This is an archive of CompuServe forum messages from 1985 to 1995, as saved in transcripts by John Foust.
Search Results (367 messages)
#CompuServe Mag. Article
Message #24599
Hi! My name is Cathryn Conroy, and I am the senior writer for CompuServe Magazine. I'm writing an article for the magazine on how CompuServe helps people maintain and effectively use "classic computers" — machines that are no longer being made and supported by the manufacturer. Such computers include (but…
Unfortunately, that hasn't solved this problem. I've made it a habit to periodically (every 6 to 12 months) open up my Rainbow to blow out all the dust and in the process to reseat the chips on the motherboard as well as the other boards. I did all that recently…
Vinzenz is the expert on WUTIL and Windows. I'm delighted to hear that we're no longer captive to CHS! –Len
Writing a mouse driver for DOS would probably be no trickier than writing the one for Windows. The unknown is Code Blue, which might not be altogether well-behaved. It could easily trash the mouse while reaching for the printer port, for instance. What DOS software did you hope to mouse…
Willett, I'd be very interested, especially in the debugger. Does it have any other "advanced" features, such as "symbolic" information? A few years ago, I was given one that did — but also has at least one major bug, itself. — Carl
Willett, I agree in principle. As soon as someone out there among our user community verifies that they have actually used WUTIL 3.2 — more specifically, *the copy here* — to format and partition a hard disk, then I'll trash 3.12. (Hey, lurkers: this means you! When you download it…
On the same subject, it seems the minimum iron would have to be the equivalent of a Macintosh SE. And the recommended iron would be at least a IIx-equivalent. So you have to give credit to Microsoft for a product that runs on the equivalent of an Apple II! A…
#assembler and debugger
Message #21431
Would anyone like a public-domain assembler, claimed to be better and faster than MASM, and a public-domain full-screen debugger for the Rainbow? If there's not demand, I don't want to take the time to sort out and upload the files.
While we're on the subject, Len, how feasible would it be to write a Microsoft Mouse DOS driver for the Rainbow?
#delete old WUTIL?
Message #21429
Now that the new version of WUTIL is available, I think it would be desirable to delete the file WUTIL.ARC in Library 4, which is WUTIL 3.12. The DEScription of this file says that it works on MS-DOS 3.1, which is misleading and caused great grief to a number of…
#WUTIL 3.2 and Windows
Message #21428
You mentioned that you thought someone had had problems with Windows on a WUTIL-formatted disk, and suggested using alternatives. I wrote the current author of WUTIL about this, and got the following reply (letter of 28 Aug 90 from Vinzenz Esser): "I'm running Windows on my Rainbow and I'm using…
WUTIL 3.2
Message #21427
There was an earlier thread of messages regarding problems with using WUTIL 3.12 on Suitable's new MS-DOS 3.10b. I volunteered to write the author, Venzenz Esser in Germany, to convey the problems and questions we had. He promptly sent me the new WUTIL 3.2 executables, documentation and sources, which work…
Glad you've recovered. Did you try the new WUTIL (v 3.2). It works great under 3.10b, and allows those bigger partitions you were lusting for.
Pretty amazing symptoms. Before you get more sophisticated help, you DO know, don't you, that the solution that solves 75% – 85% of ALL Rainbow motherboard problems is to remove the motherboard, place it on a surface that supports the board itself (like a blotter or pad on the edge…
Thanks for the explanation and checkout, Carl. I used it to install a boot loader under 3.10b, and it worked great (I didn't totally reforamt either!).
Sorry for my unclear message. WUTIL 3.2 has now been merged into the public library, as I had originally expected. I got confused when it didn't appear, since your prior message could have been read with the meaning "I can't test it, so I can't make it public". Carl N.'s…
I've been using Norton 4.5 for multiple purposes on my Rainbow. DT works great for detecting and marking bad clusters on the hard disk, it's DOS generic. There are a few I*M specific programs, mostly duplicating the DOS generic ones but with fancier interfaces, more automation, etc.
Bill Thanks.. 'fraid this was my first interaction w/Digital products on any level (except programming classes back in High School) and at first (and second) glance the only place I seemed to be able to find equipement was at Digital itself. However, since I apparently was not looking hard enough,…
Hi Brent, The rule on graphics-based software for the Rainbow is very simple: if it wasn't written expressly for the Rainbow, then it must be a Windows application or it won't run. There are a few Windows-based games. Windows 3.0 includes Reversi and the new Windows Solitaire. There are a…
I tried to jump out the window but missed and hit the wall. I get my bandages off tomorrow. My rainbow and I are pals again. Steve
Steve, thanks but alas, no "b". Steve (PS- I like your name and initials!)
