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S-100 board testing with Z-80 ICE

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 4
Updated: [ ICE and RAM may vary in compatibility ] 01/09/2009
I just finished testing a Cromemco 64KZ RAM board. I did this by using Bob Grieb's Z80 ICE, which is made to be plugged into the Z80 slot of computer or controller card. Bob created his own "PIC-based circuit that could emulate a Z80 for displaying memory, writing to I/O ports, etc. as an aid to troubleshooting..." Bob's modern version is based on the Nicolet Paratronics Z80 emulator called the Z80 NICE. I am fortunate to have been given a beta version of this device to test. I inserted his Z80 ICE into a Jade CPU card, which is installed in my California Computer Systems 2200 Series S-100 computer. Using the ICE I was able to determine that the JADE controller was working correctly. Next I tested 2 64K RAM cards a Cromemco 64KZ and a SMS 64K. The SMS was 100% OK, but not the Cromemco. H">... [ read more ]

Northstar Horizon - Boot Problem

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 11
Updated: [ N* back in business ] 01/04/2009
First the situation and then the questions My formerly working Northstar Horizon will no longer boot formerly known-to-work boot disks. This system used to boot up a number of NS disks, worked very well with present hardware. Not sure what happened. I did all of the standard stuff with chips and connections, but I did not do any electrical probing or anything like that. Now, when the system is powered on the drive does not engage the disk. It spins for a spell and then stops. Both the A and B drives will spin together upon boot for 30 seconds and then stop. The left / boot drive is a Tandon TM100-2A with all the jumpers off. The right drive is a MPI model 52 with the first two jumpers on. I have temporarily disconnected this drive. I have a terminator jumper installed on drive A. I have a North Star MDS AD3 controller/interface card with no visible modifications. I tr">... [ read more ]

Lear Siegler ADM 3A

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 2
Updated: [ ADM3 Working (always has been) ] 12/19/2008
Restoration project notes for Lear Siegler ADM 3A terminal S/N 21818 from late 1977. The bad news: I cannot communicate with a known-working computer, no response from keyboard although box prompt is present. The good news: The picture is in good shape. I cannot get the computer to respond locally either. I tried to jumper pins 2 and 3 (I believe those are the ones). Missing the dip switch cover. Updates to come. Pictures ADM3A">... [ read more ]

C64 for sale

by dmobile215
Total messages in this thread: 1
Keyboard,Floppy Disk Drive (1541) Tape Drive Software 5.25 Fast Hackem Word Processor 64 Gemini Printer included! Make me an offer! ">... [ read more ]

Xerox 820-II

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 1
Coming soon thread about Xerox 820-II project to add a 5 1/4" drive to an already-working system with 8" drives. I have received a lot of disks to archive. Pictures">... [ read more ]

Altair BASIC on cassette

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 2
Updated: [ WTB Altair Tapes ] 11/26/2008
I bought some "Altair tapes" on Ebay. When the box arrived, I opened it to find that it contained most if not all of the Altair BASIC versions. More to come.">... [ read more ]

New Pictures

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 1

Timex 1000 / Sinclair ZX 81 Books and Manuals
My policy for collecting computer artifacts is to keep only working or serviceable systems and parts. I also avoid anything that I have no intention in actually using. Lastly, I have a finite space so for everything that comes in, something of lesser interest must go... Miscellaneous Grid Laptops Xerox 820-II Misc Micropolis Drives ICOM Dual 8" Drive Two IMSAI 8080's
IBM Software Pkgs ">... [ read more ]

Archiving Apple II disks

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 2
Updated: [ Apple IIGS 3.6v MB Battery ] 11/28/2008
Test subject: Apple II GS with 3.5 and 5 1/4" drives, ADT 1.21 and a bunch of diskettes.
Apple II GS Computer running ADT 1.21
I decided it was time to learn how to archive Apple II disks by copying them (somehow) to a modern computer. I chose an Apple II GS as the bridge system because it has a 3.5 and 5 1/4" disk drive, and it can read old Apple II diskettes. The question is how to take make disk images and save them to 3.5 disk, and then find a modern system to read the 3.5 disks. Finally I will need to be able to both run the disk images in an Apple II emulator, and also move disk images from other sources to the Apple II GS for extraction onto 5 1/4" in Apple DOS 3.3 format for use on an Apple II (II-->IIe). [1 archive diske">... [ read more ]

IBM AT 5170

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 1
It had been a while since I ran my IBM AT model 5170. I opened it, and used the opportunity to test some new-to-me EGA cards and a couple of mid 80's hard drives. I also took a few pictures.">... [ read more ]

Some new Apple MACs

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 1
Recently I was given two working Apple MAC computers. The first is an MAC SE30, appears to be fully functional. Pictures The second is an admittedly not-yet-vintage Apple Powerbook 520C, with Colorwriter 2200 and a Visioneer Paperport scanner. circa 1994. The computer still works. Pictures">... [ read more ]

Commodore SuperPET (CBM SP9000)

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 2
Updated: [ Output to a printer using a SuperPET ] 11/10/2008
I am writing a Pascal program on a CBM SuperPet running Waterloo Pascal. This version of pascal is similar to the pUCSD version. Pictures">... [ read more ]

IBM 5155 Restoration Project Update

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 1
IBM Portable Model 5155 with 3.5" drive added. IBM 5155 with carry bag, Hardware Maintenance & Service (for) Portable Personal Computer vol 1, Advanced Diagnostics 2.10. Details of the step by step restoration will be posted soon, but for now here are the IBM 5155 Restoration Pics">... [ read more ]

Vintage Computer Festival East 5

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 1
Vintage Computer Festival East 5.0 Saturday, Sept. 13th and Sunday, Sept. 14th InfoAge Science Center at Wall Township, New Jersey. Sponsored by MARCH and VintageTech Pictures of the event">... [ read more ]

Looking for an IMSAI Box

by monahan_z
Total messages in this thread: 5
Updated: [ IMSAI chassis ] 10/31/2008
I am looking for an IMSAI S100 box with power supply and front panel. No need for S100 cards. Anybody seen one for sale?">... [ read more ]

the "SacState" 8008 Machine 1972-73

by billdeg
Total messages in this thread: 1
Passing along an interesting story about a microcomputer produced by a guy named Bill Pentz at the California State University, Sacramento. According to the Digibarn's Bruce Dalmer this is "..the World's First Fully Functional Microcomputer (with peripherals).." http:...-pentz-story/index.html">... [ read more ]
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