[SOLD] (GER) HP 9000 310 Computer System - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Neepa
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2022, 05:22:09 pm
content: Hello fine hunters of vintage computers!I got a complete HP9000 310 computer system for sale. However it may be only something for german or danish buyers as I'm not willing to ship the whole thing.Asking price: 450 Euros a discount compared to the ebay listingThe CPU boots and displays a status screen. Informing me of 700 READ Errors with both the Disk and Floppy drives. No further testing has been done aside from the HP9153C self tests, which came back good. Floppy status is unknown since I got no ability to read them out. Keyboard works ostensibly. Keys can be tested in the status screen.I repaired a blown tantalum cap on the HDD that prevented the whole disk unit from fully powering on. Drive spins now. Got the Errors after it.This system came out of the basement of my former employer and was there likely since the 90ies. It will be cleaned (especially the cables) a bit before it is sold. Small rust spots on the undersides of the cases.HP35731B Monitor monochrome green text onlyHP46021AD keyboard mit HP Basic function key masksHP9000 310 CPU Motorola 68000 10MHz 1Mb RAM HP-IB, RS232, HP-ILHP98622A GPIO cardHP98624A HP-IB cardHP9153C HP-IB disk interface 10, 20 or 40MB capable20MB HDD with Read ErrorHD Floppy with Read Errordouble koaxial cable for Video and SoundHP10833A HP-IB Cable screws slightly corrodedHP10833B HP-IB Cable screws slightly corrodedCable presumably Centronics2x HP HP-HIL cables one spiral type and one straight one3x PowercableSoftwarepackage in holder HP98616A disk status unknownManuals:Installation Guide HP 9000 Computer (German only)Peripheral Installation Guide 200/300 ComputersBASIC 4.0 Users Manual (German only)Installing and Maintaining the BASIC 5.0/5.0 SystemBASIC 5.0/5.1 Interfacing Techniques Vol. 1BASIC 5.0/5.1 Graphics TechniquesBASIC 5.0/5.1 Language Reference Vol. 2 O-ZUsing the BASIC 5.0/5.1 SystemAlso on ebay:https://www.ebay.de/itm/185758759995

author: Neepa
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2023, 06:37:15 pm
content: Let me bump this up a tad.System and Accessories have been cleaned in the meantime. Used glass cleaner for it.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2023, 11:40:44 pm
content: FYI,PDF copies of all of those manuals in English should be on Bitsavers.org. I loaned a truck load of them to Al about 15 years ago to be scanned and he never returned them.A warning about those floppy drives, the grease in them dries up and makes the mechanism not want to lift and open completely. If that happens and you pull the disk out or push one into the drive, it's very likely to tear one of heads off of the floppy drive. Always open those drives and check the lubricant and that the mechanism is operating properly BEFORE you put a disk into one. Also if the mechanism doesn't open and you power up the drive, the head will chew up the floppy disks. Ask me how I knowThis has been discussed on this forum in the past.The cables that you refer to as HP-IL are probably HP-HIL. That's what HP used for many of their external keyboards and mice. The HP-HIL ports and cables usually have one or two painted or molded in dots about 3/16 inch in diameter near each connector. HP-IL cables were used with some of the HP hand held calculators and are a very small two wire cable that look like small lamp cord and they have a two pin trapezoidal shaped connectors on each end, one male, one female. Those are totally unique to HP devices and VERY HARD to find now.BTT.Edit. Looked at your pictures and those ARE HP-HIL cables.Also someone should get his ORIGINAL disks and make copies!!!!! It's a long story and I've told it here before but long story short; when you install the OS to a hard drive, it only installs the files that you tell it to and not ALL of the installation files. So once you create an OS, you can't go back and add more features. You have to use the original installation disks (or copies of them) and built a new OS file. If you don't have the install disks then you are SOL. I wiped out one of my BASIC 5.0 install disks due to a sticking floppy drive.

author: Neepa
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2023, 10:57:43 pm
content: Hmm I got a USB DD that I could use to create perfect images of those floppies.If I can get it running under Winstupid10. Some silly business with drive letters iirc.Edit: Had a look at the disks. No scratches that I can see on them with my bare eyes.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2023, 12:38:02 am
content: Quote from: Neepa on January 21, 2023, 10:57:43 pmThe disks aren't formatted in any MS-DOS format and I doubt that you'll be able to read or write their format. There was something called the LIF Utilities that was developed by HP that would read some their odd formats using a PC but I don't know if it will work on those disks. There were also other hardware based devices as well such as a Cat Weasel card. I haven't touched any of that stuff for 15 years so someone else may have more information. But by all means, go ahead and try using Windows or Linux. I might be wrong. Oh, a lot of those OLD HP drives would only work with the 720k floppy disks, they would NOT work with the 1.44 Mb disks. Later, HP started using drives and software in their computers that would read and write MS-DOS formats.

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2023, 05:40:16 pm
content: A company I worked for almost 30 years ago used a HP9000 (I think slightly later model) to emulate an at that stage ancient mainframe. I cannot remember the manufacturer of the mainframe, but it was made in Australia and the company was long gone. It was a shot in the dark with another local company subcontracted to write the hardware level emulator. Much to everyone's delight and relief it all worked and was 3000 times faster than the mainframe!

author: Neepa
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2023, 06:16:26 pm
content: System most likely sold.Reserved until further notice.EDIT: Unit sold. Will ask the buyer to image the disks once he gets it running again or if he has that capability. Supposedly he's a HP collector so maybe he is willing to.