26 Jul
1999
26 Jul
'99
9:11 a.m.
Hi folks,
I'm helping an ex-work colleague with an HP Vectra. It's the very first
model of the Vectra (from ca. 1986) and is commonly called the "Classic
Vectra". It's a 286 running at 6 MHz, 1 meg RAM . . . you know, the
typical AT clone.
The setup floppy disk is now missing and we need to find the setup program
for the machine. About 2 years ago or so I had downloaded the Classic
Vectra setup program from HP's website. I searched HP's site now and cannot
find any setup files for these old machines anymore.
Anybody know if the setup files are still online at HP and if so where are
they? If nothing is on HP's site anymore does anybody have a copy of the
setup file for the _Classic_ Vectra they could email to me?
Thanks for all your help with this!
Regards, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
Check our redesigned website!
URL: http://www.antiquewireless.org/
26 Jul
26 Jul
9:27 a.m.
Christian Fandt wrote:
Hi folks,
Anybody know if the setup files are still online at HP
and if so where are
they? If nothing is on HP's site anymore does anybody have a copy of the
setup file for the _Classic_ Vectra they could email to me?
I'll see if I can find one at HP Grenoble when I visit this week. This
is where the vectras were (and still are) designed.
Regards
_---_--__-_-_----__-_----_-__-__-_-___--_-__--___-__----__--_--__-___-
Hans B Pufal Comprehensive Computer Catalogue
<mailto:hansp@digiweb.com> <http://digiweb.com/~hansp/ccc>
10:40 a.m.
Upon the date 08:27 PM 7/26/99 +0200, Hans B Pufal said something like:
Christian Fandt wrote:
That's great Hans! I would be much appreciative!
As a matter of fact, this machine was built in France in April 1986. Makes
sense to me as this was the first of the Vectra models introduced.
Also, if you think you can, could you please get any technical info
available on HP's HPIB card which was used in this machine.
For you others who are wondering why this machine is still in use:
The application software used on it runs only with the HP HPIB card (and
some version of a Techmar card too, I understand) and the operating system
_must_ be no later than MSDOS 3.2. Apparently, the software vendor, Ernst
Leitz GmbH, had used hardware addresses specific to the HPIB card and
perhaps to the Classic Vectra itself along with system calls, etc. found
only in dos 3.2 and earlier. Also, Leica engineers found that ISA bus
speeds cannot be too high (e.g. > 8MHz or so). Kinda limits the platform
which can be used :( Leica bought Ernst Leitz 3 or 4 years ago.
Also, BIG BUCKS to upgrade the two software applications to handle newer
hardware. The machine handles a system which measures photoresist thickness
and line widths of a photoresist photomask, both in .01 micron resolution.
Thanks again!
Regards, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
Check our redesigned website!
URL: http://www.antiquewireless.org/
Hi folks,
Anybody know if the setup files are still online
at HP and if so where are
they? If nothing is on HP's site anymore does anybody have a copy of the
setup file for the _Classic_ Vectra they could email to me?
I'll see if I can find one at HP Grenoble when I visit this week. This
is where the vectras were (and still are) designed. 
12:46 p.m.
Chris,
At 03:40 PM 7/26/99 -0400, you wrote:
Upon the date 08:27 PM 7/26/99 +0200, Hans B Pufal said
something like:
I have one of these machines too. I think I downloaded the setup from HP
within the last couple of months but I don't know if I still have it
around. If you get any information or software for the HP-IB cards let me
know, I have a couple of them here too.
Christian Fandt wrote:
That's great Hans! I would be much appreciative!
As a matter of fact, this machine was built in France in April 1986. Makes
sense to me as this was the first of the Vectra models introduced.
Also, if you think you can, could you please get any technical info
available on HP's HPIB card which was used in this machine.
Hi folks,
Anybody know if the setup files are still online
at HP and if so where are
they? If nothing is on HP's site anymore does anybody have a copy of the
setup file for the _Classic_ Vectra they could email to me?
I'll see if I can find one at HP Grenoble when I visit this week. This
is where the vectras were (and still are) designed.
For you others who are wondering why this machine is still in use:
The application software used on it runs only with the HP HPIB card (and
some version of a Techmar card too, I understand) and the operating system
_must_ be no later than MSDOS 3.2.
Hmmm. That's news to me.
Apparently, the software vendor, Ernst
Leitz GmbH, had used hardware addresses specific to the
HPIB card and
perhaps to the Classic Vectra itself along with system calls, etc. found
only in dos 3.2 and earlier. Also, Leica engineers found that ISA bus
speeds cannot be too high (e.g. > 8MHz or so).
