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On Mar 9, 2023, at 10:57 PM, John Maxwell via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: >>> On 3/9/23 10:16 AM, John Maxwell wrote: >>> Nowhere do I see any mention of a Model 80 Reference Disk. If you >>> don't have one of these, you will not be able to configure the machine. >> > > Is there a repository to where I can upload diskette images? What format is > in widespread use these days? I use DiskImage (Ver5) and Dave Dunfield's > ImageDisk (Ver1.17) - both work well. I seem to recall that DiskImage is a > commercial product and ImageDisk is still available for free. Some may disagree , but i upload stuff like this to the Internet Archive. > >>> ADFs were text files with descriptions of hardware addresses and the >>> like. > >> That sounds like what I remember. > >>> Not sure of what you mean by 'Rifas' in the last question. Probably an >>> acronym or other abbreviation of something I may know about, but >>> nothing comes to my foggy brain presently. > >> My understanding is that RIFA is a brand of capacitor which had a model like >> which is notorious for failing after time and they seemed to be common in >> the '90s. > > Not sure that IBM would use cheap *anything* in their equipment. > > [snip] > >> *nod* That's what I was referring to as sticktion. > > A word of warning, the "inertial rotation" procedure was great for smaller > drives, but you may break your arm applying this to an ESDI :-) > >> I don't know the state of the bearings. Is there anything that I can or >> should do for them? > > Aside from dismantling the drive, not really. Just cross your fingers and > pray. Usually not a problem. I have an ST225 which had been powered off for > two decades and it came up fine in my DEC Rainbow! > >>> The battery used is one of the old 6V photoflash types (cannot recall >>> the model, unfortunately). I have a few of them left in my collection >>> - just ran into them in a box (with 2 or 3 left) a few months ago. >>> Each still had over 6v (no load) at the terminals. No idea how long >>> they would last in application under load, though, even though the >>> Model >>> 80 didn't use too much current to hold things in config memory. > >> ACK > >> My assumption is that the Model 80 has been powered off for years, if not a >> decade or more. It's on the older end of a five computers I picked up from >> someone >who wanted them hauled away. I'm not holding my breath that they >> powered the PS/2 on anytime in the last decade. ;-) > > It is my belief that these batteries should still be available from > somewhere. If I think of it when I get home, I'll dig out the box and relay > the model number. Provided that the box is still where I remember. > >>> Just my $0.02 (not even sure it was worth that much). Good luck with >>> your 80. > >> Thank you. You're sharing things that seem familiar. Which is appreciated >> because it means that my memory isn't that far out of calibration or bit rot. >