Microsoft released WIN 95 on this day 30 years ago. It was a game changer
for the average PC computer user but more important than Windows 3.1? Not
so sure.
Happy computing,
Murray 🙂
Hey all, after a couple years of prep (weekends here and there), I've
finally finished a full coverage video about the Sharp PC-5000.
It's not the most meaningful system in history, but it also shows the
"MS-DOS 2.0 experience" and bubble memory usage.
Various folks around here helped me figure this system out and get some of
the equipment, very much appreciated the willingness-to-help community here.
Video is on YouTube titled as:
Sharp PC-5000 and MS-DOS 2.0 Usage Demonstration (EDLIN, CTTY, MASM, BASIC,
Pascal, WordStar, more!)
Or link...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHPiomuWDmk
And to those who can't use YouTube for whatever reason, I've started also
uploading over on Rumble as an alternative source:
https://rumble.com/v6ybfky-sharp-pc-5000-and-ms-dos-2.0-usage-demonstration…
I'll be at VCF MW coming up, hoping to pick up another system that I've
been wanting to explore for a long time! Not sure yet it works, but that's
how the hobby goes :)
- Steve (voidstar tech / Xiphod)
There seems to be a LOT more people who don't believe in trimming or
formatting their copies of the messages they are replying to. I see that
kind of obvious disrespect for other readers, and ignored it for a
while. But it is getting worse. Please format/trim when replying.
Marvin
I finally got the missing keyboard and now it is time to try
and revive it.
A couple quick questions.
It has a board in it called IBM PC INTERFACE with the numbers
170-18-165 and CIL18-16 printed on it. It has a 50 pin connector
on the bracket end. If I take it out the machine dies almost
immediately doing the POST. Tried Google with no luck. Anybody
remember what it is?
Next problem. 1701 error. Light on MFM drive flashes 3 slow
and 4 fast continuously. Being as this machine was known to
work when it was last shut down any suggestions? Could it be
a stiction problem and the disk just isn't spinning up? (Can't
tell by listening as the fan is pretty loud. Not bad just louder
than any good disk I have ever heard.)
And then one other not related to a problem. Being an original
PC owned by users and not geeks is it likely that the floppy
controller is one that can handle other formats (like TRS-80)
and maybe even 8"?
And just to wrap it up. What are the chances of finding an
external drive or even a cable that could be made to connect
to an external drive?
Really hoping to get it to run. Would love to see what the
Psychology Department had on it. At least WordPerfect as there
is one of those function key templates taped on the keyboard.
bill
Frank wrote:
> I wasn’t around back then ;) But I think the big problem with
> steam tractors was since they were so heavy they would sink into
> the fields. I don’t think that was an issue really solved until gas
> powered tractors came around.
We're getting off topic but I want to interject that if you want to see operating steam tractors, stationary steam engines, and lots more, get to Mt Pleasant Iowa RIGHT NOW for the annual Old Thresher's Reunion which starts TODAY.
I note that when the Old Thresher's Reunion first started in 1950, the steam tractors being run there were only 40-50 years old, not too dissimilar to how an Apple II or PDP-11 is today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs4L2nSqCL4https://www.oldthreshers.org/other-events/steam-school/
Tim N3QE


Interesting for Tesla’s early history, but skip to 49:00 for a nice rack he is putting together with an 11/20.
https://youtu.be/88KHfX_kPIY
He also appears to be on the cctalk list.
I have some 3.5" drives I don't need.
One 350 GB PATA
Three 320 GB SATA
One 500 GB SATA
Yours in exchange for a PDF of a shipping label from
Van Snyder
2229 Shields Street
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Local pickup also OK.
Just say which ones you want. They all have smartctl reports that claim
they passed.
Hi guys,
I'm somewhat sorting my stash of forever laying around parts
and there are 12 pcs from those:
https://www.tiffe.de/images/CII1040.jpg
That are two PNP BJTs in an TO can..and I think they are old.
I've desoldered them years ago. Most of them have an TI logo
printed on top.
I could'nt find any data..can someone help here?
Thx,
Holm
--
Technik Service u. Handel Tiffe, www.tsht.de, Holm Tiffe,
Goethestrasse 15, 09569 Oederan, USt-Id: DE253710583
info(a)tsht.de Tel +49 37292 709778 Mobil: 0172 8790 741
I am Michael St. Clair, Chuck's nephew by marriage. I'm writing from his
account to establish bona fides; apologies for any surprise it might cause.
You appear to be the people he considered his professional peers, so I'm
reaching out to you for some help. Chuck had little warning before he
passed. He left his equipment and development environments in working
order, but without a legacy plan. I'm a software engineer and data
archivist, and my aunt has asked me to find good homes for his equipment
and IP. I'm going to organize and open-source the software and other IP
that he hadn't already released. However, I don't know how to safely
use, maintain, or even store his physical gear.
I'm only in Eugene for a couple more days on this particular trip. is
there any specific physical information (that doesn't require
disassembly) that might be useful to potential adopters? I don't have
time to make a complete inventory, but here's a list of highlights and a
Drive folder containing some photographs. This is not (yet) a formal
"come and get it" offer, but it's likely a prelude to one (excluding
business documents and computers).
Highlights:
- Multiple 8-inch floppy drives in built-like-a-truck housings
- Dozens of assorted 80s and 90s-era I/O devices -- ZIP drives, 5 1/4"
readers, etc.
- rack-mounted HP 7970B tape drive
- another full-height rack-mounted 9-track tape drive with external
control panel; no manufacturer or model number on anything I can get to
- custom-built 'tape dehydrator'
- around a thousand pieces of assorted removable media, primarily 3.5",
5 1/4", 8", CD, DVD, and a variety of late-90s and 00s digital tape
formats. Per labels and spot-checks, their contents range from
widely-distributed commercial software to Sydex master floppies to lost
BASIC dialects to industrial control software in CP/M formats. Basically
25 years of Chuck's professional life and the industry around it.
- full electronics workbench with partially-finished projects, including
something involving Pertec controllers
- a variety of functioning vintage keyboards, from IBM Model Ms to
something apparently taken from an industrial control station.
Drive folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1KUs-x6t4OtzS_b7lxYMM7i-GxNi-QRv3
I'd very much appreciate any input.
-- Michael St. Clair