Beta beta, a short FAQ
- From: Louis Ohland <ohland@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 09 Jan 2006 09:56:13 -0600
PS/2 FAQ, Section 1
S) 1.0 Introduction
Foreword
This is version 5.5.01 of the "Frequently Asked Questions" commonly seen about the IBM Personal System/2 computers. This FAQ will help you identify your PS/2s Type-Model, find the needed options disks, configure your system, and most importantly, tell you where you can find help with getting your system to run.
The previous guardians of the Holy Grail were Lewis Getschel (original creator), then revised by Carl Benker (benker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) and Gerry Morgan (gerrym@xxxxxxxxxx), with a further updating by David Smudski ( PC Helpcenter) and Jeff Holleman (PCCBBS). I'd like to thank Chris Feeny (alkemyst@xxxxxxxxxx) for the resurrection of the PS/2 FAQ.
If you think the Personal System/2 (PS/2) was odd or rare, think again. In a mere ten or so years Tom Watson's IBM sold 17,000,000 of which 13,000,000 were Micro Channel. The PS/2 division was IBM's biggest money maker for three years running in the early 90s, and IBM claimed that PS/2 was the most popular model of computer in the world. (Thanks, Joe Kovacs!)
Many people do not understand the market that IBM aimed the PS/2 at. In business, having a computer that was dependable (especially in the early days of computing) made monetary sense. Why power up a server if the POST misses a (at the time) non-fatal error that a few hours later brings down a major corporation's network?
MCA concepts and forms live on in the PCI connector, error detection, Busmastering, automatic configuration, PS/2 mice, and power factor correcting PSUs.
Eventually, I hope to restore more of these Ardent Tools of Capitalism to gainful employment through a better public understanding of the machine.
Q) 1.2 PS/2 Model Identification and Reference and Diagnostics Diskettes
IBM used the naming convention of Type / Model for most PS/2 systems, monitors, and peripherals. The Type/Model may be found in a number of locations, from a recessed sticker below the power switch, on the lower right or left hand front corner, or on a sticker on the rear or underside of the system.
With the type-model, you can identify the correct options disks for your system. NOTE – Some systems in the same Type cannot use the same BIOS update disks (9585-xXx and 9585-OKx). Go to http://www.gilanet.com/ohlandl/ps-2.html for a list of PS/2 systems and their associated files.
Q) 1.4 Reference, Diagnostic, Option, and Driver Disks can also be downloaded from two sites:
ftp://ps2supersite.homedns.org/pccbbs/ (PS/2 Supersite)
http://greyghost.dyndns.org/pccbbs/ (William Walsh)
The index file, allfiles.txt can be found at: /pccbbs/allfiles.txt
Model | Models | CPU | ------------------------------------- 25 |8525-001/G01/+ | 8086-8 25-286 |8525-G06/H06 | 286-10 25LS |8525 | 286-10 30 |8530-0x1 | 8086-8 30-286 |8530-Ex1 | 286-10 33 |9533-xBx | 486SLC2-50 35SX |8535-040/43/24X| 386SX-20 35SLC |8535-05x | 386SLC-20 35LS |8535-14X/24X | 386SX-20 N33SX |8533-G13/G15 | 386SX-12/16 40SX |8540-04x | 386SX-20 40SLC |8540-05x | 386SLC-20 L40SX |8543-044 | 386SX-20 50 |8550-021 | 286-10 50Z |8550-0x1 | 286-10 N51SX/SLC|8551-033/025 | 386SX/SLC-16 53SLC2 |9553-0BB | 486SLC2-50 53LS |9553-1BX/2BX | 486SLC2-50 55SX |8555-031/61/L?#| 386SX-16 55LS |8555 | 386SX-16 56SX/LS |8556-04x | 386SX-20 56SLC |8556-05x | 386SLC-20 56SLC2 |9556-DB6/A | 486SLC2-50 57SX |8557-045/9 | 386SX-20 57SLC |8557-05x | 386SLC-20 57SLC2 |9557-DBx | 486SLC2-50 57SLC3 |9557-DEB | 486SLC3 57 Ult. |9557-1BA/2BA | 486SLC2-50 CL57 |8554 | 60 |8560-041/071 | 286-10 65SX |8565-061/121 | 386SX16 70-Exx |8570-E61/061/121| 70-Axx |8570-A21/61 | 386DX-25 70-Bxx |8570-B21/61 | 486DX-25 P70-386 |8573-0x1/121 | 386DX-16/20 P75-486 |8573-161/401 | 486DX-33 76-DUx |9576-DUx | 486SX-33 76 |9576-OPTION | 486DX2-66 77 0Ux |9577-0Ux | 486SX-33 77 0Nx |9577-0Nx | 486DX2-66 77 Ult. |9577-1UA/1NA | 486DX2-66 80-0x1 |8580-041/071 | 386DX-16 80-xx1 |8580-111/21/321| 386DX-20 80-Axx |8580-A16/21/31 | 386DX-25 80 |modification | 486DX-25 80 |modification | 486DX2 85-0Xx |9585-0Xx | 486SX-33 85-0Kx |9585-0Kx/ONx | 486DX-33 90 XP 386|8590-402 | 386DX-20 90 XP 486|8590-0G5 | 486SX-20 90 XP 486|8590-OH5/ | 486SX-25 90 XP 486|9590-xLx | 486DX2-50 95 XP 486|8595-0G9 | 486SX-20 95 XP 486|8595-0H9 | 486SX-25 95 XP 486|8595-0J9 | 486DX-25 95 XP 486|8595-0KD | 486DX-33 95 XP 486|8595-0Lx | 486DX2-50 95 XP 486|8595-0Mx | 486DX-50 TP700 |9552 | 486SLC-25 TP720 |9552 | 486SLC2-50 95 XP 486|9595-0LF | 486DX2-50 95 XP 486|9595-0Mx | 486DX-50 95 Server|9595-1Nx | 486DX2-66 95 Server|9595-0Px | P-60 95 Server|9595-0Qx | P-66 95 Array |9595-3NGx | 486DX2-66 95 Array |9595-3Px | P-60 95 Array |9595-3Qx | P-66 95 Array |9595-xxx | P-90
