26 Feb
2004
26 Feb
'04
2:28 p.m.
Hey y'all... I need some help. I recently acquired a Compaq Portable(ye right... at
35LBS no one is crazy enough to carry this machine around) II... with a hard drive and a
5.25 floppy disk drive. The hard drive apparently has MSDOS 3.2 and some Novell
application. When booted up it first checks the memory then it checks active partions...
then it starts going in some kinda loop looking for a file server that isn't there. I
don't have any other 5.25 floppy drives so I am unable to create disks to transfer
files to this box. I was wondering if it was possible to connect the floppy drive to my
linux box and copy the files to the disk(s) from there and retransfer the drive to the
compaq to use. Problem is that the Linux box is an RH9 platform on a PII (686) system.
Would RH9 even have the needed drivers for a drive this ancient? Can this be done or am I,
for all intensive purposes, screwed?
Lyos Gemini Norezel
---------------------------------
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27 Feb
27 Feb
1:21 a.m.
New subject: C64 still in use
Here's something for the C64 fans... personally I'm into Suns and Apple ][+'s
but came across this and think some people here may like it.
http://analogik.com/gallery_64_myer.asp
James
2:07 a.m.
New subject: C64 still in use
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Dickens" <jdickens(a)ameritech.net>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 10:21 AM
Subject: C64 still in use
Here's something for the C64 fans... personally I'm into Suns and
Apple
][+'s
but came across this and think some people here may
like it.
I'm in Toronto and one of our sports networks uses ancient IBM portables for
it's teleprompter setup. It's the orange screen luggable from the early
80's. The kids I talked to, who were using it at a practice play-by-play
booth, didn't seem at all concerned that what they were using was an
antique. Hey, these things are still proving their worth all over the world
it seems.
B.M.
2 Mar
2 Mar
11:45 p.m.
New subject: C64 still in use
Also for C64 ( and VIC20 ) fans WCN supplies has the "Quick Data" drive
complete with one cartridge on sale for ?1.50 ! Website (unfinished) is
www.wcnsupplies.com
email info(a)wcnsupplies.fsnet.co.uk .
Geoff.
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Dickens" <jdickens(a)ameritech.net>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 3:21 PM
Subject: C64 still in use
Here's something for the C64 fans... personally I'm into Suns and
Apple
][+'s
but came across this and think some people here may
like it.
http://analogik.com/gallery_64_myer.asp
James
27 Feb
27 Feb
6:30 a.m.
New subject: Linux Box + DOS 3.2 box + (1)5.25 floppy drive (okidata 3305BU) = HELP!!!!!!!!
On Thu, 26 Feb 2004, Lyos Norezel wrote:
Hey y'all... I need some help. I recently acquired
a Compaq Portable(ye
right... at 35LBS no one is crazy enough to carry this machine around)
II
The II is much lighter and more portable than the original Compaq
"Portable" (aka "luggable") or the "Portable 286", which
many of
us WERE/ARE crazy enough to lug around.
... with a hard drive and a 5.25 floppy disk drive. The hard drive
apparently has MSDOS 3.2 and some Novell application.
When booted up it
first checks the memory then it checks active partions... then it starts
going in some kinda loop looking for a file server that isn't there. I
If the loop is during AUTOEXEC.BAT, then Ctrl-Break or Ctrl-C
will work (the ap presumably uses Int 21h fn 0 - 0Ch functions)
to stop the attempt and get you to the prompt.
If the loop is during CONFIG.SYS, then the keyboard is not likely
to be any help in stopping it. LATER versions of DOS added
capability of bypassing CONFIG.SYS through keyboard intervention.
The Compaq Portable II will always attempt to boot from floppy
before booting from the hard drive.
THEREFORE, what you need is a boot disk. Any version of DOS
from 2.00 through 7.xx, on either 360K or 1.2M
(the USUAL floppy on a Portable II is a 1.2M)
Or you could open it up and install a 3.5" drive.
