Help building a DOS system for ImageDisk

HP Vectra VL2. Very sturdy machine, with 4 ISA slots and 486 overdrive compatible. Mine works perfect for more than 15 years, I use it for the hp language processor board and elv ic-tester. -Rik -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: "Mark J. Blair" <nf6x at nf6x.net> Verzonden: ?2-?8-?2014 23:27 Aan: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Onderwerp: Help building a DOS system for ImageDisk I'm trying to put together a DOS system on which to run the ImageDisk software, as found here: http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/img/index.htm The ImageDisk documentation recommends at least a 486-class system for best results, although it'll run on an original PC: "ImageDisk requires a DOS based PC with an AT type floppy controller. Although ImageDisk will run on a 4.77Mhz PC/XT type machine, some of the analysis functions are real-time intensive and best results will be obtained with a 486 class machine or better." ImageDisk is naturally finicky about its floppy controller, since it uses modes that are not normally employed for MS-DOS disk formats. After studying the list of controllers known to work well with ImageDisk, I ended up buying an Adaptec AHA-1522A SCSI controller on eBay, because it's built-in floppy disk controller happens to be a good one for this application. It's a 16-bit ISA card. I thought I already had a computer to plug it in to on my junk pile, but those all turned out to be much too new, with PCI slots only. Thus, I'm looking for some help looking for a machine that I can buy for running ImageDisk on. I don't want to waste space with any old arbitrary no-name clone machine; I'd like to get something that has some collector appeal all by itself, besides its utility for running ImageDisk with that AHA-1522A. The only PCs I'm familiar with that particularly interest me on their merits would be the original IBM PC and PC-XT. Those seem like they would be under-powered for this application according to the ImageDisk documentation, though. I hope that somebody who's more familiar with vintage PCs than I am can help me find a machine that meets these goals: * Must have at least one 16-bit ISA slot to accept the AHA-1522A board. * Must be able to disable any on-board floppy controller so that the AHA-1522A's floppy controller will not conflict with it. * Should be "486 class" according to the ImageDisk notes... yeah, I know that's a bit of a nebulous requirement. * It would be nice if it has an IDE controller so I can use an IDE to CF adapter in place of any hard drive. * It would be nice if I can use an SVGA LCD monitor that I already have with it. * It would be nice if I can use the Model M keyboard with PS/2 interface that I already have. * I really, really, hate orange Compaq displays. :) * Preferably not too huge. * Preferably not too expensive, and something I'll be able to find in short order on eBay or from another collector on this list. * I'd just run DOS on it, and I wouldn't care at all about things like mice, sound, etc. * Not a no-name clone; something that has some unique collector appeal of its own. This will be hard to satisfy, as I consider the "486 era" to have been an especially boring era of computing. :) * It'll be helpful if the case is easy to open, since I'd regularly need to plug in various disk drives, even including 8" ones. Do any of y'all have suggestions? -- Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net> http://www.nf6x.net/