
Some people will do ANYTHING!
manney
----------
> From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
> To: Manney
> Subject: Re: Video connectors (was: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0
> Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 10:40 PM
>
>
> <example, certainly is. I'm not saying we don't need 15 pins; I say we
ne
> <15 THICKER pins, and since this connector is typically the only connecto
> <on the back of a VGA adapter, there's plenty of room.
>
> Par of the resoning was that it should have a connector that is not like
> any other. if it were a standard db9 or db15 you'd have people plugging
> into the serial port screaming it don't work. It's bad enough that you
> have people that will force things no matter what.
>
> Allison
>
In a message dated 98-02-04 13:25:22 EST, you write:
<< Hi. There's this guy, in Bahrain, who's got a PS/1 386 2MB RAM, that's
been
"sitting in his closet." Now, he wants to know what it would be worth. I
want to know what it'd be worth, too. (There's going to be arguements....
I'm sure.) Anyway, condition is currently unknown, but assumed in working
condition. >>
post the model number and i can give more info about it.
david
I recently purchased an Altair 8800b from the original owner. He told me
that last he used it (1984?), he was having trouble reading from the disk
drive, and he was sure that it needed alignment. Apparently an alignment
disk is required.
I suspect an oscilloscope as well.
I have two questions;
1) Can someone explain the process of aligning a disk drive, what is out of
whack, and how tricky it is for a rank electronics amateur like myself
2) Where can I obtain an alignment disk, if required.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the drive is an 8", the Altair model that has the
same basic case and look of the Altair itself. This repair is one of the (I
suspect) many that will be required to bring the Altair back to life.
I've managed to get it (almost) firing up during the self-test stage, but
one of the address lines doesn't behave (the light doesn't come on on A2
when I flick the switch that should light all of them, yet the light is
operational at other stages). I'll get to that one later.
Looks like a long, slow process. But worth it, no?
Cheers
Andrew
>
>I thought the multiplexed NeXT "Zilla?" used the SCSI ports...
>
Zilla's copyright 1990, (so off-topic, please excuse me.). It uses regular
ethernet networking. It's on my NeXT, but I've got no further information
and no contacts about it. (If anyone else does, please contact me by email.)
- Mark
(I can remember the simpler functions (multiply, divide & the
> like) but how to use the thing for calculus & whatnot I'm sure has
> "slipped" my mind... (lame) Pun intended ;^>
Lame is right -- you're slipping.
You can'y use 'am for calculus...you must be thinking of trig.
>
> And tho we did have some TRS-80 Model 4's (and an old IBM Series/1) in
high
> school, I did use it occasionally during geometry / algebra class when
> necessary -- took it to college a few times to, but just to watch people
> gawk... ;-)
I went through Navy Nuclear Power School in '76, and they were
required...even tho' calculators were cheap, then.
Texas Instruments was naming some of their calculators "SR" (for Slide
Rule) up until the mid-80's, at least. My first one was the SR-10...the LED
"wedge". $110, IIRC
Was that TI's first?
manney
The manual/documentation I have gives a procedure you can follow (manually
flipping the switches all the way) which is a self-test. Following the
procedure you can check if your 8800b is working correctly. Using this
procedure I tracked down several problems (loose wires to fron panel) but
still have the address light problem.
I'll track down the procedure and explain further, if there is any interest.
I appreciate the comments about the alignment problem, and can see how
basically I should be concentrating on the Altair first. So thats what I'll
do.
More soon.
Andrew
-----Original Message-----
From: Allison J Parent <allisonp(a)world.std.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Thursday, February 05, 1998 4:24 AM
Subject: Re: Altair 8800b + drive alignment
><From CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Wed Feb 4 11:40:41 1998
>
><> This repair is one of the (I
><> suspect) many that will be required to bring the Altair back to life.
><> I've managed to get it (almost) firing up during the self-test stage
><
><"self-test stage"? Is this a turnkey model with a boot in ROM,
><or not?
>
>ALTAIR 8800b (with altair disk controller) used a boot program or a boot
>rom card and DID NOT have anything resembling PC self test(or any
>diagnostics).
>
>Allison
>
>
<From CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Wed Feb 4 11:40:41 1998
<> This repair is one of the (I
<> suspect) many that will be required to bring the Altair back to life.
<> I've managed to get it (almost) firing up during the self-test stage
<
<"self-test stage"? Is this a turnkey model with a boot in ROM,
<or not?
ALTAIR 8800b (with altair disk controller) used a boot program or a boot
rom card and DID NOT have anything resembling PC self test(or any
diagnostics).