The Compaq uses Torx head screws throughout.
If you don't have Torx bits, then LEAVE IT ON THE SHELF UNTIL YOU DO!
(I repaired a Portable on a picnic table in Hawaii using Vise-Grips 5WR,
and do NOT recommend it!)
DOS 3.20 supports 720K, but if you "upgrade" to 3.30, then you
could use a 1.4M. If you go that route, use COMPAQ 3.31, or
COMPAQ 5.00 (MODE.COM is DIFFERENT from the MODE.COM on any
other "brand" of MS-DOS!) 3.31 or higher will also permit you
to use hard drives larger than 32M. If you ignore this advice
and install a non-Compaq DOS on it, at least save a copy of your MODE.COM.
Many people will give you advice about how to transfer files
to it without using the floppy. But EVERY one of those is
assuming that you are able to get to the DOS prompt, and have
terminal software (or at least MODE.COM) available on the
machine. So,... none of that'll do you ANY good until you
get a successful boot.
don't have any other 5.25 floppy drives so I am
unable to create disks
to transfer files to this box. I was wondering if it was possible to
connect the floppy drive to my linux box and copy the files to the
disk(s) from there and retransfer the drive to the compaq to use.
Absolutely. The
Compaq uses Torx head screws throughout.
If you don't have Torx bits, then LEAVE IT ON THE SHELF UNTIL YOU DO!
Problem is that the Linux box is an RH9 platform on a
PII (686) system.
Would RH9 even have the needed drivers for a drive this ancient?
I do not consider
a 1.2M drive to be "ancient".
They didn't even come out until 1983.
Can this be done or am I, for all intensive purposes,
screwed?
Yes.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com
29 Feb
29 Feb
3:52 p.m.
New subject: Linux Box + DOS 3.2 box + (1)5.25 floppy drive (okidata 3305BU) = HELP!!!!!!!!
Fred Cisin <cisin(a)xenosoft.com> wrote:
The II is much lighter and more portable than the original Compaq
"Portable" (aka "luggable") or the "Portable 286", which
many of
us WERE/ARE crazy enough to lug around.
LOL... Somehow this doesn't supprise me... also Sellam's website
"vintage.org" lists the Compaq Portable II as a 286 machine... but the one I
have is a 386 machine. Maybe this machine was upgraded by the user? Also this same machine
has 1180 (last digit may or may not be right) KB of ram. Amazing... I pulled it's
memory board to look at it and it only has half the slots filled with memory chips...
I'll have to see if I have any equivelant chips.
If the loop is during AUTOEXEC.BAT, then Ctrl-Break or Ctrl-C
will work (the ap presumably uses Int 21h fn 0 - 0Ch functions)
to stop the attempt and get you to the prompt. If the loop is during CONFIG.SYS, then the
keyboard is not likely to be any help in stopping it. LATER versions of DOS added
capability of bypassing CONFIG.SYS through keyboard intervention.
I managed to bypass whatever was running by using CTRL-screen lock (break) combo... the
only problem is is that it immediately ran format.com and refused to let me stop it. So
now I have a paperweight instead of a computer. LOL... it figures.
The Compaq Portable II will always attempt to boot from floppy before booting from the
hard drive. THEREFORE, what you need is a boot disk. Any version of DOS from 2.00 through
7.xx, on either 360K or 1.2M (the USUAL floppy on a Portable II is a 1.2M) Or you could
open it up and install a 3.5" drive. The Compaq uses Torx head screws throughout. If
you don't have Torx bits, then LEAVE IT ON THE SHELF UNTIL YOU DO! (I repaired a
Portable on a picnic table in Hawaii using Vise-Grips 5WR, and do NOT recommend it!)
Too late... I used needle nose and a couple different hex type drivers... and one mini
flat-head (glasses repair type)... and a phillips. Worked pretty well... except for one
screw that refused to budge... ended up drilling the damn thing.
