Tandy Sensation ... What is it ?
John Carswell
has the word "Sensation" writen on the outside. The problem is that
the previous owner seems to have deleted some system files from the
hard drive and I'm having some difficulty getting everything working.
Perhaps some kind soul out there can help me out.
1) Does the "Sensation" have another name or model number
by which it is discussed in this group ?
2) I cracked open the case and took a look-see at what was
inside. Could someone confirm that what I think is in there
is correct ?
CPU 486SX-25Mhz
Memory 4 72 pin SIMM slots
Disk 100Mb IDE (I think)
Controller IDE (again, I think)
CDROM Single speed
Video Super VGA
Onboard Sound unknown make
Modem 9600 Fax/Modem as daughterboard
The problems started when I tried to get the sound working. I noticed
that the driver was missing. I have the two CDROM's that came with the
system. Both of them contain a windows directory and have the file
"tandysnd.drv". Assuming that was the sound driver, I tried to load it
from the "Drivers" option in Windows-Control Panel. This did't work (no
oem.inf or some such thing), so I decided to punt and relaod windows and
all from the CDROM. Unfortunately, I have no printed documentation, and
nothing I've tried will realod windows from Tandy's CDROM's. Does anyone
out there have experience with configuring the "Sensation" ? If so,
please email me, 'cause right now the only sensation I have is that of
hair being ripped from my scalp.
ThanX very much !
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
John E. Carswell <cars...@escmail.orl.mmc.com>
Sr. Systems Engineer Lockheed Martin Corporation
Information Systems Company
12506 Lake Underhill Road
Voice: (407) 826-3695 Mail Point 853
FAX: (407) 826-3718 Orlando, FL 32825
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Rochlin
blaster compatible.
on your DATA cd in the d:\original directory is the mirror image of the
hard drive as it came from the factory. If you want to restore the
machine to "as new" hard drive settings, you can wipe the c: drive and
restore from that disk (you will loose any other programs) or you can use
the autoexec.bat, config.sys, win.ini, system.ini & d:\ original\bin sub-
directory from the data cd to help you re-install.
Mark Rochlin
blaster compatible.
on your DATA cd in the d:\original directory is the mirror image of
the hard drive as it came from the factory. If you want to restore the
machine to "as new" hard drive settings, you can wipe the c: drive and
option (you will loose any other programs)
or you can use the autoexec.bat, config.sys, win.ini, system.ini &
good luck, most stores will be able to help, or write me directly if you
need more assistance.
-
Mark Rochlin rads...@freenet.ufl.edu
bjd...@prodigy.com
the writer's opinions do not reflect that of Radio Shack or the Tandy
Corp.
Dsand101
the number 1 (one). It is a batch file to copy the disk mirror from the
CD to the hard drive. It will not, if you already have dirs and subs
created, erase anything you have, however it might replace something with
the same name. You may have to do some tweaking with grps and inis, so I
advise: be patient, back off all important files, and reformat your HD
before you start. BTW, if you don't (as it sounds) have a Sensation! boot
disk, copy off your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. You won't get your
CD without them.
I have done this a hundred times; invariably someone would alter
(read:screw up) their system, and come to me to bail them out. No
problem.
You've got questions, we've got...oh, skip it.
Dan Sanders,
Radio Shack 01-8416
Tulsa OK
DISCLAIMER: I and Radio Shack do not always get along, so do not assume my
opinion is theirs, for it more than likely isn't.
Mark Rochlin
>Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure you will, but the Omni II was actually
>the last of the Tandy design. I believe it was a factory build.
the Omni II was designed by AST, and sold by Radio Shack after AST bought
the factory. They replaced the original factory direct machine, and were
practically identical to AST branded models.
-
MARK ROCHLIN BJD...@prodigy.com
rads...@freenet.ufl.edu
Frank Durda IV
[0]1) Does the "Sensation" have another name or model number
[0]by which it is discussed in this group ?
There were two models of "Sensations", but the second one is usually
calles the "Sensation II". "Sensation" is clear enough, although
you could refer to it by the ever-present Tandy catalog number, either
a 25-nnnn or 26-nnnn number.
FYI, the first two digit number of a Tandy part number is really a
three digit number. Tandy deletes trailing zeros on the left of
the hypen, so 260-1234 becomes 26-1234. It saves ink or something.
[0] CDROM Single speed
That is a LMS205 CD-ROM drive with a LMS/Philips serial interface.
With the push-me-pull-you CD_ROM tray (non-motorized). Has to be a
Sensation I. The drive runs at 150Ksec and likes to scratch CDs. Open
and close the tray very carefully. Don't lose the drivers and don't
think too hard about upgrading the CD-ROM drive. It can be done, but it
is messy.
[0] Onboard Sound unknown make
Tandys own chip, which emulates Adlib-Gold. Tell games that you
have "Adlib-Gold" and they will be happy. Tandy was hacked-off at
Creative that week and decided to copy somebody else. Days after
the silicon was committed, Adlib went bankrupt. Tandy then discovered
how many games used the variable speed playback of a SoundBlaster, and
Adlib only supported the three Microsoft rates 5.5, 11 and 22KHz.
Tandy had a driver written to run under Windows that intercepted the
SoundBlaster operations and used "best fit" solutions to get sound out
of the Adlib system. So some things play a bit faster or slower than
they should.
A very annoying feature is that you can't disable this sound hardware,
not without a soldering iron, and of course it conflicts with a real
SoundBlaster card.
[0] Modem 9600 Fax/Modem as daughterboard
Actually that is a 2400 Data, 9600 Send-ONLY FAX modem.
You can remove it, but the COM port will remain tied-up.
The original Sensation ended-up being a great example of how to build
a highly integrated computer that could not be upgraded, and almost
everything on it was obsolete even before the machine hit the stores.
On the other hand, it caused the next years Sensation to be very upgradable.
Everything on the main logic board can be relocated or disabled, including
the video. A real SoundBlaster 16 card was used, and a nice double-speed
CD-ROM drive plugs into the sound card. The modem is a 2400 data,
9600 send/receive FAX, with tons of voice features, including Caller ID.
If you wanted to upgrade these things, unplug the cards and put in new
ones. No fuss.
The Sensation II was the last Tandy-designed computer. Tandy was sold
before any were built, but AST manufactured them for a year for Tandy.
Frank Durda IV <uhc...@nemesis.lonestar.org>|"I did not work on the
or uhclem%nem...@fw.ast.com (Fastest Route)| Sensation I - I had a bigger
...letni!rwsys!nemesis!uhclem | disaster to work on...
...decvax!fw.ast.com!nemesis!uhclem | the VIS System!"
M. Crane
whenever i see a wall full of inexpensive hardware--alligator clips,
soldering guns, those mini-propane torches, stuff like that.
Mark Crane
Psu0...@odin.cc.pdx.edu
Portland State University
brianl...@gmail.com
I just thought i'd check with you to see if you or anyone you know still had the original floppy disk that came with the Sensation model 1. I still have mine (purchased new) from when i was 12 years old and i still have everything that came with it except for the floppy disk, as mine was corrupted. The floppy disk, being the one you're supposed to use to recover the system in the event it was necessary. Back in 1994 i had a need to and quickly found out the floppy disk was corrupt so i ended up having to send my Sensation back to Tandy and have them reload the hard drive for me and send it back. I unfortunately didn't ask them to create me a new floppy disk. I just saw this very old e-mail thread and thought i'd ask if you held on to anything from way back then.
I have the Data disc, System disc, all the books, etc... but i tossed that corrupted floppy disk and wanted it for nostalgia purposes :)
Thanks (and sorry to revive something so old).
Brian