We recently discovered a Data General Nova computer in our local computer musuem...standing forgotten
in a dark corner of a storeroom. After replacing some of the broken input switches it seems to execute our super advanced test program
1: jmp 2
2: jmp 1
fine
We have absolutely no peripherals (discs, terminals, tapes whatever) - just the bare machine.
It has 2 memory cards in it, one CPU and two other boards without description on it (if i remember right)
It's time now to test the terminal funnction. I wrote a simple test program with the dga cross assembler
that at least runs fine on the simulator.
If the machine turns out to be usable or at least repairable we might try to emulate a tape or
even disk and run one of the os-es. From my slight unterstanding the machine is a simple nova, it does
not have the program load option. I still fail to understand the disc channel DMA functions properly,
even if it looks very basic
If anyone has infos on what to do next, what to try or check please chime in. I already sighted most
of the software and documentation of bitsavers and simh which is luckily very complete.
We might also "dump" out the core memory once the terminal is working. Just curious if theres anything
of interest left inside
Will keep you posted with pictures of the actual machine on thursday.
in a dark corner of a storeroom. After replacing some of the broken input switches it seems to execute our super advanced test program
1: jmp 2
2: jmp 1
fine
We have absolutely no peripherals (discs, terminals, tapes whatever) - just the bare machine.
It has 2 memory cards in it, one CPU and two other boards without description on it (if i remember right)
It's time now to test the terminal funnction. I wrote a simple test program with the dga cross assembler
that at least runs fine on the simulator.
If the machine turns out to be usable or at least repairable we might try to emulate a tape or
even disk and run one of the os-es. From my slight unterstanding the machine is a simple nova, it does
not have the program load option. I still fail to understand the disc channel DMA functions properly,
even if it looks very basic
If anyone has infos on what to do next, what to try or check please chime in. I already sighted most
of the software and documentation of bitsavers and simh which is luckily very complete.
We might also "dump" out the core memory once the terminal is working. Just curious if theres anything
of interest left inside
Will keep you posted with pictures of the actual machine on thursday.
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