I used to have one of these. I got it from my uncle who used it for writing and printing sheet music on a laser printer-- pretty slick for back in the day.
Anyone know where I can find a motherboard replacement for one of these? I've been scourging ebay for months and havn't found crap. I have a PS/2 Model 30 286 I want to get running it's a complete system just powers on nothing more. I really want to try experimenting running a BBS/IRC off this machine connected to a Token Ring bridged to Ethernet.
@vwestlife I just picked up a Model 30 but it has a monochrome monitor. Is the video output from the motherboard already color capable? I also have to change out the Dallas battery. Mine has NO hard drive installed. I was thinking about just getting an ISA SCSI controller and hard drive but I don't know if the PC will accept it.
@2wayfreq The model 30-286 has full color 640x480 VGA graphics. The regular model 30, with an 8086 processor, has color MCGA graphics, which works with a VGA monitor, but only gives you color in text mode and the lower resolution graphics modes; with MCGA, 640x480 graphics will only be monochrome, even if you have a color monitor.
@panzerkampfwagen123 I used my Canon FS200 for this video. Manually setting the shutter speed to 1/60, also known as "TV mode", will eliminate or greatly reduce the flickering and black bars when recording the image of a CRT.
@thecooldude9999 Windows 3.0 was the last version to have Real Mode (which can run on a 8088 or 8086). Windows 3.1 only has Standard Mode (requires at least a 286) and Enhanced Mode (requires at least a 386).
@thecooldude9999 Yeah, i'm surprised this was able to run it. Actually I can see it running better if Windows 3.1 was installed instead of 3.11 which was the version I noticed on there. Windows 3.1 offers a Real Mode which you can't use in 3.11 (according to the Windows 3.1 and 3.11 documentation). I am trying to find myself a copy of Windows 286 and 3.0 because I like having legitimate copies of oldschool windows I get to show off the boxes haha and it does look nice on the shelves.
@blackbullet357 Windows 3.0 was the last version to support Real mode. Windows 3.1 only supports Standard mode (for a 286 or higher) and Enhanced mode (for a 386 or higher). Windows 3.11 (not to be confused with Windows *for Workgroups* 3.11) was just a minor bug fix and update to 3.1.
@thecooldude9999 I think you only use 6 out of the 8 if you don't install printers or networking, but either way its not as bad as the floppy versions of Windows 95 or OS/2. Just the thought of installing OS/2 1.x or 2.0 from floppy (especially 2.0) makes me cringe! I think its got to be at the very least 20 for some versions of OS/2. I'm trying to get a hold of some 5.25" versions of MS-DOS for my PC-XT i'm restoring.
@blackbullet357 cool. I'm a big fan of old computers. i have nt 3.51 on 3 floppys. but i also have a copy of 4.00 and its on 16 floppys! i don't think you could live without a cd drive by then. kinda funny looking at my computer setup. i have a 2 year old dell on my right with two monitors, a Pentium on my left (on a kvm switch) and a commodore 128 next to me hooked up to my tv :)
@thecooldude9999 Me too, I have a HUGE list of machines I own. I have two new machines and two Dell Poweredge servers coming in so I will put up a website and start a community.
I have two IBM PS/2 computers, a Model 80 and a Model 30 286 but my Model 30 is dead I suspect a dead planar or video controller on the planar. I have a total of 4 IBM systems and personally out of all the vintage machines, IBM is my favorite. When Packard Bells work, they are pretty sweet to have too despite being BAD!
@blackbullet357 i have alot of computers as well! im thinking of setting up a website for all of them, last count i had about 80 computers in my basement! mostly dells, my dad is trying to get some racks and rack mounted stuff for me, i will make a video of all my stuff!
I love the noise of that hard disk when it starts up. i believe relatives of mine had a second hand PS/2 once, they're not computer literate, they told me it was a 386, but they didn't tell me much more about it, I suspect because they didn't know too much else about it, I have no idea what the model number is, but it looked very similar to yours.
@waytostoned The simple answer is because 3.1 is the oldest version I have on 3½" floppy disks. And for playing Solitaire or Minesweeper it is fine, which is pretty much all I would do with Windows on a 286 anyway.
Wow - you can hear the processor clicking away. I had also forgotten about the early windows.....I remember workinng with that as a kid in Junior High!
You can increase the screen size on the monitor, it has adjustments on the back of it with the case off, and the Dallas clock is just the plastic outer case, possibly coated in resin, any rate, you could have opened that up and replaced just the battery rather than $10 on a new chip.
i still have a working 486 computer and i play on it once every 5 or 6 months just for the fun of it :-D. lotus 3, doom 2, dangerous dave 3, monster bash, descent, rex nebular and many many other games. it even runs quake 1 and fallout 2
@Messerschmitt262a2a Used Dallas chips from Hong Kong go for around $10 on eBay, but you take a gamble if the chip will actually work or not. New, tested ones from U.S. vendors sell for around $25.
I've got one of those, it was our second family computer. Ours is a little older,I believe '88, and only 4MHz, with a massive networking card inside. The battery has never been replaced, and it still knows what time and day it is.
Finally quit using it when the hard drive died.
The hard drive was proprietary, so I never bothered. Got the Keyboard as well! Had the monitor, sent it out to pasture.
I just got a Compaq 286e with 2MB ram, 40MB HDD, and 5.25" floppy. Also got that same monitor that you have there. I am currently trying to get win 3.1 on it by copying the installation files from a cd to 5.25" floppies then from the floppy to the HDD, then installing from the HDD. The floppy drive is on its last leg, alot of read errors and some bad noises but every once in a while it will work.
I love the "clicky" keyboard. I had one with a PS2 very similar to this and that keyboard makes the transition to every new computer I buy. I hate quiet keyboards. This brings back memories as we had them in college although we had the 386SX-16 models with 4MB ram.
That is a nice old school computer, my parents may still have our Apple 2gs still kicking around I should go look and make a vid if they do, my iPod has more memory than that computer LOL
Would the mouse work on newer versions of Windows? I think it would at least look neat to have one next to my model M on my PC (but I couldn't use it full time without the scroll wheel).
Wow, that's a pretty neat old computer! That's the first time i've seen Windows 3.1 run on a 286 - a 286 and 1 MB of RAM is the absolute lowest configuration 3.1 will run on! It's pretty useless on a 286 though because most can't fit enough RAM (nor have sufficient speed) to run anything other than the built-in accessories and games, and you can't use virtual memory.
Hey look, I have one of those PS/2 mice and I think that IBM was working on a remote desktop system at the time of the PS/2: Just make extra long cords for everything, set the system in one part of the room and have the keyboard, mouse and monitor in another part and BAM, remote desktop!
Wow! The PC I'm suing to write this comment has 4 GB of RAM and over 500 GB of hard drive storage. It very interesting to compare that to you 286 there... We've come a long way and the numbers have gotten so much bigger. I remember thing I'd never use up a 20 MB hard drive.. :) JC
I had one of these, infact, it was my third computer; a friend gave it to me. I wrote my first research paper using one of these and I got the second highest grade in the entire class!
IBM's attempt to be proprietory (like Radio Shack and APPLE did), the IBM that WAS NOT IBM compatable! The IBM PC jr was also a proprietory IBM that was an attempt to stop the "clones" from copying IBM.
I noticed the Breeze in the background at the end of the video. I remember the Breeze along with the former G-Rock had the best sound of any OTA radio station online at the time (still would) and they did so with a 64k aac stream too. Also if my memory serves me correct, the Breeze had a pretty big playlist compared to other Light AC stations and lots of stuff that I hadn't heard in years.
Also, is this where the PS2 mouse originated from?
Yes, the Breeze has a very large playlist, and they boast that their Internet stream is 128 kbps. And the IBM PS/2 series is indeed where we got the PS/2 keyboard and mouse connectors from, as well as VGA video and 1.44 MB floppy disks.
This reminds me of the computers I used at high school circa 1996 so I guess they were already 6 years old, they weren't actually IBM brand but similar, even down to the border on the screens.
The CPU and co-processor don't even have fans on them in this machine, when did computers start including cooling fans on the CPU's? Is the graphics chip intergraded onto the motherboard? I guess Windows is taking up half the hard disk space.
It was the 486DX era when CPUs started getting heatsinks and cooling fans. This has VGA built into the motherboard. PC DOS 7 takes up about 2 MB and Windows 3.11 takes up about 8 MB.
Is that clock chip socketed for easy replacement, or is it soldered onto the motherboard? I suppose the low profile ase is one reason for the proprietary hardware. I think my relatives had a system like this, they said there system was a 386. The internal PC speaker sounded as if it was quite large and mounted on the front of the case and not on the motherboard as is the case here.
It is socketed. The Microchannel (MCA) bus PS/2s had a real speaker, but the ISA models only got a beeper because full-length ISA cards are longer and there isn't enough room on the front of the case to mount the speaker.
With just 1 megabyte of ram & Windows 3.x you'll run low on memory just by using Microsoft paint. Trust me, I've been there.
clemstevenson 2 weeks ago
Wow, buddy. Keep that running and you could make some good money off of it.
MoulderSDK 3 weeks ago
help,i have the exact same ibm,but mine plain won't turn on,i really want to get the thing working.
vacguy99 1 month ago
no touching ! statics can kill the microchps
215alessio 1 month ago
@215alessio As long as you ground yourself first, it is OK.
vwestlife 1 month ago
@vwestlife i know, but still.
215alessio 1 month ago
Yeah i loved my 286 but never liked 3.1 just used to use DOS
fpvshitsonhsv 2 months ago
I used to have one of these. I got it from my uncle who used it for writing and printing sheet music on a laser printer-- pretty slick for back in the day.
Chaoticmass 2 months ago
I remember i had the same Keyboard ..
rickonami 2 months ago
The sounds of my childhood are right in this machine. RIP my 286.
setsunasamachan 4 months ago
Would this be a good DOS machine with VGA and a Soundblaster 1?
TeamRocketReviews 5 months ago
I've just installed DOS 6.11 to one of these. Thinking of getting hold of a copy of Windows 3.1 just for fun.
ShokaLion 5 months ago
Anyone know where I can find a motherboard replacement for one of these? I've been scourging ebay for months and havn't found crap. I have a PS/2 Model 30 286 I want to get running it's a complete system just powers on nothing more. I really want to try experimenting running a BBS/IRC off this machine connected to a Token Ring bridged to Ethernet.
blackbullet357 5 months ago
@vwestlife I just picked up a Model 30 but it has a monochrome monitor. Is the video output from the motherboard already color capable? I also have to change out the Dallas battery. Mine has NO hard drive installed. I was thinking about just getting an ISA SCSI controller and hard drive but I don't know if the PC will accept it.
2wayfreq 5 months ago
@2wayfreq The model 30-286 has full color 640x480 VGA graphics. The regular model 30, with an 8086 processor, has color MCGA graphics, which works with a VGA monitor, but only gives you color in text mode and the lower resolution graphics modes; with MCGA, 640x480 graphics will only be monochrome, even if you have a color monitor.
vwestlife 5 months ago
@panzerkampfwagen123 I used my Canon FS200 for this video. Manually setting the shutter speed to 1/60, also known as "TV mode", will eliminate or greatly reduce the flickering and black bars when recording the image of a CRT.
vwestlife 6 months ago
dont run 3.1 run windows 286 (real version)
thecooldude9999 8 months ago
@thecooldude9999 Windows 3.0 was the last version to have Real Mode (which can run on a 8088 or 8086). Windows 3.1 only has Standard Mode (requires at least a 286) and Enhanced Mode (requires at least a 386).
vwestlife 8 months ago
@vwestlife ok.
thecooldude9999 8 months ago
@thecooldude9999 Yeah, i'm surprised this was able to run it. Actually I can see it running better if Windows 3.1 was installed instead of 3.11 which was the version I noticed on there. Windows 3.1 offers a Real Mode which you can't use in 3.11 (according to the Windows 3.1 and 3.11 documentation). I am trying to find myself a copy of Windows 286 and 3.0 because I like having legitimate copies of oldschool windows I get to show off the boxes haha and it does look nice on the shelves.
blackbullet357 7 months ago
@blackbullet357 Windows 3.0 was the last version to support Real mode. Windows 3.1 only supports Standard mode (for a 286 or higher) and Enhanced mode (for a 386 or higher). Windows 3.11 (not to be confused with Windows *for Workgroups* 3.11) was just a minor bug fix and update to 3.1.
vwestlife 7 months ago
@blackbullet357 yeah, real mode works a lot better! too bad i only have 3.11 on 10 or so floppys :D
thecooldude9999 7 months ago
@thecooldude9999 I think you only use 6 out of the 8 if you don't install printers or networking, but either way its not as bad as the floppy versions of Windows 95 or OS/2. Just the thought of installing OS/2 1.x or 2.0 from floppy (especially 2.0) makes me cringe! I think its got to be at the very least 20 for some versions of OS/2. I'm trying to get a hold of some 5.25" versions of MS-DOS for my PC-XT i'm restoring.
blackbullet357 7 months ago
@blackbullet357 cool. I'm a big fan of old computers. i have nt 3.51 on 3 floppys. but i also have a copy of 4.00 and its on 16 floppys! i don't think you could live without a cd drive by then. kinda funny looking at my computer setup. i have a 2 year old dell on my right with two monitors, a Pentium on my left (on a kvm switch) and a commodore 128 next to me hooked up to my tv :)
thecooldude9999 7 months ago
@thecooldude9999 Me too, I have a HUGE list of machines I own. I have two new machines and two Dell Poweredge servers coming in so I will put up a website and start a community.
I have two IBM PS/2 computers, a Model 80 and a Model 30 286 but my Model 30 is dead I suspect a dead planar or video controller on the planar. I have a total of 4 IBM systems and personally out of all the vintage machines, IBM is my favorite. When Packard Bells work, they are pretty sweet to have too despite being BAD!
blackbullet357 7 months ago
@blackbullet357 i have alot of computers as well! im thinking of setting up a website for all of them, last count i had about 80 computers in my basement! mostly dells, my dad is trying to get some racks and rack mounted stuff for me, i will make a video of all my stuff!
thecooldude9999 7 months ago
I love the noise of that hard disk when it starts up. i believe relatives of mine had a second hand PS/2 once, they're not computer literate, they told me it was a 386, but they didn't tell me much more about it, I suspect because they didn't know too much else about it, I have no idea what the model number is, but it looked very similar to yours.
Lachlant1984 8 months ago
@Lachlant1984 The PS/2 Model 55SX was a 386SX-16 system in the same style of case as the Model 30 and 30-286.
vwestlife 8 months ago
great vid, reminds me of my past.. *sigh*
Weird question, but why windows 3.1? Why not 2.1 or 3.0 with MM support? Windows 3.1+ was designed with 386's in mind...
waytostoned 9 months ago
@waytostoned The simple answer is because 3.1 is the oldest version I have on 3½" floppy disks. And for playing Solitaire or Minesweeper it is fine, which is pretty much all I would do with Windows on a 286 anyway.
vwestlife 9 months ago
@vwestlife True I guess , but seems to run like a dog :(
If you want a copy of windows , 1.0 to 3.11wfwg , or any version of dos, let me know... ;)
waytostoned 9 months ago
I hear sweet flute in the background
I guess that you are listening classical music
Mr1p0d 10 months ago
In early 90s computer were expensive about 1,999 dollars or a bit lower if your lucky.
volure1 10 months ago
@uuukay It was made by Dallas Semiconductor, now known as Maxim. They are based in California.
vwestlife 11 months ago
Is that hard drive a Rodime?
HemaZev 11 months ago
@HemaZev It is a Seagate.
vwestlife 11 months ago
do you still have this
rockerboy12doglover 1 year ago
@rockerboy12doglover Yes.
vwestlife 1 year ago
Wow - you can hear the processor clicking away. I had also forgotten about the early windows.....I remember workinng with that as a kid in Junior High!
wonderfulman2456 1 year ago
You can increase the screen size on the monitor, it has adjustments on the back of it with the case off, and the Dallas clock is just the plastic outer case, possibly coated in resin, any rate, you could have opened that up and replaced just the battery rather than $10 on a new chip.
ih8regs 1 year ago
i still have a working 486 computer and i play on it once every 5 or 6 months just for the fun of it :-D. lotus 3, doom 2, dangerous dave 3, monster bash, descent, rex nebular and many many other games. it even runs quake 1 and fallout 2
tzanegmr 1 year ago
cool. how hard was it to replace the clock battery?
rockerboy12doglover 1 year ago
@rockerboy12doglover Not hard at all to pull out the old Dallas chip and install the new one, just a little expensive.
vwestlife 1 year ago
@vwestlife how much did you pay?
Messerschmitt262a2a 1 year ago
@Messerschmitt262a2a Used Dallas chips from Hong Kong go for around $10 on eBay, but you take a gamble if the chip will actually work or not. New, tested ones from U.S. vendors sell for around $25.
vwestlife 1 year ago
I've got one of those, it was our second family computer. Ours is a little older,I believe '88, and only 4MHz, with a massive networking card inside. The battery has never been replaced, and it still knows what time and day it is.
Finally quit using it when the hard drive died.
The hard drive was proprietary, so I never bothered. Got the Keyboard as well! Had the monitor, sent it out to pasture.
Had Windows 3.11, for workgroups.
Zylstra555 1 year ago
Did you restore it?
Is it new?
My PS/2 has gos rusg inside it :(
CloudiN94 1 year ago
I just got a Compaq 286e with 2MB ram, 40MB HDD, and 5.25" floppy. Also got that same monitor that you have there. I am currently trying to get win 3.1 on it by copying the installation files from a cd to 5.25" floppies then from the floppy to the HDD, then installing from the HDD. The floppy drive is on its last leg, alot of read errors and some bad noises but every once in a while it will work.
tghbenz99 1 year ago
I love the "clicky" keyboard. I had one with a PS2 very similar to this and that keyboard makes the transition to every new computer I buy. I hate quiet keyboards. This brings back memories as we had them in college although we had the 386SX-16 models with 4MB ram.
storrs19 1 year ago
LOL I think I saw one of these in a Sam's Club.
TheGeek1028 1 year ago
Good video, this is where it all started.
At that time that was thought of as a good PC,
musavlok 1 year ago
That is a nice old school computer, my parents may still have our Apple 2gs still kicking around I should go look and make a vid if they do, my iPod has more memory than that computer LOL
sfish2780 1 year ago
Hey, I'm still using one of those Model M keyboards. Ain't nothing like 'em!
Madness832 1 year ago
Nice vid.
080594M127 1 year ago
Nice one
AccordionManiac 1 year ago
i put windows 3.1 on a p4 2.8ghz and its so damn fast lol but i still have some 286 cpu's one is 6mhz and other 10mhz
30GB 1 year ago
I love this video! You sure do have a lot of comutational devices from a long time ago!
hackhp 1 year ago
back in the day that thing must have cost out the butt
slowride55 1 year ago
Not bad man, i think my modern day comps are just as slow as that comp cuz mine are fucked up haha.
DriveSVT 1 year ago
Cool so it did have games then.
ClactonRadio 1 year ago
Have you tried Flight Simulator X on this?
How well does it go?
ClactonRadio 1 year ago
It will run MS Flight Simulator 4.0, but probably not any newer versions. I believe 5.0 requires at least a 386.
vwestlife 1 year ago
Awesome video!
Thanks for posting great memories!
mig189189189 1 year ago
Would the mouse work on newer versions of Windows? I think it would at least look neat to have one next to my model M on my PC (but I couldn't use it full time without the scroll wheel).
compactc9 1 year ago
Yes, it should work fine with any PS/2 type mouse port and driver.
vwestlife 1 year ago
Wow, that's a pretty neat old computer! That's the first time i've seen Windows 3.1 run on a 286 - a 286 and 1 MB of RAM is the absolute lowest configuration 3.1 will run on! It's pretty useless on a 286 though because most can't fit enough RAM (nor have sufficient speed) to run anything other than the built-in accessories and games, and you can't use virtual memory.
themaritimeman 1 year ago
It would be cool to see that fully upgraded and see how much faster it runs.