Allison
<I keep an 8" floppy disk in the front of my store to amaze people ("Jus
<fold it twice and stick it in your drive...it holds a lot!")
<
<Just how much do (did?) they hold? (I'm sure there were different data
<densities...just a range is all I want!)
standard single sided single density was 128bytes*26 sectors*77 tracks
or 256k.
The high end is double density two sided and around 1mb.
Allison
I used to support these machines but its been a while. i think the hard drive
is proprietary, but i do remember someone somewhere mentioning adding a really
big hard drive and getting it to work. send me another notice via private mail
reminding me, and i will check on it when i get back to work.
david
In a message dated 98-02-04 00:20:43 EST, you write:
<< Yes, its a 2011-c34. I have no problem booting from the rom. I hear
the hd spin up but then it slows down again and the light stays on. I
get a 1701 error and an indication to press f1. After pressing f1 the
computer boots from either the floppy or the rom.
I wish I could have made backups first but it was doa when I got it. Do
you know if the parts (hd floppy) are interchangeable with ps/2
hardware?
Thanks for the software source tip. >>
<>They may work muost just pull the 360k drives from an XT.
<
< Aren't SA 400's single density? XT drives are Double Density. Yes,
<they'll probably work but the media wouldn't be interchangable.
Sa400 would do FM (single density) and MFM (double density). the 360k
drive also do single density. It's the 1.2m 5.25" drives that are weird.
< Do you have the old NS* software that will run on the Alrair?
By default yes.. and no. The stuff will run on an altair but the IO
which is personalized for my NS* with it's two serial ports. there
is no way I can personalize it for the altair as I have no clue of the
IO (serial boards used and their addreses). The NS* motherboard
(backplane) has two serial ports and a parallel port plus a few
other useful things so their configurations were easier to be certain
of. You need to track down a set of NS* manuals or copies.
FYI: NSdos requires a minimum 16k of ram starting at 2000h it does not
use ram below 2000h (or care). Also it assumes the ports start at 00
and the port devices are 8251s with hard jumpered baud rates.
If you are going to configure an altair you need manuals, more manuals
and it doesn't hurt to be able do digital design to understand what they
did. You see the docs with early altairs were not amoung the best. Most
of what you may need to know often had to be extracted from the printsets
by understanding the logic. then you have the non-altair boards plugged
in that manuals are very handy for too. If the boards require extra or
specific software (some terminal interface or video display boards) the
hadware and software manuals may be needed.
Allison
<1) Can someone explain the process of aligning a disk drive, what is out
<whack, and how tricky it is for a rank electronics amateur like myself
It's tricky as you will need a good scope and the alignment disk and know
how to use both. also getting the alignment disk after so many years will
be a challenge.
<Oh, I forgot to mention, the drive is an 8", the Altair model that has th
<same basic case and look of the Altair itself. This repair is one of the
<suspect) many that will be required to bring the Altair back to life.
Before you align anything check to see if the head is clean and the head
load pad(felt) is there and intact.
<I've managed to get it (almost) firing up during the self-test stage, bu
<one of the address lines doesn't behave (the light doesn't come on on A2
<when I flick the switch that should light all of them, yet the light is
<operational at other stages). I'll get to that one later.
I'd check the switch (may be dirty contacts from age). then follow the
logic as it may be a poor contection or a bad chip.
<Looks like a long, slow process. But worth it, no?
Shouldn't be that bad. the altair 8800B was a later machine and far
better/different than the 8800 or 8800A. Of the Altairs it was the
industrial strength version. What will help your task is having
documentation (a must for any old machine!). It wouldn't hurt if you
have a techie near you that is familiar with old s100 hardware as a
PC kid genius would not have a clue.
Allison
At 03:34 PM 03/02/98 -0800, you wrote:
>"CP/M" machine is pretty vague. 8" floppy? 5.25" floppy? 3.5" floppy?
>
Sorry, it's for a Kaypro 4, which is 5.25" (i think)
>
>*Which* long filenames? CP/M is 8.3, too!
