HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Jim_Johnson@abcd.Houghton.MI.US (Jim Johnson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: atari joystick -> ibm gameport?
Distribution: world
Date: 3 Jan 93 21:04:43 EST
Organization: Amiga BitSwap Central Dispatch


 ES>   After having completely cleaned up my storage closet I found an old
 ES> joystick that I used with the atari 2600 and the Commodore 64/128
 ES> when I was younger.  The stick is in REALLY good shape, and I don't
 ES> have
 ES> one for my 386.  Now the quesiton is, can I build an adapter that
 ES> will
 ES> make this possible?  Being realistic about all this, it should be
 ES> possible,
 ES> but I have no idea how to do it, and I *have* heard rumors that such
 ES> a thing
 ES> exists.  Anyone know how?

Don't bother.  The standard joystick for the Atari is a four switch digital
affair giving you 8 directions.  The standard joystick for the IBM is an
analog stick which gives you a screen position based on the value of the XY
potentiometers. Two totally different mechanisms.

Now you can build an analog joystick for the Atari which uses the paddle
controller pins (I did this), but you have to write your own device handler
which isn't recognized by any of the commercial software. On the flip side,
you can modify a digital joystick for the IBM which is read by the serial
port, but you will have to again write your own device driver, which to be
of any use would somehow have to emulate a mouse driver.  Both of these
projects would cost more than buying a cheap joystick, not to mention the
time.

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995

jim_johnson@abcd.houghton.mi.us
from Calumet, Michigan, USA -the world's former copper mining capital, 
located on Lake Superior and home to America's newest National Park,
** The Keweenaw National Historic Park **
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: esaffle@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (Ed Saffle)
Subject: atari joystick -> ibm gameport?
Organization: George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 18:19:02 GMT

  After having completely cleaned up my storage closet I found an old
joystick that I used with the atari 2600 and the Commodore 64/128
when I was younger.  The stick is in REALLY good shape, and I don't have
one for my 386.  Now the quesiton is, can I build an adapter that will
make this possible?  Being realistic about all this, it should be possible,
but I have no idea how to do it, and I *have* heard rumors that such a thing
exists.  Anyone know how?

Ed
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:34434 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:16209
From: aland@informix.com (Colonel Panic)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Help w/ WD1007A
Date: 30 Dec 92 06:16:07 GMT
Organization: Helen Keller Bondurant's Performance Driving School for the Blind

In article <1992Dec25.202407.4377@eng.umd.edu> sdorsey@eng.umd.edu (Bill Dorsey) writes:
>system now boots up and recognizes the floppy drive just fine.  But I'm
>getting nowhere with the hard drive.
>
>There are a multitude of configuration jumpers present on the board.  I've
>played around with a few of them, in the hopes of activating the on-board
>ROM so I can run the hard drive setup utility which should be present there.

Is there a ROM installed?  They're optional (I've never seen one, myself).
If so, you can activate it by entering G=C800:5 at the DEBUG prompt.

>If anyone has the manual for one of these cards, or knows how to set one
>up, I'd appreciate any pointers you might be able to provide.  Shooting in
>the dark for hours on end as I've been doing so far gets frustrating real
>fast...  I think all I need to know is how to activate the ROM present on
>the card and the address of the setup utility in the ROM so I can execute
>it from the debug utility.

Here's the default jumpering to start with:

    W1   2-3
    W2   2-3
    W3   Jumper present
    W4   No Jumper present
    W5   No Jumper present
    W6   2-3
    W7   1-2
    W8   No Jumper present
    W9   No Jumper present
    W10  No Jumper present
    W11  Jumper present
    W12  No Jumper present
    W13  (Trace)
    W14  No Jumper present
    W15  No Jumper present

>Happy Holidays.
>sdorsey@eng.umd.edu

Hope this helps.

--
Alan Denney      aland@informix.com      {pyramid|uunet}!infmx!aland

"What's the use of somebody who doesn't wonder?  It's the hallmark
 of our species that we are continually wondering what is going on."
                            -  John Dobson, S.F. Sidewalk Astronomers
From: 93jay@williams.edu (Jonathan Young)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: HD floppies on XT?
Date: 23 Dec 1992 19:43:33 GMT
Organization: Williams College, Williamstown, MA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: hancock.cc.williams.edu

I'm trying to add a 1.44 floppy to my dad's XT clone. I have seen ads
for "super xt/at" floppy controllers that preport to allow this but do
they require bios support? These clones (mitac mpc 160T's) do not have
such support.

