28 Nov
1999
28 Nov
'99
4:05 p.m.
I took out my pair of these tonight to see what level of functionality
they're in. One of them gives a "dead HD" error on bootup (see
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/errores.html) which was
confirmed by downloading the boot/diagnostics disk and firing it up with
that (see http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/models.html for
disks, if you've got a PS/2 that needs them). Turns out one of these also
has the 300/1200/2400 modem and the PS/2 (MCA-bus, woah, in a portable!)
SCSI card w/cache (its got two SIMM sticking on it, even).
Right now I cant figure out how to get the HD out of the machine so I
can swap it with the one from the other box (or possibly replace it
with another IBM drive, these look to be the proprietaary PS/2 card-edge-
connector HDs).
Anybody got one or more of these machines that they'd like to "dispose"
of, if I pay shipping? I love the red plasma display, and plan to use
this box (if I can get it fully working with a HD) on my packet radio
station.
I've got this other semi-DOA (no screen display, no beeps, but power lights)
70-386, and in the garage somewhere, a complete (no manuals, but it boots and
works, and has the I/O expansion "slice") IBM PC Convertible laptop, with
power supply in IBm canvase carrying case, if anybody's interested and wants
to swap something for them.
I've also got this MCA-bus SCSI controller card w/cache, if that would prove
useful to anyone... (I cant use it, it has the funky IBM-proprietary external
SCSI connector on back).
Bill (man, plasma displays are wonderful, wish I could find more machines
that used them.. I've already got a couple of Toshiba 3x00 laptops that
i use as VT100 terminals; anybody else know of portable machines that
used similar displays?)
--
Bill Bradford * mrbill(a)mrbill.net / http://www.mrbill.net
mrbill(a)sunhelp.org / http://www.sunhelp.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to using
Windows NT for mission-critical applications."
-- What Yoda *meant* to say
28 Nov
28 Nov
4:44 p.m.
On Mon, Nov 29, 1999 at 12:05:12AM -0600, Bill Bradford wrote:
I took out my pair of these tonight to see what level
of functionality
they're in. One of them gives a "dead HD" error on bootup (see
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/errores.html) which was
confirmed by downloading the boot/diagnostics disk and firing it up with
that (see http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/models.html for
disks, if you've got a PS/2 that needs them). Turns out one of these also
has the 300/1200/2400 modem and the PS/2 (MCA-bus, woah, in a portable!)
SCSI card w/cache (its got two SIMM sticking on it, even).
Right now I cant figure out how to get the HD out of the machine so I
can swap it with the one from the other box (or possibly replace it
with another IBM drive, these look to be the proprietaary PS/2 card-edge-
connector HDs).
Well, I got the HD out of the first machine (WD-160S ESDI 160mb), and replaced
it with the HD out of the second machine (120mb ESDI). Turned the machine on,
got keyboard light, power light, then the box turned itself off and wont
come back on. I also yanked the modem and SCSI cards when I was working on
the HD - would this be likely to cause a "self shutdown"? I've seen
similar
in MCA-bus RS/6000 boxes when cards werent seated correctly, etc.
--
Bill Bradford * mrbill(a)mrbill.net / http://www.mrbill.net
mrbill(a)sunhelp.org / http://www.sunhelp.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to using
Windows NT for mission-critical applications."
-- What Yoda *meant* to say
12:28 p.m.
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 00:44:43 -0600
Reply-to: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
From: Bill Bradford <mrbill(a)mrbill.net>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: IBM P70-386 portable machines
X-To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
On Mon, Nov 29, 1999 at 12:05:12AM -0600, Bill
Bradford wrote:
Hi Bill!
Pull power cable, pop the back off again, recheck all connections and
remove any that looks like shorting to something supposed not to be
and try again with power with cover off. Press all socketed chips
also the power connections. Check your FD stuff that none are
shorting together or connected wrong. I remember that DBA HD (it's
correct IBMism term) edge connector is not keyed, therefore can go on
both ways. Leave it off and power up and see?
I just picked up 3 P70's 120mb model, all same, I'm going to strip
two and keep one and other parts as my use, any left over to sell for
modest $, let me know what you need.
There were LOTs of ECA's on these poor but wonderful P70s.
Look up at computercraft.com for details.
Most of the hefty mass are in PSU, HD and display, no kidding.
Carcass case with back attached weighs like 5lbs. And a pain to take
apart especially when those techs had to do the ECA corrections.
Question: Who pays the piper when doing the ECAs work; IBM or
customer?
