Random Tech

I had the misfortune of plugging this card halfway without realizing it, and to launch 3C5X9CFG to change its base address and IRQ. While flashing seemed OK, the card would then fail the EEPROM Vital Data Test, meaning corrupted EEPROM content, and a card that would no longer work properly. The EEPROM not only stores the current configuration but also more "vital" information such as MAC Address, manufacturing date, model, etc...

Finally got a Spectrum +3 that was not outrageously expensive. Of course, in such case, it is safe to assume it won't work properly. I was not disappointed.

This KB is taken from some old microsoft archive, mirrorred on https://jeffpar.github.io/kbarchive/kb/066/Q66530/

Back in the ancient MS-DOS days, If you did not SYS right after FDISK and FORMAT, you could well end up with a "No Room for System on Destination Disk" error.

In one case, it turned out I had to use a 4.0 MS-DOS Bootable disk with SYS to reallocate enough disk space for the OS. I do not use 4.0 otherwise because it's a memory hog, but I could then SYS from a 3.3 MS-DOS, without reformatting! Neat.

The Toshiba Libretto 50CT originally came with windows 95. It was not meant to be used with MS-DOS; it does not have a hardware volume control. The Libretto uses an OPL3 sound chip that is Sound Blaster compatible (or the other way around, since SB uses OPL3). However not to the point of being able  […]

There are many Floppy Drive USB Emulators and not all are equal. Here is a list of GOTEK models: Formatted capacity 1.44MB : SFR1M44-*** 1.2MB : SFR1M2-*** 720Kb : SFRM72-*** Cables IDC34pin+4P power plug IDC26pin withour additional power FPC26 flat cabel 1.0MM pin distance use mdoel SFR***-**26  […]

I've been intrigued by Ret0bright for some time. This magic cooking recipe makes your old yellowed plastic computers like new again. It is not very clear what the consequences of the treatment are, since it involve chemical reactions and interactions with light and oxygen. The recipe is a bit  […]

Just a reminder of some of the vintage HDD I still use... Conner CP3044 (40 MB) BRAND MODEL SIZE CYL HDS SECT WPCOMP LZONE Type Where? Link CONNER CP3044 40 MB 980 5 17 0 980 ATA Specs CONNER CP2121 120 MB ATA Compaq Contura 4/25 PDF | Specs TOSHIBA MK4025GAS 40 GB 16383 16 63 0 16383 ATA-100 Specs  […]

Title says it all :) I wanted to build a serial loopback plug compatible with the ancient CheckIt diagnostic tool. It wires serial inputs to serial outputs so that the port may be tested. There is more than one way to wire up a loopback plug - but this is the most common. Pinout front view: From Pin  […]