>
Sorry again, I am not familiar with CP/M. I was told however that when he
(the one with the Kaypro 4) tried to convert files before, the CP/M <-->
DOS <--> Mac conversion truncated his files, I must have misinterpreted
this to mean filenames :(
Thanks however for the link to the CP/M <--> DOS conversion utility, it
is much appreciated :)
ah yes, the first ps1 series to come out. i presume its a 2011-c34 or m01. you
might want to try this trick:
with the machine off, press and hold down both mouse buttons, then power on.
when it posts, let the buttons go. that will force an autoconfig, and make it
boot from rom again. that trick works on all ps1 models. you shoulda made your
disk backups when it was running, but too late now. you can still order the
core software from ibm. i think it's ~$45. ring the helpcentre at 800.772.2227
david
In a message dated 98-02-03 16:55:21 EST, you write:
<< I recently came into possession of a PS/1 model 2011. (I believe that
this was one of the initial PS/1 models). It has a '286 processor and
30 meg harddrive. Unfortunately, the harddrive seems to be DOA (1701
error on boot up). The system will boot up to a 4 quadrant screen from
the rom. I have downloaded the programs from IBM to switch the boot
sequence to the floppy, but I cannot access any of the software that
came with the system (MS Works et al.). The docs seem to imply that I
can create a diskette version to run the software, which would be great
if I had the original diskettes.
So I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that I could get a copy of
the diskettes that came with this system?
Thanks, >>
>If that works, you're lucky; if not, it's time for the needlenose pliers,
>at which point the game becomes "straighten one pin without bending
others."
Actually, that's why I choose a screw driver. It's small enough that I
don't worry about getting two pins, just the one that I want fixed. It's
worked 10 or so times, no problems, 10 min. MAX for each, usually no more
than 2 or 3.
>Now that you've said that -- how about a Centronics-type connector, with
>the female end on the end of the monitor cable, and the male end recessed
>into the card bracket, where it would just be another feature connector of
>sorts? This exact combination, when used for parallel printers or external
>SCSI, is almost indestructible.
That would work. Also, current monitors would be able to use it. You could
even have a little plug-in thing for current monitors/video cards, with no
re-design needed. I don't think that I've got the power to pull this off,
but I do know a guy at Diamond MM, reviewing products for my web site.
Ciao,
Tim D. Hotze
I recently came into possession of a PS/1 model 2011. (I believe that
this was one of the initial PS/1 models). It has a '286 processor and
30 meg harddrive. Unfortunately, the harddrive seems to be DOA (1701
error on boot up). The system will boot up to a 4 quadrant screen from
the rom. I have downloaded the programs from IBM to switch the boot
sequence to the floppy, but I cannot access any of the software that
came with the system (MS Works et al.). The docs seem to imply that I
can create a diskette version to run the software, which would be great
if I had the original diskettes.
So I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that I could get a copy of
the diskettes that came with this system?
Thanks,
--
Dan Rector
email: rector(a)usa.net
At 02:39 AM 1/30/98 -0500, you wrote:
>> Have you ever seen a Zenith "MiniSport"? Uses 2" floppies? I found
[...]
>do its upload and you've got at least one disk, you can probably
>(don't count on it, but probably) attach a parallel Zip drive).
Question: when did parallel ports become bi-directional (i.e., useable for
zip drives and such)?
Or, to put it another way, how likely would I be able to (ignoring software
issues for the moment) hook up my new SyJet drive to say, my m100? What
about my DG-1?
(P.S., off-topic tip: The Parallel port SyJet is really a SCSI-2 SyJet
with a fancy cable; if you've already got SCSI, and can maybe use the
Parallel port feature...)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/
David Williams - Computer Packrat said:
>Also, I picked up a TRS-80 Model 4, again with out manuals or
>software. I have some software for the model 1 but can someone send
>me LDOS or other OS for the Model 4?
You can get LDOS with documentation and other Misosys software on
Tim Mann's TRS-80 page at
http://www.research.digital.com/SRC/personal/mann/trs80.html#down
or Stefan's Old Computer Stuff page at http://www.xs4all.nl/~rimmer/trs/trs.html
=========================================
Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com
Senior Software Engineer
Press Start Inc.
Sunnyvale,CA
Curator
Museum of Personal Computing Machinery
http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum
=========================================
>Agreed, "with care." But too much care for the average user. Even I, who
>like to think I know what I'm doing, repeat the mantra "Never jam in a VGA
>connector no matter what" whenever I have the D-shell in my hand, just to
>slow myself down properly.
Actually, I've jammed the $^\&* things a few times myself. The solution
(that I've come up with) is get a screw driver, (flathead) and then push it
up and straighten it out. I've done the same thing with IDE connectors. I
used the same solution, but instead of trial and error for getting them
strait, I would get it straiter, then put an IDE cable into ONLY the damaged
area, straiten it out a bit, see if it works, then try again.
>But it's not a simple ENOUGH solution because, when I'm in the field and
>detaching a monitor from its computer, 50% of the connectors I look at have
>one pin bent in an L and jammed against the inner wall of the shell. The
>design isn't adequate to real-world use, is my point -- whereas a DB9, for
>example, certainly is. I'm not saying we don't need 15 pins; I say we need
>15 THICKER pins, and since this connector is typically the only connector
>on the back of a VGA adapter, there's plenty of room.
