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    XT-IDE/XT-CF - Wipe of MBR

    Since there is an option for Win11, would it make sense to add an option for zeroing out the boot sector using Linux? - something like: $ sudo dd if=/dev/zero of={device} bs=512 count=1 Where {device} should be replaced by the actual device. The device information can be retrieved using...
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    Anyone else here really miss electronics stores?

    Here in Atlanta, we have two holdouts - both Micro-Centers! We lost our Comp-USA's long ago, the Radio Shacks have withered, and Fry's arrived in town too late - just before the end really. I was in CA for company training in early 2000's and after work all the computer guys were like "Hey -...
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    A tip for those designing new hardware for vintage machines...

    Its been a while since I used DOS, but when you set up a new disk - after fdisk and reboot - instead of steps 6/7/etc, try using the "SELECT" command and see if that works. It should format the drive, install the system, and copy over the files. SELECT A: C: 001 US
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    Micro 8088 - Kits Interest

    I would choose option 3 as well. This world has been a poorer place since Heathkit stopped selling quality kits. At VCF East, I stopped and talked with the great Lee Hart. He had a really nice display there - and as everyone probably knows, he puts together some epic little computer kits. He...
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    Thoughts on VCF East so far

    I'm sure to get some opinions on this, and I respect very much other folks that might feel differently. But my history is with the old Ham Conventions, where you might get entry for a nominal 5 or 10 dollars. The price at the door for 3 days at VCF East was $80! What? Sure, that might be...
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    Utility Linux Distribution

    I think all the moderators must be at the VCF East ... This thread started out with the question "Can anyone recommend a good modern(ish) linux distribution for Pentium II class machines?", and has since tried to ascertain the definitive definition of "UNIX" before moving on to discuss the...
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    Utility Linux Distribution

    I would recommend taking a look at one of the old versions of SUSE Linux from that time period - for example, version 7.3 with the 2.4 kernel. They released a really slick boxed set that contained a manual, a nice installer (yast) and all the available software on CD, so you don't need a...
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    Help! I've Fallen Down a Rabbit Hole and Can't Get up!

    You might be interested in ordering the reproduction kit: piDP-10 I have the other kits - piDP-8/11, and they are well made. Having the front panel might make learning about the system that much more interesting! My 2 cents is that DEC assembly is more complex/varied compared to some other...
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    Which Was Better: Punch Cards, Paper Tape, or Audio Tapes?

    ...how much information could be stored on a ... paper tape? The Data General Nova was a popular minicomputer in the '70s that could use a paper tape reader and paper tape punch. The paper tape was 1" wide, 8 bits across to make up a frame, and 10 frames to the inch. The writer operated at max...
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    homebrew Z180

    Great design! I own the SC-131 from Cousins and it runs using only power from the usb port (it's listed to use 100mA without the SD card and up to 300mA with SD). It's a really nifty little computer. I feel the Z180 may be underappreciated for these retro-computing designs when compared the the...
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    14:03 / 16:50 The Rise of Unix. The Seeds of its Fall.

    I would argue that, for non-GUI systems, OpenBSD is actually very simple and elegant compared to modern Linux distros. The installer may be text based, but just asks a few simple questions and generally provides working defaults. The boot process is simple to understand with a few rc scripts...
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    Retro LAN Party game suggestions

    I would recommend trying the original Unreal Tournament (UT99). Totally my opinion - but the game play was a lot better than UT2004. Used to have a blast playing that game!
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    Good 8-bit kit for beginner?

    I would highly recommend the RC-2014 if you are looking for a self-contained, simple kit to get started with. You can build it in an afternoon or so. It uses a z80 processor and is sold on Tindie. There is a large support group, and many enthusiasts have created their own add-in cards for the...
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    Other US Areas Looking for RCA Cosmac 1802 devices

    Seems to be a Cosmac Microtutor on ebay right now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/314760473927
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    One IBM PC/clone gaming machine or two for covering 1980's and 1990's games?

    Gaming on a PC compatible in the 90's was so much different from gaming in the 80's, my advice would be to just get the 90's machine or get two: For a decent 90's period-accurate experience I'd recommend a 486 DX2-66 w/8mb ram. The CPU came out in '92, so fits your timeline. Doom in '93, Doom...
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    Oldest games you know

    First computer game was Gorf on the Vic 20... Classic! For console, it was Combat (Tank Game) for the Atari 2600. I think missile command was possibly the first arcade game. First online game was Trade Wars.
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    Child of NABU Founders Working on Network Emulation

    I believe he took down the original post for the unit with the keyboard and then relisted it. He may have adjusted the shipping cost. It shows available today with a shipping cost of $31US from MA to GA, so my original post should have included the shipping I suppose - $91 was the total for my...
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    Child of NABU Founders Working on Network Emulation

    Very interesting! Once they get the network working, perhaps someone will get one of these NOS units connected to it! For those that are interested in the NABU hardware - someone is selling "one thousand" of these NOS systems and network adapters right now on ebay... For those that build z80...
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    SC131 Z180 CP/M Computer Questions

    Using minicom with settings 115200 8N1 connect to the tty port. Mine shows up at /dev/ttyUSB0 Type 'c' at the boot prompt to enter CP/M. The CP/M on SC131 boots with two drives: RAM drive 'A', and ROM drive 'B'. ROM drive 'B' is the main drive with all the boot files, and may be write-protected...
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    What is this? Post Photos of Mystery Items Here (vintage computers only)

    Great looking find! My guess is that it is (in part) a hobbyist built morse code keyer, like this modern one. It has the same options for speed, tone, weight, volume, and input jack for the key. It has a switch for selecting the external morse code key as input or the keyboard. I would assume...
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