DECstation 316

From: Mark <mark_k_at_iname.com>
Date: Sun Feb 28 11:49:30 1999

Hi,

(This isn't really on-topic. If anyone knows of a place or mailing list which
covers obsolete but not classic computers, please let me know.)


Today I picked up a DECstation 316. Since I'm in the UK, this European model
may or may not be the same as the DECstation 316 machine which was sold in the
US.

This is a 386SX-based PC, presumably running at 16MHz. Useful to me because it
has 4 ISA slots. The machine came with 5MB RAM and an IBM 171MB disk drive,
probably added as an upgrade after purchase.

This PC seems to be a rebadged Olivetti; motherboard, PSU and BIOS code say
Olivetti. A label on the rear of the unit says Model:PC 651-A3

CMOS battery is almost dead, but the machine seems to work okay. Though when I
first tried it the Base unit system test (part of the power-on tests) reported
an error. Now it doesn't.

There is no reset button on this machine, and it came with a somewhat
nonstandard DEC LK250 keyboard.


Things I would like to find out:

 - Does anyone have setup disks for this machine? I downloaded a DECstation 316
   setup disk from the Digital web site, but the SPEED316.COM program on that
   reports "SPEED316 ONLY WORKS ON A DECstation 316." (Which is why I suspect
   the American machine of the same name is different.)

 - There is no predefined setting in the BIOS setup menu for the 171MB IBM hard
   disk (which is IBM-H3171-A2 P/N: 84G3902). There doesn't seem to be a way to
   set user-defined drive type. What can I do about this?

 - Does anyone have docs for this machine? There is one jumper and a 26-way IDC
   connector on the motherboard. What are these for? How is the drive cage
   supposed to be removed? I can't see any way to do this.


-- Mark
Received on Sun Feb 28 1999 - 11:49:30 GMT