Hi,
I seem to have a problem. I just got a VAXstation II, and it came with a
whole box of TK50-K tapes. I've a bad feeling that these are blank tapes
though, double bad since I'm suspecting that the system needs to be
reloaded. I'll give a detailed writeup of the problems I'm having later on
(I forgot to make notes when I had it powered up).
The only identificaton on any of the tapes is a small white label with
numbers on it. Some of the numbers on each tape are printed, others hand
written. I've a bad feeling that these are simply backup tapes, in which
case I don't know if they'll do me any good or not. The other possibility
is that they are for something called "RS/1". If anyone can tell me what
these are I'd appreciate it.
Printed Hand Written
------- ------------------
525810 5-0-0 41
525865 6-0-0 (a crossed out 96 with 117 under it)
525869 19-0-1 21
525871 10-1-0 23
525952 9-0-0 81
525959 1-0-0 70
525993 9-0-1 75
526044 23-2-0 57
Since I assume these aren't the VMS distribution tapes, does anyone know
how I can get them? I'm aware of the Hobbiest License for OpenVMS, but I
think it's to new of a version to run on my VAXstation II/RC. There is
also the problem with the Hobbiest version of it comes on CD-ROM. All the
OS manuals that I've got are for MicroVMS/VMS 4.4
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| For Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
| For the collecting of Classic Computers with info on them. |
| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/museum.html |
At 06:33 PM 11/6/97 -0500, you wrote:
>I wonder how many non - PC compatibles have used Intel 8088 or 8086 chips. I
>have heard of a machine called an "ACT Apricot", which is said to have had
>voice recognition and a GUI. Could someone tell me about it and others? My
>reasoning is that there are lots of neat things that could be done on an
>8088, but not with a DOS system.
One of the first computer jobs I had was running* a CompuPro 8/16 under
MP/M-16(?). It was an S-100 box with 5 or so terminals. I forget what it
originally had as a processor but we upgraded shortly after I arrived to a
80286/8085 dual processor CPU board.
*Note: this system was so rock solid and self-sustaining that I'm grossly
exagerating here. I wrote some programs, did some data entry, and turned it
on/shut it down. Piece of cake.
P.S., I stumbled across a site that might offer insight into this question.
It's at <http://www.mygale.org/08/samurai/> and offers a listing of
computers by microprocessor (as well as other ways). Only problem is it's
in french. 8^)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
sinasohn(a)ricochet.net that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
Hi Daniel:
Attached is the QD21 manual in a gzipped tar archive format. If you need
ASCII I'll resend it.
Kevin
At 10:52 AM 97/11/08 -0600, you wrote:
>On Sat, 8 Nov 1997, Kevin McQuiggin wrote:
>
>> Yep, you need one. You can use a standard PC cable and ignore the twisted
>> connector, or simply cut and resolder the twisted portion. This works
for me.
>
>I already have a straight-through.
>
>>
>> Here's the plan. Get the drive specs from the IBM web site (this will be
>> tough, their sites are, in my experience, very hard to navigate), and grab
>> a copy of the QD21 manual that explains each of the required parameters.
>> There are copies available online, I can email it to you if necessary.
>>
>
>Email would be good, I've tried looking for the manual but had no luck
>finding it.
>
>> Boot your machine to the chevron prompt, then start up the QD21 firmware.
>> Hopefully you'll have the "newer" menu driven version, if not then you'll
>> have to set up some tables in memory as described in the manual.
>>
>
>I do have the menus. I can get that far.
>
>> The QD21 has a "read disk parameters from device" setting, I'd try that
>> first to see if it works for your drive. I've have mixed success with
>> non-DEC drives on this one. If it works then you're away to the races, just
>> format from the QD21 menus and then INIT DUxx from VMS or whatever's on
>> your VAX.
>
>VAX? The QD21 is in a PDP-11/23+.
>
>>
>> If not then you'll have to enter a bunch of parameters from the drive
>> specs, plus some that you can calculate from the specs as stated in the
>> manual.
>>
>
>OK
>
>> The drive select jumper on the drive must generally be set to "drive select
>> 2". If you're getting no response this may be the problem. The cable must
>> not be of the twisted variety. Make sure your cable polarity is right, etc.
>> etc.
>>
>> I have had success with IBM ESDI drives and the QD21, just keep fiddling
>> and you'll get it going!
>
>That's the usual plan...
>
>> I hope this helps,
>
>If you really have the manual, it will!
