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My Latest Buy (5160)

Check the Vintage Forum for the AT/XT keyboard converter project. If you can't find it, send a PM to HARGLE.
 
antiquekid3 said:
How can I be certain that this Model M (1391401) will work with an XT? The Wikipedia article seems to indicate it is just a PS/2 and AT keyboard. Just confirming...

Kyle
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Not sure what Agent Orange was thinking of, but that PS/2 keyboard will almost certainly NOT work with your XT; might be worth buying anyway though to use with your more modern PC if it doesn't go much higher .
 
There are Model Ms that were intended for the XT-286 that are XT and AT autosensing, but they're rare (I have one! :D) and use an AT (DIN, not MINI-DIN) rather than PS/2 connector.

I don't typically offer to sell keyboards, as I'm a big keyboard fan/collector, but I have a Keytronics XT keyboard that's damn near identical to the keyboard for the 5150/5160, an obvious clone of it... I can pop it onto my 5160 and give it a test drive and then will sell it to you if you make a persuasive enough offer provided it's fully functional.

Oh, and congratulations - the 5160 is a nice machine. :)
 
Raven said:
There are Model Ms that were intended for the XT-286 that are XT and AT autosensing, but they're rare (I have one! :D) and use an AT (DIN, not MINI-DIN) rather than PS/2 connector.

I don't typically offer to sell keyboards, as I'm a big keyboard fan/collector, but I have a Keytronics XT keyboard that's damn near identical to the keyboard for the 5150/5160, an obvious clone of it... I can pop it onto my 5160 and give it a test drive and then will sell it to you if you make a persuasive enough offer provided it's fully functional.

Oh, and congratulations - the 5160 is a nice machine. :)
Click to expand...

I got a Model M from a PS/2 model 70 made in 1991, with a deattachable ps/2 connector which does autodetect if it's being used in an XT or AT class machine. It's obivous that everybody have different oppinions on this topic, so we should try to do some research on what submodels of Model Ms that does what. Our Wiki is a perfect place for a table where the results are placed.
 
Many (most?) 16-bit VGA cards will work in an 8-bit slot. I noticed that the asking price for 8-bit VGA cards has gone way up on EBay, many were asking $150+!!! The 16-bit cards are much more reasonable, around $25 or so.

XT type keyboards are getting harder to find. The AT/XT converter would probably be a good solution for you.

The VGA card will allow you to use a modern monitor and the AT/XT Converter would let you use a modern keyboard. Might make a purist cringe but will get you up and running with your 5160.
 
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per said:
I got a Model M from a PS/2 model 70 made in 1991, with a deattachable ps/2 connector which does autodetect if it's being used in an XT or AT class machine. It's obivous that everybody have different oppinions on this topic, so we should try to do some research on what submodels of Model Ms that does what. Our Wiki is a perfect place for a table where the results are placed.
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Well, a good start would be if you and Raven would share with us the model numbers of your XT/AT compatible model M's, whether they have LEDs, whether *all* keys work correctly on a PC/XT, etc....

I was pretty sure that my -1401 does not work on a PC/XT, but it also dates from '91 so maybe my memory is fooling me (again ;-) ); my 4 years older -0131 might, but I haven't tried it (and it's not the model we're talking about anyway).

So, what are the model numbers of those auto-sensing babies of yours?
 
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MikeS said:
Well, a good start would be if you and Raven would share with us the model numbers of your XT/AT compatible model M's, whether they have LEDs, whether *all* keys work correctly on a PC/XT, etc....

I was pretty sure that my -1401 does not work on a PC/XT, but it also dates from '91 so maybe my memory is fooling me (again ;-) ); my 4 years older -0131 might, but I haven't tried it (and it's not the model we're talking about anyway).

So, what are the model numbers of those auto-sensing babies of yours?
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The keyboard has LEDs, and Norwegian/Danish key-layout. It also has this deattachable cable, which curently has a PS/2 connector.

The big numbers on the label is "1391409". Under it, it says "1387628 EC 528771" to the rigth for both therse number it also says "55-0321520F", "EC 528771" and "1991-11-11". even more rigth; "0123 2" is written vertically. Under all of this is a barcode and some manufacturing info.

