[cctalk] Any RSX-11 fans able to identify file types?
I've got a few backup sets (potentially incomplete) done on MicroRSX that were created with BRU on RX50 media. I've cranked out some code to itemize the contents, but the file types are a mystery. I suppose that one has to live in that world to know (e.g. MSL) The sets appear to be (parts) of an incremental backup scheme; I think I've got at least one copy of the complete set. Would anyone be willing to have a look at the (ASCII) file catalog and suggest the application that may have created the files? Email me offlist if interested. --Chuck
[cctalk] Re: PCs Limited XT
On Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 6:33 PM Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: > On Fri, 23 Jun 2023, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: > > It boots fine, did I say it did not boot? I don't remember. There is no > > arcnet card, it's not the later model PCs LIMITED box, does not match the > > red label logo that came out in 1986 > > You did not say it did not boot, but it was implied by saying that you got > an error message when booting. > Many of us misinterpreted that to mean an error message with unsuccessful > boot, and asked questions about the configuration, and attempted to give > some suggestions of things to try. > > Sorry for the misunderstanding. > > Still don't understand the questions about password reset/backdoor; 5160s > do not generally have a password, and some folk conflated that question > with CMOS (sometimes password protected) on 5170. > > -- > Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com Well, I appreciate that people answered my question. I sometimes ask questions and then proceed to work on it until I figure it out. There is a THESYS "MULTI/RAM card and that was the card with the password ROM. I found the dip switch "PW" and turned it off. Problem solved. The Turbo error #04 is still a mystery, but it does not prevent me from using the system. I am thinking there's an incorrect but incidental switch setting. It could be a RAM chip but I have no proof. Chkdsk returns an full 640K. Bill > >
[cctalk] Re: PCs Limited XT
On Fri, 23 Jun 2023, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: It boots fine, did I say it did not boot? I don't remember. There is no arcnet card, it's not the later model PCs LIMITED box, does not match the red label logo that came out in 1986 You did not say it did not boot, but it was implied by saying that you got an error message when booting. Many of us misinterpreted that to mean an error message with unsuccessful boot, and asked questions about the configuration, and attempted to give some suggestions of things to try. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Still don't understand the questions about password reset/backdoor; 5160s do not generally have a password, and some folk conflated that question with CMOS (sometimes password protected) on 5170. -- Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com On 6/14/2023 7:16 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: Guys...I just wanted to know if anyone has either an original user/tech guide or worked with the actual specific machine. Maybe there is a password reset util disk image floating around specific to the original PCs Limited system, or a backdoor password ...that's what I am after...the original stuff that came with it. I learned ctrl+alt+ - toggles Turbo/ regular mode, by trial and error. Bill
[cctalk] Re: PCs Limited XT
It boots fine, did I say it did not boot? I don't remember. There is no arcnet card, it's not the later model PCs LIMITED box, does not match the red label logo that came out in 1986 On Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 9:06 AM Chris Zach via cctalk wrote: > That was it, Remote Program Load. Simple protocol, ran at the MAC layer > if I recall, and worked. However it had an issue with routers and I > think BOOTP was easier to use with a "helper" on the switch or router to > handle it. > > Old stuff. But yes pull that ROM chip or Arcnet card and it should boot > to floppy or HD. > > CZ > > On 6/22/2023 11:46 PM, Ken Seefried via cctalk wrote: > >> BOOTP load of a DOS from a Netware or 3Com server. > > Could that be RPL? I have a WD800x ethernet card with netboot PROM sold > > with a "Netware ready" or some such workstation that it took me a bit to > > figure out was looking for an RPL boot server, not BOOTP/TFTP. > > > > On Wed, Jun 14, 2023 at 9:11 PM Chris Zach via cctalk < > cctalk@classiccmp.org> > > wrote: > > > >> Sitting here paging in old stuff from my brain. I'll bet you have an > >> ArcNet card, and on the card it has a BIOS bootloader that was designed > >> to do a BOOTP load of a DOS from a Netware or 3Com server. > >> > >> Pull the card and it will probably boot normally off the floppy. > >> > >> CZ > >> > >> On 6/14/2023 7:16 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: > >>> Guys...I just wanted to know if anyone has either an original user/tech > >>> guide or worked with the actual specific machine. Maybe there is a > >>> password reset util disk image floating around specific to the original > >> PCs > >>> Limited system, or a backdoor password ...that's what I am after...the > >>> original stuff that came with it. > >>> > >>> I learned ctrl+alt+ - toggles Turbo/ regular mode, by trial and error. > >>> > >>> Bill > >>> > >>> On Wed, Jun 14, 2023, 6:36 PM Fred Cisin via cctalk < > >> cctalk@classiccmp.org> > >>> wrote: > >>> > What cards are plugged into the motherboard? > > What video do you have connected? > > On 3 digit error codes, 4xx was monochrome video problems > > Do you get any beeps? > > Does it have a dipswitch (SW1)? What are the current settings of it? > With all cards removed, and SW1 (if it has one) switches 5 and 6 off, > do > you get beeps? > > > Do you have any other 5160s available? (consider swapping BIOS ROM) > >