Why not move away from this type of pins all together? Sure, it would cause
major monitor incompatibility, but VGA type connectors are aging rapidly,
and with new LCD monitors, the SVGA interface is reaching it's limits.
Maybe something like a ethernet-type connector, or, as you said THICKER
pins. Maybe switch the male-female part of this, with female-connector
monitors. And, re-align the pins so that you can use a correctly configured
(with the M-F type connectors, etc.) EGA, or CGA monitor.
>Coming Spring '98: The Windows 98 Bible by Kip Crosby and Fred Davis!
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Keep me updated. Of course,
MS wouldn't talk to me about reviewing it's products for my web site. :-(
Does anyone know of a conversion utiliy which will convert files from a
CP/M machine to Mac format? There is someone here willing to part with his
Kaypro 4 but needs to convert his old files first. I know there is a
conversion utility for CP/M to DOS, which then can be converted to Mac, but
then you would lose all the long filenames. A CP/M to Mac would be
preferable, any ideas?
So I have this DEC VT320 terminal in front of me and it does work (very
nicely, if I do say so). But what has me disturbed is the serial output
port on this thing - it's the stranges port I've seen. Like a phone jack
only not quite. And before I spend something like $50 on a cable, can
anyone tell me what the pin outs are?
-spc (Oh, and is it RS-232 even?)
I've started scanning photos of my collection, and want to build the web
pages for each machine. Unfortunately, I don't know everything about all
of them; so I'm asking for help. Here are the machines I've scanned so far:
Altima 2
Apple Macintosh Portable
Atari Portfolio
Data General One
Epson HX-20 Laptop
Grid GridCase3
Hewlett-Packard Vectra LS/12
IBM PC Radio
NEC PC8201A
NEC PC8401A "Starlet"
Radio Shack Model 100.
I'm looking for any info, specs, anecdotes, whatever you might know of
regarding these machines. Specifically, the specs I want to list (and I'm
open for suggestions on other info) include:
{mfr} Manufacturer
{location} Mfr's Location
{model} Model Number
{processor} CPU used
{opsys} Operating System(s)
{bits-int} bits, internal to CPU (ex: 8088 = 16b internal)
{bits-data} bits, external to cpu (ex: 8088 = 8b databus)
{ram-min} Minimum RAM
{ram-max} Maximum RAM (per Mfr)
{rom} Amount of ROM
{input} Type of input devices
{display} Display size/type
{stor-cas} Cassette Storage
{stor-fdd} Floppy Drives
{stor-hdd} Hard Drive
{expansion} Expansion Capabilities
{intro} Year introduced
{discon} Year discontinued
{cost} Intro price
{size} Physical Size
{weight} Weight
{power-volt} Power Supply Voltage
{power-conn} PS Type of connector
{power-polar} PS connector polarity
{notes} Other info
If you know of any online resources, please forward the URL's as well.
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.crl.com/~sinasohn/
Hi!
I was just offered (possibly at a small cost - we didn't discuss any
prices) a very large collection of Atari computers (800, 800xl, etc),
plus manuals, books, software, peripherals and everything else you can
probably imagine. However, I already have four Ataris of different sorts,
so I thought someone else might appreciate it more (although, if you do,
I may be interested in a couple of items *grin*). Anyway, as the
collection is in Melboune I thought it might be of the most interest to a
Melbourne collector, and I don't know any. Is anyone interested? Let me
know and I can pass the phone number on to you.
Adam.
But, of course, MY PGA did. I've got a question I've been dying to ask: Why
the heck do (S)VGA montiors have 3 sets of pins, and "older" monitors only
have 2? I mean, the increased performance, for sure, but so many of the
pins are "not used", or used for an odd purpose. Why not say put in 2
differnet plugs of 2 rows each, so that I could use my *surely* functional
SVGA when testing out old computers?
Thanks,
Tim D. Hotze
-----Original Message-----
From: Kip Crosby <engine(a)chac.org>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)
>At 18:44 2/3/98 +0300, you wrote:
>>Isn't PGA Pin-Grid-Array? (It's probably wrong, but hay....)
>
>Na-na-na. Professional Graphics Adapter, IBM's "other" attempt (besides
>8514/a and XGA) at expensive design-grade video. It never went anywhere,
>much.
>
>__________________________________________
>Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org
> http://www.chac.org/index.html
>Computer History Association of California
>
>
At 09:08 2/3/98 -0800, Kai Kaltenbach wrote:
>PGA is a three-card sandwich, not two...
