Ibm ps/2 70 386

[Yzzerdd]

In the haul of stuff from KY, I came across an IBM PS/2 model 70. Looks great, has a nice monitor, keyboard, mouse, and is really clean inside. Even has an HDD. But the CMOS battery is dead, so the system is halted.

I managed to find a compatable battery online for $1.99+$3 shipping, but once it gets here I'll still be stuck, as it calls for the IBM PS/2 70 reference disk. If anyone has a complete set of disks for the IBM PS/2 70, or just the reference disk, I'd appreciate images of them. Not looking to pay for a set of them to be shipped here, just images. But if someone has a set to get rid of, I'd take them.

PM me for my e-mail address

--Jack

[Unknown_K]

Use the power of the Google: ;)

http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/computer/ps2/8570.htm

[VintageComputerman]

I had one just like it with monitor I sold on ebay several months ago for over $165.00. Dead cmos battery and all.

[Yzzerdd]

Thanks for the link. I did a quick google search, but enjoy discussing my machines on here.

$165, eh? Mine seems to work good except the errors. Once I get my CMOS battery, they should dissapear. A potential extra $165 in my pocket is tempting, as I got the system free. If i end up finding an all in one PS/2 with a COLOR monitor and HDD, I just might sell this one. Otherwise, it seems like a cute little machine I'd like to get to know better. And it has Microchannel, something I've never used!

Based on experience, which do ya'll prefer Microchannel or ISA?

--Jack

[Yzzerdd]

Good news!

I loaded the ref disk and got my pc going! I had to remove two cards from the system, though, as I don't have the driver info for them, and the PS/2 wouldn't boot without it.

My PS/2 happily loaded Windows 3.1 and works great so far.

If anyone has the appropriate disk for the following, please PM me as I need an image:

IBM Auto 16/14 Token Ring MC (strange it says token ring, uses standard ethernet port)

IBM memory card, MicroChannel. No noticed part number, back reads: 95F1155 C69681 BLG 3477

--Jack

[Terry Yager]

I wouldn't worry about the TR board, you'll never use it anyway. The mem board tho is a very desirable add-in.

--T

[Yzzerdd]

The TR board actually has a regular ethernet port. I'd like to use it to connect to my home network, and possibly use it for telnetting or basic internet functions.

--Jack

[Terry Yager]

The TR board actually has a regular ethernet port. I'd like to use it to connect to my home network, and possibly use it for telnetting or basic internet functions.

--Jack

Oh, so it's dual-mode? I've never seen one of those. Might be especially interesting then. Hope ya find the S/W for it.

--T

[Yzzerdd]

I've got a dual mode somewhere around here, an ISA, but that is not the case here. This card does NOT have a token-ring plug anywhere on it, just a standard ethernet port. And yet, it's label says, and I quote:

"IBM Auto 16/4 Token Ring MC" This is on a sticker AND silk-screened onto the card.

It also has a large IBM 10H4710/T9N56A chip on it, which I mention as it seems to be the controller chip.

--Jack
Here is an eBay listing that looks to be my card. Link (http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-92G7690-Auto-16-4-Token-Ring-MC-Adapter_W0QQitemZ200256026534QQihZ010QQcategoryZ31 514QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[Terry Yager]

Well in that case, you won't be able to just jack it into your E-net without some kinda bridge between the two nets. The standards are otherwise incompatible. 'Plug compatibility' doesn't mean they'll talk to each other.

--T

[Yzzerdd]

So this isn't a standard 1MB/s or 10MB/s card? I can't just hook into my router and set my options and go?

--Jack

[Terry Yager]

Not sure about your router, but mebbe, if it has TR capabilities built in<crossing fingers>.

--T

[Yzzerdd]

Dont think it does, but why would a regular ethernet plug be labeled a token ring adapter, though? Does it use the same technology but just with a different plug?

--Jack

[Terry Yager]

Dont think it does, but why would a regular ethernet plug be labeled a token ring adapter, though? Does it use the same technology but just with a different plug?

--Jack

Pretty much, yeah...

The good news, tho, is that MC ethernet cards ain't that hard to come by, so you can still make it work,

--T

[Allen]

You may not need the actual option setup diskettes for those cards. Just find the right adapter description file (ADF) for that token ring and memory card. There's a collection of them at http://www.mcamafia.de/mcapage0/mcaindex.htm; scroll down to the "The ADF-Download Area."

I found the right ADFs for a memory expansion card for my Model 50. I think the reference disk program prompted me to insert a disk with the ADFs when it didn't recognize the card in the slot. Otherwise, you can probably put the ADFs on the reference diskette itself.

