LGR - Looking at the IBM PC XT
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Date: 2022-04-14
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Comments and reviews: 10
soylentgreenb
This really emphasizes just how shitty the IBM PC platform was for gaming until the early 90's. Back in the day, would you have wanted this monochrome green monstrosity with only internal speaker for sound, or a commodore 64 with the wonderful SID sound chip and up to 16 colour graphics on the screen at once for a tiny fraction of the price? Would you have wanted a 20 MHz 386 with still only an internal speaker or an amiga 500 for a fraction of the price?
It was the AM386DX-40 and the 486DX2-66 that really made PC gaming a serious proposition. These CPUs stayed on the market for a ridiculously long time and just got cheaper and cheaper each year, with cheap sound blaster 16s, cheap vga monitors and CD drives rapidly dropping in price, PC went from a boring business machine that could play some simpler games not very well to a powerful and affordably gaming system.
AM386DX-40 was already powerful enough to play Ultima underworld, Wolfenstein 3D, but just barely Doom in low res; but the DX2-66 with a VLB-card was the game changer for 3D gaming; Doom, Daggerfall, Decent, system shock, magic carpet (that was a weird game, Hexen, heretic.
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This really emphasizes just how shitty the IBM PC platform was for gaming until the early 90's. Back in the day, would you have wanted this monochrome green monstrosity with only internal speaker for sound, or a commodore 64 with the wonderful SID sound chip and up to 16 colour graphics on the screen at once for a tiny fraction of the price? Would you have wanted a 20 MHz 386 with still only an internal speaker or an amiga 500 for a fraction of the price?
It was the AM386DX-40 and the 486DX2-66 that really made PC gaming a serious proposition. These CPUs stayed on the market for a ridiculously long time and just got cheaper and cheaper each year, with cheap sound blaster 16s, cheap vga monitors and CD drives rapidly dropping in price, PC went from a boring business machine that could play some simpler games not very well to a powerful and affordably gaming system.
AM386DX-40 was already powerful enough to play Ultima underworld, Wolfenstein 3D, but just barely Doom in low res; but the DX2-66 with a VLB-card was the game changer for 3D gaming; Doom, Daggerfall, Decent, system shock, magic carpet (that was a weird game, Hexen, heretic.
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John
In case you are still using and have trouble with that drive two things to try:
If you want to recover the data on the drive, power on the computer and let it run overnight, the insert system disk screen is fine for this, unplug the monitor of course to prevent phosphor burn. In the morning simply press control-alt-delete. If it boots, LEAVE THE MACHINE ON and recover as much data as possible. Then follow the instructions below.
Fixing the actual issue. Chances are the drive will need a low level format. To do this you boot into DOS (can be on the existing hard drive as per the instructions above) and execute the debug command unless it is an IBM controller, then you need the IBM utility.
Remove the disks from the drives
In debug you execute (you will need to reboot between tries):
For WD controllers G=C800: 5 or G=C800: 800
For Adaptec: G=C800: CCC
For DTC: G=C800: 5
For OMTI: G=C800: 6
Using the Adaptec for an example, what you are telling DEBUG to do is instruct the processor to set Program Counter to C800: CCC and start executing. What this will do is it will execute a program off the controller's ROM chip.
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In case you are still using and have trouble with that drive two things to try:
If you want to recover the data on the drive, power on the computer and let it run overnight, the insert system disk screen is fine for this, unplug the monitor of course to prevent phosphor burn. In the morning simply press control-alt-delete. If it boots, LEAVE THE MACHINE ON and recover as much data as possible. Then follow the instructions below.
Fixing the actual issue. Chances are the drive will need a low level format. To do this you boot into DOS (can be on the existing hard drive as per the instructions above) and execute the debug command unless it is an IBM controller, then you need the IBM utility.
Remove the disks from the drives
In debug you execute (you will need to reboot between tries):
For WD controllers G=C800: 5 or G=C800: 800
For Adaptec: G=C800: CCC
For DTC: G=C800: 5
For OMTI: G=C800: 6
Using the Adaptec for an example, what you are telling DEBUG to do is instruct the processor to set Program Counter to C800: CCC and start executing. What this will do is it will execute a program off the controller's ROM chip.
