September 2023 - cctalk - classiccmp.org

by Dani Werts

Hello, I'm an employee with the National radio astronomy observatory here in Socorro New Mexico. As part of our NGVLA upgrades, we are seeking to get rid of old data tapes from the tape reel days of Computing. These contain things such as the boot loaders, OS, specific collection programs and antenna movement programs. I personally would hate to see these just wind up in the literal dumpster and would like to see them sent out to a museum or an archiving body that can preserve them and keep them safe as a dynamic part of history. If anyone is interested or knows someone who would be interested in the VLAs data tape library please let me know. V/R Danielle Werts Front end engineer VLA Socorro New Mexico

1 month, 3 weeks

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FTGH: (3) Qualstar 1260 9 track tape drives pertec interface

by js＠cimmeri.com

2 units working when properly stored a few years ago. 1 unit, parts unit. Must take all 3. Tested successfully only with a PC and a VAX. Located in Frederick, Maryland, USA

2 months, 2 weeks

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Greaseweazle part 2

by Tony Duell

Well, I've got the Greaseweazle software to run, but I don't know why, which is hardly encouraging. Installing various Windows updates, downloading .dlls, and puting the latter in various directories changed the error messages but it never actually worked. But downloading the latest Greaseweazle software did, it ran first time. So no idea what I was doing wrong (maybe 32 bit .vs. 64 bit Windows applications?) I can now get the list of commands when I run gw.exe. And can get help on them using the -h option. I've not tried connecting a drive yet, but the software can find and talk to the board (the green 'activity' LED turns on). For example 'gw rpm' which is used to check the drive speed by timing the index pulses times out and gives a 'no index' error which seems entrely reasonable. However I am not sure if I'll be able to use it. There is one very important thing missing : DOCUMENTATION. The 'wikii' on github is ridiculously incomplete. There is no user manual or man pages. The software source in python (a language I've never used) has very few comments and is not clear at all. It's not clear to me exactly what all the options are for, and when to use them. -tony

6 months, 1 week

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Tadpole/RDI UltraBooks - UNIX notebooks - species needs rescue...

by erik＠baigar.de

Hi there, in the last weeks my last two working UltraBooks died. Today I investigated the problem and obviously in these RDI made notebooks, the NVRAMs not only contain the boot information, the host ID and the MAC address but also the hardware configuration. Hence: Once the NVRAM is completeley dead, absent or replaced, the unit will not start up any more - it gets stuck in the power on test BEFORE the screen shows any information. Do anyone out there have got UltraBooks or UltraBooks IIi up and running? Would highly be interested in a dump of the NVRAM/Timekeeper!!! The failed first generation UltraBook are (DS1643 NVRAM): (*) U20-14-9-512P with three (!!) hard drives, no battery port (*) U20-14-3-128B two hard drives, battery port And my beloved UltraBook IIi (TimeKeeper DS1553-070) (*) U40-14-1X-1024C one harddrive, battery port and creator graphics. Reply here or PM erik(a)baigar.de, Thanks ''~`` ( o o ) +--------------------------.oooO--(_)--Oooo.-------------------------+ | Dr. Erik Baigar Inertial Navigation & | | Salzstrasse 1 .oooO Vintage Computer | | D87616 Marktoberdorf ( ) Oooo. Hobbyist / Physicist | | erik(a)baigar.de +------\ (----( )---------------------------+ | www.baigar.de | \_) ) / +----------------------+ (_/ So advice to all owners: Backup your NVRAM contents and I'd be more than happy to get in touch with you! Not affected seem to be the PrecisionBooks (e.g. H16-12-8-512L2, two hard- drives and battery port) as they do not contain an NVRAM/TimeKeeper.

6 months, 2 weeks

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Re: IBM 727 tape drive

by Len Shustek

At Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:55:13 +0200 (CEST) Christian Corti <cc(a)informatik.uni-stuttgart.de> wrote: >as it will be soon of importance to us, I am seeking for the systems >engineering manual and drawings, well, everything about the IBM 727 tape >drive (not the 729!). I especially need the module locations charts and >the module schematics. Just a few weeks ago I donated to the Computer History Museum a set of 14 original IBM black binders of "Type 7xx" manuals from the 1950s, including the 727. That one is likely to be the same as what's on bitsavers, but since it's no longer in hand I can't check. They probably haven't made it through the CHM cataloging process yet.

6 months, 4 weeks

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GEAC

by Bill Gunshannon

Here's a question for all our Computer Museum curators. Have any of the old GEAC Library systems ever been salvaged and put into a museum? They were curious boxes and I think would make a nice addition to a collection. bill

7 months, 1 week

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The World Wide Web

by Murray McCullough

30 years ago the World Wide Web came into public existence. It has enabled cctalk to flourish. Murray 🙂

7 months, 1 week

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Shelves / Rails for DEC Racks Questions

by Jay Jaeger

I have some open slots in some of my racks. I do have some old DEC rails, but I have a fair amount of equipment, from both DEC and other manufacturers, for which those rails are not suitable. Does anyone have any specific recommendations for shelving? (where equipment could just be slid on top of, if the equipment isn't too wide - some pieces are very close to 19 inches all by themselves, and were designed for front cantilever style mounting.) Would also be interested in specific recommendations for the following: DEC VR14 (I have one on a PDP-12 with proper rails, but have another to mount and don't have proper rails for it) HP 88780 (Perhaps a shelf is the best bet for these?) JRJ

7 months, 1 week

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VCF Swap Meet - Wall, NJ - Oct. 28, 2023

by Jeffrey Brace

Same place as last year in the big parking lot across from Brookdale and down the street from InfoAge Science and History Museums. We have Southern Monmouth County Firehouse museum selling food and drinks in the middle. This is a fundraiser for both museums (VCF and Firehouse museum) which are both part of InfoAge. All the info is here: https://vcfed.org/vcf-swap-meet/ Thanks! Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner VCF Mid-Atlantic Event Manager Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

7 months, 1 week

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Re: Free Fujitsu M2444 6250 BPI tape drive

by Len Shustek

The drive is saved from the landfill! It was picked up by a classic computing fan at noon this morning. (And yes, it is Pertec-compatible.)

7 months, 1 week

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cctalk September 2023