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mdo Test Systems

General

This page is in constant construction and therefore never finished. It is also possible that some posts are incomplete. Last update: 08/22/2023

Abbreviations:

  • OS: .... Operating System
  • MB: .... Mainboard
  • TS: .... Turbo Switch (yes/no)
  • WS: .... Wait State
  • BIOS: .. BIOS
  • RAM: ... Random Access Memory
  • EXP: ... Memory Expansion Adapter
  • CPU: ... Central Processing Unit
  • FPU: ... Floating Point Unit
  • VIDEO: . Graphics Adapter
  • MON: ... Monitor
  • NET: ... Network
  • HDC/FDC: Hard Disk Controller/Floppy Disk Controller
  • OPT: ... Optional
  • HDD: ... Hard Disk Drive
  • FDD: ... Floppy Disk Drive
  • CDR: ... CD-ROM
  • PSU: ... Power Supply Unit

My Computers

All my DOS PC's can access my FTP server (old: Synology DS211j; new DS223j) with TCP/IP for up- and downloading. I backup all my DOS PC's - on my iMac - running the DOS FTP server „FTPServ“ (mTCP package by M. Brutman). Works fine!

Furthermore I can connect a Backpack CD-ROM drive from MicroSolutions to all DOS computers (LPT). Simply burn all DOS files to a CD and copy everything in one go to the DOS PC. A 650 MB CD can hold a lot of DOS programs and files. On a digital full format camera, a single RAW image can be more than 50 MB in size! Times are changing!

My Floppy Stations

1st Generation Processors (P1) - 8088

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IBM PC 5150 (16-64KB)

Cabinet: Original IBM

IBM PC 5150
IBM PC 5150 (16-64KB / 704KB)

IBM PC 5150 (64-256KB)

Cabinet: Original IBM

(# another equipment variant)

IBM PC 5150
IBM PC 5150 (64-256KB / 512KB)

IBM XT 5160 (64-256KB)

Case: Original IBM

IBM PC 5160
IBM PC 5160 (64-256KB / 640 KB)

IBM XT 5160 (256-640KB)

Case: NoName medium (open) tower

(# another equipment variant)

IBM PC 5160 testsystem
IBM PC 5160 (256-640KB / 640KB)

2nd Generation Processors (P2) - 80286

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Unidentified 80286 VLSI

Last tests, optimisations or backups:
- 08/22/2023 - fixing minor error in 22DISK/diskette.cfg; backup C: and D: with FTPSRV by M. Brutman; Norton SD and DT on C: and D:.
- 09/05/2023 - replaced CC I with CC IV and WD1006V-MM2 with MM1

AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS

Case: NoName - big tower

(# another equipment variant)

286 VLSI
UNIDENTIFIED 80286-12, VLSI chipset

IBM XT Model 286 (XT/286) 5162 (512+128KB)

Case: Original IBM

IBM 5162
IBM 5162 (IBM XT Model 286) with original BIOS
IBM 5162
IBM 5162 (IBM XT Model 286)

3rd Generation Processors (P3) - 80386DX-20

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Case: Big tower

DTK PEM-2035
DTK PEM-2035 with VLSI chipset

Note: So that the BIOS of the PEM-2035 can recognize the additional RAM of the PEI-306, the DIP switches SW1/1-4 (PEM-2035) must be set to OFF!

The YE-DATA YD480 is a DSQD floppy disk drive with 96 tpi (80 tracks) and 720 KByte. Not to be confused with the YD380 (DSHD, 1.2M) and the YD580 (DSDD, 360K) drives.

Floppy Stations

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3.5 / 5.25 inch

Floppy teststation
TEAC: FD-55GFR, FD-55F, FD-55E, FD-55A, 2x FD-55B
Floppy teststation
TEAC: FD-55GFR, FD-55F, FD-55E, FD-55A, 2x FD-55B / FD-35HFN, FD-235J

Currently (Apr 2020) I am using the floppy station with my IBM XT 5160 (open medium tower). With this test station I can actually read, write and copy nearly any DOS or CP/M 5.25" and 3.5" floppy format. As floppy disk controller I use a CompatiCard IV.