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Otokichi786
In the middle 1990's, the Tech guy at the photographic portrait studio left to head a communications company with his college friend. I got to see and use the company's IBM PC XT, which had a 20MB HDD, a 5. 25- floppy drive, a full length 512K Monochrome display card and an IBM monochrome monitor. There were two 9-pin dot matrix wide carriage printers that devoured fanfold paper. In time, to use a color version of DBase, I upgraded it to a half length 640K color card and monitor, along with XTree 2. 0 to handle PFS: Write and File. One day, I got a -bad command interpreter- error message, which led me to a 40MB HDD. The final software upgrade was to GeoWorks Ensemble 1. 2, which allowed Ye Olde Computer to run a Windows-like interface and (widely) scalable fonts. This led to a 4-color ribbon, 24 pin Citizen printer before the XT was replaced with a desktop 80386DX IBM clone computer. Those were interesting days, when computer stores could be found everywhere, along with bookstores like Waldenbooks. ;)
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In the middle 1990's, the Tech guy at the photographic portrait studio left to head a communications company with his college friend. I got to see and use the company's IBM PC XT, which had a 20MB HDD, a 5. 25- floppy drive, a full length 512K Monochrome display card and an IBM monochrome monitor. There were two 9-pin dot matrix wide carriage printers that devoured fanfold paper. In time, to use a color version of DBase, I upgraded it to a half length 640K color card and monitor, along with XTree 2. 0 to handle PFS: Write and File. One day, I got a -bad command interpreter- error message, which led me to a 40MB HDD. The final software upgrade was to GeoWorks Ensemble 1. 2, which allowed Ye Olde Computer to run a Windows-like interface and (widely) scalable fonts. This led to a 4-color ribbon, 24 pin Citizen printer before the XT was replaced with a desktop 80386DX IBM clone computer. Those were interesting days, when computer stores could be found everywhere, along with bookstores like Waldenbooks. ;)
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Loddestuen
Hi LGR, thanks for all the good vids!
What about an IBM 5170? - that should be on your wish list as well. I have just dumpster dived one out at work. It was taken out of commission in 2016 as the monitor (5154 EGA) was acting up. The PC AT was controlling an ion accelerator for deposition special surfacing on metal pieces. The control was done through Scientific Solutions -Labmaster 200009- card with an external breakout box that I was able to salvage as well. I'm gonna rebuild and clean up the machine to bring it in to its former glory and use it as an retro Personal Computer in my retro man cave/electronics work shop.
Thanks again for all your good videos,
Cheers from Denmark
Jesper
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Hi LGR, thanks for all the good vids!
What about an IBM 5170? - that should be on your wish list as well. I have just dumpster dived one out at work. It was taken out of commission in 2016 as the monitor (5154 EGA) was acting up. The PC AT was controlling an ion accelerator for deposition special surfacing on metal pieces. The control was done through Scientific Solutions -Labmaster 200009- card with an external breakout box that I was able to salvage as well. I'm gonna rebuild and clean up the machine to bring it in to its former glory and use it as an retro Personal Computer in my retro man cave/electronics work shop.
Thanks again for all your good videos,
Cheers from Denmark
Jesper
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William
My introduction to computing was a huge palette load of IBM XT's, plus parts & software I purchased from Auckland University for next to nothing after they had a major upgrade of lots of their computers many moons ago. I knew less than nothing about computers at the time even though I owned a twin floppy Amstrad. Most were missing one part or another so it was a fun learning curve indeed matching parts till I got 7 or 8 of them up & running. These I was able to sell to friends at Uni as very cheap word processors etc for study. This learning curve came in handy later on in my life. Your exploits delving into these old machines has stirred up pleasant memories for me. Thank you.
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My introduction to computing was a huge palette load of IBM XT's, plus parts & software I purchased from Auckland University for next to nothing after they had a major upgrade of lots of their computers many moons ago. I knew less than nothing about computers at the time even though I owned a twin floppy Amstrad. Most were missing one part or another so it was a fun learning curve indeed matching parts till I got 7 or 8 of them up & running. These I was able to sell to friends at Uni as very cheap word processors etc for study. This learning curve came in handy later on in my life. Your exploits delving into these old machines has stirred up pleasant memories for me. Thank you.
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Sammy
I'm sorry to ask here but there was a video where you came across one of your computers only recognizing 720kb floppies in a 1. 44mb disk drive and you had used a special floppy to change bios settings to force the computer to recognize the correct floppy disk capacity (it wasn't an OEM setup disk) and I was wondering if you could make a floppy image of that disk and post it somewhere so I could snag a copy for my Compaq Portable 286? I have the same problem plus my hard disk not being recognized by any types in the compaq setup floppy (it's a 500mb hard disk, the smallest I have at home) and I figure I could try that utility of yours in case it might work on my portable.