Mmm, no wonder it was so pricey. How many slots did it take?
__________________________________________
Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org
http://www.chac.org/index.html
Computer History Association of California
Hi,
Recently I picked up an EEPROM programmer (An Elan Universe 1000 to be
precise) and I want to use it read and save the contents of the EEPROMs
in my old computers. There is a small LCD display on the programmer
>from which I can select various output formats, and I was wondering
which ones are the best / most popular? The format are:
Tek Hex
ASCII Hex Space
Binary
Motorola S Rec
Intel Std & 8086
Elan Fuse Map
Jedec
Mos Tech
Texas Tags
Also any specifications for the above formats would be much
appreciated.
Again through the LCD configuration options it seems that the programmer
can be remotely controlled using the following formats:
Chessels
Philips PMDS
Intel MDS
Elan Easycom
I have searched the Web but found nothing on these protocols. Can any
body help me?
Many thanks.
--
Kevan
Old Computer Collector: http://www.heydon.org/kevan/collection/
At 12:30 03-02-98 -0500, William Donzelli <william(a)ans.net> wrote:
>
>Just because the sticker says 30 amps does not mean it will draw that
>much! In general, those ratings are worst case (a fully blown system), and
>includes some safety factor (as well as some surge).
Oh I already knew that, William. A 30A breaker works out fine to handle the
six 9332 DASD units (IBM's accronym for these type of hard disks for some
of you other observers), 9345 tape drive, rack power controllers and the
9370-60 CPU.
>
>For example, the ex-NFSnet RS/6000s are rated for 240V @ 20 amps, but in
>their current state (loaded with memory, one DASD shelf), they only suck
>about two amps!
>
>Do not be suprised if that 9370 only sucks a few amps.
Can't recall exactly, but total draw was about 11 to 12 amps or so when I
checked last fall before I put the system to bed while we were shopping for
a house. 30A dual-pole breaker was on hand and turns out to handle surge
okay. I have done industrial wiring at work as part of my engineering
responsibilities so have experience with handling stuff like this.
Still dumped alotta heat! :-) We got cheap electricity in this town. $0.036
per KWH vs. about $0.08 or more per KWH outside of the area.
Can't wait to work more with the system later this year if the wife has no
additional remodeling in the new house for me to do :-(
-- --
=======================================================
Christian Fandt Phone: +716-488-1722 -Home
111 Harding Avenue +716-661-1832 -Office
Jamestown, New York Fax: +716-661-1888 -Office fax
14701-4746 USA email: cfandt(a)servtech.com
And it sucked!!!!!!!!!!
As for QuickBasic for DOS, it ended with version 4.5... sort of.
There was a professional version, called PDS, which ended at version 7.1
-Matt Pritchard
Graphics Engine and Optimization Specialist
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Withers [SMTP:bwit@pobox.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 12:29 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: Visual Basic for DOS?
>
>
> There actually was a Visual Basic for DOS product. It was very much
> like
> Visual Basic V1 execpt that everything was in character mode. It
> supported
> menus, listboxes, comboboxes, and like like without graphics.
>
> Bob
>
> At 04:56 PM 2/1/98 -0800, you wrote:
> >Max,
> >
> >There was a Microsoft QuickBasic for DOS. I believe it got up to at
> >least version 4.0. I used it long ago on a project or two.
> >
> >You probably can find a cheap (~$20?) copy of this at some used
> software
> >store, like Half Price Software.
> >
> >Dave
> >
> >Max Eskin wrote:
> >>
> >> It is my understanding that there was once a (Microsoft?) Visual
> Basic
> >> for DOS. Was it like VB for Windows, and was it any better than
> QBasic?
> >> If someone has a copy, could they let me (ahem) borrow it?
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________
> >> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> >Attachment Converted: "c:\program files\eudora\attach\vcard5.vcf"
> >
Someone said they would post it at an FTP site,and I lost the email
address; would the person email me?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
i decided to make a run for old computer stuff and i'm glad i did. i managed
to find the apple //c lcd display in its original box. used, but in good
shape. price? $3.18
no printed material came with it. i also saw a complete tandy 1000, a never
used colecovision with steering wheel, imagewriter 1, apple //c, //c 9 inch
monitor, apple 300/1200 modem in box, //c mouse never used, and //c disk drive
and some apple laserwriter carts. i may go back for some of the other goodies.
i might consider trades for the lcd.
david
It is my understanding that there was once a (Microsoft?) Visual Basic
for DOS. Was it like VB for Windows, and was it any better than QBasic?
