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IBM DOS 3.30 on a Commodore BX700 CBM-IIby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  This stack of IEEE drives was used during testing of Michal Pleban's port of IBM DOS 3.30 to the CBM-II. Michal has a GITHUB page that explains how it works in detail but in short he created a PC compatibility layer that functions between the 8088 co-processor card on the CBM-II and the 6509 CPU on the main board. Click image for larger view.
 I used a Zoom Floppy with an IEEE adapter added to build the disks using CBM Transfer. This was tricky, the s">... [ read more ]
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Apple //GS (II GS) Batteryby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  Pictured is the original 1/2 AA Lithum battery dated 1/8/1987. The voltage measured from the terminals was nearly 0. Although the battery was not leaking yet, eventually it will leak and if left unchecked ruin the motherboard. So I snipped it off, leaving the posts still attached and folded out of the way. Click image to view larger version of image.
 Snip, battery removed. If I used this computer a lot I might put in a new battery, but it's not necessary">... [ read more ]
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Build a bootable RSX11/M on RL02 diskby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 2 Updated: [ Adding PDP 11 Programming ] 11/14/2017  Scan of my cover of the Digital pdp11 RSX-11M Beginner's Guide manual.
RSX-11M Manuals
http://wwcm.syn...0Manuals.html
This thread describes how one might use simH on a $9.95 Next Thing Co CHIP to make an RL02 image of RSX11/M V 4.0 BL 32 (BASELINE). I got the how-to via web search and clues from CCTECH and simH user group members interested in the project.
My case - For my PDP 11/40 I have no working EIS option card. (Otherwise I'd be using UNIX 6.) I already have RT11 running but I wanted to try RSX11. I was told that RSX11/M v.4.0 BL 3.2 is the newest OS version compatible with my system. Distribution media disk images for RSX11/M can be found in RL01 format but not RL02, so I had to first build one RL01 boot disk using 4 RL01s and then port to RL02.
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Donner 3500 - an early portable computerby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 9 Updated: [ Retro Thing Article ] 11/11/2017  The 1959 Donner 3500 portable analog computer. Click for larger image.
Pushing the exploration of portable computing one giant step farther (for me), here is a quick glimpse of the Donner 3500...My copy of the instruction manual was published in 1960, after Systron merged with Donner to form Systron-Donner Corporation. The manual depicts a Model 3500 with leather handles on the sides. The computer I have has metal handles on top, and I am unsure if this means it's an earlier model made before the merger or if the handles were added by the owner. Because they are symmetrical, I'd like to believe that they are factory/original handles. Also, this computer's serial number is 107, which also indicates an earlier version. Serial numbers can be deceiving however.">... [ read more ]
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1996 Digital AlphaServer 2100 4/275by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 9 Updated: [ Alpha Web Server ] 11/08/2017  The Digital Equipment Corp AlphaServer 2100 series model 4/275. This AlphaServer is powered by an Alpha 21064A microprocessor. Features include a 275-MHz CPU with 4 Mbyte cache; Click image for larger view.
 So far the system powers up, initializes and then fails to load an operating system. This machine would have been shipped with OpenVMS, Digital UNIX or Windows NT. Click image to see larger view.
M">... [ read more ]
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Digital VAX 4000-200by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 20 Updated: [ Updating User Disk Quota ] 11/06/2017  The Digital VAX 4000-200. Click for larger image.
 The SHOW DEV Output. Click for larger image. ">... [ read more ]
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Commodore VIC-21by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  Yes there is such thing as a Commodore VIC-21. Pictured is the box. Click image for larger view.
http://ww...kb/secret/supervic.html">... [ read more ]
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Digital DEC 3000/500by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 3 Updated: [ Hacking in ] 10/28/2017  DEC 3000/500 with front and top cover removed. Click image for more photos
Amazingly I have the cables, I will need to borrow a SGI or similar display as the VR241 I attempted was not able to synch with the display controller. I even have an old dirty mouse that should work with it.">... [ read more ]
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Front Panels! (... but no computer)by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 4 Updated: [ Photo of Varian 620L ] 10/23/2017  The Varian Data Machines 620/L Front Panel, circa 1970. Click image for larger view.
 Here is a early 1970's Burroughs B1700 Front Panel. Click image for larger view.
 Unidentified DEC UNIBUS MASP panel. Click image for larger view.
The following are not computer fr">... [ read more ]
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Large-Scale Systems Museum (phone pics)by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  I think we found the right place. My phone camera is only so-so at object photography, but I did get a few usable photos. Next time I visit I plan to bring a good camera and include photos of the equally-wonderful 2nd floor, not pictured in this set. Click image for larger view.
 The Varian 620L. This is the system behind the front panel I have from This thread. Click image for larger view.
 Digital">... [ read more ]
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Digitial MicroVAX 3100 30 Systemby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 21 Updated: [ Conclusion ] 10/20/2017  Pictured here is a 1988 (?) Digital MicroVAX 3100 with Storage Expansion boxes. The model number of the 3100 is DV-31BT4-A-A01 which I believe makes it a 3100 model 30. The storage expansion boxes are basically external SCSI hard drives. Their model numbers are DV-31BT4-A-A01(middle) and SZ123-XA (bottom). Click image for larger view.
 So far I have not done much other than boot the system from the console and run a SHOW DEV command to see what the VMS/VMB assignments are. The system is runnin">... [ read more ]
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VAXstation 4000-60by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  Can you guess the username and password? I could on the 2nd try. A password as boring as the box. Click image for larger view.
 Somewhere along the line DEC stopped trying to make interesting boxes, externally at least. Actually the 4000-60 is a pretty advanced computer, much more powerful than an average PC from 1991. This box would have been pretty expensive too. Click image for larger view.
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Televideo TVI-912Cby billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  The Televideo TVI-912C has a 82 key keyboard, in a standard typewriter style, with alphanumeric characters, symbols, and control keys. This photo was taken prior to cleaning the unit.
 So far so good I can establish communications. Note the lower-case characters. ">... [ read more ]
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Commodore CBM B500 (US / NTSC)by billdeg Total messages in this thread: 1  The ever stylish Commodore B500. Click image for larger view.
Before the C-64, Commodore put out a few computers containing SID sound chips. The first was the P500 which was followed by the equally rare B500 model. For reasons unknown to me, just before going into full-scale production Commodore renamed the B500 "B-128", making the original nameplate version very rare. The name change occurred before even the manuals were printed. I don't know exactly how many were sold, the serial number is probably not directly connected to the production number of the machine. Other than the ROM version and perhaps the power supply the B500 and B128-80 are virtually identical.
NOTE: The No">... [ read more ]
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Updated: [ Apply SMTP security to Vax 4000-200 ] 12/02/2017
A VAX with VMS 5 that uses the MULTINET TCP/IP stack is vulnerable to third-party SMTP relay hijacks by any Tom-BOT-and-Harry probing around for a port 25 SMTP server. Case in point, my MicroVAX 3100 exposed to the outside Internet would clog up with queued relay messages in a matter of hours putting me at risk of being flagged by my ISP (Comcast). As a result I could not keep the machine online for an extended period. I decided to see if I could solve the problem at the VMS or MULTINET stack level. Yes it would be easier to simply install a modern router or firewall solution but what fun would that be? Here is an example message from the queue: $ show queue /full