DOS 3.20 supports 720K, but if you "upgrade" to 3.30, then you could use a 1.4M.
If you go that route, use COMPAQ 3.31, or COMPAQ 5.00 (MODE.COM is DIFFERENT from the
MODE.COM on any other "brand" of MS-DOS!) 3.31 or higher will also permit you to
use hard drives larger than 32M. If you ignore this advice and install a non-Compaq DOS on
it, at least save a copy of your MODE.COM.
Where would I find Compaq Dos?
Absolutely. The Compaq uses Torx head screws throughout.
If you don't have Torx bits, then LEAVE IT ON THE SHELF UNTIL YOU DO!
Again...oops... LOL
I do not consider a 1.2M drive to be "ancient".
They didn't even come out until 1983.
LOL... by today's standards even yesterday's PC is "ancient"
Can this be done or am I, for all intensive purposes,
screwed?
Yes.
What the heck's that supposed to mean?
---------------------------------
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1 Mar
1 Mar
3:58 a.m.
New subject: Linux Box + DOS 3.2 box + (1)5.25 floppy drive (okidata 3305BU) = HELP!!!!!!!!
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004, Lyos Norezel wrote:
LOL... Somehow this doesn't supprise me... also
Sellam's website
"vintage.org" lists the Compaq Portable II as a 286 machine... but the
Where did you see that?
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
7:37 a.m.
New subject: [VAX] KZQSA deaded?
Hi guys
I've aquired a KZQSA through my dealer. I've been through CONFIGURE and set
it up correctly for my system - apparently it only needs to sit at the
default base and csr, and it is the only device in the memory map
according to SHOW QBUS. I know the slot's ok as a KFQSA is happy to sit
there.
When I boot my 4000/200 (KA660) with it in, the boot output looks like
this:
KA660-A V3.7, VMB 2.12
Performing normal system tests.
95..94..93..92..91..90..89..88..87..86..85..84..83..82..81..80..
79..78..77..76..75..74..73..72..71..70..69..68..67..66..65..64..
63..62..61..60..59..58..57..56..55..54..53..52..51..50..49..48..
47..46..45..44..43..42..41..40..39..38..37..36..35..34..33..32..
31..30..29..28..27..26..25..24..23..22..21..20..19..18..17..16..
15..14..13..12..11..10..09..08..07..06..05..
?86 2 0A FF 0000 0000 00 ; SUBTEST_86_0A, DE_QZA_DMA.LIS
P1=200002C0 P2=00000000 P3=30040000 P4=00000000 P5=00000000
P6=00000000 P7=00000000 P8=00000000 P9=00000000 P10=00000000
r0=00000054 r1=200001BF r2=00000000 r3=20140000 r4=200560E8
r5=20056124 r6=20063ACB r7=200002C0 r8=00000008 EPC=00000000
04..03..
Normal operation not possible.
>>
...with the FP LED stopped at "7". I've tried it as a stripped-bare system
with CPU, one 8-meg memory board and the KZQSA, too. Same result.
Be my KZQSA shagged, or merely cack-handedly set up?
cheers
alex/melt
7:37 a.m.
New subject: [VAX] KZQSA deaded?
KA660-A V3.7, VMB 2.12
Performing normal system tests.
95..94..93..92..91..90..89..88..87..86..85..84..83..82..81..80..
79..78..77..76..75..74..73..72..71..70..69..68..67..66..65..64..
63..62..61..60..59..58..57..56..55..54..53..52..51..50..49..48..
47..46..45..44..43..42..41..40..39..38..37..36..35..34..33..32..
31..30..29..28..27..26..25..24..23..22..21..20..19..18..17..16..
15..14..13..12..11..10..09..08..07..06..05..
