There have been a few versions of the utility imd2raw.c floating around
that will take Dave Dunfield's ImageDisk-created images (i.e. an .IMD file)
and make a linear binary image devoid of any metadata. This is similar to
the function of Dave's IMDU.COM program's /b switch.
I've corrected a problem with the assumption that all imd2raw.c descendants
to date have made: sectors that have a skew (i.e. not 1-1 interleaved)
weren't linearized correctly. The skewed sectors need to be written out in
"sorted" order, which is not necessarily captured/physical order. This is
easily verified by comparing output from "IMDU /b" to earlier imd2raw
outputs on any .IMD that has a sector skew that isn't 1, 2, 3 [...].
It's up on github here:
https://github.com/RetroFloppy/imd2raw
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
I'm just starting to clean up a NeXT system that a friend has had in
storage for decades...
I assume the thing has a battery somewhere - I just hope it isn't Ni-Cad!
This is the original cube, monitor, keyboard (& mouse?), printer,
assorted cables, and a SCSI secondary hard drive box. So far the manuals
haven't shown up, but that is all online AFAICT.
My plan is to give them all a good cleaning, then open up and inspect
capacitors, look for batteries and any other perishable items, and then
do diode checks prior to considering powering up. The remembered
background story was a nearby lightning strike may have taken out the
(1200 baud?) external modem, so will be paying extra attention to the
serial ports! Sniff test may still be useful even after 20ish years.
Any suggestions on what else to watch for on this setup prior to first
power? I also will be using the Dim-Bulb setup once it seems safe to
turn on. Anyone seen a common problem in power supplies for these
components for example?
Planned destination is auction...
Thanks!
John :-#)#
A while back I started studying more about the Sharp PC-5000 (and had it up
and running at VCFSW in 2023). I'm now coming back to that project, and
one thing I was never able to find was a compatible 5.25 disk drive.
I've collected some information about this system at here:
https://voidstar.blog/sharp-pc-5000/
And I am hoping to put together a video about out. But one challenging
aspect is that its LCD screen is difficult to record (lots of
reflections). And despite having lots of schematic documentation now, I'm
still not savvy enough to try to export its screen content to an external
device that might have a backlight.
From my notes, as I recall.... The 37-pin connector at the back of the
PC-5000 is not the same as the 37-pin connector at the back of the IO card
with the original IBM PC 5150. I believe the Sharp product model number
I am looking for CE-510F (which might be the same as MZ-80B in certain
markets).
This isn't an urgent thing - the Bubble Memory modules of this PC-5000 are
still all working fine and make the system functional. But I do have a set
of disk with the system that might be interesting to try out. So just
broadcasting here, on the off-chance someone might be familiar with these
and know of a stash of accessories (most likely within a Japanese-speaking
community, where I think Sharp products were generally more popular).
Thanks!
Steve v*
If I remember right I was told back in the early 70s by our IBM CE that physical damage could be done to our model 30 or 40 if we ran a program that did an Assembler instruction, B * For those non-Assembler people that is an instruction to branch to the location of the instruction. I think it might have caused a heat problem in the core or CCROS or TROS.
Possible? Or is my 76 year old brain hallucinating?
Hi everyone,
Does anyone have the source for the ZRQCxx formatter? I have found a pdf
for ZRQCE0 but am curious if the actual source code for that one, or ZRQCH0
is available? I'd like to make some changes to the UIT table.
-Peter
You'd think an IBM operating system on an IBM ThinkPad would be easy-peasy
- but good grief, it's taken me over a year to finally get a magic formula
that works. Not too new, not too old.... (and yes, I have ArcaOS too, but
I wanted an OG 1994 install)
One interesting thing I found is that OS/2 can actually run SecondReality
(in full screen, but it suspends it when I ALT-ESC to something else) --
including with SBPro audio. I couldn't do that with WinXP yet (same
hardware), even though trying explicit DOS settings. I may tinker some
more on that, but rebooting to "MS-DOS Mode" in 95/98 can changing EMM386
from NOEMS to RAM then SR works.
I'll do a write up on the adventure soon-ish, I'm still trying to figure
out the TCP/IP settings stuff for OS/2. My first experience on the
Internet was "borrowing" my sister's credit card and racking up $100 for an
afternoon of web-surfing on dial up, with OS/2 Warp in 1994. A graphical
Traceroute was so neat to see, a graphical Gopher, and some early web
sites. Frankly, that day I fully realized that "BBS's are done for" (or
cute ANSI couldn't compete with HTML).
I paid my sister back, eventually. At the time I thought it was just an
activation gate, didn't realize there was a per-minute charge. Sorry sis!
Don't leave your card out on the table :P
-Steve
Hi guys,
I've got a bunch of TMS32020 and two TMS320C25 Chips and I want to play
with them a little :-)
Is the old DOS (orf VMS?) Software still available from somewhere?
(Yes, I have an VS4000-90 under the desk..long time ago since I've last
booted it, but ...simh also exists).
I'm looking for assembler, linker and the simulator that was abailable
when those chips came out (1986...) but I can't find any occurences
of that old stuff anymore.
Was a C compiler available for those old DSP's?
Regards,
Holm
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