There were two types of P70 motherboards. One had 386 in line with
MCA slot riser on right side of CPU. The other type has '386 below
the MCA slot riser. Care to tell a bit more about these differences?
Ditto with those video boards types.
I'm planning to build a FD cable adapter to use peecee FDs plugs
into 40pin via adapter on my also recently aquired mod 70-Axx. Have
both pinouts for this. Will report on this one.
Wizard
PS: -Axx models on 80 and model 70 are really few
even rarer to see a offical Type III mb with 486 daughterboard in 70.
I only saw one 70-Axx once and I have it finally! Others models are
common as beans even truckloads of 30 and, 50 (few 50Zs) 55sx (yuk,
but cute boxens!). I love them and I had good memories with them.
Had used on them during high school days, around 88-93, when I left
for college. That high school had ICONs, only way to get any good
response during heavy load is pecking the action key, was still in
use in library when last left for college. I never
thought much of digital stuff till given account user on Vaxens at
that college. Vaxens were "good" real machines compared to
winblows and I liked notes for discussions even the fact I'm deaf.
I took out my pair of these tonight to see what
level of functionality
they're in. One of them gives a "dead HD" error on bootup (see
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/errores.html) which was
confirmed by downloading the boot/diagnostics disk and firing it up with
that (see http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/models.html for
disks, if you've got a PS/2 that needs them). Turns out one of these also
has the 300/1200/2400 modem and the PS/2 (MCA-bus, woah, in a portable!)
SCSI card w/cache (its got two SIMM sticking on it, even).
Right now I cant figure out how to get the HD out of the machine so I
can swap it with the one from the other box (or possibly replace it
with another IBM drive, these look to be the proprietaary PS/2 card-edge-
connector HDs).
Well, I got the HD out of the first machine (WD-160S ESDI 160mb), and replaced
it with the HD out of the second machine (120mb ESDI). Turned the machine on,
got keyboard light, power light, then the box turned itself off and wont
come back on. I also yanked the modem and SCSI cards when I was working on
the HD - would this be likely to cause a "self shutdown"? I've seen
similar
in MCA-bus RS/6000 boxes when cards werent seated correctly, etc.
9:23 p.m.
The cover comes off with 3 screws, two at the bottom corners, one at the cable
access door in the back. Pry CAREFULLY in the area of the handle to finish getting
the back off. The HD is them mounted in a cage dealie that has 2 or 3 screws which
are obvious for their locations. Remove the cage and drive and remove the card
edge conector when it allows.
By the way, unless someone has put in a secondary controller the HD is an IBM MCM
(ESDI essentially) drive. Easily found and up to 160mb capacity.
Bill Bradford wrote:
I took out my pair of these tonight to see what level
of functionality
they're in. One of them gives a "dead HD" error on bootup (see
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/errores.html) which was
confirmed by downloading the boot/diagnostics disk and firing it up with
that (see http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/6370/models.html for
disks, if you've got a PS/2 that needs them). Turns out one of these also
has the 300/1200/2400 modem and the PS/2 (MCA-bus, woah, in a portable!)
SCSI card w/cache (its got two SIMM sticking on it, even).
Right now I cant figure out how to get the HD out of the machine so I
can swap it with the one from the other box (or possibly replace it
with another IBM drive, these look to be the proprietaary PS/2 card-edge-
connector HDs).
Anybody got one or more of these machines that they'd like to "dispose"
of, if I pay shipping? I love the red plasma display, and plan to use
this box (if I can get it fully working with a HD) on my packet radio
station.
I've got this other semi-DOA (no screen display, no beeps, but power lights)
70-386, and in the garage somewhere, a complete (no manuals, but it boots and
works, and has the I/O expansion "slice") IBM PC Convertible laptop, with
power supply in IBm canvase carrying case, if anybody's interested and wants
to swap something for them.
I've also got this MCA-bus SCSI controller card w/cache, if that would prove
useful to anyone... (I cant use it, it has the funky IBM-proprietary external
SCSI connector on back).
Bill (man, plasma displays are wonderful, wish I could find more machines
that used them.. I've already got a couple of Toshiba 3x00 laptops that
i use as VT100 terminals; anybody else know of portable machines that
used similar displays?)
--
Bill Bradford * mrbill(a)mrbill.net / http://www.mrbill.net
mrbill(a)sunhelp.org / http://www.sunhelp.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to using
Windows NT for mission-critical applications."
-- What Yoda *meant* to say
9155
days inactive
9155
days old
3 comments
3 participants
participants (3)
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jpero＠cgocable.net -
mrbill＠mrbill.net -
rhblake＠creative-net.net