That's not uncommon with many old cards. I have some HP HP-IL cards that
have the same problem.
Joe
5:22 p.m.
Upon the date 04:46 PM 7/26/99 +0000, Joe said something like:
The operating syst. dependency is specific to the software, not to the
Vectra. I tried running the software under M$DOS 6.22 and the program
randomly crashed once in a while. When the graph of the data was attempted
to be brought up the program blew up and took the machine back to the C:\>
prompt. The software was originally written for the HP85 and ported to the
Vectra. The machine alone seemed to like 6.22 but I didn't take time to
thoroughly test it. Windoze 3.1 would run too I think but the Seven Year
Itch would come and go before much happened :)
Chris,
At 03:40 PM 7/26/99 -0400, you wrote:
Hi Joe,
Thanks for the reply. Hans seems to be able to go to The Source over in
Grenoble in a few days. Let's see what he can find for us. (Your effort is
much appreciated Hans!)
Upon the date 08:27 PM 7/26/99 +0200, Hans B Pufal
said something like:
I have one of these machines too. I think I downloaded the setup from HP
within the last couple of months but I don't know if I still have it
around. If you get any information or software for the HP-IB cards let me
know, I have a couple of them here too. Christian Fandt wrote:
That's great Hans! I would be much appreciative!
As a matter of fact, this machine was built in France in April 1986. Makes
sense to me as this was the first of the Vectra models introduced.
Also, if you think you can, could you please get any technical info
available on HP's HPIB card which was used in this machine.
Hi folks,
Anybody know if the setup files are still online
at HP and if so where are
they? If nothing is on HP's site anymore does anybody have a copy of the
setup file for the _Classic_ Vectra they could email to me?
I'll see if I can find one at HP Grenoble when I visit this week. This
is where the vectras were (and still are) designed.
For you others who are wondering why this machine is still in use:
The application software used on it runs only with the HP HPIB card (and
some version of a Techmar card too, I understand) and the operating system
_must_ be no later than MSDOS 3.2.
Hmmm. That's news to me.
Apparently, the software vendor, Ernst
Oh well, back then in "the olden days" who woulda knew . . .
'Til later, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
Check our redesigned website!
URL: http://www.antiquewireless.org/
Leitz GmbH, had used hardware addresses specific
to the HPIB card and
perhaps to the Classic Vectra itself along with system calls, etc. found
only in dos 3.2 and earlier. Also, Leica engineers found that ISA bus
speeds cannot be too high (e.g. > 8MHz or so).
That's not uncommon with many old cards. I have some HP HP-IL cards that
have the same problem. 
5:11 p.m.
On 26 Jul 99 at 22:22, Christian Fandt wrote:
Upon the date 04:46 PM 7/26/99 +0000, Joe said
something like:
I have an HP disk labelled "Vectra" MS-DOS 3.1. It came with 7 others on
DEC-label disks which were hand written "AT&T Dos v3.3a Rel 1.01" for 4
disks.
2 were "AT&T Test Diagnostics PC6300 non-bootable 360k" and the other was
"AT&T Clock Set Patch 6300" Obviously ,it would seem, for the AT&T 6300
While the 3.1 disks would boot my Philips luggable I could make nothing out of
the others.
Possibly there was a reason they were with the Vectra disk.
I'm not using them if it would help.
ciao larry
lwalker(a)interlog.com
Let us know of your upcoming computer events for our Events Page.
t3c(a)xoommail.com
Vintage Computer Collectors List and info http://members.xoom.com/T3C
Chris,
At 03:40 PM 7/26/99 -0400, you wrote:
>Upon the date 08:27 PM 7/26/99 +0200, Hans B Pufal said something like:
>>Christian Fandt wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi folks,
>>>
>>
>>> Anybody know if the setup files are still online at HP and if so where are
>>> they? If nothing is on HP's site anymore does anybody have a copy of the
>>> setup file for the _Classic_ Vectra they could email to me?
>>
>>I'll see if I can find one at HP Grenoble when I visit this week. This
>>is where the vectras were (and still are) designed.
>
>That's great Hans! I would be much appreciative!
>
The operating syst. dependency is specific to the software, not to the
Vectra. I tried running the software under M$DOS 6.22 and the program
randomly crashed once in a while. When the graph of the data was attempted
to be brought up the program blew up and took the machine back to the C:\>
prompt. The software was originally written for the HP85 and ported to the
Vectra. The machine alone seemed to like 6.22 but I didn't take time to
thoroughly test it. Windoze 3.1 would run too I think but the Seven Year
Itch would come and go before much happened :)
>
>Apparently, the software vendor, Ernst
>>Leitz GmbH, had used hardware addresses specific to the HPIB card and
>>perhaps to the Classic Vectra itself along with system calls, etc. found
>>only in dos 3.2 and earlier. Also, Leica engineers found that ISA bus
>>speeds cannot be too high (e.g. > 8MHz or so).