As drive A: I always use the FD-55B (360K). As drive B: I use the one that is currently needed. I always use a Megamate 2.8 as drive D: (720K, 1.4MB or 2.8MB; drive not shown above).

8 inch

Floppy teststation
8 inch floppy test station

I can connect the 8 inch floppy test station to both the 286AT and the 386DX-AT with the FDADAP interface from DBIT or my own interface.

Currently (Mar 2024) I have seven 8" drives:

The best are the M2896, the YD-180 and the SA800.

FLUXTEEN, GREASEWEAZLE, KRYOFLUX

New Version (since 01/2023)

All three drives are housed in a modern drive enclosure with its own power supply. The connection to the respective FLUX adapter is made with the so-called Shugart-BUS also called daisy chaining. In other words, the cable has no cable twister. Access is via the DRIVE SELECT selection, which is set on the respective drive. This also means that all three drives always rotate when accessed, because there is no separate MOTOR ON signal.

Flux teststation
FLUX test station (GREASEWEAZLE F7 and V4)

Old Version (until 12/2022)

... or standalone ...

Floppy teststation
KryoFlux & Greaseweazle Station
Floppy teststation
KryoFlux & Greaseweazle Station
Floppy teststation
KryoFlux & Greaseweazle Station
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... the following is outdated ... that's how it all began in 2018 ...

Testsystem no. 1

# Hardware #

Computer PC-AT, ISA
Motherbord Appian OPUS/90 SX
BIOS Quadtel, Quadtel Corporation, 01/08/91
(with CTRL+ALT+S you get into the setup)
Controller Onboard HDC, FDC (each selectable with jumper on/off) The operation of an external MFM controller (ST-506/412) is thus easily possible.

The FDD controller (with the appropriate software; for example ImageDisk) is also able to write floppy disks in FM coding and one-sided!

The controller chip is a WD37C65CJM from Western Digital, here WDC '89. According to Dave Dunfield, the controller is compatible to 250 and 500 kpbs in single and double density mode (FM, MFM) but fails on double density with 128 byte sectors.
Prozessors Intel 80386 SX/16 und Intel 80387 SX/16
RAM 4x 1MB Simm, 30pin, 70ns, Hyundai (HY514400A / J-70 / 9608B Korea)
4x 1MB Simm, 30pin, 70ns, Siemens (HYB514400BJ-70 / Germany)
Network card 3Com EtherLink III 3C509B - C P/N: ASSY 03-0021-003 Rev A
Paketdriver: 3c5x9pd.com

# Software #

Operating system MS-DOS
Version 6.22 (de)

Testsystem no. 2

# Hardware #

Computer PC-AT, ISA
Motherbord Appian OPUS/90 SX
BIOS s.o.
FDD 0: uninstalled / FDD 1: uninstalled
HDD 0: Type 2 / HDD 1: Type 2
Controller Onboard HDC, FDC (switched off by jumper)

HFA-110W Multicontroller mit WD42C22-A Chip
(similar Western Digital WD1006V-MM2 or WD1003V-MM2)
The floppy disk drive is automatically detected by the controller.
Harddisks HDD 0: Seagate ST-225 MFM / 20 MByte / ST-506/412
HDD 1: Seagate ST-225 MFM / 20 MByte / ST-506/412
Prozessors s.o.
RAM s.o.
Network card s.o.

# Software #

Operating system MS-DOS
Version 3.20 (en), (Commodore PC I / 31.08.1987)
Testsystem Nr. 2
Testsystem no. 2 with two MFM HDDs

The experienced retro hobbyist will now, of course, say that signal cables, and in particular the data cable, are far too long for the MFM hard drives. Yes, that is correct, but I have not had any malfunctions so far. Even with too long cables, the overall system works well. No data bits have been struck during the transfer yet!

The MFM signal cable, like the floppy cable, has a twist, but ... The floppy cable has a twist on lines 10-16, the MFM cable has a twist on 25-29. Otherwise both have 34 lines.