Also they have an onboard floppy controller, I checked the manual but
didn't find an easy way to disable it. What happens if there are two
controllers? 

I tried to convince him to put in a new motherboard like I did, but he
wants to spend less than $100 total. 

Any advice is appreciated.

Jonathan Young
Williams College
From: u5775949@ucsvc.ucs.unimelb.edu.au
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Computer too fast! - Colorado Tape backup unit
Date: 4 Jan 93 15:57:58 +1100
Organization: The University of Melbourne

HELP! 
I recently upgraded from a 16MHz 286 to 20Mhz 386 board and now
find that my Colorado Memory Systems QIC-40 44MB tape backup
unit (model XR4) doesn't want to work.
All I get is a error message:
	HOST COMPUTER IS TOO FAST

I have never ever seen this kind of thing before - always the
opposite !!!.

Can anyone tell me if they know of a software upgrade, Colorado's
EMAIL address, any other software that works with this drive, or
even if the QIC-40 standard is available so I can re-write the
software my self (rather than disassemble Colorado's stuff).

I've tried slowing down the CPU by turning off cache, add extra 
memory wait states, run from BIOS ROM, use the lowest clock rate,
etc. etc. but nothing helps.

Thanks, Mark Harrison. Melbourne , Australia.
P.S. the local agent just wants to sell me a new backup unit -
but it can't read the old tapes!
From: mulvey@blurt.oswego.edu (Allen Mulvey, SUNY, Oswego, NY)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Making a switch for tape backup unit!
Date: 2 Jan 93 04:39:33 GMT
Organization: SUNY College at Oswego, Oswego, NY

In article <1993Jan1.213006.12706@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, rjones@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Ronald Jones) writes:
> OK, I've discovered that my tape backup unit won't let me connect it in 
> parrallel with two floppy disk drives.  I am now considering using an 
> external mechanical switch to manually select between one of the 
> floppy drives and the tape unit.  
> 
> I suppose I could leave the tape power connection on all the time and 
> use a  double throw, multi-pole switch on the control lines to select
> between the floppy and the tape unit.  My question is what is the 
> minimum number of lines (and which ones) would I need to switch.  Not
> all 34 I hope!  Has anyone tried this?  
> 
> -- 
>  < Ron Jones                   |    E-mail:       rj+@osu.edu   > 
>  < The Ohio State University   |    Office:      (614) 292-1665 >
>  < 338 West Tenth Avenue       |    FAX:(9-5PM)  (614) 292-7151 > 
>  < Columbus, Ohio 43210        |        "eschew obfuscation"    >      

I would try switching the power first. If the devices use tri state 
buffering they should just show a very high impedance when powered down. 
Unplug the tape power connector and see if the disk drives work then unplug 
the B: drive and see if the tape works.

			Allen Mulvey
			mulvey@blurt.oswego.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.os.msdos.programmer
From: rbairos@cayley.uwaterloo.ca (Rob Bairos)
Subject: Null Modem Cable Confusion Dilusion
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 01:28:28 GMT

Recently I've acquired two ibm 486's side by side on my desk and would like to transfer megs and megs or files from one to the other.  I've decided I null modem cable would be the best solution.

Here's the back side of my pc's:

   9-pin male   (serial - mouse plugs in here)
  25-pin male   (serial - mouse still works in here with adapter)
  25-pin female (parallel - runs my d/a parallel converter).

All I had was a cable to connect the 9-male to the 25-female.  Nothing
happened.  I went out and bought a  null-modem-adapter (25-male on one end, 25 female on the other end) but I returned it and bought a
(9-male on one end, 9-female on the other end) null modem adapter.

I figure the female end of the adapter should face the computer and plug
into the 9-pin male, but the little mounting screws on the adapter
disagree.  To make a long story short here's my question

    1. I bought the stuff and radio shack.  am I wrong in assuming the mounting screws are in backwards for my application?  
    2.  which ports exactly, would I like to connect?  
    3.  once #2 is done, how can I transfer files? I have pcplus, but I am
worried that it will wait for a carrier-signal and all that hubba-balub.

    Any help, interesting stories or comments would be greatly appreciated.

E-mail is preferably, thanks.

Rob Bairos

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: David Mason <vid@zooid.guild.org>
Subject: Overextending a UPS
Reply-To: David Mason <vid@zooid.guild.org>
Organization: The Zoo of Ids
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 15:56:33 GMT

Hi,

My UNIX system is in a tower case with a 250 Watt power supply. In a month or
so it will consist of 2 full height SCSI hard disks, a 486 motherboard, RAM,
and a standard assortment of I/O cards. I will be installing a UPS, and also
want to hook up a monochrome monitor and one modem on the same UPS.

