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PS/2 Model 56 SLC - Questions

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porodzila

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May 8, 2010
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I'm porodzila, this is my first post.
I just purchased the PS/2 Model 56 SLC.
Came with network card, 8MB RAM, 70MB Hdd, DOS 6.2, and novel netware. No floppy drive.

When I first booted it needed to set the time and loaded IBM Reference disk from the hard drive?
Where are the reference disk files located on the hard drive?

After I booted I un-installed Netware and several of the networking packages. Now I don't know how to access the reference disk software.

Who knows where I can get a new 2.88 floppy drive for this machine?

Thanks.
 
The reference disk is generally a floppy disk that acts as the CMOS setup in a way. Once you get a floppy drive you can make a copy of the reference disk with a newer PC by downloading the image and writing it to a disk. As for a floppy drive, check around on eBay or perhaps someone on here has one to sell.. there's also the Vintage Computer Marketplace. I sold both of mine and unfortunately they got damaged in transit, so I have no PS/2-style floppy drives to sell ya.

Edit: Oh, and welcome to the VC forum, you seem like you'll fit right in. :D
 
Thanks Raven.

question #3: what kind of external SCSI cd-roms can I attach?

can I attach a sun model? Will the PS/2 boot from an external scsi drive?
 
Erm, actually, the reference disk is written to a special hidden partition on the hard drive. I believe the system will operate without it being there, but it's advisable to put it there. This can be done to a new drive using the floppy version, and I believe the version on the hard drive permits you creating a floppy version from itself.
 
porodzila said:
...question #3: what kind of external SCSI cd-roms can I attach?

can I attach a sun model? Will the PS/2 boot from an external scsi drive?
Click to expand...

By your description, it sounds like an 8556, close to what this page will show. You can attach an external SCSI CD-ROM, but only boot from a SCSI hard drive. The SCSI interface is an improvement of the ¨Tribble¨adapter produced by IBM (http://www.ibmmuseum.com/OhlandL/IBM_SCSI/scsi-A.html).
 
PS/2s use the same SCSI connector Macs did for the longest time so it's not so much "special" as just "weird". DB25 I believe.
 
kishy said:
PS/2s use the same SCSI connector Macs did for the longest time so it's not so much "special" as just "weird". DB25 I believe.
Click to expand...

No, the true IBM SCSI uses a 60-pin mini-Centronics connector. Cables and adapters should still be available, especially on eBay. Or at least they were a few years back.
 
@IBM museum: In your link there were directions and very useful pinouts. If I made an adapter using that information do you think I could use any old SCSI floppy drive, say from a DEC or a Mac? Thanks.
 
porodzila said:
...If I made an adapter using that information do you think I could use any old SCSI floppy drive, say from a DEC or a Mac? Thanks.
Click to expand...

I think it is going to be easier to find a 2.88Mb drive. The internal SCSI is standard 50-pin cables. What is displayed as the system boots now?
 
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