(last updated: 06-Aug-2017)
Stock system that I added a 20MB hard disk to.
| Intel 8088 CPU @ 4.77MHz, 128+512KB RAM, Mono+CGA, Serial, Parallel, TOY clock | |
|---|---|
| ISA8 | Western Digital WD1002S-WX2 MFM hard disk controller (EVEREX 3.91 labeled PROM) | (asian-made no-name) Dual-port Game controller | (empty) | SMC/Western Digital 8003-EP ethernet adapter |
01-Aug-1985
* * * * * Date uncertain * * * * *
The date of acquisition is undoubtedly incorrect. According to Wikipedia, the Model D was released in June 1985, and included 256KB RAM, integrated serial port, integrated parallel port and integrated CGA and HGA/Monochrome ports, switchable between the two for $1495.
This unit was purchased on my behalf by Alan Marshall of Proteon in Natick, Massachussettes, as part of a group purchase. He delivered it to me in Orem, Utah as part of one of his regular visits to us at Novell. Unfortunately, he was not able to acquire the 'companion' monochrome screen from Leading Edge. They had none available at the time. However, I used the unit with a TAXAN green monitor until I purchased a Zenith CGA monitor later on.
15-Aug-1986
* * * * * Date uncertain * * * * *
Not long after acquisition, I was lucky enough to receive a 20MB hard disk add-on kit from Rebecca for some event, perhaps Christmas, perhaps my birthday. The package, which included the Seagate ST-225 drive, a Western Digital controller, and some documentation and diskette with a head parking utility, cost her a round $500 at that time. Wow!
I removed the system's second floppy drive to make way for the hard disk. The floppy drive is still on hand in storage.
15-Aug-1986
Somewhere near this time I also was able to upgrade the system memory from 128KB to a full complement of 640KB, by adding two rows of 256Kb chips (Fujitsu MB81256-15).
06-Aug-2017
Yesterday, while working with this system, re-exploring what was on the hard disk, I came across OPTUNE, a disk optimizer from the day, and ran it. Sadly, it encountered some bad sectors (not unexpected with a drive with an old format) and I went ahead with its tools for a fixup. Oops! The disk format was corrupted badly. So...
Today, I decied the go ahead with a full low-level reformat and rebuild. I confirmed the internal hard disk controller and read the docs for that device and made sure my configuration was correct (see note below), and started a reformat with:
C:>DEBUG -g=C800:5
which then went ahead with the low-level format.
Next, I reinstalled the original MS-DOS v2.11 from original master diskettes.
NOTE: It's funny, but I kinda remember that the drive with the old format, before it was messed up, was only 10MB, but I really have a 20MB drive. So after confirming the jumpers on the HDD controller, and using the controllers low-level format routines, and a DOS FORMAT /S now shows the drive at 20MB! Huh!
Now, the next project is to get some network access going again, and reload the drive with useful and fun tools and programs. First, I will need to re-install the NSCA TELNET/FTP tools. With FTP I can then get everyhting else I need right over the network.
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