It's not every day that I write a Windows 3.1 16-bit application, but yesterday was one of those days 😂. Let's talk about it, and discuss the NABU a bit, in a 🧵here.

So, a few days ago, I mentioned that I was getting my 486 ready to run something, and that I needed an extra serial port. And then I disappeared for a few days 😅.

https://x.com/RetroTechChris/status/1870509762447815164

I'm getting this 486 DX2/66 ready to do an activity that will require two serial ports. However, when I went to connect up a second serial device, it wasn't getting detected. However, the IDC cable is not defective, and the serial port is good. What could be wrong? 🧵 time!
The issue? When it comes to these serial connectors, there are actually two different standards! There is AT-Everex, and DTK/Intel. If you get a multimeter out, you can figure out what type of connector you have!

I had a bunch of 512KB PDSO40 chips (used for video memory upgrades) laying around and decided to go around and upgrade some of my PCs. Somehow, 3 of the 4 I upgraded ended up being Packard Bells 😂. And I used up my spare chips, so that is good! Let's look at it in a 🧵 here!


First, I upgraded the Western Digital video card in my 486 DX2/66 that we have see a lot of lately. Unfortunately, this doesn't give me any additional useful video modes. If I try to bump to high color for 1024x768, it bumps me down to 256 colors. Oh well. I'll leave it 🤷‍♂️

In my recent #DOScember video about my 486 DX2/66, I talked about a possible future tape controller upgrade, and how I probably wasn't going to do it. Well, apparently I have no self control 😂. My controller arrived today, let's talk about it in a 🧵 here!

So, I ended up purchasing an FC-20 Controller from eBay, from a distributor called Radwell. They included a bag of candy. Based on the feedback they left, I think they think a lot of themselves 😂. Apparently this has a 2 year warranty, but the warranty is on the anti static bag?

I just finished getting Haiku configured on my eMachines T2341 (AMD Athlon XP 2400+), and I must say, once configured, it is seriously good! Anyway, let's talk about my setup and some of the configuration challenges I had in a very long 🧵 here. Buckle up!
First of all, this is one of many OSes I have installed on this system, and I will say, it plays nicely with the rest!

Wait... there's a Tandy 1000 emulator for retro PCs?? Why, yes, yes there is, and it is called Tand-Em! Let's take a look at how I turned my Compaq LTE 5400 into a Tandy 1000 in a #DOScember 🧵 here! So, as mentioned, the name of the emulator is Tand-Em, and, you can read all about it here! oldskool.org/pc/tand-em/

A while back, I installed a TON of different OSes on my IBM PS/2 Model 70 386 w/ 486 DX/33 upgrade. This machine has an McIDE-CF, 16MB RAM, an IBM LAN Adapter/A, and 80MB ESDI drive. Forgive me, but I am going to make a 🧵 of all of the install procedures for ease of reference!


First, we have DOS 6.22/Windows for Workgroups 3.11:

https://x.com/RetroTechChris/status/1784281320320794921

Hooray, the retro inventory is finished, and the desk is clear! Let's talk about the final group of items inventoried in a 🧵 here!
First up, we have the VESA Local Bus cards! Several video cards, and we saw the Tekram cards earlier today! That Western Digital video card is really good, we have talked about it on here in the past!

I made some progress on testing my 256KB 30 pin SIMMs since yesterday! Of course, I had weird problems, they seem to follow me around 😂. Let's talk about it in a 🧵 here! First of all, if you missed my thread from yesterday, here it is. The summary: 256KB SIMMs in my 486 DX2/66 motherboard would result in hanging boot, and MemTest86+ also wouldn't run.

https://x.com/RetroTechChris/status/1862351364891787675

Ooookay, ONE MORE retro inventory thread today, then I am going to bed! Let's see what is in the processor/memory "box," I think we might find a hidden treasure or two! Time for a 🧵 First up, some cache memory chips! I have exactly six of them. Not very useful in that quantity, I think 😂

As part of my ongoing retro tech inventory, I thought I would test some 30 pin SIMMs. And, well, it kindof worked out. Let's talk about it in a 🧵 here!
First, here's the memory to test! It looks to be a mix of 1MB and 256KB SIMMs. First batch is installed in the PC, and it passed with flying colors!