?86 2 0A FF 0000 0000 00 ; SUBTEST_86_0A, DE_QZA_DMA.LIS
P1=200002C0 P2=00000000 P3=30040000 P4=00000000 P5=00000000
P6=00000000 P7=00000000 P8=00000000 P9=00000000 P10=00000000
r0=00000054 r1=200001BF r2=00000000 r3=20140000 r4=200560E8
r5=20056124 r6=20063ACB r7=200002C0 r8=00000008 EPC=00000000
04..03..
Normal operation not possible.
>>>
This looks like you don't have any terminators on the card.
--
Eric Dittman
dittman(a)dittman.net
8:17 a.m.
New subject: [VAX] KZQSA deaded?
P1=200002C0
P2=00000000 P3=30040000 P4=00000000 P5=00000000
P6=00000000 P7=00000000 P8=00000000 P9=00000000 P10=00000000
r0=00000054 r1=200001BF r2=00000000 r3=20140000 r4=200560E8
r5=20056124 r6=20063ACB r7=200002C0 r8=00000008 EPC=00000000
04..03.. Normal operation not possible.
>>>
This looks like you don't have any terminators on the card.
2 Mar
2 Mar
9:53 a.m.
New subject: Linux Box + DOS 3.2 box + (1)5.25 floppy drive (okidata 3305BU) = HELP!!!!!!!!
Sorry Sellam... I was thinking of oldcomputers.net
Lyos Gemini Norezel
Vintage Computer Festival <vcf(a)siconic.com> wrote:
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004, Lyos Norezel wrote:
LOL... Somehow this doesn't supprise me... also
Sellam's website
"vintage.org" lists the Compaq Portable II as a 286 machine... but the
Where did you see that?
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
---------------------------------
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1 Mar
1 Mar
6:35 a.m.
New subject: Linux Box + DOS 3.2 box + (1)5.25 floppy drive (okidata 3305BU) = HELP!!!!!!!!
> install a 3.5" drive. The Compaq uses Torx
head screws throughout. If
> you don't have Torx bits, then LEAVE IT ON THE SHELF UNTIL YOU DO! (I
> repaired a Portable on a picnic table in Hawaii using Vise-Grips 5WR,
> and do NOT recommend it!)
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004, Lyos Norezel wrote:
Too late... I used needle nose and a couple different
hex type
drivers... and one mini flat-head (glasses repair type)... and a
phillips. Worked pretty well... except for one screw that refused to
budge... ended up drilling the damn thing.
Get yourself some Torx bits before you destroy the rest of it.
such as:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3278277991
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004, Lyos Norezel wrote:
Where would I find Compaq Dos?
You don't.
You find Compaq MS-DOS by not erasing it on a machine that has
it, or by being on good terms with a collector.
> Absolutely. The Compaq uses Torx head screws
throughout.
> If you don't have Torx bits, then LEAVE IT ON THE SHELF UNTIL YOU DO!
On
Sun, 29 Feb 2004, Lyos Norezel wrote:
Again...oops... LOL
Get yourself some Torx bits before you destroy the rest of it.
such as:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3278277991
> > Can this be done or am I, for all intensive
(S.I.C.) purposes,
screwed?
Yes.
What the heck's that supposed to mean?
2 Mar
2 Mar
9:57 a.m.
New subject: Linux Box + DOS 3.2 box + (1)5.25 floppy drive (okidata 3305BU) = HELP!!!!!!!!
You don't. You find Compaq MS-DOS by not erasing it on a machine that has
it, or by being on good terms with a collector.
Hey... I didn't erase it! The blasted thing erased itself.
Lyos Gemini Norezel
---------------------------------
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Yahoo! Search - Find what you’re looking for faster.
28 Feb
28 Feb
2:36 p.m.
New subject: Linux Box + DOS 3.2 box + (1)5.25 floppy drive (okidata 3305BU) = HELP!!!!!!!!
