December 2015 - vcf-midatlantic

Let's add value to the club, and have fun doing it!!!
by Joseph Oprysko 29 Dec '15

29 Dec '15

Here is a list of things that I feel the Vintage Computer Federation can do to add value to their name, and to add value for their members. Add Value to their name: Offer grading services to their members for their vintage equipment. As well as grading our own equipment in the library and coming up with standards for grading for vintage systems. Have members in various areas do membership drives at various events (Hamfests/Electronic Shows/Other computer club meetings/Etc.) While as far as I know, we don’t charge a membership fee, maybe we should look into other ways to fund club activities, or to be able to purchase parts we need to repair machines, so they can be kept as close to original as possible. Since we’re doing educational activities, if anyone has experience in applying for grants, that’s one route we could explore. Find additional organizations to solicit donations from either in the form of funds or equipment or services. I would recommend contacting companies that have been in business for many years, from Verizon, ATT, Lockheed, Sperry, IBM, as well as school districts, etc. Have a “portable” museum. Lets be honest, besides a few people who live close to central NJ or the shore, most of our members travel at least an hour. But this isn’t about us, it’s about our NAME and getting it out there. If we took a small trailer/mobile home, either attached to decent generators, or to connect to a couple power lines at the site when we would get where we’re going. No, we likely wouldn’t be hauling big-iron around in it, but if we brought around a trailer of the PC’s of the 80’s to various schools, scout meetings, etc. We would be educating the young, spreading our name, and having a hell of a time doing it. Add Value for their members: Offer FREE (not Ad supported) webpages to members to show off their vintage collections Offer online social network (or member’s only/private group on Facebook) Offer online/web based emulation of many vintage systems with demos and programs to help introduce millennials to vintage computing. Replace/update the mail-list to one with a web-based interface. I feel like we took a HUGE step backwards Have an members only auction/sales site I’m sure other there are plenty of other things that people would come up with, and likely these are things that would come up in more of a board/key-business type meeting. But I felt it’s important to bring up now that we’re a legal NPO as opposed to just a “club” of hobbyists.

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Here's an absolutely newbie/idiotic question.
by Joseph Oprysko 29 Dec '15

29 Dec '15

How do you actually tell Mac OS (Like 6.0.8) to format a disk (one that’s already been formatted Mac OS that is? Anonymous (HEH, I know that’s not gonna work, but worth a shot)

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VCF East 9.1 videos
by Evan Koblentz 29 Dec '15

29 Dec '15

Here's another batch! https://t.co/Q1WXafon7D

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OS X Leopard DVD Needed
by Joseph Oprysko 29 Dec '15

29 Dec '15

I picked up an iMac G4 15” for a song… Err, well for $25, so close enough, I had one years ago that I traded away, but ended up forgetting to give the new owner the discs that go with it, poor new owner… boo hoo… lucky for me, as this G4 I got had a broken linux install that the owner didn’t know the root password to, so, luckily, I had my fully OS X recovery set, and made it a happy mac again.. well, to a point, it’s running Mac OS X 10.1.2…. I’d like to at least get it up to 10.5.8, the last one capable of running the Classic OS apps, as well as being modern enough to run most current type programs. Joe.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Wanted: NEC PC-8001A Mini-Disk Module PC-8031A
by Todd George 28 Dec '15

