Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-24 Thread Rod Smallwood via cctalk

MicroRSX V1

Partitions - YIK - DU.SYS gets you 8 . SYSGEN more.

I have no MFM drives and loads of SCSI.

How much of a drive gets used - IDC

R



On 24/02/2022 11:19, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:

What version of MicroRSX?

Remember RT11 has a limit of 33mb disk partitions, might want to just 
get 30mb MFM drives and run it off the RQDX3


C

On 2/24/2022 5:13 AM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:

I already have a Linux system (Ubuntu v20) the problem is

I have no hardware that would run Linux and has a floppy controller.

However thats no longer a problem as I have obtained a full original 
MicroRSX distribution on RX50.


But thats not the end of the story.  RT-11 is next

R


On 24/02/2022 08:35, Liam Proven via cctalk wrote:

On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 at 15:50, Paul Koning via cctalk
 wrote:
I think you're unnecessarily limiting your options by refusing to 
use Linux, which as we've pointed out is something you can do on 
your existing PC without overwriting the OS that is on it now.

I agree. The same thought crossed my mind, in fact.

A small distro such as Slax – https://www.slax.org/ – would fit onto a
single CD-ROM, boot and run entirely from that disk and does not need
to touch the hard disk.

If the machine has a DVD-ROM, then a larger distro such as PC Linux OS
will do the job too. No installation needed.

https://www.pclinuxos.com/



Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-24 Thread Chris Zach via cctalk

What version of MicroRSX?

Remember RT11 has a limit of 33mb disk partitions, might want to just 
get 30mb MFM drives and run it off the RQDX3


C

On 2/24/2022 5:13 AM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:

I already have a Linux system (Ubuntu v20) the problem is

I have no hardware that would run Linux and has a floppy controller.

However thats no longer a problem as I have obtained a full original 
MicroRSX distribution on RX50.


But thats not the end of the story.  RT-11 is next

R


On 24/02/2022 08:35, Liam Proven via cctalk wrote:

On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 at 15:50, Paul Koning via cctalk
 wrote:
I think you're unnecessarily limiting your options by refusing to use 
Linux, which as we've pointed out is something you can do on your 
existing PC without overwriting the OS that is on it now.

I agree. The same thought crossed my mind, in fact.

A small distro such as Slax – https://www.slax.org/ – would fit onto a
single CD-ROM, boot and run entirely from that disk and does not need
to touch the hard disk.

If the machine has a DVD-ROM, then a larger distro such as PC Linux OS
will do the job too. No installation needed.

https://www.pclinuxos.com/



Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-24 Thread Rod Smallwood via cctalk

I already have a Linux system (Ubuntu v20) the problem is

I have no hardware that would run Linux and has a floppy controller.

However thats no longer a problem as I have obtained a full original 
MicroRSX distribution on RX50.


But thats not the end of the story.  RT-11 is next

R


On 24/02/2022 08:35, Liam Proven via cctalk wrote:

On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 at 15:50, Paul Koning via cctalk
 wrote:

I think you're unnecessarily limiting your options by refusing to use Linux, 
which as we've pointed out is something you can do on your existing PC without 
overwriting the OS that is on it now.

I agree. The same thought crossed my mind, in fact.

A small distro such as Slax – https://www.slax.org/ – would fit onto a
single CD-ROM, boot and run entirely from that disk and does not need
to touch the hard disk.

If the machine has a DVD-ROM, then a larger distro such as PC Linux OS
will do the job too. No installation needed.

https://www.pclinuxos.com/



Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-24 Thread Liam Proven via cctalk
On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 at 19:04, Chuck Guzis via cctalk
 wrote:

> Maybe for Win95, but Win98 and later uses its own 32-bit port drivers
> (I'm not certain about 95 OSR2).

98 and 98SE are still loaded from DOS and you can shut down and exit
to DOS again too, if you know how. There's no functional difference.