I've made a little bit of progress with my retro inventory! We can now see the top of the desk 😂. Let's talk about what I unburied in a 🧵 here.
First, I picked the low hanging fruit and took care of these keyboards and a new old stock mouse. That poor Microsoft Natural Keyboard is looking a little yellow. I debated keeping the Compaq keyboard, but it made the cut for now. Yes... I'll be purging/rehoming a bit as I go.

Inspired by my good friend, Bill, I think I might take an inventory of spare parts while the turkey cooks today 😂. Fortunately some of the legwork is already done, so we can talk about that now, of course, in a 🧵 here! First, some good news, the Compaq LTE 5000 spare parts are all inventoried! By far, that's the most massive inventory of spares. I'm embarrassed to disclose how many spares I have, and, I have slimmed them down, but I'll attach a partial inventory for the curious 😂

I just finished up installing and customizing Windows 95D Lite on my Compaq LTE 5400. And, of course there were bumps along the way! Join me here on a mega thread where you can see how I like to set up this PC. It's gonna be a long one, so buckle up! Time for the 🧵, let's go! So, first of all, what is Windows 95D Lite? It's a "new unofficial version of Windows 95 that integrates a hefty sum of updates and drivers, allowing you to get your old machine rolling with only a quick and simple installation." You can find it here: archive.org/details/window…

OS/2 Warp 4.52: Successfully installed on my Compaq LTE 5400. Let's cover the process and talk about the "fun" I had doing this in a 🧵 here!
So, the first thing I did was prep a CF card. We're going to go with a 4GB CF card, but only going to use 2GB of it so that we can format it as FAT16. But, anyway, we have room for growth later if we need it.

I got a 2GB SD card in the mail, it's time for round 2 of checking out the PCMCIA SD card reader. Do you remember my last thread on this? Yeah, I was 100% wrong in my guesses as to why it didn't work. Let's talk about it in a new 🧵 here. Buckle up, it's going to be long! First and foremost, if you missed the other thread, here it is! To summarize, I tried to get a SDHC card working in the reader, and suspected that I really needed a 2GB SD card instead.

https://x.com/RetroTechChris/status/1859403530509091237

Has anyone seen Bigfoot today? I have... and I've lived to tell the tale 😂. Let's have a look at this Quantum Bigfoot TX drive and talk about how it's fareing, of course, in a 🧵 here!
So, first, the specs: the Quantum Bigfoot TX is a 6GB drive. It's a 4000 RPM drive, with a claimed access time of under 12 ms. I'm not sure I believe that, but we should find out 😂

I picked up a PCMCIA 6 in 1 Multi Card Adapter at our retro meetup on Sunday. I always thought it would be neat to have one, but never got around to having one until now. I don't have it working yet, but I think I know why! Let's explore it in a 🧵 here! First of all, here is a close up of the front and back. Apparently this adapter will work with SD, MMC, SM, MS, MS Pro, and xD cards. I'll plan to use it with an SD card, more on that in a minute.

I picked up this 5.25" 1.2 MB FDD at our Sunday retro meetup. I gave it a test, but it has a problem that's probably going to REALLY limit its usability. Let's explore in a 🧵 here! First of all, the drive is a Mitsubishi MF504C-347UA. Say that five times fast! The Google tells me it is 1.2 MB, at least if this "for sale" post I found is to be believed. Okay, well, that's good!

I received some GREAT stickers from @geekenspiel today! And it's given me an idea, and, yes, it involves the eMachines T2341! Let's talk about it in a 🧵 here!
So, as many know, I have been on an escapade to add a bunch of operating systems to this PC. This is the current list!

Let's have a look at some pictures I took at today's Washington DC Area retro meetup. I'll make a thread!

First, a Packard Bell Legend 100CD with some nice expansion, and an IBM PS/1. Also, a Compaq Portable 286, an IBM NetVista and Compaq Deskpro!


Next, we have @retrobitstv who brought an EVO64 with TONS of cool sound options!