TRS-80 Model 16 hard drive questions...

[Josh Dersch]

Thanks for all of the helpful responses to my questions -- looks like 
I'll start watching out for either a WD1000 controller or an original 
50-pin external drive.  If anyone out there has one they're willing to 
part with (sale/trade/barter/human souls/etc.), working or otherwise, 
please let me know :).

As regards the PAL upgrade for Xenix, I checked out the site 
(http://www.catcorner.org/xenix), but it mentions looking for a PAL at 
U36 -- on my board there's no PAL at U36, but there is one at U34.  I 
assume that this is because the site is referring to a Model 6000 and 
that there are differences between the 68k boards of a 6000 and a 16?  
The PAL at U34 has a checksum of 34063E stamped on it.  Does the 16 
require the same PAL upgrade as the 6000 in order to run newer Xenix 
versions?  Where might I find one?

Thanks once again...
Josh

Kelly Leavitt wrote:
>> Josh Dersch
>> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 7:50 PM
>>     
> <SNIP>
>   
>> - Is this drive actually compatible with a Model 16?  The 
>> limited info 
>> I've found seems to hint that this was for a Tandy 2000 or 
>> 1000 system.
>>
>>     
> Not normally, but it could be used as a secondary drive if you have a 16b HD.
>
>   
>> - If it is compatible, what kind of drive goes in the enclosure, and 
>> where can I find the proper cable to connect it to the Model 16? (The 
>> enclosure has a 20 pin "Data" and a 34-pin "Control" connector on it, 
>> looks like a standard ST-506 configuration, while the Model 16 has a 
>> single 50-pin connector.)
>>     
> That enclosure is made for a simple ST-506 drive. It is not meatn to be used as a primary boot drive for a model 16.
>
>   
>> - If the drive isn't compatible, anyone have a compatible one for 
>> sale/trade? :)
>>
>>     
> They're pretty rare, especailly in working condition. I have a couple of the big 50 pin units, but they're all in non-working order. You can replace the hard drive in them with just about any ST-506 drive with a few modifications. They are alsmost identical in interface with a WD1000-HDO card.
>
>   
>> I'd like to try to get Xenix running, I have the installation 
>> floppies 
>> -- just need something to install it to.  I actually work 
>> with a guy who 
>> ported the Xenix kernel to the Model 16 back in the day, I 
>> thought he'd 
>> get a kick out of seeing a running system again...
>>     
> You also need to verify that it has the latest PAL upgrade to run Xenix 3.1 or higher. See the short reference at: http://www.catcorner.org/xenix
>
> Kelly
>
>
>
>