adm2@doc.ic.ac.uk (Alan David Messer) (11/28/90)
I was wondering whether there is any one on the NETWORK who knew anything about Data Generals,or to be more precise,Data General CS100's and a like. For those not sure of the Model or computer,It is about the size of a wardrobe and has the ability to connect to five terminals and (I think 5 processors,but don't quote me). With it we have a 25 Meg Hard Drive Subsystem and a Tape Subsystem.The computer has it's own power supply,which consists of 2 large boards,(one with a small board plugged into it,part of the battery backup) and two rechargeable batteries.The computer is installed with 256k of memory and a printer driver board.And finally is probably 10 years old and the maximum. My problem is it no longer works because unfortunately I think the power supply has blown.This was caused as far as I can tell by a workmen drilling up the road which accidently cut all the power for streets around. After the power was cut,we left the computer running on it's Battery Backup ,because we where in the middle of a SYSGEN operation.But after 5-10 minutes the backup power faded and the computer grounf to a halt,with a loud click. I don't know whether there was a large spike in the supply due to this,but on inspection the two main fuses of the computer and powers supply where violately blown.And after replacing these fuses the computer has never worked again. As far as I can tell the fault lies in the power supply as no power seems to be getting to the CPU and other boards.I have looked at the power supply boards for obvious faults and blown components,but all seems OK. I realise of course that I could get a new power supply board for Data General ,but on enquiry they put a price tag of 2000+ pounds (I bit out of my price range).And it might not fix the problem. Does anyone out there know anything about the computer or it's power supplys? And if so what the lightly fault is ? And where I might get a cheap replacement? Has anyone even heard on a CS100 ? I have looked though all the newsgroups and this one seemed mostly likely,but if you know of any other one's that might have a better respond,please contact me. When contacting me I would prefer that you contact me direct at :- ADM2@doc.ic.ac.uk. But if you can't reach me this way then this newsgroup will do. Alan Messer.
phys169@csc.canterbury.ac.nz (12/04/90)
In article <2579@gould.doc.ic.ac.uk>, adm2@doc.ic.ac.uk (Alan David Messer) writes: > I was wondering whether there is any one on the NETWORK who knew anything about > Data Generals,or to be more precise,Data General CS100's and a like. > : > My problem is it no longer works because unfortunately I think the power supply > has blown.This was caused as far as I can tell by a workmen drilling up the > road which accidently cut all the power for streets around. > The CS (Commercial Series) machines are really NOVA and ECLIPSE minis in disguise, which are pretty hardy animals. I remember a NOVA 3 that kept chugging along when everything else (terminals, PDP11's, PC's) all failed under "brown-out" conditions when teh local mains had tummy troubles. Its probably worth hunting for local old ECLIPSES and CS machines with compatible power supplies; you should be able to get second hand computers of this vintage for peanuts (The most I've paid for a complete working mini was $100). It isn't worth getting new stuff unless the equipment is needed for important (e.g. commercial) uses, but it could be worth getting an appraisal from someone that kinows the machines. Have you got a local DG Users' group? Mark Aitchison.