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[RETRO] Unisys 286 PC need some help!

Joined
May 18, 2023
Messages
273 (0.49/day)
Since i posted this thread somewhere else without any succes, i try it here.
I post it again what i posted before, but i have to translate everything to English.

So first its a bit in story mode

System: Unisys 3137-01
Mainboard: (Melco?) Mitsubishi WLESY DC180366B BRF
CPU: 12MHz (SX005)
HDD: Unknown for now (MFM Drive)
RAM 640 KB?

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After some time, i was busy with the MFM drive, to find the model etcetera

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After some google i found specifications that look exact like my model
I found as name and model: Magnetic Perhiperals, type 94205-51

Link: https://wiki.preterhuman.net/Magnetic_Peripherals_94205-51

the 51 stands for 51MB (unformatted, what result in a formatted drive of 40MB)

And after some further googling I found the drive also with the name Imprimis Technology. There was only another sticker on the drive.



For the rest, i replaced the old CMOS battery..

it looked pretty good....

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But the inside:

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So i had to find a replacement and found it (which is also rechargeable)
And i soldered it to the wires from the old battery

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This is a little bit of the story till now...



And now:

The MFM drive spins, but doesn't boot.
Its booting DOS from floppy

I understood i had to use the debug command, and tried some. But I don't know the exact procedure.
People also told me i need a tool like Gsetup.exe?



I want to try to get the drive alive, and booting.
It's also possible, that after nothing works, i have to replace it.

Is it possible to make it boot from an 16bit ISA HDD Controllercard? I tried one time with a Multi IO, and if i remember good, the floppy was able to boot.

On the last photo from the Mainboard i see a 50 Pin what looks like SCSI. Anyone knows what that connector is for?


A lot of info for now, and if you need more info i will try and find.
For now i hope you can help me in a good direction to find oud if this HDD still works, and if its possible to use IDE if the MFM is dead
 
Last edited:
Joined
May 18, 2023
Messages
273 (0.49/day)
Create a bootdisk with Debug.com, Fdisk.com and Format.com


At the prompt type:

debug

You get a "-" prompt. From there you type:

G=C800:5 -or- for Western Digital controllers
G=C800:800

G=C800:CCC for Adaptec controllers.
G=C800:5 for DTC (Data Technology) controllers
G=C800:6 for OMTI controllers


Which one should i use?


 
Last edited:
Joined
Oct 31, 2024
Messages
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System Name Alienware Aurora R13
Processor i9-12900kf
Motherboard Alienware 0C92D0
Cooling Alienware CPU water block AIO thing
Memory 32gbs of DDR5-4400 (slow, I know)
Video Card(s) Dell/Alienware RTX 3080ti
Storage NVMe KIOXIA KXG70ZNV1T02 1024GB
Display(s) ViewSonic VA2456-MHD (yes totally underspec)
Case Alienware Aurora R13
Audio Device(s) Soundcore Life Q20
Power Supply Dell-Something-Or-Other 1000? watt
Mouse Logitech M325S
Keyboard Logitech K540
VR HMD None
Software Ubuntu Linux 24.10
Create a bootdisk with Debug.com, Fdisk.com and Format.com


At the prompt type:

debug

You get a "-" prompt. From there you type:

G=C800:5 -or- for Western Digital controllers
G=C800:800

G=C800:CCC for Adaptec controllers.
G=C800:5 for DTC (Data Technology) controllers
G=C800:6 for OMTI controllers


Which one should i use?
What brand of controller? Also, those steps would be for erasing and reformatting the drive, which is likely necessary
 
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