Willett, Just checked, and you should find the three WUITL 3.2 files available now in LIBrary 3. (For those looking on, these files are the latest version of the Winchester UTILity and work with MS-DOS 3.10b. One of the files allows slightly faster booting if you have a TURBOW board.)…
#RB text display problem
Message #21416
Are there any hardware experts out there who can help? My Rainbow motherboard seems to be developing a problem with the video. Anything displayed in reverse video blinks about every second, changing to underlined and then back to reverse video. Also, if I use smooth scroll, there is text left…
Steve, I have version 4.0 running on my Rainbow and version 4.5 running on my AST. 4.0 is generic DOS and 4.5 seems to be unchanged (though I haven't actually losded it onto the Rainbow for a test). DT is among the simpler Norton Utilities, and it can be invaluable.…
There are two good magazines to check for used equipment: 1. The Computer Hotline 800 322-5131 2. The Processor 800 247-4880 I believe both of these will send a sample copy. It should be pointed out these magazines are ALL ads, there is nothing else in them like technical articles.…
Mike, GO VAXFORUM… PCSA is covered there, not here. This forum covers DEC personal computers themselves, not the VAX integration products. -Bill
Willett, I don't know how to answer your message. There is *a* version of WUTIL 3.2 that I am going to merge into the public library very soon now. I don't know if it's 3.2. I have no Rainbow with which to test it and can't stay up-to-date with the…
Steve, First, please use the OPTIONS command or menu item here to change your name. This Forum requires use of your full first and last name. There are at least a thousand dealers of Digital products across the US (never mind worldwide). Many of them advertise in the Digital publications…
Mark, You should really ask this question in the VAX Forum, where PCSA is covered. This Forum is devoted to DEC personal computers, including the Rainbow, DECmate, and VAXmate. To answer your question, PCSA and Windows have worked together well for many years. But if you are talking Windows 3.0,…
Len, draft mode for WfW v1.0/Win v2.1 seems to work (at my typing speeds) without hanging the system. Have just loaded WfW v1.1, so will see how that works — and of course have sent in my order for the Win v3.0 RAK so everything will be different soon. On…
To answer my own questions: I just found that console ODT is available, on the printer port at 4800B by shorting together pins 8 and 9, and that there is a technical manual (with any luck, still available) for the Pro. Any additional sources of information would be appreciated, however.
Len, I have a question regarding Windows and games. Let's suppose I wanted to purchase a graphics-based game designed for those other computers. Am I correct that: 1. Even if I have Code Blue but not Windows there is no way this game will run; 2. If I have Windows…
Right Roy…terminals…seems I got my signals scrambled a little. 'fraid I dont know as much about the DEC line as I do about the others – kind of slipped my mind that VT was a terminal ! Well, he cant fault me for trying ! 🙁 -Steve
Mike, If your driver's name is really decmouse.SYS then it's likely not a Windows mouse driver at all, but rather a DOS mouse driver, i.e., meant to be loaded in CONFIG.SYS. That would certainly explain Windows SETUP couldn't find the mouse driver! A Windows mouse driver is a totally different…
#DEC Mouse & Windows 3.0
Message #21400
OK Len, I edited the System.INI file and placed the name of my mouse driver, DECMouse.sys in it. Now when I start windows, I immediataly get the C:> prompt back and windows does not work. When I take the DECMouse.sys line out of the file, windoews works again, but without…
Thanks for the info. No offense intended. Bob.
#PRO350 debugging helps?
Message #21398
I have a Pro/350 that crashes intermittently and could use some help finding tools to track the problem down. I am already working on the simple hardware-level approaches (remove boards and try again; power-supply fan; power-supply cable), but it would sure be nice if we could do the kinds of…
Sorry, Tim – Yer message must be for someone else. I've been using the VT sequences for about 12 years on PDPs, VAXs, and my 'Bow. (See my StarTrek game in the new-uploads area … it uses VT100 sequences from BASIC to create windows and animated torpedos when you shoot…
Well, I guess the Waltham center is gonna improve Real Soon Now… They've consolidated as of this week (!!) and the new guy in charge has been the one servicing my 'Bow for the last two years (since I move in-state.) I have the utmost confidence in _this_ crew, although…
#prior WUTIL 3.2 upload
Message #21395
I understood your message to mean that you are going to make WUTIL 3.2 available to the DEC PC forum, right?
Mike, I take it the mouse driver is from Windows 2.x. If so, it should work with Windows 3.0, but only in real mode. Manual installation is the easiest option. Copy the DEC mouse driver to your WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory, open your SYSTEM.INI file, look for a line reading mouse.drv=mouse.drv and…
#DEC Mouse & Windows 3.0
Message #21393
Any idea how to get the DEC Mouse to work with Windows 3.0? I have asked this question in the Microsoft forum, but I will repeat it here to be sure. I have my DEC Mouse connected to my mouse port on my ethernet card and it is set up…
You want *terminals* not PCs. You'll find many alternative sources for DEC terminals. New and Used. Much cheaper than the DEC equivalent. Maybe some of the VAX-types here will point you in the right direction.
Hmm… Well, I'm not going to get involved in any C-ports (Hello, Sailor) but I am curious as to how it goes on VAX C to PC. If you post some comments about your experiences, I'll read them eagerly.
#DEC dealers
Message #21387
G'day folks ! I have myself a little bit of a problem that I'm hoping the wonderfully friendly CIS community can help me with. I have a friend who is trying to expand his companies computer system. He is currently using DEC VT320 terminals and LA75 printers and is looking…
#PCSA and Windows
Message #21386
Windows, and PCSA are they ever going to work together (read work together well)?
#21221-
#Character sets G0 and G1
Message #21385
Sorry for the delay in replying. Actually, I had entirely forgotten that I had entered the note and I do not log in very often. I also cannot locate the original question. The Rainbow sequences are listed in the owners manual. As the previous reply says all the VT series…
The reason the compiling advantage seems to be so small is that, when it comes down to it, the "interpreter" approach is really interpreting very little data (a couple Kb tops) and it can do that pretty quickly. And there's not all that much data that is compressable via compiling.…
Yep, Waltham service center. Nice folks when they're around. I drove out there to pick up the LA-50 one morning and there was no one there with a key to the back room. Seems that, in typical DEC fashion, everyone was away in a "training session." (Customer service, no doubt.)…
I understood the word "compiled" to mean "made binary for execution". No confusion here. I'm a little startled to learn that compiling offers no advantage. Of course, I'm not doing MUCH "compiling" myself. Basically, just using an index file mechanism to link the tree together. Actually, embedded record pointers are…
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