On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 12:33 AM Chris Zach via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: >
> I also picked up a pile of Perq boards, and all the DC600 tapes and > floppies I could take out. The car was loaded with them, someone is > going to have to curate these. But since I know that the most important > thing is the software and not the hardware I decided this is what to get > as the top priority. If they are PERQ tapes then they will most probably be 4 track QIC11 format. The original PERQ tape drive was an Archive Sidewinder (QIC02 interface to the PERQ if it matters). I think Bob did have such a drive. > > There appears to be a third Perq in there as well on the other side of > the basement. No big drives (14 inch or 8 inch) but a lot of MFM and > SCSI disks. Couldn't grab those, too heavy. A quick guide to the various PERQs. The PERQ 1 and 1a were the original cabinet, one 8" floppy drive mounted horizontally. The difference between those 2 machines is the CPU board. These have a 14" SA4000 series hard disk which _must_ be locked before moving the machine. To do that you need a special clip to lock the head positioner and a screw to lock the spindle pulley. If you are lucky they'll be loose inside the machine. PERQ2s have the later cabinet with an 8" floppy drive mounted vertically. There are 3 sub-models : 2T1 with an 8" Micropolis 1203 hard disk. This needs to be locked too. As far as I know the 2T1 is very rare in the States (much more common over here) and Bob didn't have one. To lock that drive there's a slotted plastic thing accessible through a hole on the back of the machine which you turn with a large screwdriver (there was a special PERQ-related tool, one end of which was flattened to fit that, the other was an open-ended spanner to adjust the cabinet feet). 2T2 with PC-style 5.25" hard disks (ST412 interface). Most if not all are self-parking. A machine can have 1 or 2 hard drives installed. 2T4 which is is a 2T2 with a 24 bit CPU. Very rare, and I am sure Bob didn't have one. No classic PERQ (the above models) had SCSI. The PERQ AGW3300 (which again I am pretty sure Bob didn't have) looks like a tower PC with a single 5.25" floppy drive mounted vertically. This machine has a SCSI interface on the CPU board that links to a bridge board and an ST412-interfaced hard disk inside. > > I'm going to put together a list of people and see if I can figure out a > way to get things out. The garage is blocked by an old car, and this > stuff will not go up the steps. Too narrow. Old car = 1972 Mercury Montego? That was Bob's I think. -tony