Talk:Secret Tech - 8088

Perhaps with a bit of determination and sheer insanity, Zerm and I (LR) will get some very ancient PCs (or should I say, XTs) off the ground and functioning again! We have some secret plans for what these computers might do in ways of function, but for now I just wanted Zerm to take a peek at this very practical guide (riddled with links to jumpers, DIP switches, and downloadable resources) I found through Google. Although the article is a little dated, the fellow certainly knows what he's talking about. It gives a good feel of the capabilities and difficulties an 8088 system will have. Although the author is a bit derisive of the system, he has a considerable number of suggestions on how to upgrade and use (yes, for useful applications) an 8088. He also discusses some other ancient tech.

http://www.kcomputerzone.ca/old-computers.php

As for our news today... the PC Speaker hath spoken! The system yet lives! Feel free to edit this article, Zerm. It'd be cool to document the process, don'cha think?

Here's a handy link, just cuz. If you're new to computer cables, it's a useful guide. It also makes me wonder if the one card with an absurdly wide plug we found was possibly some strange SCSI connector? Either that, or older than anything this article would discuss.

http://www.techtutorials.net/tutorials/hardware/cables.shtml

3/1 - When did you get it to start displaying and counting the RAM?!? - LR UPDATE - I have some good news, Zerm. If you think you have a floppy controller card and are willing to brave the jumper settings (after research, of course), I... found... some... ribbon cables... >=)  Additionally, I looked through the floppy disks, and I'm relatively sure I have some low-density (and higher density) 5.25" floppy boot disks.  All kinds of other programs, too.  Norton Utilities 3.0, DOS utilities ranging from 2.1 to 6.0, mouse drivers, games, Wordperfect, Learn Spanish, crazy stuff.  It's a lot to tell, and better to show, so I'll talk to you sometime and show you the awesome amount of stuff my packrat family has accumulated.  Conveniently repackaged and ready to travel c/o me.  I'm totally psyched to get a controller card working in that beast.  ^_^  - LR