This is an archive of CompuServe forum messages from 1985 to 1995, as saved in transcripts by John Foust.
Search Results (33 messages)
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…
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…
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…
While we're on the subject, Len, how feasible would it be to write a Microsoft Mouse DOS driver for the Rainbow?
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…
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…
#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…
Mike, GO VAXFORUM… PCSA is covered there, not here. This forum covers DEC personal computers themselves, not the VAX integration products. -Bill
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…
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…
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…
Bob, Just out of curiosity have you opened your machine up? If not, and you're not afraid to do it , you might want to open it up and check out all of your cable connections. I had a similar problem once in the past and it was due to…
I once read in some obscure magazine article there is a problem with ST-225 drives where firmly tightened screws holding the logic pc board will cause some mechanical alignment problem in the HDA to which it is mounted. Specifically, slightly loosening the screw on the side of the board closest…
Bob, Which version of DOS are you running? Jerry Miller discovered a problem with DEC's 2.11 (I believe) that resulted in progressive corruption of the hard disk. The details were published in Rainbow News, together with software to diagnose and (if I remember correctly) fix the problem. But I truly…
Bob, Almost certainly, the disk in question is Seagate's ST225. (I say this not out of any knowledge of what Suitable was shipping, but just based on the fact that by far the lion's share of 20Mb disks sold into the pc-level market are ST225s.) Some people say the ST225s…
#100+ hard disk
Message #21350
I have a Rainbow 100+ with what might be a flakey hard disk. It appears to have been gradually "going south" and now won't even boot reliably. I guess I can get it to boot once. Then it hangs when I try to run Wordperfect. A subsequent attempt to boot…
Ralph, I'm about 80% certain that you can plug any interface-compatible drive in there and have it work. I think the European DECstation 200 series are made by Olivetti. In the US, they are made by Tandy, and are completely different machines. But in both cases they are essentially off-the-shelf…
#hard disk upgrade
Message #21322
I have a DECStation 200 which came equipped with a Conner CP3022 20Mb hard drive. I would like to upgrade it to a 40Mb drive, but the DEC prices here in France are outrageous. Does anyone know if I can just pop a Conner CP3044 into the DECstation 200, or…
Jack, I've never heard of that machine either! However, if no one here comes up with any answers for you, you might consider posting a similar message on our "Sister" forums, The VAX Forum (GO VAXFORUM) or the PDP-11 Forum (GO PDP11). Good luck! Bill
Jack, This is probably a machine that was built for some specific vertical-market purpose by an OEM, using DEC components. Possibly an industrial process control system, or something of that sort. Most likely, the CPU is a PDP-11, though it might also be a VAX. It is most probably not…
#ADP Micro 1000
Message #21101
I don't know where to post this message, but I have a computer sitting in front of me that I know very little about. It is an 'ADP Micro1000', an old piece of hardware with a bunch of DEC components inside of it. Just wondering if anyone has heard of…
#20976-
LA-34 re: your # 20971
Message #21004
I agree with Bill L. in that I'm surprised you can't get the LA120 codes, at least for common functions like CPI and LPI, to work. I don't have a reference for the LA34 specifically at hand, but my Terminals & Printers Handbook says it uses the same ANSI standard…
Well, time *is* money, so you didn't do too badly.
#20976-
LA-34 re: your # 20971
Message #20989
Richard, Hmm, now I'm stumped. I assumed that the LA34 would respond to the same ESCape sequences as the LA120 and LA100. Bearing in mind of course that not ALL of the features present on the 100 and 120 would be available on the 34. When you say the Octal…
Roy Never thought of Dec. Actually I called ESS & got an amber monitor for $95, shipped immediately so that we received it on the Monday after the Friday I ordered. If I'd waited a couple of days, I mighta got one for $50! Oh well. thanks jennifer
Shurlo Looks like a good price on your machine. I will put it to the crew. In the past though, we have been slow to add new machines, because we expect eventually to have to give up on the RBow. Too bad though. jennifer
#20964-
DECWriter LA-34
Message #20971
Richard, Welcome to the Forum! I haven't seen an LA34 in a long time! I'm not positive if it's setup codes are identical to the LA100 or not, but if you could give me an idea as to what you're trying to do, I could pass along the details based…
My source is Newman (313) 994-3200. They probably have everything, they guarantee their stuff is maintenance eligible, and they're pretty speedy, too. But you might check DEC's Outlet (800) 344-4825. They've got Rainbow monitors for $50 this month, as one of the Bills has mentioned previously.
Jennifer, our office has some RB equipment we would sell. But, like most folks we'd prefer to sell a system. We do have a 100B model with new monitor, 40 meg hd, that we will advertise. We also have a fully loaded 100B with I-Drive, HD, graphics and color monitor…
#Monitor for Rbow, help!
Message #20951
Does anyone know where to get a new (or reconditioned) Rbow monochrome monitor? (VR201-C?) Midwest Systems say they no longer carry that item. Begins to look like there are no replacement parts out there. With an RBLink, can you attach an IBm-type monitor? No one answered my question about an…
HDrive & Controller
Message #20935
Anyone know where I can get another hard drive and controller package. I've bought several from CHS, but their phone # has been disconnected, so I assume they are out of that business. Is that guy in Marblehead, Mass, still around? Mark? Any referrals thankfully accepted jennifer