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Solve : MS Dos 3.1????

Answer» <html><body><p>I am trying to get a very, very, very old computer, which runs a very expensive piece of equipment, up and running.  I believe that this computer is a 1986 AT&amp;T PC3600 running MS DOS 3.1.  When the computer boots it runs a memory test and then comes to the following screen and sits:<br/><br/>T U R B O - XT 1986<br/>Speed 4.77/8.00MHz Version 3.10<br/><br/><br/>Then it just sits for a while with no prompt or anything and then it eventually goes away and does nothing else. <br/><br/>Any clue how to help this old DINOSAUR back to life???Has the system been working recently ? It does sound like the hard drive has gone west – or is it all run off floppies ?<br/><br/>You may be able to resurrect the drive by taking it out and putting it in a different pc.<br/><br/>Is the equipment controlled by either the serial or parallel port ? If so there is a chance that a newer pc (with the appropriate port) could do the job. You may have to get a 5-1/4 inch floppy drive to enable the software to be loaded (you do have the original disks ?) – or <a href="https://interviewquestions.tuteehub.com/tag/possibly-2944346" style="font-weight:bold;" target="_blank" title="Click to know more about POSSIBLY">POSSIBLY</a> copying it off the hard drive if it isn’t too broken.<br/>If the floppy drive is working, you might be able to use that on the new pc.<br/><br/>Good luck -- let us know how you get on<br/>No, I don't believe the system has been working recently.  I believe the system is run off the HD.<br/><br/>The equipment is run by custom cards (ribbon cables come right out of the back of the PC).<br/><br/>The equipment didn't come with any disks.<br/><br/>Would the best <a href="https://interviewquestions.tuteehub.com/tag/bet-23333" style="font-weight:bold;" target="_blank" title="Click to know more about BET">BET</a> be to install the HD in a working PC, copy any software over, get a working HD installed in dead PC and transfer the data back?<br/><br/>This is going to be tricky<br/>If your hard drive is dead, and you do not have any backups, then that is the end of the story.<br/><br/>If it isnt completely dead, then you might be able to recover most of the data on the disk.<br/><br/>BUT<br/>The original pc is so old, you may not be able to find a disk that is compatible with it.<br/><br/>You say the ribbon cable comes out of the back of it - are you sure that this isnt the parallel printer port ?<br/><br/>What is the equipment it controls ? if it is so important to you, you may be able to get the necessary drivers and software installed on a modern pc, without having to resurrect the dead box.<br/><br/>Ah, one thought comes to mind -- the BIOS holds the setup <a href="https://interviewquestions.tuteehub.com/tag/info-1043778" style="font-weight:bold;" target="_blank" title="Click to know more about INFO">INFO</a> in cmos ram, this needs a battery to help it remember, it may be that it does not know where to boot from. Open the case, locate and replace the battery.<br/><br/>I have no idea how to reset the memory, as far as I can remember from those days, I had an external program to change the settings. Try hitting keys while the thing starts up F2 or F8 -- or DEL (backspace, not Dell!!) to see if it takes you into a config menu?<br/><br/>Good luck again<br/>Graham Quote from: gpl on September 01, 2010, 10:09:05 AM</p><blockquote>You say the ribbon cable comes out of the back of it - are you sure that this isnt the parallel printer port ?<br/></blockquote> Parallel Printer cables aren't a ribbon... they're just a cable.<br/><br/> Quote<blockquote>Ah, one thought comes to mind -- the BIOS holds the setup info in cmos ram, this needs a battery to help it remember, it may be that it does not know where to boot from. Open the case, locate and replace the battery.<br/></blockquote> <br/>no computers before the 286/AT had a CMOS battery. All configuration was done <a href="https://interviewquestions.tuteehub.com/tag/via-723599" style="font-weight:bold;" target="_blank" title="Click to know more about VIA">VIA</a> DIP switches and jumpers on the motherboard, so this is not the problem.<br/><br/>Sounds more like, as you said, the hard drive has gone south. I'd of course first check that by making sure everything was snugly connected inside. The hard drive is highly unlikely to be a IDE drive- it is more then likely a ESDI or another older interface, which you won't be able to install in a new computer. Replacements will be equally hard to find, if they are even sold anywhere.<br/><br/>Best idea would be to update the hardware/software solution in place to use more modern components with more readily available replacements when parts go <a href="https://interviewquestions.tuteehub.com/tag/bad-389290" style="font-weight:bold;" target="_blank" title="Click to know more about BAD">BAD</a>.</body></html>


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