23 Apr
2004
23 Apr
'04
4:48 a.m.
Folks,
Discovered I had said old machine in storage the other day and I thought
it'd make a neat little webserver for when I'm away from home working and
will have nothing better to do than PHP hacking.
First time I powered up it sprang to life but locked up because the CMOS
battery (non-standard dammit) is obviously flat. Subsequent powerups with or
without battery installed (you can replace the floppy drive with a dedicated
AC input) result in a beep and pretty much nothing else.
Anyone come across these wee beasties before? Aside from when they were new,
obviously :o)
cheers
--
Adrian/Witchy
Owner & Webmaster, Binary Dinosaurs
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - possibly the UK's biggest online computer museum
www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
23 Apr
23 Apr
5:17 a.m.
Not offhand, but I have come across a number of laptops with proprietary
batteries of all sorts in them. One (an old compaq I believe) had 2
batteries in it besides the main power cell for the whole laptop. One was
for the CMOS and the other was for some other weird implementation (all I
do remember was that if the extra one was unplugged, the machine wouldn't
boot right after passing the BIOS).
If you want, I have access to Allied Electronics, Newark Electronics (Now
NewarkOne) and Mouser. Possibly one of them have replacement
batteries/cells for your unit. For a description with any info possible and
an image or two, I can look it up for you and get you in touch with the
appropriate source.
-John Boffemmyer IV
At 09:48 AM 4/23/2004, you wrote:
Folks,
Discovered I had said old machine in storage the other day and I thought
it'd make a neat little webserver for when I'm away from home working and
will have nothing better to do than PHP hacking.
First time I powered up it sprang to life but locked up because the CMOS
battery (non-standard dammit) is obviously flat. Subsequent powerups with or
without battery installed (you can replace the floppy drive with a dedicated
AC input) result in a beep and pretty much nothing else.
Anyone come across these wee beasties before? Aside from when they were new,
obviously :o)
cheers
--
Adrian/Witchy
Owner & Webmaster, Binary Dinosaurs
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - possibly the UK's biggest online computer museum
www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
----------------------------------------
Founder, Lead Writer, Tech Analyst
and Web Designer Boff-Net Technologies
http://boff-net.dhs.org/index.html
---------------------------------------
9:29 a.m.
At 14:48 23/04/2004 +0100, Witchy wrote:
Folks,
Discovered I had said old machine in storage the other day and I thought
it'd make a neat little webserver for when I'm away from home working and
will have nothing better to do than PHP hacking.
First time I powered up it sprang to life but locked up because the CMOS
battery (non-standard dammit) is obviously flat. Subsequent powerups with or
without battery installed (you can replace the floppy drive with a dedicated
AC input) result in a beep and pretty much nothing else.
Anyone come across these wee beasties before? Aside from when they were new,
obviously :o)
cheers
I've got one here. HiNote VP, Model TS30G. Pentium 133 ISTR.
Mine works fine with battery removed, just running off the external ac
adapter.
I have had them lock up when the save-to-disc on powerdown gets mangled,
but removing all forms of power (taking battery out and disconnecting ac
adapter) generally sorts that, so I presume it's not your problem. I've
also seen it power up with the LCD backlight off, or it switched to
external-monitor mode (not sure which) so pressing Fn & various
display-type options on the number keys can get it back.
Somewhere I've got a spare docking station for one of these too, if it's of
any use to you? Brings out all the normal PC-style ports into a useable
format, and has ethernet (10baseT and 10base2) built in.
regards
Rob.
24 Apr
24 Apr
10:45 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Rob O'Donnell
Sent: 23 April 2004 19:29
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Nearly on topic-ish. Digital HiNote VP laptop
I've got one here. HiNote VP, Model TS30G. Pentium 133 ISTR.
Mine's only a P75 but it DOES have 64mb so would make a nice temporary
webserver.
Mine works fine with battery removed, just running off
the
external ac adapter.
Hm. I've got a problem then.
off, or it switched to external-monitor mode (not sure
which)
so pressing Fn & various display-type options on the number
keys can get it back.
I wondered about the external monitor mode, but now when I power up both the
power and battery lights go off and stay off.
Somewhere I've got a spare docking station for one
of these
too, if it's of
any use to you? Brings out all the normal PC-style ports
No ta, I've got one which was why I was thinking about its usefulness as a
Linux server. It's been stored in nice dry conditions since I got it so I'm
not sure what could've killed it.....puzzling.
Cheers
--
Adrian/Witchy
Owner & Webmaster, Binary Dinosaurs
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - possibly the UK's biggest online computer museum
www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
23 Apr
23 Apr
10:23 a.m.
because the CMOS battery (non-standard dammit)
All I can say is that replacing one battery with one of another shape
(both are two leads) is one of the easiest retrogrades somebody
could do. If you can't find the specs of the old battery then post a
picture...