[cctalk] Re: PCs Limited XT
That was it, Remote Program Load. Simple protocol, ran at the MAC layer if I recall, and worked. However it had an issue with routers and I think BOOTP was easier to use with a "helper" on the switch or router to handle it. Old stuff. But yes pull that ROM chip or Arcnet card and it should boot to floppy or HD. CZ On 6/22/2023 11:46 PM, Ken Seefried via cctalk wrote: BOOTP load of a DOS from a Netware or 3Com server. Could that be RPL? I have a WD800x ethernet card with netboot PROM sold with a "Netware ready" or some such workstation that it took me a bit to figure out was looking for an RPL boot server, not BOOTP/TFTP. On Wed, Jun 14, 2023 at 9:11 PM Chris Zach via cctalk wrote: Sitting here paging in old stuff from my brain. I'll bet you have an ArcNet card, and on the card it has a BIOS bootloader that was designed to do a BOOTP load of a DOS from a Netware or 3Com server. Pull the card and it will probably boot normally off the floppy. CZ On 6/14/2023 7:16 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: Guys...I just wanted to know if anyone has either an original user/tech guide or worked with the actual specific machine. Maybe there is a password reset util disk image floating around specific to the original PCs Limited system, or a backdoor password ...that's what I am after...the original stuff that came with it. I learned ctrl+alt+ - toggles Turbo/ regular mode, by trial and error. Bill On Wed, Jun 14, 2023, 6:36 PM Fred Cisin via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: What cards are plugged into the motherboard? What video do you have connected? On 3 digit error codes, 4xx was monochrome video problems Do you get any beeps? Does it have a dipswitch (SW1)? What are the current settings of it? With all cards removed, and SW1 (if it has one) switches 5 and 6 off, do you get beeps? Do you have any other 5160s available? (consider swapping BIOS ROM)
[cctalk] Re: PCs Limited XT
I didn't get all of the replies, until a thread already developed (below) with responses already embedded. I don't think there actually is a diagnostics disk or manual, this PCS Limited is ancient, before the corporate structure of the company was established. There are other Turbo XT motherboards that are almost right but no PCs LIMITED-specific documentation is a match to the motherboard. So, I just went forward and set up the PC working with what info I could find. I am more experienced with XT type IBM and clone systems than probably anything else, I think that PCs LIMITED box I have is just a generic clone with no frills, cheap XT clone. If it wasn't PCs Limited I'd probably not spend so much time on it. Bill On Thu, Jun 22, 2023 at 11:47 PM Ken Seefried via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > > BOOTP load of a DOS from a Netware or 3Com server. > > Could that be RPL? I have a WD800x ethernet card with netboot PROM sold > with a "Netware ready" or some such workstation that it took me a bit to > figure out was looking for an RPL boot server, not BOOTP/TFTP. > > On Wed, Jun 14, 2023 at 9:11 PM Chris Zach via cctalk < > cctalk@classiccmp.org> > wrote: > > > Sitting here paging in old stuff from my brain. I'll bet you have an > > ArcNet card, and on the card it has a BIOS bootloader that was designed > > to do a BOOTP load of a DOS from a Netware or 3Com server. > > > > Pull the card and it will probably boot normally off the floppy. > > > > CZ > > > > On 6/14/2023 7:16 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: > > > Guys...I just wanted to know if anyone has either an original user/tech > > > guide or worked with the actual specific machine. Maybe there is a > > > password reset util disk image floating around specific to the original > > PCs > > > Limited system, or a backdoor password ...that's what I am after...the > > > original stuff that came with it. > > > > > > I learned ctrl+alt+ - toggles Turbo/ regular mode, by trial and error. > > > > > > Bill > > > >
[cctalk] Re: Did Bill Gates Really Say That?
On Fri, 23 Jun 2023, Ken Seefried wrote: Didn't see anyone mention it, but one should recall that the whole memory space on the 8088/8086 was 1M, so a 'limit' (whatever kind) of 640K wasn't Well, it only has 20 address bits. But it can address much more memory because it has additional information on some status pins about what segment register is used for adressing. So in theory, you could have one separate 1Mb of memory for each possible segment register. Or at least you could easily separate the stack from the other memory. Anyone here know of a design that actually made use of this? Christian
