20 Dec
1999
20 Dec
'99
2:12 a.m.
I can't imagine what's stopping you from reading the diskette, except that I
don't believe it helps you to have so many drive types present on the
CompatiCard. Having sold mine, I can't reproduce your results. However,
it's not a bad idea to read the first two tracks into memory if you can read
anything at all, then try to correlate it with a known-good image of the
BDOS and CCP. That will tell you about the sector skewing, etc. Some
vendors number the sectors sequentially yet read them out of numerical
sequence, in order to improve performance. Others write the sector numbers
in the optimal arrangement, which is not in sequence from 0. One other
gotcha is that some systems require that the first two tracks on the
bootable diskette be single density, yet the rest can be double density.
20 Dec
20 Dec
12:37 p.m.
On Mon, 20 Dec 1999, Richard Erlacher wrote:
I agree here also.
- don
I can't imagine what's stopping you from
reading the diskette, except that I
don't believe it helps you to have so many drive types present on the
CompatiCard. Having sold mine, I can't reproduce your results. However,
it's not a bad idea to read the first two tracks into memory if you can read
anything at all, then try to correlate it with a known-good image of the
BDOS and CCP. That will tell you about the sector skewing, etc. Some
vendors number the sectors sequentially yet read them out of numerical
sequence, in order to improve performance. Others write the sector numbers
in the optimal arrangement, which is not in sequence from 0. One other
gotcha is that some systems require that the first two tracks on the
bootable diskette be single density, yet the rest can be double density.
I have to echo Dick's comments, Bob. The approach that I like to take
when dealing with unknown disks or with an uncertain setup is to
attempt to read a number of tracks using AnaDisk. In the case of
unknown disks, this gives me the information that Dick spoke of. In the
case of uncertain setup, it dis/proves that it is usable/readable.
AnaDisk will also allow you to make a duplicate if that seems desirable.
From your
lament, I'd say your problems are still more basic than that,
however. If you
havne't yet started on your rewiring task, I'd recommend
you wire to the external DC-37 connector rather than the internal auxilliary
34-pin IDC cable connector. It'll not be easy to package an 8" drive
internally in your PC, so it's best to use the more durable connector. If you have another CP/M box or access to one, you
might be able to gain
important information by examining the diskette on a CP/M box. You might
even be able ot make a duplicate, though I've recently had trouble with
that.
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Stek <bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, December 19, 1999 7:27 PM
Subject: RE: 8" drives and Compaticard / Uniform
Thanks for the help, Richard and DOn. Another
weekend and I still haven't
gotten the damn thing to read CP/M - either with Uniform or 22 Disk. I am
making up a new cable EXACTLY as specified in the Compaticard manual - I'll
let you know of any success (or continued failure!).
Bob Stek
bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com
Saver of Lost SOLs
-----Original Message-----
From: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu
[mailto:CLASSICCMP-owner@u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Don Maslin
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 6:11 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: 8" drives and Compaticard / Uniform
On Tue, 14 Dec 1999, John Foust wrote:
Hopefully, this will clear the fog a bit.
- don
Shugart SA810/860
Customer Cut/Add Trace Options
Trace As Shipped
Designator Description Open Short
U9 Terminations for Multiplexed Inputs Plugged
SI Internal Write Current Switch Plugged
SE External Write Current Switch X
TR True Ready Output Plugged
RTR Radial True Ready X
2S Two Sided Status Output*** X
DC Disk Change Option X
S1 Side Select Using Direction Select*** X
S2 Side Select Input*** Plugged
S3 Side Select Using Drive Select*** X
1B,2B,3B,4B Side Select Using Drive Select*** X
D Alternate Input In Use X
MS Motor On From Drive Select* Plugged
MO Alternate Input Motor On* X
MMO Alternate Input Multiplexed Motor On* X
MD Motor Off Delay X
R Ready Output X
RR Radial Ready X
SR Standard Ready Plugged
MT Modified True Ready (Output On Pin 22) X
DS1 Drive Select 1
DS2,3,4 Drive Select 2,3,4 Input
Y Door Lock Light Activated From Motor On Plugged
Z Door Lock Light Activated From Drive Select X
PD Stepper Power Down X
WP Inhibit Write When Write Protected X
NP Allow Write When Write Protected X
TS Data Separation Option Select X
* Motor On is the complement of HEAD LOAD on the SA801/851 drives.
** SA810/860 offers an optional data separatorwhich properly
separates data and clock bits through the soft sectored IBM
standard format and address mark area. TS offers the option.
*** Applies to SA860 only.
At 09:36 PM 12/13/99 -0800, Don Maslin wrote:
>On Mon, 13 Dec 1999, Bob Stek wrote:
>> Dick (or anyone else) -
>>
>> Would you have the jumper settings (default positions, definitions,
etc.)
> for a
Shugart 860? DS0-3 I can figure out. But the rest...
<http://www.tardis.ed.ac.uk/~itda/frames.html> has an online PDF
version of the Shugart 801 manual, if that might help...
- John 
3:57 p.m.
New subject: Weekend Aquisitions
Went to a computer service warehouse that was going out of business. For the
cost of buying the cleanup crew lunch, I picked up:
-A box of DEC manuals
-An AlphaServer 2000 4/200(!)
-System boards for a VAX 8200 and 7000
-Licenses and media for DEC OSF/1 (AXP)
-A few VAXStations
-Misc RX model drives
-A replacement drive module for an RA-82 that looks like a car transmission.
-Video boards for DECStation 5000s
If I would have had a U-Haul I swear I would have picked up the 11/780. Ever
seen the power connector for that thing? Looks like you wire it directly to
a high tension power line. I couldn't get into it to swipe the cpu cards
because I didn't have the special torx-wrench thing, but I almost convinced
the driver of the hi-lo to pry it open. Now it's destined for the
scrap-metal melter :(
Happy holidays and I hope your scavenging is as fruitful as mine!
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