Questions tagged [old-hardware-adaptation]
For questions about adapting retrocompuing hardware on modern platforms
33
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Using a Roland LAPC-I without a PC
This is inspired by the video Using an old 8 bit ISA sound card (Roland LAPC-I) without a PC.
I would like to find detailed instructions (for those unlearned in electronics), including a parts list, ...
- 19
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2
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390
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9 pin D-sub to VGA or USB
I've bought a medical device (Giger MD), which collects data during the patient's exercise and send the data to a computer. An UTP cable connects the device to a 9-way D-SUB female, and that should be ...
- 39
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1
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Using a Minitel keyboard with a modern PC
I have a problem for my next project. I want to buy a Minitel (a French terminal, ancestor of PC and Internet). Once I have it, I want to remove the old screen and everything that is inside then put a ...
- 141
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How can I connect the Psion 5mx email client to a secure email provider?
My Psion 5mx is connected to the Internet via the built in TCP stack, and serial cable to a raspberry pi running a PPP server.
The Psion message suite has an email client which will connect via POP3 ...
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4
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769
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How can I make an 80 GB hard drive work with an Asus P2L97 motherboard?
I have a 80 GB PATA HDD (2003 Western Digital Caviar WD800 LBA) which is not recognized by my very old computer (Pentium 2 / Asus P2L97 motherboard).
I thought it was due to the partitioning of the ...
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1
answer
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How should I set CCGMS on my Commodore 64 to login to a Linux machine?
I have a Strikelink WiFi modem for the C64 (see here and here) and I can connect to a BBS without issues using CCGMS 2017 v4 and the following settings:
Baud = 9600
Modem Type = UP9600 / EZ232
For ...
- 243
4
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1
answer
491
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How can I make use of a Genius HiSketch 1212 serial-port drawing tablet on a modern PC?
I have a friend that still uses Windows 98 because of a drawing tablet (Genius HiSketch 1212) that he is not able to install in modern systems. He has Windows 98 installed in an old PC that's always ...
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3
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Why doesn’t my VGA-to-HDMI converter work with my 286 PC?
I have a Commodore PC 30-III with a Cirrus ISA VGA card in it.
I wanted to connect to an HDMI display by using a mini VGA-to-HDMI converter
The converter doesn't generate any output. The machine ...
- 805
19
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3
answers
4k
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Would it be technically possible to make a "Satiator" for the PlayStation?
There is this thing being sold for the Sega Saturn called the "Satiator". It's basically a little card that you slide into the back of a completely unmodified Saturn, and then you slide in a ...
- 191
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1
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1k
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8 pin Mini-DIN to USB converter; where can I buy one?
I have a vintage Sun Microsystems Type 6 keyboard that uses an 8 pin Mini-DIN and I want to use it on a modern computer with at least a USB 2.0 port. I've searched online e-commerce websites but most ...
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Can Alice be hacked to use more than 2MB Chip Ram
Is it possible to hack Amiga Alice chip and use more than 2MB CHIP RAM? It's a long shot, but I assume if it was possible someone would have done it already?
The maximum amount of Chip RAM in any ...
- 4,164
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1
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2k
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RGBI to VGA converter [duplicate]
Is there an off the shelf converter / adapter from C128 RGBI to VGA that will work with modern-ish low voltage VGA?
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8
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2
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686
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Reverse engineering an RS-422 protocol with access to only one device?
I have a console, but not the main computer it's designed to connect to.
My goal is to interface this with a (Linux) PC, and hopefully more than just the keyboard. I have never tried something like ...
- 183
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6
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6k
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Connecting a Vintage Monochrome Monitor to a Modern PC
I am considering taking my nostalgia for the eighties to the next level and getting hold of a green monochrome monitor. In particular, the nine inch monitor of the Apple IIc, but maybe something else ...
- 311
2
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2
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320
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Modern HDD replacement for an old laptop
What is the modern solution I could use in Commodore C386SX-LT? It requires selection of disk type in bios, otherwise it won't work. Max setting allows up to 63MB, so would a 64MB CF with IDE adapter ...
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1
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How to configure HDD controller for CF in CHIPS LeAPset 117 (R1.09) bios
I'd like to use Compact Flash with 2,5" IDE adapter in i386 laptop. The bios is CHIPS LeAPset 117 (R1.09) and it requires specific configuration for HDD in order to work. I have 4GB CF card, where I ...