28 Dec '15

> > Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2015 17:44:33 -0500 > From: william degnan <billdegnan(a)gmail.com> > > I checked as I thought, maybe??...Turns out I have a 8201A and a > 6001A...but no 8001A. I have a NEC cassette model 6082. > Sorry for my delay in reply. I get the digest version of the list, but do most of my reading on a mobile. Replying to the list via digest mode on a mobile device is not at all convenient. Seriously considering re-subscribing under a different e-mail address just to make life easier that way. Back to the NEC... Thanks for looking, I finally decided to snag the one I had been seeing on eBay. Picked it up a week or so ago, Not sure if I have buyers' remorse or not. I'm guessing not, as I don't think I'm likely to see another one of these pop up anytime soon. :) > I am looking for the NEC PC6011A Expansion Unit, which I presume is the > 6000-level version of what you're looking for. I have passively been > looking for the expansion for years. > I have to say, this comment was part of what convinced me to jump on the eBay one. I don't have any of the PC6xxxA series stuff. I did bump into one of the computers themselves recently, but it was quite a bit of a drive and I opted out of picking it up as I was still in "Acquire PC8xxxA stuff" mode. > Do you have software? > Sadly, no. I have found a few things scattered around the internet. Most of the decent sites I've found are in Japanese. Google translate does a respectable job of allowing me to understand what's being communicated. That said, I've not really located a software repository yet. I'm sure I can find more if I dedicate more time to digging. Been obsessing about the hardware first. :) I did find BASIC and the firmware here: https://archive.org/download/NEC_PC_8001_TOSEC_2012_04_23 I will also say, I'm enamored by the keyboard on this thing. It has to be one of the nicest of any keyboard I've typed on. Just sheer perfection in key switch technology. And I've used some crazy mechanical keyboards in my time. I am missing the ribbon cable that goes from the PC to the expansion chassis. I do have the one that goes between the expansion unit and the floppy. I'm planning on investigating this further. I found some references to it being a "straight through" cable, but I have my doubts based on the construction of the cable that I have. A few pictures I found online do seem to use a straight through ribbon cable though. > Here is my NEC stuff just because NEC stuff is seldom mentioned anywhere: > http://vintagecomputer.net/nec/ > (the Spinwriter I donated to FKA MARCH) > That's awesome, thanks for sharing the pictures. :) Thanks again, -Todd

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Joystick Repair Epyx 500XJ
by Todd George 28 Dec '15

28 Dec '15

> > Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2015 23:00:34 -0500 > From: Jeffrey Brace <ark72axow(a)gmail.com> > > Does anyone have experience repairing joysticks? I have an Epyx 500XJ that > doesn't respond well to the left direction. I'm just wondering if this is > something that is repairable. All of the Epyx 500XJ's I've had trouble with (so far) have been plastic casing-related (cracks, stressed supports, etc.). The internal design of this joystick is less than robust considering the weak plastic tabs they use to hold the switch assembly in place. It's also inconvenient to repair as everything is curved, etc. Makes manually manufacturing replacement parts (via Dremel, etc.) more of an artform than I usually prefer. The switches are mounted on a plastic plate that is sort of suspended inside the joystick. That said, have you disassembled it to see if there is something wrong with the plastic switch plate? I'm wondering if the switch is just physically moving out of the way or something? > Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2015 00:35:51 -0500 > From: Ian Primus <ian.primus.ccmp(a)gmail.com> > > Yes, it is repairable, I've fixed a few - you can replace the > individual switches, and you can also clean them. Disassembling the > 500XJ is a bit tricky, because of that red/black sticker that holds it > together. When I've repaired these, I just slice through the sticker > at the seam with a knife, it's not too noticeable once reassembled. > Also, the switches that these use are a relatively "standard" size and type of microswitch. With a few quick measurements of the physical dimensions of the switch, finding a suitable replacement should be pretty easy. If memory serves, I don't think they are quite as large as the ones used in arcade buttons and sticks but you will find similar switches used in pinball machines. > Take the stick apart, and find the faulty switch. Try to get as much > isopropyl alcohol inside the switch as possible (sometimes I even > submerge it in a little cup), and click it repeatedly, and firmly, for > at least a minute. Let it dry thoroughly, and check it with a > multimeter - most of the time, this will fix it. If this doesn't work, I've also had luck rebuilding microswitches. Some are easily serviced and the plastic halves of the switch casing will pull apart held only by friction, some have little plastic tabs that a diagonal cutter makes quick work of. Then you can use a soldering iron to "re-weld" the plastic tabs when you've completed the rebuild. Some are glued, and much harder to repair. I had a particularly stubborn microswitch on a coin counter, it was a truly bizarre size, and it was glued shut. I carefully broke it open with a combination of ginger Dremel use and some elbow grease, once I repaired the contacts, I simply used the original mounting screws to hold it all together. It'll be fine until someone else takes it apart. :) Once you have the switch itself apart, you will see the two contacts that make the whole thing work. Generally, they are set up as a "self-cleaning" style of contact where the switch action causes a wiping motion that scrapes the contacts together generating a small amount of friction that causes dirt and debris to be knocked away. This works well until corrosion sets in. There are a variety of ways to clean the contacts, the most success I've had has been with business cards and light pressure, pinch the card stock between the contacts and rub. Step up to more harsh methods from there. If the contacts are gold in color, stay away from abrasives. You can also use contact cleaners and the like. Sometimes it's just not worth it, and the switch should be replaced. They aren't overly expensive generally speaking. Good luck! -Todd