> 
10:19 p.m.
New subject: Save me from cute computers
Cute computers are bound to be my downfall. Today I started poking in the
first half of 20 pallets of ALR stuff going through a salvage yard, and
soon grew listless. Some great stuff, but the salvage guy was seeing
nothing but $$$, and that combined with large size to most items I liked
meant zero was going home with me. (like the giant dual PS rack unit)
Then like the nose of a fawn peeking out from a bush, I noticed a floppy
drive on the end of a keyboard. Curious. I fished it out and its a 386sx
built into a keyboard with a small power brick to make it go. The brand is
MicroBuilt on a couple, and Jamicon on a third (and all the power supplies)
and the model is SpaceSaver 386sx. Cute. Cute enough that I barely got to
keep one after finding all three. No idea on the cpu speed, 2 MB ram, about
65 MB HD, and a 1.44 floppy, all running some loan program over dos 6.2.
I'll save my Unisys micro tower for another post, anybody else have some
cute computers?
27 Jul
27 Jul
10:33 a.m.
New subject: Save me from cute computers
Mike Ford wrote:
Cute computers are bound to be my downfall. Today I started poking in the
I'll save my Unisys micro tower for another post,
anybody else have some
cute computers?
As space becomes more and more of a premium item, I am finding anything
small is cute :). After reading and finding a few single board computers, I
am beginning to like them more and more. The Aim 65 and Kim 1 are obvious
first examples, but the MicroProfessor from about 198 is rather cute.
11:01 a.m.
New subject: Save me from cute computers
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28 Jul
28 Jul
2:27 a.m.
New subject: Save me from cute computers
On Tue, 27 Jul 1999 12:33:01 -0700 Marvin <marvin(a)rain.org>
wrote:
> Cute computers are bound to be my downfall. Today
I started poking in the
...
As space becomes more and more of a premium item, I am
finding anything
small is cute :). After reading and finding a few single board computers, I
am beginning to like them more and more. The Aim 65 and Kim 1 are obvious
first examples, but the MicroProfessor from about 198 is rather cute.
I think my nomination for a cute computer design would be
the Pioneer MSX machine. Yes, Pioneer the Hi-Fi company
made a computer back in the 1980s. Of course, it looks
just like a hi-fi amplifier and the keyboard plugs into
the front panel. It would hide nicely in between your
CD player and amplifier...
--
John Honniball
Email: John.Honniball(a)uwe.ac.uk
University of the West of England
27 Jul
27 Jul
1:54 p.m.
New subject: Windows 1.01 and a question
http://pla-netx.com/linebackn/guis/win101.html
Windows 1.01 screenshots
I've been offered an old Tandem computer with an RGB monitor, 640k, 5 1/4
floppy, 6MHz (or 8MHz enhanced). The only problem is that it doesn't have a
hard drive. Anyone know what kind of hard drive interface it used?
--
Gareth Knight
Amiga Interactive Guide - http://welcome.to/aig
28 Jul
28 Jul
1:23 a.m.
New subject: Save me from cute computers
Then like the nose of a fawn peeking out from a bush,
I noticed a floppy
drive on the end of a keyboard. Curious. I fished it out and its a 386sx
built into a keyboard with a small power brick to make it go. The brand is
MicroBuilt on a couple, and Jamicon on a third (and all the power supplies)
and the model is SpaceSaver 386sx. Cute. Cute enough that I barely got to
keep one after finding all three. No idea on the cpu speed, 2 MB ram, about
65 MB HD, and a 1.44 floppy, all running some loan program over dos 6.2.
Reminds me of the Schneider EuroPC (Althrough this was a XT) -
See Jim's VCF 2.0 Page for a picture.
Gruss
H.
--
Der Kopf ist auch nur ein Auswuchs wie der kleine Zeh.
H.Achternbusch
9107
days inactive
9109
days old
11 comments
10 participants
participants (10)
-
cfandt＠netsync.net -
ckaiser＠oa.ptloma.edu -
gareth.knight2＠which.net -
Hans.Franke＠mch20.sbs.de -
hansp＠digiweb.com -
John.Honniball＠uwe.ac.uk -
lwalker＠mail.interlog.com -
marvin＠rain.org -
mikeford＠netwiz.net -
rigdonj＠intellistar.net