> If running 98 or 95, just do a "shutdown to MS-DOS prompt", rather than
> opening a DOS Window and you'll be fine.

I don't think 98 has that option. I know WinME does not.

I would recommend booting to DOS (pressing F5 at startup should be enough).

-- 
Liam Proven ~ Profile: https://about.me/liamproven
Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk ~ gMail/gTalk/FB: lpro...@gmail.com
Twitter/LinkedIn: lproven ~ Skype: liamproven
UK: (+44) 7939-087884 ~ Czech [+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal]: (+420) 702-829-053


Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-24 Thread Liam Proven via cctalk
On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 at 15:50, Paul Koning via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> I think you're unnecessarily limiting your options by refusing to use Linux, 
> which as we've pointed out is something you can do on your existing PC 
> without overwriting the OS that is on it now.

I agree. The same thought crossed my mind, in fact.

A small distro such as Slax – https://www.slax.org/ – would fit onto a
single CD-ROM, boot and run entirely from that disk and does not need
to touch the hard disk.

If the machine has a DVD-ROM, then a larger distro such as PC Linux OS
will do the job too. No installation needed.

https://www.pclinuxos.com/

-- 
Liam Proven ~ Profile: https://about.me/liamproven
Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk ~ gMail/gTalk/FB: lpro...@gmail.com
Twitter/LinkedIn: lproven ~ Skype: liamproven
UK: (+44) 7939-087884 ~ Czech [+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal]: (+420) 702-829-053


Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-23 Thread Fred Cisin via cctalk

To test the false "Write-protect" error, try:

Put a BLANK floppy in the drive, and ask Windoze to FORMAT it.
For simplicity, choose the "360K" or "720K" format.
See what if any errors that generates.
If no errors (or certain specific other ones), then we can assume that the 
problem is not with the drive.


If it gives a "write protect" error, even with Windoze FORMAT, then the 
hardware seems to be seeing a hardware write protect.


Besides the obvious possibility of a defective write protect switch, or 
a cable mismatch, one of the MANY unlikely other possibilities, . . .
I have seen and used floppy drives that were jumpered to reverse the 
write-protect sense.  Try it again WITH a write protect tab on the disk.

That would confirm THAT particular issue.


Also, put a disk into the drive, and try a simple READ, such as looking at 
DIRectory.  Assume that you will get errors, but WHICH ONES?



I can understand your refusal to use Linux.
But, are you willing to reboot to MS-DOS?
If not, at least try FORMAT in a DOS CMD window.
Disk I/O error messages in DOS are more meaningful than the 
over-simplified messages that Windoze gives.


--
Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com


On Wed, 23 Feb 2022, Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:


Hi

   Well I have had a huge response to my request.

I am unsure as to if I have defined the problem properly.

So a few bullet points.

1. The objective is to copy RX50 disk images (*.dsk format) to genuine DEC 
RX50 disks.


2. The PC I want to use is a DEC Celeibris FX ie the PC and its W95 software 
is as supplied by DEC.


3. It has an RX33 5.25 inch floppy drive.

4. The RX33 _*is*_ capable of  reading and writing RX50 disks.

5.  putR was supposed to be able to do this. It does not.

6.  All that is lacking is the right utility.

7. Doing this does not need any disks other than RX50's.

8. Linux in any of its myriad of forms is not the answer.

9. simH is good at what it does but of no use here

10.  Its just a W95 utility program to copy an RX50 disk image to an RX50 
disk on an RX33 drive on a DEC PC.


11. So whats it called? Does it work  given the above situation?

Rod


Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-23 Thread Joshua Rice via cctalk
> On Feb 23, 2022, at 6:04 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> If running 98 or 95, just do a "shutdown to MS-DOS prompt", rather than
> opening a DOS Window and you'll be fine.
> 
> --Chuck
> 

I’ve written RX50’s to generic PC SSDD disks using a DOS window in 98SE. As 
long as you’re running 9x, PUTR should work as intended. 