My question is, what would happen if I used a Tripplite model BC325 (up to 325
volt/amps) with this system. I can get the Tripplite for a really good price,
but it's a model that is recommended for a "single DOS" system. The
implication being that it's for less-powerful systems than mine in terms of
power consumption.  

As far as I can guess (not knowing much about this kind of thing) there are
two possibilities. One is that the UPS will simply not provide emergency power
as long as it would for a less power-consuming system. That's fine, 5 minutes
is more than enough time. The other is that some kind of fuse will blow in the
UPS, or the life of the UPS would be lessened. Obviously that would be bad.  

If anyone has an answer to this question, I would appreciate it. Please reply
in EMAIL, I will summarize to this newsgroup if volume warrants.

Please, no reponses along the lines of "Spend the extra $200 and get the model
450", all of my funds are pretty much allocated right now...

-- 
vid@zooid.guild.org             -->> ZOOiD Public Access Usenet 416 322-7876
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: timhu@ico.isc.com (Timothy Hu)
Subject: Re: Environment for floppies/FD drive
Organization: Interactive Systems Corp., Boulder CO
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 17:01:04 GMT

I have diskettes that I've written over three years ago and I can still
read them. Hmmm...sounds like you might need to clean the heads in your
floppy drive or something.

-- 
Timothy Hu timhu@ico.isc.com	 | The intelligence (or lack of) expressed
Interactive Systems Corporation  | above does not necessarily reflect the
Resource Solutions International | that of anyone else.
From: robinson@cellar.org (Alan Robinson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: ANYONE please help me with a hard d
Date: 3 Jan 93 05:48:04 GMT
Organization: The Cellar BBS and public access system

> I have a seagate st251 hard drive and an 8 bit western digital
> control card.
> I was told this card will not work on an 80286 because it is 8 bit,
> is this true?
> I also get a post error when i have the drive and card plugged in,does
> this mean the card is bad?
> My computer acts like it can't see the drive,for example,when i type
> fdisk it says i need a hrd drive to sue that command.
> I have it configured in my bios and all also.

You might try setting your drive type in CMOS to NONE. I was able
to use Western Digital 8 bit controller with an ST-251 in my 386
by doing that. I am not sure why it works but my guess is that if the
BIOS does not see a Hard Disk in it's CMOS table it looks for an XT
controller (at segment C800) before assuming that the system only has
floppies.
   While the XT controller can be made to work, performance is less
than spectacular. In fact I found that while the optimum interleave
for that drive/controller combination was 3:1 in an XT, I had to
increase it to 5:1 in the 386. Perhaps someone on the net can explain
that. You can get 16 bit 1:1 controllers for 45 or 50 dollars and the
increase in performance is incredible. That might be the best thing
to do.
   One other thing: If the drive has been used with another type of
controller, you might have to do a low level format to get things
going.

Alan Robinson

email: robinson%cellar@tredysvr.tredydev.unisys.com
AMPRnet:  wa3jkb@wa3riz.#epa.usa.na







------
robinson@cellar.org (Alan Robinson)
The Cellar BBS - (215) 539-3043
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: fictorie@eir.research.ptt.nl (Henk Fictorie)
Subject: Re: Best 16-17" 1280x1024 NI monitor?
Reply-To: H.Fictorie@research.ptt.nl
Organization: PTT Research, The Netherlands
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 15:59:23 GMT
Full-Name: Henk Fictorie

sheldon@iastate.edu (Steve Sheldon) writes:

>In <EBROWN.92Dec22134338@bud_light.kodak.com> ebrown@bud_light.kodak.com (Eric Brown) writes:

>>What is the best 16" or 17" 1280x1024 NI monitor?
>>I'm currently considering the Mag 17" and Viewsonic 17",
>>but heard that Nanno is pretty good. Any suggestions?

>IMHO:

> NEC 5FG if you can afford it.

> Next Nanao F550

The 550 refreshes with 60Hz at 1280x1024, the Nanao 560 is a far better
monitor, but also more $$$ (appr. the same as the NEC 5FG). It comes
with a Trinitron tube. The specs are a bit better than the NEC 5FG.