NOTE: Model 90 and 95 systems MIGHT have a different processor complex installed. Complex ID is from the model suffix. EX. A 8595-OKF uses the –xKx 486DX-33 complex. (all files in /pccbbs/pc_servers)
Outlines of all complexes can be found at: http://www.gilanet.com/ohlandl/complexes/Complex_ID.html
Complex | CPU |Mem |Remarks| Refdisk |
| |FP/ECC | | Diags |
--------+----------+--------+-------+--------------+
0 |386-DX20 | 16MB | IML | rf90386a.exe |
--------+----------+--------+-------+--------------+
Diagnostics (Common to all others) | rd9095a.exe |
--------+----------+--------+-------+--------------+
G |486SX-20 | 64MB* | IML | rf90951a.exe |
J |486DX-25 | 64MB* | IML | " " |
K |486DX-33 | 64MB* | IML | " " |
K(U) |486DX2-66 | 64MB | Flash | " " |
M(U) |486DX-50 | 64MB* | IML | " " |
H |486SX-25 | 64MB* | IML | rf90952a.exe |
L |486SX2-50 | 64MB* | IML | " " |
M |486DX-50 | 64/64 | IML | rf90953a.exe |
N |486DX2-66 | 64/256 | Flash | rf90954a.exe |
P | P60 | 64/256 | Flash | " " |
Q | P66 | 64/256 | Flash | " " |
Y | P90 | 64/256 | Flash | " " |
--------+----------+--------+-------+--------------+* Requires Upgrade Complex BIOS IML = IML stored on <3.94GB drive. Flash = IML in flash, HD size unlimited.
Q) 1.9 What and Where are the Reference, Diag, and Options Disks?
Option Diskettes are the .ADF and diagnostic files that allow the PS/2 to communicate properly with the installed options and IBM diagnostics to test it.
ftp://ps2supersite.homedns.org/pccbbs/ (PS/2 Supersite)
http://greyghost.dyndns.org/pccbbs/ (William Walsh)
When you get the right one, go to Copy an Option Diskette in the Reference Disk Main Menu and it should do the work for you. Now just configure the system and you should be set.
Q) 1.4 How Do I Create a Reference / Diags / Options Diskette for my PS/2? After the files are obtained:
For .EXE files:
o Put a blank, formatted 1.44MB floppy in A: (old systems like 8525 may need 720K) then run the self creating disk image file (ex rf90954a.exe).
NOTE: Using "DIR" under W95 MS-DOS mode will overwrite the special bytes needed to access the system partition. File Explorer won't hurt it..
For .DSK files:
o Run LDF.COM so that the files LOADDSKF.EXE and PRODAID.TXT are extracted. LOADDSKF.EXE is what you need, PRODAID.TXT is the IBM agreement.
o Insert a blank disk and type LOADDSKF filename.DSK A: (or B:) [/F to format
and /C to convert a 720KB image to a 1.44MB disk.]
o Ensure the proper disk is inserted and answer: "Y".
o Your reference disk is ready to go.
For .TG0 files:
o Run TGSFX.COM so that the files TELEGET.EXE and TGCONFIG.EXE are extracted.
o Run TGCONFIG and follow the prompts.
Q) 1.6 How Do I Access CMOS / Run Setup? (Reference Disk)
The Reference Disk allows you to add options, change the time and date, set up system and device configuration, check SCSI device, and test your system for problems.
Q) 1.7 How can I run the Advanced Diagnostics or Format a Hard Drive?
Press <CTRL-A> from the Reference Disk Main Menu and it will allow you to run selected tests one at a time –OR- format the hard drive.
Q) 1.x How Do I Properly Add an Option File to my Refdisk?
You must use "Copy an Option Diskette" under Setup to correctly copy a new or updated ADF to the Reference Disk or to the System Partition. It is highly recommended to add the ADF(s) to the refdisk / partition BEFORE you actually install the adapter. It is very frustrating to install an adapter and then have Copy An Option fail.
Q) 1.13 Where can I find support on the internet? IBM PS/2 Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware 9595 The Ardent Tool of Capitalism http://www.gilanet.com/ohlandl/ NCR Adapter Description Files (ADFs) THE COMPUTERCRAFT PS2 Resource Center IBM Canada Ltd - Vintage PCs IBM PCs Tech Library http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/cdt/hmm.html MICROCHANNEL ENTHUSIASTS PAGE http://www.mcamafia.de/mcapage0/mcaindex.htm
Q) 1.14 Determining POSID for MCA card with no labeling
IBM cards, look for either the Field Replaceable Unit (FRU) and/or the Part Number (P/N). Post the FRU / P/N to comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware for answers. Add the significant chips on the card.
For non-IBM cards, post any company or card lettering and significant chip identification to comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware as well.
Run POSID or QBMCA to determine POSID, then check the ADF listing at Peter Wendt's site: http://www.mcamafia.de/mcapage0/mcaindex.htm
In desperation, consider searching the FCC# at www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid. Sometimes the descriptions given are vague, but at least you will know the manufacturer and purpose of the card.
.
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