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New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

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stephen_usher
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Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by stephen_usher »

Actually, I was wrong... the Xen MSDOS boot disk does actually work!
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by stephen_usher »

Oh look! It's almost an ST now... (I wish I had a mouse/trackball.)

IMG_2309.jpg
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Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Top
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 23 May 2021 17:29 Oh look! It's almost an ST now... (I wish I had a mouse/trackball.)
IMG_2309.jpg
Is that OpenGem I see?
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by stephen_usher »

Nope. That's the Apricot version of GEM 1.2 running under MSDOS 2.11.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Top
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 23 May 2021 17:46 Nope. That's the Apricot version of GEM 1.2 running under MSDOS 2.11.
Still cool :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by stephen_usher »

Had a look at the B drive. Well, the floppy detect switch was melted internally. Other than that the only thing I could find was on the sensor daughter board one of the resistors, marked "333", was blown. That probably went short and burnt out eventually.

The Drive now works as well/badly as it did before and will detect disks as long as they're not write protected.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Top
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stephen_usher
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Posts: 7366
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Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by stephen_usher »

Back to the F1. Replaced the capacitors in the original floppy drive to see if that would bring it alive again.

One of them was definitely crusty.

Did it work? No. No change.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Top
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Out of curiosity, what FDC does it use?
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by stephen_usher »

It's an early Sony special. Running at 600RPM. (Sony OA-D32W)

The F2 uses bespoke JVC drives, again at 600RPM.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Top
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
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Posts: 14787
Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
Location: Essex

Re: New project: An ACT Apricot F1 "barn find"

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: 25 May 2021 10:36 It's an early Sony special. Running at 600RPM.

The F2 uses bespoke JVC drives, again at 600RPM.
Oh joy. I presume though that there must be datasheets for it and it's possible to work out what it's trying to do, especially as you have working units.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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