MCT-EPROM

MCT-EPROM Chuck Guzis cclist <mailto:cctalk%40classiccmp.org?Subject=MCT-EPROM&In-Reply-To=200805281421.m 4SEKpPX022701%40dewey.classiccmp.org> at sydex.com Wed May 28 12:01:20 CDT 2008 * Previous message: Transformer repairs <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/258706.html> * Next message: IBM XT diagnostic ROM <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/258708.html> * Messages sorted by: [ date ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/date.html#258707> [ thread ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/thread.html#258707> [ <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/subject.html#258707> subject ] [ author ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/author.html#258707> _____ I've got one of these--actually a no-name, but the same Taiwanese unit. At one time, I think these were also sold under the "Sunshine" name. You could get them with different "heads"--anywhere from a single ZIF socket to 8 or so; maybe even 16. I have the 4-socket version. You've answered your own query. This board is strictly 5150/5160/XT clone territory. IIRC, even a PC AT doesn't work--at least with the software that I have (I haven't tried JDR's). I believe that this is due to many CPU-based timing loops. I remember patching the code to detect the board so it would run in a 386/20, only to have it fail to program EPROMs, whereupon I gave up and stuck it back in the XT, there to stay until the present. This forms the basis of my suspicion that CPU loops are used exclusively for timing--not a really bad idea back when the world was filled with 8088 systems. Certainly, it wasn't alone in this respect. Get that 5160 going and you should be fine. I suspect though, that you're faced with a chicken-and-egg situtation--you need to get the EPROM burner going so you can get the 5160 running. Source code for the programming software should make things easier to modify for faster machines, but I suspect that it's unobtainium. Disassembling is another option, but not one that I'm interested in, as I have a parallel-port driven programmer that can still handle the older EPROMs just fine. Cheers, Chuck _____ * Previous message: Transformer repairs <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/258706.html> * Next message: IBM XT diagnostic ROM <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/258708.html> * Messages sorted by: [ date ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/date.html#258707> [ thread ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/thread.html#258707> [ <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/subject.html#258707> subject ] [ author ] <http://classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2008-May/author.html#258707> _____ More information <http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk> about the cctalk mailing list _____ -----REPLY----- Hi Chuck, It is sort of a "chicken and egg" scenario. I have a MCT-EPROM burner I'd like to use but I agree it needs an XT clone. My XT clone is broken but fortunately I have a different EPROM burner so if I can fix the XT I should be good for the MCT-EPROM as well. Do you still have the manual for the MCT-EPROM / Sunshine programmer? If so, would you mind scanning a copy and maybe I'll ask Al to post it at Bitsavers.org. JDR is part of the history of microcomputers and practically everyone got something of theirs from JDR at some time or another. JDR is practically an institution in electronics/vintage computers. I remember ordering parts from them when I was in high school to fix my Dad's lab computers -- IBM PCs running AutoCAD. Thanks in advance! Andrew Lynch