If someone has a copy, could they let me (ahem) borrow it?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
PGA is a three-card sandwich, not two...
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Kaneko [SMTP:Jeff.Kaneko@ifrsys.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 8:07 AM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)
>
>
> It seems like it means "Professional Graphics Adapter"
>
> Hmmm.
>
> -Jeff
>
>
> > Isn't PGA Pin-Grid-Array? (It's probably wrong, but hay....)
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jeff Kaneko <Jeff.Kaneko(a)ifrsys.com>
> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> > <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> > Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 6:39 PM
> > Subject: Re: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)
> >
> >
> >
> > You sure this isn't PGA?
> >
> > > I'm sure my 3270pc handles a "better" quality CGA. It just looks like
> > > EGA, thought it was... It was running a version of Norton Utes and it
> > > was just beautiful turquoise blue set and clear characters.
> > >
> > > I'd have to think this was better than CGA, especially since it took
> two
> > > coupled long cards to run the video...
> > >
> > > -Mike
> > >
> >
> >
> >
I asked about the mass of the thing, just to dream about shipping it. 6 boxes, 250 kg's or so apiece (over a ton). It's a fairly large system, eh?
Aaron
From CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Tue Feb 3 07:40:40 1998
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From: John Foust <jfoust(a)threedee.com>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: RED ALERT! FREE VAX Cluster needs rescue!
Mime-Version: 1.0
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X-Cc: hulbertj(a)msoe.edu
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Status: R
>To anyone interested, my school is looking to make the old VAX cluster
>disappear. It consists of two MV3600's, several racks of RA81/82's, one
>MVII, and a TU-something-or-other.
How large is all this equipment, in square and cubic feet? What sort
of power does it take? Anything particularly interesting or novel
about this system? MicroVAX III circa 1987, KA650 processor, QBUS,
~32 meg RAM, RA-82s are ~600 meg, VMS 5.x? Roughly 2.8 VUP?
Main unit, rack-mount half-height? Maybe a TU-81+, half-height rack tape?
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
>It was thus said that the Great Allison J Parent once stated:
>>
>> <just typing a B to the prompt would do it, or B <bootstrap device> such
>> <as
>> <B CSA0 ,,, Allison'd probably know better on this...
>>
>> You have three bootable devices...
>>
>> B DUA0 *RD5x in the box, never seen one external but it can be done.
>> B MUA0 or 7 *tk50 tape I forget the device number as it's slow.
>> B XQA0 *boot via eithernet. It was possible to run them diskless.
>>
>> B does the default device first (dua0) then tape then eithernet.
>
> Does this also apply to the uVAX 2000 (or are they in fact the same
>thing?) Also, do you have the specs about the boot protocol over the
>eithernet?
It does, assuming you use the right device name for the Ethernet.
There is a MOP demon for Linux that some NetBSD folks have used to boot a
2000 diskless; you could look into that for info about the boot protocol.
Roger Ivie
ivie(a)cc.usu.edu
Hello to the list members. I've just joined you.
Based in Australia, I have
Altair 8800b (don't ask the price!)
Kaypro II (found today - $30)
Exidy Sorcerer x 2 ($25)
Ohio Scientific Challenger 1P board (free)
Dick Smith Wizzard (aka. CreatiVision) ($10)
Sinclair ZX80 ($1)
Sinclair ZX81 ($1)
Sinclair Spectrum (trade for a slide rule)
Atari 800 + 810 (well my Mum has it, but I'm working on that)
Although not a big collector of the older computers, I am in general an avid
collector of smaller computing devices such as slide rules and calculators.
I'd like to announce my web-sites on these subjects...
Museum of Soviet Calculators
http://www.comcen.com.au/~adavie/slide/calculator/soviet.html
Slide Rule Trading Post
http://www.comcen.com.au/~adavie/slide/
My intent in joining, however, is to share my resources (boxes of software
for Exidy Sorcerer - but I can't load any of it - no working drive!) and
perhaps utilise the brain pool of this list to help me get my Altair up and
running, and also enable my Kaypro II to boot to anything but <System?> I
also have manuals for about 10 different Kaypro packages - email me for
list.
In any case, I was pleased to accidentally stumble on this list, and
fervently hope it is still an active one. I do welcome private
communications, but would generally prefer discussion on the list for the
benefit of all.
Cheers
Andrew Davie
> <just typing a B to the prompt would do it, or B <bootstrap device> such
> <as
> <B CSA0 ,,, Allison'd probably know better on this...
>
> You have three bootable devices...
>
> B DUA0 *RD5x in the box, never seen one external but it can be done.
> B MUA0 or 7 *tk50 tape I forget the device number as it's slow.