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I'm sorry to ask here but there was a video where you came across one of your computers only recognizing 720kb floppies in a 1. 44mb disk drive and you had used a special floppy to change bios settings to force the computer to recognize the correct floppy disk capacity (it wasn't an OEM setup disk) and I was wondering if you could make a floppy image of that disk and post it somewhere so I could snag a copy for my Compaq Portable 286? I have the same problem plus my hard disk not being recognized by any types in the compaq setup floppy (it's a 500mb hard disk, the smallest I have at home) and I figure I could try that utility of yours in case it might work on my portable.
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Caseytify
I'm surprised -given your vintage PC focus- that you don't have a vintage copy of Norton's Utilities available. I have a copy of v4. 5 over here and it's very helpful.
Agree with your plans for PCs. Right now I have a 256Kb PC with a mono monitor, a 640k XT with a CGA monitor and original 10Mb hard drive & Xebec controller. The latter has a two half-height floppy drives, one a 720k and an XT-style 102-key keyboard. I am very hesitant to backgrade it, even though at one point I gave serious consideration to pulling both half-height drives and dropping in an old 360k full-height drive.
Also have an AT with an IBM EGA card & monitor.
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I'm surprised -given your vintage PC focus- that you don't have a vintage copy of Norton's Utilities available. I have a copy of v4. 5 over here and it's very helpful.
Agree with your plans for PCs. Right now I have a 256Kb PC with a mono monitor, a 640k XT with a CGA monitor and original 10Mb hard drive & Xebec controller. The latter has a two half-height floppy drives, one a 720k and an XT-style 102-key keyboard. I am very hesitant to backgrade it, even though at one point I gave serious consideration to pulling both half-height drives and dropping in an old 360k full-height drive.
Also have an AT with an IBM EGA card & monitor.
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Robert
I have a question. Can you take off the monitor on that computer and turn the computer case in a vertical position while putting the computer monitor on the table sitting right next to the case like a modern tower? Or would that mess with the hard drive and the floppy drive due to imbalance and cause problems when running?
I know, somewhere in the late 80's, someone invented a anti-shock balancing header for hard drives to keep the header from not interfering with the disks when turned a bit of a position or when pushed around when running, therefore rendering the -header seating mode- obsolete when moving the computer.
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I have a question. Can you take off the monitor on that computer and turn the computer case in a vertical position while putting the computer monitor on the table sitting right next to the case like a modern tower? Or would that mess with the hard drive and the floppy drive due to imbalance and cause problems when running?
I know, somewhere in the late 80's, someone invented a anti-shock balancing header for hard drives to keep the header from not interfering with the disks when turned a bit of a position or when pushed around when running, therefore rendering the -header seating mode- obsolete when moving the computer.
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WAQWBrentwood
The XT originally shipped with a 10Mb full height HDD. at some point someone upgraded to that half height HDD and left themselves room for that 3. 5- FDD. IIRC 3. 5- floppies only became a -thing- in the IBM-PC world with the PS/2. Upgrading these were common in the mid '80s as the XT was a HUGE investment for a small business, let alone an individual! (I did the exact upgrade on my XT circa 1987) Nice Find. If you get an HDD running in her, install Lotus 123 r3, dBase IV and WordPerfect 5. 1! That would be the ultimate businessman's PC! All you need is a Motorola DynaTAC and you're really rockin' Reagan Era style!
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The XT originally shipped with a 10Mb full height HDD. at some point someone upgraded to that half height HDD and left themselves room for that 3. 5- FDD. IIRC 3. 5- floppies only became a -thing- in the IBM-PC world with the PS/2. Upgrading these were common in the mid '80s as the XT was a HUGE investment for a small business, let alone an individual! (I did the exact upgrade on my XT circa 1987) Nice Find. If you get an HDD running in her, install Lotus 123 r3, dBase IV and WordPerfect 5. 1! That would be the ultimate businessman's PC! All you need is a Motorola DynaTAC and you're really rockin' Reagan Era style!
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mima14031985
Maybe the hard drive is just in need of a low-level format to be back in good shape again. That was a common issue with drives which used to move the heads with a stepper motor like the Seagate ST225: after some years of use the stepper doesn't seek the heads in the exact positions it did when the drive was new, so the heads cannot track correctly the magnetic signals on the platter. A low-level format will rewrite all the tracks from scratch, so the heads will be able to read the disk again.
Of course all the data will be lost, but I don't think this should be a problem for a computer like this: -)
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Maybe the hard drive is just in need of a low-level format to be back in good shape again. That was a common issue with drives which used to move the heads with a stepper motor like the Seagate ST225: after some years of use the stepper doesn't seek the heads in the exact positions it did when the drive was new, so the heads cannot track correctly the magnetic signals on the platter. A low-level format will rewrite all the tracks from scratch, so the heads will be able to read the disk again.
Of course all the data will be lost, but I don't think this should be a problem for a computer like this: -)
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