>-- 
>sheldon@iastate.edu                Steve Sheldon
>Project Vincent                    ICSS Resource Unit
>SCO ODT, Arc/Info, Atlas GIS       2142 Agronomy Hall
>                                   Iowa State University

Henk Fictorie.
-- 
Henk Fictorie, PTT Research Neher Labs,    H.Fictorie@research.ptt.nl
P.O. box 421,                              Phone    : +31 70 3326356 
2260 AK Leidschendam, The Netherlands      Fax      : +31 70 3326477
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: timhu@ico.isc.com (Timothy Hu)
Subject: Re: SCSI compatibility on EISA: Recommendations.
Keywords: Adaptec Ultrastor Buslogib Pioneer Exabyte Fujitsu Toshiba AMI ATI
Organization: Interactive Systems Corp., Boulder CO
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 21:50:45 GMT

> compliance, I believe the 'A' in ASPI stands for Adaptec.

Close. ASPI stands for Advanced SCSI Programming Interface. ASPI was developed
by Adaptec.
-- 
Timothy Hu timhu@ico.isc.com	 | The intelligence (or lack of) expressed
Interactive Systems Corporation  | above does not necessarily reflect the
Resource Solutions International | that of anyone else.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: ntaib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Iskandar Taib)
Subject: Re: Sony Mini CD or Philips DCC format for computer DATA?
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 05:36:32 GMT

I wonder what the write protect notches on these things look 
like 9-)

Are they naked disks or do they come in a "diskette"?



-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iskandar Taib                          | The only thing worse than Peach ala
Internet: NTAIB@SILVER.UCS.INDIANA.EDU |    Frog is Frog ala Peach
Bitnet:   NTAIB@IUBACS                 !
From: al885@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gerard Pinzone)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Genoa 8500 and vpic
Date: 24 Dec 1992 21:01:45 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: al885@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gerard Pinzone)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


I'm having trouble with a Genoa 8500 card and vpic.

Only 1/8th of the screen gets displayed.  I'm using vpic /v to ignore
the Vesa drivers and I got the true driver from the installation
disks that came with the card.

Any ideas?
-- 
   _______   ________   ________   "Small nose, loose girls, no nipples, (.|.)
  /   ___/  /  _____/  /  __   /   Iczer curls!"  -=-  Gerard Pinzone     ).(
 /   ___/  /  /____   /  __   /           gpinzone@tasha.poly.edu        ( v )
/______/  /_______/  /__/ /__/       Join the ECA Wehrmacht! Kill CM!     \|/
From: cherberg@gmuvax.gmu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Exabyte EXB-8200 Info Requested
Date: 1 Jan 93 14:06:18 -0500
Organization: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.

I recently got a used Exabyte EXB-8200 with only 3 pages of 
documentation.  Fortunately, I was able to get the drive up
and running.  However, I would like to have more documentation
on this beast.  I logged into their BBS a few times, but the
line noise was so bad that I was unable to successfully 
download any files.  Does anyone know of an FTP site where
Exabyte documentation may be found?  Or does anyone have an
electronic (or paper) copy of the EXB-8200 manual that could
be [e-] mailed to me.  If need be, I would be willing to buy
a copy of this manual from a willing seller.  Can anyone
out there in SCSI-Land help me out?

By the way, I understand that Exabyte sells MXProm upgrades
for $125.00, but provides CFT (Certified Field Tested) code
on their BBS for anyone wishing to burn their own.  Fortunately,
my MXProm version is 2600 (2618 is their latest Production
version).  I believe that anyone with an MXProm version earlier
than 251x needs an upgrade to use Sytos Plus.

Thanks and have a Happy New Year.
  
- Craig

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 Craig Herberg, Computing Support Services, George Mason University
 139-E Thompson Hall, Fairfax, VA  22030      Internet: cherberg@gmuvax.gmu.edu 
 Voice: (703) 993-3431   Fax: (703) 993-3403  Bitnet:   cherberg@gmuvax  
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: wlsmith@valve.heart.rri.uwo.ca (Wayne Smith)
Subject: Re: Will Windows crawl on my system?
Organization: The John P. Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 01:11:24 GMT

In article <1992Dec27.233349.27431@netcom.com> ergo@netcom.com (Isaac Rabinovitch) writes:
>
>>time killer was switching back and forth between DOS and windows
>>(286 "brain dead" processor feature).  You'll have no such problems.
>
>people are under the impression that the 286 "isn't powerful enough"
>for Windows 3.0 or 3.1.  The truth is that, as far as Windows is
>concerned, the only difference betweeen the two is Windows enhanced
>mode, which won't work on a 286.  So no DOS box, modem communication isn't
>
>What *is* crucial is processor speed.  Intel apparently never bothered
>to make 386s slower than 16 mhz, and by the time the 286/16 appeared,
>386/16 systems were begining to compete for shelf space, so few people
>have 286 systems faster than 12mhz.  But I keep hearing of people who
>are happy with Windows running on ATs, and after all 75% of a 386/16's
>performance is still pretty good.  