[Unknown_K]

You need a file for each MCA card installed to use them, if not you get an error on bootup. There is a bootable utility disk at the MCA mafia that will list all the cards in your machine by a 4 digit/character code plus the card name that makes looking up the drivers easy. Once you have the drivers just make a floppy disk and dump them all there, boot from the machine specific system disk you made and when it asks you about the file just insert the drivers disk and all is fine. Setup reminds me of EISA cards but EISA systems actually tell you the file name you need, MCA doesn't. I suggest you wait untill you get a battery installed before setting the system up because it will be lost when you power down. Its worth the effort just for the RAM card to work.

The 4/16 Tokenring cards cannot be used with ethernet. The RJ45 ones are kind of cool and make life easier with cabling. I have a TR setup I am playing with, so if you are going to toss that card let me know.

I prefer MCA and EISA to ISA, but I like EISA better because it lets you know the file name you need during setup, and you can run ISA cards in EISA slots if needed (try to find a cheap MCA soundcard).

http://www.mcamafia.de/mcapage0/qbmca.htm

That is the utility software page to see what cards you have installed.

[per]

I had one just like it with monitor I sold on ebay several months ago for over $165.00. Dead cmos battery and all.

That's an awfull lot of money! Is it REALLY worth that much?

Our local band got one of those stucked in an courner. My uncle is the ware-manager so it would problably be easy to obtain it. However, I don't got space for it.

*Edit*
It has the original monitor and keyboard. I haven't noted all the disks that's there, but there was at least some disks of Windows 3.1 and DOS 6.22. I haven't tested it as of I'm problably not supposed to use it without permition. We'll have practice tomorow, so I'll examine it closer then.

[Yzzerdd]

I guess I'll sort through the stash and see if I have any MCA ethernet cards in it. If not, I'll buy one.

I took out the cards in question, so now when I boot I just set the date and time and away I go. The system has been on for a few hours as I mess with it here and there, and just as a general burn-in. No problems yet, seems like a good sturdy and reliable system I shall keep for myself.

I'll look in to getting that RAM driver, probably wont mess with the TR card, though. Won't worry about it too much until the end of the week, when I am expecting the new battery in.

--Jack

[MikeS]

I've got a dual mode somewhere around here, an ISA, but that is not the case here. This card does NOT have a token-ring plug anywhere on it, just a standard ethernet port. And yet, it's label says, and I quote:

"IBM Auto 16/4 Token Ring MC" This is on a sticker AND silk-screened onto the card.

It also has a large IBM 10H4710/T9N56A chip on it, which I mention as it seems to be the controller chip.

--Jack

-----------
I think you're missing the point: that is NOT an "ethernet port," it is an RJ-45 jack which was used for both ethernet AND token ring networks, as well as some RS-232 networks, certain telephone applications etc. etc.; a 2-prong AC plug does not mean a kettle is a toaster. Token ring networks could of course also use the bipolar IBM connector, just as ethernet nets could also use coax BNC connectors (which is probably what you mean by a "dual-mode" card).

[Yzzerdd]

I am about as confused as can be regarding this IBM PS/2. I took out the battery last night, so I could look at the model numbers as I poked around online. Well anyhow, the PC has been on all day now. Earlier I clicked it off, but then a few minutes later decided to turn it back on as I was going to try a game on it. Reference disk in hand, I waited for the error code...nothing. It started MS-DOS and then Windows no problem. The time and date are even retained! Is there a seperate chargable battery underneath the HDD plate or something?

--Jack

[Yzzerdd]

-----------
I think you're missing the point: that is NOT an "ethernet port," it is an RJ-45 which was used for both ethernet AND token ring networks; a 2-prong AC plug does not mean a kettle is a toaster. Token ring networks could also use the bipolar IBM connector, just as ethernet nets could also use coax BNC connectors (which is probably what you mean by a "dual-mode" card).

Yes, I was confused. I thought a token ring card meant that it had a coax(BNC?) connector on the back. I now realize it can be token ring AND still use the modern day RJ-45, but that means nothing. As you said about the power plug, an RJ-45 type connector does not mean it is a standard ethernet card. It just means it uses a standard wire, with different internals.

--Jack

[MikeS]

Right on!

Coax (10Base-2) and twisted pair (10Base-T) Ethernet is compatible at the protocol level (although 10Base-2 maxes out at 10MHz AFAIK); all you need is a Hub with both connectors or a computer with both types (on separate cards AFAIK).

If you had another token ring card and another computer to put it in, it ought to be possible to use that to bridge your token ring system to your ethernet network.

Anybody have any relevant experience?

