>On 3/9/23 10:16 AM, John Maxwell wrote: >> Nowhere do I see any mention of a Model 80 Reference Disk. If you >> don't have one of these, you will not be able to configure the machine.
>Yep. I'm well aware. This is not my 1st PS/2 rodeo. I actually cut my teeth >on used PS/2s in the mid-90s. >> I _should_ have a copy of one lying around (or already >>imaged/archived) >> - the main problem is finding the ADF (Adaptor Description Files) for >> the added features/cards. >The usual suspects in the comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware newsgroup have already >provided links to some ADF files for what they assume the boards likely are >based >on my descriptions. >Aside: I thought that ADF was short for Auto Definition File. But I can see >how Adapter works too. >> My copy of the Reference Disk would not likely have any ADFs from >> obscure cards, but should have the common files. >Based on my descriptions, the presumption is that I've got a standard (for the >model 80) ESDI controller, an 8514/A video card, and an IBM 386 Memory >Expansion >Adapter. I don't consider those to be too exotic. [snip] >I'm always interested in growing my ADF collection. :-) Is there a repository to where I can upload diskette images? What format is in widespread use these days? I use DiskImage (Ver5) and Dave Dunfield's ImageDisk (Ver1.17) - both work well. I seem to recall that DiskImage is a commercial product and ImageDisk is still available for free. >> ADFs were text files with descriptions of hardware addresses and the >> like. >That sounds like what I remember. >> Not sure of what you mean by 'Rifas' in the last question. Probably an >> acronym or other abbreviation of something I may know about, but >> nothing comes to my foggy brain presently. >My understanding is that RIFA is a brand of capacitor which had a model like >which is notorious for failing after time and they seemed to be common in the >'90s. Not sure that IBM would use cheap *anything* in their equipment. [snip] >*nod* That's what I was referring to as sticktion. A word of warning, the "inertial rotation" procedure was great for smaller drives, but you may break your arm applying this to an ESDI :-) >I don't know the state of the bearings. Is there anything that I can or >should do for them? Aside from dismantling the drive, not really. Just cross your fingers and pray. Usually not a problem. I have an ST225 which had been powered off for two decades and it came up fine in my DEC Rainbow! >> The battery used is one of the old 6V photoflash types (cannot recall >> the model, unfortunately). I have a few of them left in my collection >> - just ran into them in a box (with 2 or 3 left) a few months ago. >> Each still had over 6v (no load) at the terminals. No idea how long >> they would last in application under load, though, even though the >> Model >> 80 didn't use too much current to hold things in config memory. >ACK >My assumption is that the Model 80 has been powered off for years, if not a >decade or more. It's on the older end of a five computers I picked up from >someone >who wanted them hauled away. I'm not holding my breath that they >powered the PS/2 on anytime in the last decade. ;-) It is my belief that these batteries should still be available from somewhere. If I think of it when I get home, I'll dig out the box and relay the model number. Provided that the box is still where I remember. >> Just my $0.02 (not even sure it was worth that much). Good luck with >> your 80. >Thank you. You're sharing things that seem familiar. Which is appreciated >because it means that my memory isn't that far out of calibration or bit rot.