When used in an XT, the LEDS quickly flashes on startup before turning off. After this, they remains off all the time. All regular keys works just like on an normal XT/PC-class keyboard. F11 don't do anything, but for some reason; F12 returns the scancode of "FE" (or something like that). It's importaint to not move the deattachable cable because any "noise" on the keyboard signal lines will kick the keyboard into AT-mode.
 
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per said:
...The big numbers on the label is "1391409". Under it, it says "1387628 EC 528771" to the rigth for both therse number it also says "55-0321520F", "EC 528771" and "1991-11-11". even more rigth; "0123 2" is written vertically. Under all of this is a barcode and some manufacturing info...
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Hmm, almost suggests that maybe it's a Danish version of a -1401; maybe the eBay one is dual-mode after all. Anybody got a 1391401 to test and make sure (other than me who can't get at a PC/XT at the moment)?
 
MikeS said:
Hmm, almost suggests that maybe it's a Danish version of a -1401; maybe the eBay one is dual-mode after all.
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I'd guess so to. The table on Wikipedia explains it as a "Norwegian 102-key", and it was manufactured from 1989 to sometime around 1992/93.

I opened it once, and IIRC; 1387628 reffers to the internals (which should be equal to the internals of a 1391401 if our hypothesis is true).
 
strollin said:
Many (most?) 16-bit VGA cards will work in an 8-bit slot. I noticed that the asking price for 8-bit VGA cards has gone way up on EBay, many were asking $150+!!! The 16-bit cards are much more reasonable, around $25 or so.
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We've started a list of them here:
http://www.wiki.vintage-computer.com/index.php/8bit_Friendly_ISA_VGA_cards

Not all of them work, hence the importance of the list to know what you're getting into. true IBM machines seemed to be even more picky about this. IIRC, I have a card in my zenith 8088 that works great, but when I put it in my XT it just beeps at me. (and yes I played with the dip switches) That makes me think that I should convert that wiki into more of a table with columns for "works on an XT, PC, clone"...
 
Nope, XT-interface keyboards are still used on a variety of industrial equipment, such as scales. Their advantage is that they're very simple to interface, unlike AT or PS/2 keyboards.

FWIW, Cherry is a good brand. Not "clicky" but solidly constructed. I've got some NCR-branded Cherry XT and AT keyboards. And that keyboard is actually manually switchable between XT and AT mode.
 
Anonymous Coward said:
Err, this "5160" is actually a clone is it not? In that case, it won't matter much to have a matching IBM keyboard.
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We have already discussed that in another thread, but it turns out that the top of the chassis is from an IBM 5150, the base of the chassis is from a clone, and the motherboard is from an actual IBM 5160 (rev.1).

Since the motherboard decides what kind of keyboard to use, an XT-compatible keyboard must be used.
 
My special XT/AT compatible Model M that I think was shipped out with an XT-286 at some point is...

Part No. 1390120
S/N No. 2158709
Date 27OCT86
Plt No F2
Model M

Every key I've attempted to use works and I've used this system on my 5160 and my modern Core 2 Duo (w/ AT->PS/2 Adapter, no electrical components, just wiring adapter) so it definitely works in both ways just fine - autosensing.

It has a silver IBM square metal logo in the top right, and no LEDs.

Someone left this poor keyboard out in the rain behind a Goodwill (it's not even legal to leave things there after hours..). I was driving by and saw it, and immediately stopped the car to investigate. :O

Fortunately these things are quite resilient and the rain didn't damage it at all.
 
Okay, the computer arrived today! And it shows signs of life! I connected the CGA to my Commodore monitor using the composite video jack. It turns on, and then starts checking all 640KB of RAM. After that, it tells me there is an ST-251 HDD (more specifically, an ST-251-1). But then it tries to boot, and fails...

Where should I go from here? I don't have any 5.25" boot disks, only DOS 6.22 on (3) 3.5" diskettes.

Any suggestions?

Kyle
 
If you can find an edge-to-header type of 3.5" drive adapter and the adapter for the power leads, you can hook up a 3.5" floppy in place of the 5.25" and create a 3.5" DS2D (720K) floppy and boot from that.

If it's a real 5160, it should go to BASIC if boot fails.
 
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