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3
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What are the difficulties in putting old AT style motherboards into modern ATX cases?
I have several 286, 386 and 486 motherboards that I would like to use. My problem is that while I have all of the components to make them functional, I don't have spare cases to put them in. Ideally,...
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2
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Panasonic KX-W50TH Data Transfer
Modern Computer communicates with a 34-year-old Panasonic KX-W50TH
The Challenge
I have a Panasonic KX-W50TH thermal typewriter with a nine pin serial interface port on the side. I have a RP-K105 ...
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3
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What does it take to recreate microchips like 68000 and 6502 in their original process nodes nowadays?
I am trying to figure out what type of machines could be used to reconstruct these chips nowadays. It doesn't need to use exactly the same machines used to build them, it's just that the product ...
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2
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Are game port joystick button circuits more than plain switches? Is this one just faulty?
I'm building a custom interface unit for a game port joystick. To use/test it, I have a CH Products Mach III. (This is the IBM PC version, not the Apple version.) I purchased the joystick for this ...
- 182
13
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1
answer
4k
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Connecting Panasonic "Penwriter" RK-P400C to modern PC using USB to serial cable
I have a Panasonic "Penwriter" model RK-P400C electronic typewriter/plotter from circa 1985 I'd like to be able to connect to a modern PC. And hopefully even use to draw graphics! Bought in almost new ...
- 341
2
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4
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693
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Smart computing into MS-DOS? Is it possible?
The building I work in has an MS-DOS computer that runs the building's air system. My boss has asked me to make it so that he can use smart devices to make adjustments remotely.
How much would need ...
- 121
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4
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Connecting Iomega Zip (parallel port) to modern PC
Am wondering what would be the easiest way to connect an Iomega Zip drive (parallel port version) to a modern PC.
I note there are USB to IEEE 1284 adapter cables, but would be very surprised if this ...
- 2,062
44
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26
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How were files transferred between different systems in the late 1980s?
Today there are adapters available allowing you to connect historic floppy drives to a modern PC. This allows you to copy data from historic floppy disks to the PC.
In the late 1980s and the early ...
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13
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7
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2k
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Can I build a working(ish) vacuum tube byte?
This is a somewhat odd question. I teach a course on media history, and spend some time talking about digital data towards the end. I am interested in building a device to illustrate some basic ideas ...
- 233
2
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1
answer
217
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Thinkpad 350 keyboard
Am wondering how to use the keyboard from a Thinkpad 350.
There are three cables, with 6, 10, and 18 pins (but the big connector on the motherboard seems to have only 17).
I assume this is a grid of ...
- 2,062
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6
answers
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How can I adapt a digital CGA/C128 signal (RGBI DE-9) to a modern monitor?
IBM's CGA and the Commodore 128's RGB video output both use a DE-9 connector. How do I adapt the CGA video output from an IBM XT 5160 or Commodore 128 to a modern monitor?
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Recover files from Dell PP04L Hard Drive
I have my mom's old Dell Inspiron 2650 model PP04L. She is passed away now but I'd like to salvage some of the old pictures and things she had on there. Is there a way to buy an enclosure and mount ...
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1
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Using a 1995 model M with a modern setup
Looking to get my Model M keyboard working on a modern setup, I believe I need an active converter to go from PS/2 to USB. What adapter / part would be compatible with this keyboard?
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4
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How can a ST-412 MFM hard drive be integrated with a modern PC?
I have a Seagate ST-225 20MB hard drive. It used a ST-412 MFM (Modified Frequency Modulation) controller which unfortunately went to the great bit bucket some time ago.
Is it possible to get this ...
- 1,046
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8k
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How can I use a SideWinder 3D Pro with a modern PC running Windows 7?
I've got a sweet joystick that uses gameport, and I'd like to use it in my Kerbal Space Program. My modern PC lacks any ISA or PCI slots, so I can't use the cards I have.
I've noticed some gameport ...
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4
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2
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855
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Clonezilla SCSI HDD cloning problem
I'm trying to clone or take images of old SCSI hard disks. I use Clonezilla and at the last phase, it's written "no input". This is for 68 pin SCSI HDD. In another case, I can't see the hard disk at ...
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How can I connect a DIN plug keyboard to USB?
I have a wonderful IBM Model M keyboard, which has the best key action of all keyboards I ever used. The problem is it has the big round 5-pin DIN connector used in AT PCs.
I have some PS/2 to USB ...
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