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Let's add value to the club to the club, and have fun doing it!!!
by Joseph Oprysko 28 Dec '15

28 Dec '15

Evan, Thank you. I was really just trying to start a conversation about ways to improve the the club, bring in more sponsors, both individual and corporate, get our name more widely known, and eventually, have us having a snazzy looking museum like the CHS has on the West Coast.. ;) Have you SEEN that place!! It’s like the kind of place where you’d expect to be able to buy a 3.5” floppy disk converted to a wall clock where the proceeds go to the museum. Maybe we could/should do “cute” little things like that with old/bad pieces of scrap as a fund raiser.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Legacy 1.2 Disk Reformats Dos 4.01 to XP
by Evan Koblentz 28 Dec '15

28 Dec '15

>> For whatever reason, my DOS 4.01 will not reformat 1.2 mb diskettes - 5-1/4" floppies. Hello, Looks like you're new to our group. Please introduce yourself. Thanks!

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Legacy 1.2 Disk Reformats Dos 4.01 to XP
by M 28 Dec '15

28 Dec '15

For whatever reason, my DOS 4.01 will not reformat 1.2 mb diskettes - 5-1/4" floppies. If I pull that drive from my 286 and put a USB adapter on it along with a 4 prong power cable from another system's power source, will XP be able to get the job done? Or won't that recognize 1.2 drives? Also, I don't think this can be done, but can I bulk erase the 1.2 disks with a magnet, then reformat? It seems to have failed on a 360k 5-1/4 disk. Thanks..... PS will 286 clone PC's be worth anything one day? Last time I checked a working B&W television from the late 1940s to 50s, Admiral or Halicrafter for example, were going around $700. Driven by scarcity.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] newbie
by Fred Terry 28 Dec '15

28 Dec '15

Hello All, I have subscribed to VCF/Mid-Atlantic. I own an IMSAI 80/30 with a Persci 277 drive and a Diablo wide traction printer. These were purchased new in 1978 for the purpose of writing survey and civil engineering software. I successfully used this system for a number of years but retired it for one of the newer DOS based computers. After years of storage, I recently dusted the moth balls from my vintage IMSAI only to discover it will no longer boot. I am severely challenged when it comes to trouble shooting problems I am at a loss as to how to revive my computer. I have all the manuals that came with my purchase making a stack almost a foot high but they might just as well be written in a foreign language. I hope to find someone in the VCF/Mid-Atlantic living close to me that could shed some light on what my problem might be. All the computer repair people think a S-100 bus is something you ride to work in the morning and raised an eyebrow at the mention of an 8" floppy disc. I didn't realize so much time has passed. I live just north of Baltimore in Timonium Maryland only a few miles from I-83. Please get in touch if you would want to lend a hand reviving my IMSAI. I look forward to learning about the VCF/Mid-Atlantic and perhaps meeting some of the members. This is all new to me so i'll try not to embarrass myself by making stupid comments or something similar. For many years I restored early Corvettes but have emptied my shop and now only make a few reproduction parts. Please be in touch, Fred Terry

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