Null modem cable???

[Robinson Mitchell]

I have an interesting problem - I was at once surprised, delighted, and dismayed when one of my clients showed me the system they're using for invoicing.  They type it on a manual typewriter, then enter it again on a 22-year-old 286 PC running QDOS viewed using a monochrome Amber monitor.

I can't be sure, but the hard drive has a very distinctive sound exactly like my very first x86 machine, a 286 I bought in 1988, about the same time (Mine had EGA).  It sounds very much like my old Seagate ST-251 40MB drive.  I will wager it has an MFM or RLL controller.

There is a very small amount of data (9MB) I need to pull off of this machine.

I don't have any MFM or RLL controllers laying around, so I don't know if I can pull the data directly from the drive.  It isn't networked, and I don't have any ISA NICs and even if I did I don't think I have any drivers or a TCPIP stack I could load, however I think that I could pull the data using a null modem cable.

Questions for the list:

1.  Anyone have a null modem cable?

2.  Anyone have a USB to serial adapter cobbled together by chance?

3.  Anyone have an idea about what terminal software I could use - I'm thinking that there's a better chance of being able to pull from the serial port using Linux than anything else.

4.  Has anyone done anything similar?

Also if someone is good at parsing regular expressions, I could use some help analyzing the database specification.  It's a straight text flat file which appears to be field length delimited.  Should be a fairly simple matter to count the spaces to derive the field lengths and export to a CSV file which could go anywhere.

If we can get the data off, I will see if the client is willing to give up a working vintage 286 to anyone who wants it, but no promises.

Rob Mitchell

[Douglas Sims]

1) I had to look at the date on this email to ensure this wasn't some sort of gmail glitch that was sending messages from 1992

2) Does it have a floppy drive?

3) Do you suppose this machine is capable of sending messages through some sort of temporal warp/1200 baud modem to a BBS from 1989?  Because there's a whole list of things I would really like to tell my younger self.

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[Rick Sorak]

I have a Null modem cable and I used to use a dos level proggie with it called,,, I cant remember....It's in N Memphis iu need to borrow it....9010-399-0245 rick

On Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 9:45 AM, Robinson Mitchell <robinson...@gmail.com> wrote:

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Take Care,
Rick

[Chris Mohler]

On Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Robinson Mitchell
<robinson...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Also if someone is good at parsing regular expressions, I could use some
> help analyzing the database specification.  It's a straight text flat file
> which appears to be field length delimited.  Should be a fairly simple
> matter to count the spaces to derive the field lengths and export to a CSV
> file which could go anywhere.

If it's length delimited, that should be less than 10 lines of python
(or anything else for that matter). If you need help, send it my way.
I'll be on the road this weekend, but will be back Monday.

Chris

[Richard Shaw]

On Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 9:45 AM, Robinson Mitchell
<robinson...@gmail.com> wrote:

> 3.  Anyone have an idea about what terminal software I could use - I'm
> thinking that there's a better chance of being able to pull from the serial
> port using Linux than anything else.

I would recommend that you try to run the same OS and software on both
ends. Boot their computer by floppy and boot a floppy image file on
your linux computer using memdisk[2]. While not technically required,
it should make you life easer for a one time thing. I found this
link[1] with several reports that it works.

> 4.  Has anyone done anything similar?

Not in a long time. I once had an old IBM 8088 in my bedroom and
wanted to transfer files to a new 386-40 downstairs in the living
room. 50ft of RS-232 and a null modem adapter later I had is strung
(literally) end to end. I fired up Qmodem on both ends and initiated a
Zmodem file transfer at 38400.

Richard

[1] http://www.programmersheaven.com/download/14090/download.aspx
[2] http://syslinux.zytor.com/wiki/index.php/MEMDISK

[Jose]

Sorry, I don't have any of the stuff you asked about, however I am amazed that this system is still in production!  I think I would have gone through the same emotions!

-Jose

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From: Robinson Mitchell <robinson...@gmail.com>
To: Group of Linux Users in Memphis <go...@golum.org>
Sent: Fri, June 18, 2010 9:45:08 AM
Subject: [GOLUM] Null modem cable???

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[Robinson Mitchell]

Thanks everyone for your offers of help.  Troy came with me to the client and took care of the problem.
To my very great surprise the 296 had a working floppy drive.  Troy had a copy of PKZip204g, transferred it to the 286 using a null modem cable, and was able to store the entire app directory including data on two floppies.
The app ran natively on the DOS virtual machine in XP, so the client is happy.  Now we just need to get them on a more contemporary accounting solution.  Baby steps.
Thanks again to all for your help, and special kudos to Troy for coming out and helping me take care of the problem the same day.  The client is impressed.
Kind regards,
Rob Mitchell

[Eric DuToit]

On 06/19/2010 11:24 AM, Robinson Mitchell wrote:

> and special kudos to Troy for coming out and helping me take care of the problem the same day.

Ruth's Chris?

;)

[Robinson Mitchell]

Cash, actually.