I think it's laughable that some people bought the sage advice 2 or 3
years ago and got 386-sx-16's.  I'm motoring along with my 286-25, which
runs rings around 386 sx-16's and 20's.  I've run enough benchmarks to
come to the conlusion that my 286-25 is at least as speedy as a 386-DX-20.
I run windows with CorelDraw 3.0, Ventura 2.0, and I dabble with wordperfect
for windows, but I think it's a little slow.

I know a few other people that run windows and coreldraw with 286-16's and
286-20's.  It works for them, and just as fast as 386-sx-16's.

As for the 386-enhanced modes, isin't that a slower mode than the standard
mode?  Look folks, how many people out there (percentage wise) really
benefit from or even use the task-switching or multi-tasking dos-box
or whatever it is that the enhanced mode lets you do?

The point is, if the party line is that the minimum system for windows is
a 386-sx-16, then there's something rotten, if not just plain wrong, that
faster 286's aren't included in the "recommended equipment" list.
From: noel@reg.triumf.ca (NOEL GIFFIN)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Gravis Ultra-Sound...Experience?
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Date: 30 Dec 1992 13:47 PST
Organization: TRIUMF: Tri-University Meson Facility
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: reg.triumf.ca
Keywords: soundboard
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

In article <8267@news.duke.edu>, bhs@neuro.duke.edu (Brennan Stephens) writes...

> ... claims for a $150 card.  Among them...
> 
>	* full soundblaster/adlib compatability
>	* a reliable windows driver
>	* 16 bit / 44 kHz record and playback
>	* 256k onboard memory (exp. to 1mb)
> 

	I have one. I'm impressed.  but the above is a little stretched.
It isn't 100% compatible with SB/Adlib as the technology used is different.
Ultrasound uses 32 channel wave-table synthesis while others use fm synth.
The hardware I feel is inherently superior but it is not being utilized
with current software. To work with current software it must emulate S.B.
The emulation is a TSR which they are upgrading. The latest version works quite
well in my limited experience. Music, in general sounds markedly better
even when emulating, some games digital effects sound a little odd.
windows drivers for media play utility work fine although the midi player
that comes with the board, (non-windows) is much better. Also USS8 sound
studio (included) surpasses windows utilities.  The standard board is capable
of 16 bit /44 khz playback but 16 bit record requires an additional daughter
board (not yet available, price unknown, est aprox $50.00).  Memory expansion
to 1 meg is easy and cheap.  For a more involved viewpoint you should follow
the running battle between SB-pro, PAS-16, ADlib fans vs growing GUS population
on comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.  You may just get more confused as fact and
fiction blur when people are on a platform.  There are claims of
incompatibilities when using a mother-board with an opti-chip set, yet I have
one and use a 486-33 with opti chip-set and everything is fine.  I was
expecting all sorts of problems with installation and incompatibilities
but everything went very smoothly.

						Noel@reg.triumf.ca
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: ssivakum@ptdcs2.intel.com (Sam Sivakumar)
Subject: Re: What's the deal? My chip says "SX-25"; Norton says "SX-33"
Organization: Intel Corporation -- Aloha, Oregon
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 23:32:38 GMT

>In <C01LuI.542@news.cso.uiuc.edu> (Mike Berger) writes:
>
>>Do you have any reason to believe this is really the case?  It would be
>>very costly for Intel to test ALL chips.  Usually they're sampled from
>>batches.  If one sample chip fails at the higher speed and passes at the
>>lower speed, then the whole batch is designated for the lower speed.  So
>>chances are good that some will function at faster clock speeds.
>

	I work in lithography R&D, so I am not intimately familiar with the
sort and test world, but I know that every chip sold is tested.  Usually,
once the lot of wafers leaves the fabrication line, every chip on each wafer
is tested for functionality as function of voltage and speed.  There may be
other tests done at this stage as well, like transistor characteristics, etc.
and maybe others that I am not aware of.  All chips that do not work are
inked, so when the wafer is diced into individual chips, the inked fellas are
rejected summarily.


-- 
Sam Sivakumar		    |  Killer shrew, killer shrew,
ssivakum@ptdcs5.intel.com   |  K-I-L-L-ER Shrew !   
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware