jporter12 Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Thanks for looking.Guess I have to come up with plan "c"If I can get away for a while, I'll head over to that shop I was talking about to see what they might have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likwid Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Yeah, I'll just tell the customer, "sorry fucker, spend $100,000.00 for a new one. This one's too fucked up to fix".That'll work.Or, "sorry you cheap fucker, this 10 year old system is on it's last leg, time to upgrade to something from this century" :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InyaAzz Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 I used to work in an environment like this at Reltec/Marconi/Emerson for almost ten years. The shop floor had a million of these things running. They weren't spending money to replace them back then, and they damn sure ain't trying to spend the money to replace them now.It's not a simple process...these computers are controlling machines with very specific duties, they aren't easily or cheaply replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 If I can get away for a while, I'll head over to that shop I was talking about to see what they might have.That's be cool. Let me know what you find.Or, "sorry you cheap fucker, this 10 year old system is on it's last leg, time to upgrade to something from this century" :-DYeah, that'll work as good as my earlier suggestion. I used to work in an environment like this at Reltec/Marconi/Emerson for almost ten years. The shop floor had a million of these things running. They weren't spending money to replace them back then, and they damn sure ain't trying to spend the money to replace them now.It's not a simple process...these computers are controlling machines with very specific duties, they aren't easily or cheaply replaced.Exactly correct. For industrial applications there are literally MILLIONS of old 386 and 486 controlled machines running out there. To change them over is only slightly less than a complete replacement of the machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Exactly correct. For industrial applications there are literally MILLIONS of old 386 and 486 controlled machines running out there. To change them over is only slightly less than a complete replacement of the machine.Which is what we're dealing with on a machine we have here! Fortunately, the problem with it ended up being the cpu fan had gone bad, causing it to overheat, therowing a BSOD. It's a Windows 95 machine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InyaAzz Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Which is what we're dealing with on a machine we have here! Fortunately, the problem with it ended up being the cpu fan had gone bad, causing it to overheat, therowing a BSOD. It's a Windows 95 machine! You're in better shape than those that run off of DOS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Which is what we're dealing with on a machine we have here! Fortunately, the problem with it ended up being the cpu fan had gone bad, causing it to overheat, therowing a BSOD. It's a Windows 95 machine! I think I have a Win95 machine in the basement. Probably doesnt have a HD in it anymore, but you're welcome to it if I still have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 You're in better shape than those that run off of DOS.True dat.Anyone know if a pentium MB will run dos apps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likwid Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 True dat.Anyone know if a pentium MB will run dos apps?Yes. I worked for a software company that did car wash software, something like 75% of sites were still on the DOS based system, we sold lots of Pentium machines since the cheapest machines could still be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Yes. I worked for a software company that did car wash software, something like 75% of sites were still on the DOS based system, we sold lots of Pentium machines since the cheapest machines could still be used.Good to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 You're in better shape than those that run off of DOS.It's nothing ot do with the OS, as even the latest computers can run DOS! The problem is in needing ISA slots, which is where we are, also. The company that makes the machine I'm talking about wants something like $5k to upgrade. It comes with a new PC, interface board, software, and not much else, not even a new monitor or printer, both which are required. The only problem we might run into by DIY'ing it is compatibility with a different motherboard, as they go on and on about how the boards are specific to them, etc.... I have a feeling that it's just a QC and support thing, seeing how hardware was so flaky back then, at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 It's nothing ot do with the OS, as even the latest computers can run DOS! The problem is in needing ISA slots, which is where we are, also. The company that makes the machine I'm talking about wants something like $5k to upgrade. It comes with a new PC, interface board, software, and not much else, not even a new monitor or printer, both which are required. The only problem we might run into by DIY'ing it is compatibility with a different motherboard, as they go on and on about how the boards are specific to them, etc.... I have a feeling that it's just a QC and support thing, seeing how hardware was so flaky back then, at times.As I understand it, its getting DOS if you dont already have it thats the problem. Isn't it true that from late XP on up DOS is not included? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 As I understand it, its getting DOS if you dont already have it thats the problem. Isn't it true that from late XP on up DOS is not included?You don't need a new OS, just a new motherboard, right? With the situation at work, I'd just use the old hard drive with a new motherboard and processor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 You don't need a new OS, just a new motherboard, right? With the situation at work, I'd just use the old hard drive with a new motherboard and processor.I dont need DOS as I already have it on the hard drive of the machine. Its not a problem for me.Other people with DOS based machines that haven't backed up the software DO have a problem. I think thats what he meant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 I dont need DOS as I already have it on the hard drive of the machine. Its not a problem for me.Other people with DOS based machines that haven't backed up the software DO have a problem. I think thats what he meant.Gotcha. Which reminds me, I need to pull the drive from that machine and backup the drive, before it fails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolWhip Posted February 10, 2010 Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 Umm I used to have a bunch of old 486 computers. I think they might still be dusty in storage at my parents. Will any old 486 mobo work for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 Umm I used to have a bunch of old 486 computers. I think they might still be dusty in storage at my parents. Will any old 486 mobo work for you?Probably. As long as it has 3 open ISA slots and fits in the box thats already on the panel.I can get the dimensions tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
$pecial_K Posted February 10, 2010 Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 Something like this might work if you can't find an older motherboard with ISA slots.http://www.arstech.com/item-USB-2-0-to-ISA-card-3-connectors-usb2isax3.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 Something like this might work if you can't find an older motherboard with ISA slots.http://www.arstech.com/item-USB-2-0-to-ISA-card-3-connectors-usb2isax3.htmlThe software is dos, and USB only runs under windows. I think I may have found a solution though. Should know by tomorrow AM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
$pecial_K Posted February 10, 2010 Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 My bad, I thought that you might be able to run the DOS program using a Virtual DOS machine under Windows. Wasn't sure if that would allow it to access the USB bus since Windows would be handling the hardware access Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 My bad, I thought that you might be able to run the DOS program using a Virtual DOS machine under Windows. Wasn't sure if that would allow it to access the USB bus since Windows would be handling the hardware accessThat may work, but no guarantees. Some machine software is funny running under windows unless it was written for windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 Problem solved. Anyone else looking for older industrial PC solutions might want to check these people out.http://www.globalamericaninc.com/p3307558/3307558_-_Half-size_ISA_Slot-bus_486_Grade_SBC/product_info.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Punk Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 That site is bookmarked. I had to replace the power supply on a machine not to long ago that runs Windows 98. We dug through our old computers and found a matching one, plugged it in and BAM sparks everywhere. I forgot to switch it over to 220. I found one at a local computer store that has been in business for over 20 years. They had one in the back, new complete with the layer of dust holding the box together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted February 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 That site is bookmarked. I had to replace the power supply on a machine not to long ago that runs Windows 98. We dug through our old computers and found a matching one, plugged it in and BAM sparks everywhere. I forgot to switch it over to 220. I found one at a local computer store that has been in business for over 20 years. They had one in the back, new complete with the layer of dust holding the box together.Hopefully it helps.I spent WEEKS trying to find what I needed. If I save someone some time, it'll all be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.