> B XQA0 *boot via eithernet. It was possible to run them diskless.
>
> B does the default device first (dua0) then tape then eithernet.
That's B ESA0 for the Ethernet. But if he can't type, he can't enter any of
those commands. I don't know what the various failure modes of an LK201
look like (none of mine have failed), so I can't say offhand what's wrong
with the keyboard. I would first try swapping it (since I have plenty of
them lying around) and, failing that, going for a serial console.
Also, the ? on 7 indicates some sort of problem with the disk controller.
Roger Ivie
ivie(a)cc.usu.edu
Isn't PGA Pin-Grid-Array? (It's probably wrong, but hay....)
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Kaneko <Jeff.Kaneko(a)ifrsys.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)
You sure this isn't PGA?
> I'm sure my 3270pc handles a "better" quality CGA. It just looks like
> EGA, thought it was... It was running a version of Norton Utes and it
> was just beautiful turquoise blue set and clear characters.
>
> I'd have to think this was better than CGA, especially since it took two
> coupled long cards to run the video...
>
> -Mike
>
>To anyone interested, my school is looking to make the old VAX cluster
>disappear. It consists of two MV3600's, several racks of RA81/82's, one
>MVII, and a TU-something-or-other.
How large is all this equipment, in square and cubic feet? What sort
of power does it take? Anything particularly interesting or novel
about this system? MicroVAX III circa 1987, KA650 processor, QBUS,
~32 meg RAM, RA-82s are ~600 meg, VMS 5.x? Roughly 2.8 VUP?
Main unit, rack-mount half-height? Maybe a TU-81+, half-height rack tape?
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
<From: Captain Napalm <spc(a)armigeron.com>
<> You have three bootable devices...
<>
<> B DUA0 *RD5x in the box, never seen one external but it can be don
<> B MUA0 or 7 *tk50 tape I forget the device number as it's slow.
<> B XQA0 *boot via eithernet. It was possible to run them diskless
<>
<> B does the default device first (dua0) then tape then eithernet.
<
< Does this also apply to the uVAX 2000 (or are they in fact the same
<thing?) Also, do you have the specs about the boot protocol over the
<eithernet?
VS2k, uV2k and MV-II and a bunch of others. However if you have the
manual....RTFM comes to mind. :)
The NI boot protocal for small vaxen is MOP, to explain that requires a
book...come to think of it you may have that in your book.
Allison
>>Is it some kind of "Super CGA" that wasn't really supported by anyone?
>
> I know some game companies "tweaked" certain memory registers or something
> so that standard CGA could do 320x200x16 colors, but as far as I'm aware,
> there was only 320x200x4 and 640x400x2 for CGA, 640x400x16 for EGA, and of
> course 320x200x256 for MCGA. (The latter was what my Compact IBM PS/2 Mac
> wannabe had)
I never heard of 320 x 200 x 16 for the CGA - I seem to remember 160 x
200 x 16 - surely it would not have had the memory for the other?
The CGA never did 640 x 400 x 2 that I ever heard of - I assume that was
a typing error for 640 x 200 x 2.
The EGA did 640 x 200 x 16 on a CGA monitor, 640 x [was it 400 or was it
350] x [a number of colours dependent on the memory installed] on an EGA
monitor, and even did 640 x 350 x 3 (I think) on an MDA monitor.
I also once saw a demonstration on a CGA card that changed colours in
real time faster than the scan rate and so gave more colours than you'd
expect.
But I digress. What was the question again? :-)
Philip.
In a message dated 98-02-02 18:38:17 EST, you write:
<< Uncle:
Considering the rarity of this item, I'd say you made out like a
bandit. Not too many of these were sold as it cost alot more than
the computer itself!
Jeff
>>
i have one also, but the front plastic panel is missing. concerning the disk
drive, will an xt type floppy drive work?
david
At 06:57 PM 2/2/98 -0800, you wrote:
>It's not PS/2, it's MicroChannel Architecture. NuBus isn't PC, it's Mac.
And PCI can also Mac.
-John Higginbotham-
-limbo.netpath.net-
<just typing a B to the prompt would do it, or B <bootstrap device> such
<as
<B CSA0 ,,, Allison'd probably know better on this...
You have three bootable devices...
B DUA0 *RD5x in the box, never seen one external but it can be done.
B MUA0 or 7 *tk50 tape I forget the device number as it's slow.
B XQA0 *boot via eithernet. It was possible to run them diskless.
B does the default device first (dua0) then tape then eithernet.