Juggla17 1 year ago
I LOVE THAT BADGE! Sweet computer! Your vids are always great :D
jmurray01 1 year ago
Hey look, I have one of those PS/2 mice and I think that IBM was working on a remote desktop system at the time of the PS/2: Just make extra long cords for everything, set the system in one part of the room and have the keyboard, mouse and monitor in another part and BAM, remote desktop!
joke of course
linuxlove4004 1 year ago
Nice system, I want more PS/2 systems
linuxlove4004 1 year ago
Back in elementary school we had tandy computers that looked like that, I hated the cheesy learning games they made us play.
Those beeping sounds haunt me to this day... ..Beedalop! ...Buzzz... Beedalolp....
raymondleeleggs 1 year ago
Wow! The PC I'm suing to write this comment has 4 GB of RAM and over 500 GB of hard drive storage. It very interesting to compare that to you 286 there... We've come a long way and the numbers have gotten so much bigger. I remember thing I'd never use up a 20 MB hard drive.. :) JC
BadEditPro 1 year ago
I had one of these, infact, it was my third computer; a friend gave it to me. I wrote my first research paper using one of these and I got the second highest grade in the entire class!
bbishoppcm 1 year ago
Damn, this brings back the memory's lol
markcumbriauk 1 year ago
Thats suprising as there was only 1 MB of it! DRUM ROLL PLEASE! Hahahaha.
jmurray01 1 year ago
IBM's attempt to be proprietory (like Radio Shack and APPLE did), the IBM that WAS NOT IBM compatable! The IBM PC jr was also a proprietory IBM that was an attempt to stop the "clones" from copying IBM.
umajunkcollector 1 year ago
The Microchannel bus was not successful, but almost everything else used in the PS/2 series eventually became commonplace on PC "clones".
vwestlife 1 year ago
I noticed the Breeze in the background at the end of the video. I remember the Breeze along with the former G-Rock had the best sound of any OTA radio station online at the time (still would) and they did so with a 64k aac stream too. Also if my memory serves me correct, the Breeze had a pretty big playlist compared to other Light AC stations and lots of stuff that I hadn't heard in years.
Also, is this where the PS2 mouse originated from?
traxonwax 1 year ago
Yes, the Breeze has a very large playlist, and they boast that their Internet stream is 128 kbps. And the IBM PS/2 series is indeed where we got the PS/2 keyboard and mouse connectors from, as well as VGA video and 1.44 MB floppy disks.
vwestlife 1 year ago
This reminds me of the computers I used at high school circa 1996 so I guess they were already 6 years old, they weren't actually IBM brand but similar, even down to the border on the screens.
jedw 1 year ago
The CPU and co-processor don't even have fans on them in this machine, when did computers start including cooling fans on the CPU's? Is the graphics chip intergraded onto the motherboard? I guess Windows is taking up half the hard disk space.
Lachlant1984 1 year ago
It was the 486DX era when CPUs started getting heatsinks and cooling fans. This has VGA built into the motherboard. PC DOS 7 takes up about 2 MB and Windows 3.11 takes up about 8 MB.
vwestlife 1 year ago
Is that clock chip socketed for easy replacement, or is it soldered onto the motherboard? I suppose the low profile ase is one reason for the proprietary hardware. I think my relatives had a system like this, they said there system was a 386. The internal PC speaker sounded as if it was quite large and mounted on the front of the case and not on the motherboard as is the case here.
Lachlant1984 1 year ago
It is socketed. The Microchannel (MCA) bus PS/2s had a real speaker, but the ISA models only got a beeper because full-length ISA cards are longer and there isn't enough room on the front of the case to mount the speaker.
vwestlife 1 year ago
This brings back memories, thanks for sharing!
dmstealth 1 year ago
I remember ISA very well.
SlimeTron5000 1 year ago