I highly suspect the issue lies with either the floppy controller, or the 
floppy drive itself. It would be worth inspecting the floppy drive to make sure 
lint or other detritus isn’t blocking the write protect mechanism. I had 
similar issues with the RX50 in my 11/23

Josh Rice.




Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-23 Thread Chuck Guzis via cctalk
On 2/23/22 09:43, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:

> I don't know PUTR, but my experience with DOS int13 code in RSTSFLX (built 
> with DJGPP) is that it worked fine in a DOS window on Win95.  And that makes 
> sense, because Win95 is basically just a bit of UI veneer over DOS.  Win NT 
> is an entirely different thing, of course, and I would not expect DOS low 
> level I/O to work in Win NT command windows since those really are not DOS.

Maybe for Win95, but Win98 and later uses its own 32-bit port drivers
(I'm not certain about 95 OSR2).

If running 98 or 95, just do a "shutdown to MS-DOS prompt", rather than
opening a DOS Window and you'll be fine.

--Chuck



Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-23 Thread js--- via cctalk




On 2/23/2022 12:38 PM, Ethan Dicks via 
cctalk wrote:
Rod, My memory is that programs like 
putr need to run on "real" DOS, not a 
DOS window. So if you are trying to 
run putr without booting to MS-DOS 6.2 
or older, that could be the source of 
your problems with it.



He should be able to boot into Windows 
95 DOS (prior to running Win95) and have 
that work ok.


-js.


Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-23 Thread Paul Koning via cctalk



> On Feb 23, 2022, at 12:38 PM, Ethan Dicks via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> On Tue, Feb 22, 2022 at 9:29 PM Rod Smallwood via cctalk
>  wrote:
>> 2. The PC I want to use is a DEC Celeibris FX ie the PC and its W95
>> software is as supplied by DEC.
> .
> .
> .
>> 5.  putR was supposed to be able to do this. It does not.
> 
> Rod,
> 
> My memory is that programs like putr need to run on "real" DOS, not a
> DOS window. So if you are trying to run putr without booting to MS-DOS
> 6.2 or older, that could be the source of your problems with it.

I don't know PUTR, but my experience with DOS int13 code in RSTSFLX (built with 
DJGPP) is that it worked fine in a DOS window on Win95.  And that makes sense, 
because Win95 is basically just a bit of UI veneer over DOS.  Win NT is an 
entirely different thing, of course, and I would not expect DOS low level I/O 
to work in Win NT command windows since those really are not DOS.

paul




Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-23 Thread Ethan Dicks via cctalk
On Tue, Feb 22, 2022 at 9:29 PM Rod Smallwood via cctalk
 wrote:
> 2. The PC I want to use is a DEC Celeibris FX ie the PC and its W95
> software is as supplied by DEC.
.
.
.
> 5.  putR was supposed to be able to do this. It does not.

Rod,

My memory is that programs like putr need to run on "real" DOS, not a
DOS window. So if you are trying to run putr without booting to MS-DOS
6.2 or older, that could be the source of your problems with it.

> 6.  All that is lacking is the right utility.

I think other utilities (Teledisk, ImageDisk, etc) _also_ require
MS-DOS not a DOS window under Windows.

-ethan


Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-23 Thread js--- via cctalk



On 2/22/2022 9:29 PM, Rod Smallwood via 
cctalk wrote:

Hi
   Well I have had a huge response to 
my request.
I am unsure as to if I have defined 
the problem properly.



Rod, you've defined the problem well enough.

Have you read the PUTR manual thoroughly?

As long as your hardware is OK, PUTR 
*should* do what you want.


What is the sequence of PUTR command 
lines that you're trying?


- John Singleton


Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-23 Thread Paul Koning via cctalk
I think you're unnecessarily limiting your options by refusing to use Linux, 
which as we've pointed out is something you can do on your existing PC without 
overwriting the OS that is on it now.