Allison
I'm sure everyone knows about this, but for the few, such as I:
For a bunch of CPM systems, 68k, 8080, Z80, Z180, CPM-86, MPM, checkout:
http://cdl.uta.edu/cpm/download.html
They have it all including CPM-86 OS + C compilers, Basic Compilers,
Fortran and Pascal.
Plus the same for CPM Z80 & 8080 system:
Plus, the Digital Research Library with
GEM stuff for Atari and DOS, including GEM Desktop, Draw, Write, and GEM
Publisher
You could have a good 8088 or 8080/Z80 or Atari system, for just a
little time.
-Mike
>Ah but to answer the question with out philosophy - NO.
>In reality (with philosophy 8-) Yes! It is called networking 8-)
>
>Linux has been used in the Beowolf configuration where (I think)
>16?? machines were/are set up for parallel processing. You could
>net-research this and find a bunch of stuff.
>
>I have done it using Perl on two machines, one running a 6532 emulator
>and the other running a 6502 emulator.
>
>BC
(Sigh!) Well, it seems that I need more explanation. I was wondering if
this would be a more resource-conserving way to do it, and
technologically easier. I would do this with network cards if I had
them. Serial ports might be good, as well as parallel. Is there a way to
make the computer do TCP/IP via serial or parallel port? So, could you
please tell me, COULD I STICK A RIBBON CABLE INTO TWO DIFFERENT
MOTHERBOARDS AND PRETEND THAT THE MBs ARE CARDS OF EACH OTHER?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
From: John Higginbotham <higginbo(a)netpath.net>
Subject: Re: C-64c probs
>>Assuming the drive's device number has not been changed from eight, then the
>>correct command is LOAD "*", 8, 1
>
>What's the differenct between "$" and "*"? I've seen both used in this
>context.
LOAD"*",8,1 loads the first file off of a disk to it's recorded start
address in memory (This is usually the way you boot commercial software
disks, rarely anything with various programs on it.) Loading the
directory is done by loading "$", you can add file spec wildcards such
as "$pac*" (load the first program with a filename starting with 'pac')
> How does one change a device number? I'm not Commodore expert. The
>only other Commodore product I've had is a C-16, and that seems like ages ago.
>
Via software is pretty complicated, the hardware method requires you to
open the case of the 1541 and look for two 'jumper pads' on the circut
board and cutting one or both 'jumper' connections to change the number.
>>changed to 9, 10, or 11, then you will get a "device not found" error. Try
>>the other numbers in place of 8 until you find the correct one. If the
>>cable is bad or not connected properly, you should get a "device not
>>present" error.
>
>I'll give it a try. How long should I wait for a device not present
>message?
Should be an immediate response.
> It's just sitting there looking for the floppy. I've got both the
>C-64 manual and the 1541 manual, but can't see anything that'll help me.
>
They are OK, but many people don't take them seriously...
>>PS: I've got all kinds of 1541's if you really want/need one.
>
>I'd like to get a second drive if this one is good, or two drives if this
>one is bad, but I think the problem is just me sitting in front of it, and
>not the drive.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/
Call our Commodore 64 BBS (Silicon Realms 300-2400 baud) at: (209)
754-1363
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
From: Fritz Chwolka <Chwolka(a)nt-gmbh.de>
Subject: Re: C-64c probs
>John Higginbotham wrote:
>>
>[snip!]
>> What's going on here? Drive misalign? How do I realign? Bad drive? Bad cable?
>>
>> Anyone have one or two extra 1541 floppy drives they want to sell?
--
>I have my indos not by hand but I nelieve you must type
>type LOAD "$",8,1
> ^^^^
NOOOOOOO!!!! That will make the drive do a 'non-relocating load' with
the directory starting at memory location 1025 ($0401) which is screen
memory on the 64. The load address of $0401 is remenants of 4040/2031
code left in for use by people with PETs whose BASIC starts at $0401 and
cannot do any sort of relocating load.
use just: LOAD"$",8
Larry Anderson
--
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/
Call our Commodore 64 BBS (Silicon Realms 300-2400 baud) at: (209)
754-1363
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Since there seem to be a few folks who want to save their classics from
their kids, let me stray off-topic long enough to say my girlfriend is an
educator (best in the business, honest) so if any one wants suggestions for
kids software, let me know and I'll pass on her recommendations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/
At 11:29 AM 2/1/98 -0600, you wrote:
>I'll try it next time I get the system out to play with it. We've got an 19
>month old running around now, and something like the Commodore with it's
>multiple cables and pieces is a prime target for her.
At 19 months, she's definitely ready to start using the computer! (Be it
classic or new.) Lemme know if you need software recommendations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/