>
>
>
>
At 00:02 08-11-97 PST, Tim Shoppa intoned (in response to Dan Seagraves):
>I'm going to make a guess that you're talking about DEC RX33 (5.25"
>half-height drives) or DEC RX50 drives (two 5.25" drives in a full-height
>5.25" form factor) hooked to a RQDX3 controller. If you can specify
>that you're talking about one or the other, you'll get more specific
>answers :-)
<snip>
>A RQDX3 is incapable of formatting RX50 floppies, but it is capable
<snip>
Excuse me, but this does not make sense to me. I have an RX50 and RQDX3 in
my MicroVAX II, and it is perfectly happy formatting RX50 floppies. How do
you think I got that wonderful tape copying program onto the hard drive? ;-)
For my part, Tim, I'd be very disappointed if you unsubscribed from the
list. I value your insights very much.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272)
(Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin2(a)wizards.net)
http://www.wizards.net/technoid
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own
human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
<> Ok, first of all I'm pretty amazed at the 3rd grade level of
<> mentality being demonstrated by the whiners complaining about my
<> "foul" language.
Sam, it's not a big thing but there are a few women and I for one really
don't like it. I'm no prude and there are time I can turn the air blue
but I try to avoid it unless there is pain associated with it.
< There's more to a machine that makes it historically important
<than how many were sold or produced. Was the STRETCH important (a
<half dozen or so)? How about the PDP-10 (under a thousand)? Mass
<marketing is not the gauge of importance, especially in a social
<context. Remember - the individuals who designed the machines that
<_were_ mass marketed were brought up knowing about computers, and
<those machines most certainly weren't mass-market devices.
I for one see the imporant machine as those that influenced the direction
of computing. This could be by putting computers where they werent before
or by introducing/solidifying a concept.
IE: altair was importnat because it was relatively cheap.
IE: the PC was impostant be cause IBMs entry in to the market that was
dominated by TRS-80, APPLE and friends somehow ligitemized destop
sized computer to the masses.
< Whether Novas are "wanted" is immaterial to the argument. Folks are
<now virtually unaware of a piece of history, and an important one at
<that. It's also a piece of history that's fast disappearing, which is
<a rotten shame.
That is the point!
< Do multi-thousand dollar speculative prices on Altairs make them
<more "historic" or "valuable" than a PDP-5 (predecessor of the -8)?
<There's more to be calculated into a "value" than the current market
<price, which all too frequently is out of line with reality.
People miss the Mark-8 (8008 based) that preceeded it by nearly a year.
< Nope. Nobody did. That's one of the reasons I have respect for
<the man. He knows machines worth saving, and is willing to take the
<time and (not incosiderable) effort to do so.
Right! To make a point there are few machines with much value other
than history. Those that collect are like archiologists, few will
discover the missing link but the rest will flesh out history
surrounding it. It's that history, the society, hackers, scientists
that are important.
<> If the majority of kids in America had a picture of a Nova tacked to
<> their wall, the newspapers might have run a story on one.
<
< Do you know who I'm speaking of? Hint: he designed one of the early
<mass-market computers that you prize so highly.
What's missed is many Novas were used in places like malls to make T-shirts
with pictures on them (at least in the northeast). They were there on the
bottom shelf doing it. This was at a time when altair, Imsai and apples
were the thing.
The altair... I have one. My opinion of the design is simple, it can
serve well as an example of how not to do it.
Allison
I'm not sure about the actual jumper settings, but if you have web access,
I would check out http://www.computercraft.com for more info. They have
everything from benchmarks to how to upgrade a 486.
Ciao,
Tim D. Hotze
----------
From: Daniel A. Seagraves <dseagrav(a)bsdserver.tek-star.net>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Hard drive jumper settings required.
Date: Monday, November 03, 1997 4:44 PM
I'm going to attach this to the QD21, so I need to reset the jumpers.
IBM 115MB ESDI drive, type 0669, sequence # 104040108
There are 6 DIP switched behind the drive terminator. I'm told I have to
use a straight-through cable, so I went and got one.
The drive does nothing. With a crossover cable (Where the pins are
crossed, a normal PC cable) it went click-clunk, click-clunk, and did
nothing. The drive is known good. (I pulled it from a PS/2 which we
upgraded to a SCSI drive)
If anyone works at Advanced Technology Services, the drive came from Cat
origionally and has the ATS sticker "ATS-444862"
Another barcode on top of the drive by the air inlet says "B1AF3092241"
< I was at an auction last Saturday, and immediatly started to drool over
<this beautiful piece of equipment. It was an Intergraph 250 (No, I have
<never seen one before) and it look to be in excellent shape. It was about
<top 7 feet wide, by about 3 feet deep, and 5 feet high, with a beautiful
<blue and white finish. On one side, behind a large black panel, was four
Sounds like a Intergraph/DEC 8650 or in that realm that was from the mid
'80s. Intergraph would take DEC machines and add their stuff to it to
make hopped up machines for their business applications. The drives were
SMD and the controller was of Intergraph design. Nice machine and there are
a bunch around in use.
Allison