As for SIMH, I am quite convinced that it IS a perfectly good answer.  But 
sure, if you have all the floppies you need to do an actual install via floppy 
media, that's fine too.  It does limit you somewhat; it means you have to use 
an OS for which RX50 was a supported kit type.  For example, RSTS/E doesn't 
come that way, so if you want that, the SIMH route is your only option.  And it 
would not be hard to do so long as you can find a PC interface for that SCSI 
drive.

paul

> On Feb 22, 2022, at 9:29 PM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> Hi
> 
>Well I have had a huge response to my request.
> 
> I am unsure as to if I have defined the problem properly.
> 
> So a few bullet points.
> 
> 1. The objective is to copy RX50 disk images (*.dsk format) to genuine DEC 
> RX50 disks.
> 
> 2. The PC I want to use is a DEC Celeibris FX ie the PC and its W95 software 
> is as supplied by DEC.
> 
> 3. It has an RX33 5.25 inch floppy drive.
> 
> 4. The RX33 _*is*_ capable of  reading and writing RX50 disks.
> 
> 5.  putR was supposed to be able to do this. It does not.
> 
> 6.  All that is lacking is the right utility.
> 
> 7. Doing this does not need any disks other than RX50's.
> 
> 8. Linux in any of its myriad of forms is not the answer.
> 
> 9. simH is good at what it does but of no use here
> 
> 10.  Its just a W95 utility program to copy an RX50 disk image to an RX50 
> disk on an RX33 drive on a DEC PC.
> 
> 11. So whats it called? Does it work  given the above situation?
> 
> Rod
> 
> 



Re: 11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-23 Thread Tom Hunter via cctalk
Hi Rod,

The "*.dsk" format is just a file extension. What utility created the RX50
disk images?

Tom


On Wed, Feb 23, 2022 at 10:29 AM Rod Smallwood via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Hi
>
> Well I have had a huge response to my request.
>
> I am unsure as to if I have defined the problem properly.
>
> So a few bullet points.
>
> 1. The objective is to copy RX50 disk images (*.dsk format) to genuine
> DEC RX50 disks.
>
> 2. The PC I want to use is a DEC Celeibris FX ie the PC and its W95
> software is as supplied by DEC.
>
> 3. It has an RX33 5.25 inch floppy drive.
>
> 4. The RX33 _*is*_ capable of  reading and writing RX50 disks.
>
> 5.  putR was supposed to be able to do this. It does not.
>
> 6.  All that is lacking is the right utility.
>
> 7. Doing this does not need any disks other than RX50's.
>
> 8. Linux in any of its myriad of forms is not the answer.
>
> 9. simH is good at what it does but of no use here
>
> 10.  Its just a W95 utility program to copy an RX50 disk image to an
> RX50 disk on an RX33 drive on a DEC PC.
>
> 11. So whats it called? Does it work  given the above situation?
>
> Rod
>
>
>


11/83 operating system load update -2

2022-02-22 Thread Rod Smallwood via cctalk

Hi

   Well I have had a huge response to my request.

I am unsure as to if I have defined the problem properly.

So a few bullet points.

1. The objective is to copy RX50 disk images (*.dsk format) to genuine 
DEC RX50 disks.


2. The PC I want to use is a DEC Celeibris FX ie the PC and its W95 
software is as supplied by DEC.


3. It has an RX33 5.25 inch floppy drive.

4. The RX33 _*is*_ capable of  reading and writing RX50 disks.

5.  putR was supposed to be able to do this. It does not.

6.  All that is lacking is the right utility.

7. Doing this does not need any disks other than RX50's.

8. Linux in any of its myriad of forms is not the answer.

9. simH is good at what it does but of no use here

10.  Its just a W95 utility program to copy an RX50 disk image to an 
RX50 disk on an RX33 drive on a DEC PC.


11. So whats it called? Does it work  given the above situation?

Rod