[IBMMuseum]

You need a file for each MCA card installed to use them, if not you get an error on bootup. There is a bootable utility disk at the MCA mafia that will list all the cards in your machine by a 4 digit/character code plus the card name that makes looking up the drivers easy. Once you have the drivers just make a floppy disk and dump them all there, boot from the machine specific system disk you made and when it asks you about the file just insert the drivers disk and all is fine. Setup reminds me of EISA cards but EISA systems actually tell you the file name you need, MCA doesn't. I suggest you wait untill you get a battery installed before setting the system up because it will be lost when you power down. Its worth the effort just for the RAM card to work.

The 4/16 Tokenring cards cannot be used with ethernet. The RJ45 ones are kind of cool and make life easier with cabling. I have a TR setup I am playing with, so if you are going to toss that card let me know.

I prefer MCA and EISA to ISA, but I like EISA better because it lets you know the file name you need during setup, and you can run ISA cards in EISA slots if needed (try to find a cheap MCA soundcard).

http://www.mcamafia.de/mcapage0/qbmca.htm

That is the utility software page to see what cards you have installed.

Or you can just get into ROM BASIC and type in a short program to list the adapter ¨POSID¨s. Other than Peter´s site you can find the ADFs elsewhere, and maybe even some information about the card (i.e.: http://www.gilanet.com/ohlandl/NIC/auto16-4.html). For a standard TR setup (and there are ways to bridge to an Ethernet network, plus everything other than the first adapters run at 16Mbps) you will need a MAU and at least another TR-based station (there are ISA, MCA, EISA, PCMCIA, Apple Nubus, and PCI Token Ring adapters) to actually have a working setup.

[Terry Yager]

Right on!

Coax (10Base-2) and twisted pair (10Base-T) Ethernet is compatible at the protocol level (although 10Base-2 maxes out at 10MHz AFAIK); all you need is a Hub with both connectors or a computer with both types (on separate cards AFAIK).

If you had another token ring card and another computer to put it in, it ought to be possible to use that to bridge your token ring system to your ethernet network.

Anybody have any relevant experience?

Yes, but I shoulda paid more attention at the time. At Discount Computers, we used to run a 3 or 4 station TR net that was interfaced to the main network thru a dedicated box of some sort as a bridge. Other than that, I'm really fuzzy on the details, 'cept that it was in reality, two separate networks which were able to talk to each other. (We also had some Arcnet boxen somehow jacked-in).

--T

[Yzzerdd]

Sounds reasonable, but I don't have another PC with a token ring adapter...I guess I could experiement with this later, I think I have one or two cards around...

BTW, I left the PS/2 off for 10 minutes instead of just 2 or 3. This time, the options were not set. I guess the motherboard holds a charge for a few minutes after powering off?

--Jack

[Unknown_K]

I am thinking about using an old P60 with Novell Netware 4 to bridge the Tokenring network with my Ethernet one. The most I have done so far is get a working MAU, make some adapters for the db9 interface on my Mac Nubus cards, and get my PS/2 9595 to click with the MAU and light it up. I also have a TR interface for my HP 4SI laser printer to make things interesting. Once I figure out Novell things should get interesting. I think I have TR for all 5 of my PS/2 systems and a few cards for my older ISA machines. I even put black electrical tape one the ends of the cables I connect to the TR MAU incase I plugged one by accident into my 10/100 3com switch (not sure what that would do).

[Unknown_K]

Sounds reasonable, but I don't have another PC with a token ring adapter...I guess I could experiement with this later, I think I have one or two cards around...

BTW, I left the PS/2 off for 10 minutes instead of just 2 or 3. This time, the options were not set. I guess the motherboard holds a charge for a few minutes after powering off?

--Jack

Capacitors hold a charge for a brief amount of time, it might also take a few seconds for the memory used to store the info to lose its data.

[IBMMuseum]

Dont think it does, but why would a regular ethernet plug be labeled a token ring adapter, though? Does it use the same technology but just with a different plug?

Generally IBM put a green dot sticker (plain for the oldest 4Mbps adapters, with a "16/4" marking for the 16Mbps cards) on the back bracket to denote that the connection was Token Ring. Later TR cards had RJ-45 connections for better cabling options (ever try to network using 'Type 1' cable for TR? It's horrible), the earlier connections are going to be DB-9 (you can also get "media filters" to adapt it to an RJ-45 connection). It's a bit of trivia, but "CAT4" was the standard for cable to carry the 16Mbps Token Ring signaling.

[linemanduke]

one of the ibm ps2 P70s i just got has a db9 16/4 tr card in it but no software that uses it lol. i did learn though although it says long cards wont fit in the bottom slot this guy did lol not pretty.