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
On Thursday 26 February 2004 23:28, Lyos Norezel wrote:
Hey y'all... I need some help. I recently acquired
a Compaq Portable(ye
right... at 35LBS no one is crazy enough to carry this machine around)
II... with a hard drive and a 5.25 floppy disk drive. The hard drive
apparently has MSDOS 3.2 and some Novell application. When booted up it
first checks the memory then it checks active partions... then it starts
going in some kinda loop looking for a file server that isn't there. I
don't have any other 5.25 floppy drives so I am unable to create disks to
transfer files to this box. I was wondering if it was possible to connect
the floppy drive to my linux box and copy the files to the disk(s) from
there and retransfer the drive to the compaq to use. Problem is that the
Linux box is an RH9 platform on a PII (686) system. Would RH9 even have the
needed drivers for a drive this ancient? Can this be done or am I, for all
intensive purposes, screwed? Lyos Gemini Norezel
mtools might let you read the disk if the bios/controller of your linux
machine wil let you attach the floppy. I couldn't mount atari disk the other
day but mcopy let me transfer the files.
dd will let you copy the disk image back to a floppy
- --
Ottawa, Canada
Collector of vintage computers
http://www.ncf.ca/~ba600
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29 Feb
29 Feb
3:56 a.m.
New subject: WTD: 486DX System
Hi,
Looking for a good 486DX System, INTEL Processor, has to have at least 5
ISA slots, max'ed out memory, and at least a 3.5" 1.44mb floppy drive.
Will also take a slower 66-100MHZ original Pentium system.
Need this specifically for a special set of boards that were designed to
work with this specific range of H/W
The set of boards I have, many are full length so most likely a large
desktop case or a Tower will be needed.
Email me off-list: curt(a)atarimuseum.com if you have one to sell
Curt
1 Mar
1 Mar
7:48 p.m.
New subject: Linux Box + DOS 3.2 box + (1)5.25 floppy drive (okidata 3305BU) = HELP!!!!!!!!
On Thu, 26 Feb 2004, Lyos Norezel wrote:
Hey y'all... I need some help. I recently acquired
a Compaq Portable(ye right... at 35LBS no one is crazy enough to carry this machine
around) II... with a hard drive and a 5.25 floppy disk drive. The hard drive apparently
has MSDOS 3.2 and some Novell application. When booted up it first checks the memory then
it checks active partions... then it starts going in some kinda loop looking for a file
server that isn't there. I don't have any other 5.25 floppy drives so I am unable
to create disks to transfer files to this box. I was wondering if it was possible to
connect the floppy drive to my linux box and copy the files to the disk(s) from there and
retransfer the drive to the compaq to use. Problem is that the Linux box is an RH9
platform on a PII (686) system. Would RH9 even have the needed drivers for a drive this
ancient? Can this be done or am I, for all intensive purposes, screwed?
Linux should have no problems writing to 5.25" floppy drives,
or old hard disks, assuming that the "driving" hardware is
still working.
Check out the kit at http://crashrecovery.org/ to create a
small set of diskettes to boot the box with, and install a
working Linux on it. Then, the rest can be done over its
network connection (it has one, since they did Novell stuff
with it...)
Cheers,
Fred
--
Fred N. van Kempen, DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) Collector/Archivist
Visit the VAXlab Project at http://VAXlab.pdp11.nl/
Visit the Archives at http://www.pdp11.nl/
Email: waltje(a)pdp11.nl BUSSUM, THE NETHERLANDS / Mountain View, CA, USA
7599
days inactive
7605
days old
15 comments
12 participants
participants (12)
-
arcarlini＠iee.org -
brianmahoney＠look.ca -
cisin＠xenosoft.com -
curt＠atarimuseum.com -
dittman＠dittman.net -
geoffreythomas＠onetel.net.uk -
jdickens＠ameritech.net -
kenziem＠sympatico.ca -
lists＠microvax.org -
lyosnorezel＠yahoo.com -
vcf＠siconic.com -
waltje＠pdp11.nl