-----Original Message-----
From: Shawn Rutledge <ecloud_at_goodnet.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Wednesday, June 03, 1998 8:07 PM
Subject: Re: Atari hard drives? The actual Atari Answer :)
>> Okay gang. I just can't take it, I gotta help this guy become an atarian.
:)
>> Okay, this is what; you need. You need an ATSCI to SCSI converter
>
>OK, but what to do with the system that takes an ST-506 interface drive? I
just
>need to know if I can substitute, say, an ST-251, and how to do the
low-level
>format (if necessary).
To my knowledge all drives that are MFM are ST506 interface.As far as the
lowleveling you just gonna have to play with it. Chances are the BIOS in
that controller you have was only designed for one specifice drive. i'd just
through one in and try to format it, and see what happens. Chances are it
will just use it at the old settings, Better to through in a drive with
paramaters larger than the old drive that way you won't damage it buy using
it at a lower capapcity. If it were my machine, I'd go with the SCSI ICD
controller personally. Best thing would be to try to dig up another drive
like that one. But that drive he has should have come with a utility disk.
If you go to irc.stelath.net and join #atari. They will probably know more
than me, They are also very helpful. as far as the memory goes, I've never
played with a 540, but I could still do everything I do now when my 1040 had
only 1meg. If you search on Yahoo for ATARI a lot of european sites will
come up. The Big on you want is the STING home page. STing is the Atari ST
TCPIP stack. On that page are links to all the other software you will ever
need. This computer is still very popular and supported in Europe. The 540
part concerns me though, but you might be able to get buy.
Ethernet, at this point is still out of the question so far. There is
supposedly an ATASCI ethernet adapter, but I have personally never seen one,
and they run for more than 500.00 so Im told.
Even if you only have 512K you can for sure use it for IRC, and Mail. I
think you need a meg to do the browsing. But systems for tomorrow will know
about what you can upgrade to what. They might even give you a credit for a
trade. Like I said, I traded my extra 1040 for an ICD controller. There are
also all kinds of MODS for these machines, they were popular enough, alot of
folks have made home brew modifications for them that have been tested and
work. If you go to the #atari channel on irc.stealth.net, tell them TheDM
sent you and you will assuredly get some help, Look for SWE, or DRACO, or
evl, or MRATARI. They are all very knowledgable and helped me alot. If you
see Flinny, he wrote STik, the other TCPIP stack. if you see LB he wrote the
ATari IRC client himself, another good resource. IM telling you, this
machine is COOL!
If you need more information, email me privately and I will give you my
phone number and we can talk some. Where are you located anyways?
>
>> controller. The most common for the ST series is made by ICD. They can
still
>> be had from ICD but they are around 79.00. There is an Atari dealer,
yes,
>> dealer, amazing in my area. [KCMO] Their home page is
>> www.systemsfortomorrow.com. They are a great bunch of guys and I got my
ICD
>> SCSI controller for them for a 1040 Swap. [I had two]. But he has a few
used
>> ones and can get you one if you want. This machine is very worth
spending
>> the money to get a HD for.
>
>What are your killer apps to make it worthwhile?
>
>I figured maybe I could at least use it for a web browser in my bedroom or
>something, since it's mostly complete and working. So so far it looks like
>I need this special hard drive adapter. Is ethernet doable? If I upgrade
>the RAM what kind do I need? (It's a 540, not a 1040.)
>
>> My 1040ste I have upgraded to 4 megs, it has a
>> 14.4 modem and a quantum 105lps scsi HD on. It will currently connect to
>> the internet, and i mean with PPP an PAP authentication, will do IRC,
FTP,
>> Popmail and graphically surf all via freeware. Please let me know if I
can
>> be of any assistance.
>
>
>--
> _______ KB7PWD _at_ KC7Y.AZ.US.NOAM
ecloud_at_goodnet.com
> (_ | |_) Shawn T. Rutledge on the web:
http://www.goodnet.com/~ecloud
> __) | |
\__________________________________________________________________
>* quantize the universe * 808 State * virtual reality * mad science *
Received on Wed Jun 03 1998 - 22:31:45 BST