Now, try getting 4 wires of an unknown PSU matched up...
John A.
24 Apr
24 Apr
4:39 a.m.
On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 15:23:59 -0400
"John Allain" <allain(a)panix.com> wrote:
I just shunted around the whole issue of replacing the battery or the proprietary
AD adapter on an old Compaq 386sx laptop I had that I wanted to bring up for use. I
figured out which of the four leads on the non-standard AC adapter jack were for +12 and
ground, took the whole thing open, and routed in a common connector from the side,
mounting it on a face of the plastic case where there was room for it. It has a new hole
in the case and wires routed oddly through the case, but it's a common 386sx machine
that now is useful for DOS and Minix. There are a lot of old laptops marooned in this
state (no AC adapter, battery dead) for which this is a viable way of salvaging them.
because the
CMOS battery (non-standard dammit)
All I can say is that replacing one battery with one of another shape
(both are two leads) is one of the easiest retrogrades somebody
could do. If you can't find the specs of the old battery then post a
picture...
Now, try getting 4 wires of an unknown PSU matched up...
John A.
11:36 a.m.
There are a lot of old laptops marooned in this state
(no AC adapter,
battery dead)
Yeah, I have some trouble walking past. I have a 30 minute to repair rule.
No progress in 30 minutes, it goes back to the dump.
Fastest fix: rip open the battery pack, put 12V (typically) regulated in on
the two leads that are indicated by the wiring.
BTW I've found that the Jehova's Witnesses that I chat up (or vice-versa)
are a good sink for the older systems that shouldnt've been thrown.
I believe you probably should listen to the religious message first though,
then switch to this topic.
John A.
12:21 p.m.
There are a lot of old laptops marooned in this
state (no AC adapter,
battery dead)
Yeah, I have some trouble walking past. I have a 30 minute to repair rule.
No progress in 30 minutes, it goes back to the dump.
25 Apr
25 Apr
3:21 p.m.
I hope this only applies to modern PC-clones....
Anything Minicomputer and the list would hear about it.
Yes, This is PC class, basically the only computers
I find for free.
I almost did the 30 minute-out rule on a $5 IBM-PC luggable.
It was partially dissasembled inside when I got it, so no
responses. Then I discovered the neat tiny standard monitor
that they have. That saved it, it was repairable, and Now I
have three.
Heck, the last HP67 calcultor to cross my bench took
me 15
hours to sort out....
Tony If I had something broken that you wanted I think I'd
almost postpay it over to you, as a thanks.
John A.
24 Apr
24 Apr
10:47 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of John Allain
Sent: 23 April 2004 20:24
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Nearly on topic-ish. Digital HiNote VP laptop
I know I can replace it no bother, but it should really still run without
the battery present....
because the CMOS battery (non-standard dammit)
All I can say is that replacing one battery with one of
another shape (both are two leads) is one of the easiest
retrogrades somebody could do. If you can't find the specs
of the old battery then post a picture... Now, try getting 4 wires of an unknown PSU matched
up...
Heh, I've got a Grundy Newbrain PSU here that's missing its plug so I'll be
having similar fun trying to sort that one out :)
Cheers
w
12:13 p.m.
Heh, I've got a Grundy Newbrain PSU here
that's missing its plug so I'll be
having similar fun trying to sort that one out :)
I have the Newbrain schematics, so I can find the pinout of the power
connector (IIRC 4 pins used) on the Newbrain. Then it's just a matter of
taking the PSU apart, finding the common ground wire, and identifying the
voltages on the other 3 wires. Not hard at all.
-tony
25 Apr
25 Apr
2:50 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of John Honniball
Sent: 24 April 2004 23:19
To: General(a)jupiter.easily.co.uk;
Discussion@jupiter.easily.co.uk:On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Nearly on topic-ish. Digital HiNote VP laptop
Witchy wrote:
I think my bigger problem will be sourcing the actual power connector unless
I can just saw a bit of an IDE cable off and solder the ends together. I had
'fun' spending a few hours trying to find a company that still sold that
sort of connector; according to people I've spoken to who actually built the
things they used off-the-shelf RS components for the plugs but typically RS
don't stock 'em any more.
Cheers
w
Heh, I've got a Grundy Newbrain PSU here
that's missing its plug so
I'll be having similar fun trying to sort that one out :)
I have a working Grundy Newbrain, so we can fix that one
fairly easily!
7396
days inactive
7396
days old
12 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
-
allain＠panix.com -
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
classiccmp.org＠irrelevant.fsnet.co.uk -
coredump＠gifford.co.uk -
john_boffemmyer_iv＠boff-net.dhs.org -
sastevens＠earthlink.net -
witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk