💾 Archived View for uscoffings.net › retro-computing › systems › Tandy › t › jan95tan.txt captured on 2023-01-29 at 05:39:21.
⬅️ Previous capture (2022-06-04)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
23392 1JAN95-0354 T1000/1200/3000
RE: HD without boot sector (Re: Msg 23391)
From: WALTBOYD To: WESF
On 31-DEC 22:02 WESF said to ALL
> I have a Tandy 3000HD with internal 40 meg hard drive. A while ba to purchase a
Phoenix C&T BIOS and an AMI C&T BIOS. Both machines now have full access to
UMB'S. These C&T BIOS's are 256K and turn my 3000's into great AT's. I do not
know if there is any real difference between the 3000NL and the 3000HD.
Since its been a couple of years, I do not know the current price for these
BIOS replacements, but I would recommend checking out companies OTHER THAN
TANDY before you buy. Several of these firms advertise in PC Magazine and
Computer Shhopper. If the Tan
dy BIOS replacement will activate the C&T Neat Chip Set then I would go for it.
$15.00 is a very good price. If it will not activate the C&T Neat Chip Set
then $69.00 is a much better price.
Bye the way, I have been able to install IDE drives in both of these machines
WITH NO PROBLEMS. One I even had an RLL controller and an IDE operating
simultaneously. Windows did not like the arrangement and worked VERY slowly -
but it did work.
Good luck in your search.
-*-
23394 1JAN95-0826 T1000/1200/3000
RE: IDE hard drive and 3000HD (Re: Msg 23343)
From: TAHITI To: WESF
After the BIOS upgrades I mentioned in message 23393, one of my 3000's is
running a 540 Western Digital and the other a 420 Connor. NO PROBLEMS.
-*-
23395 1JAN95-0842 T1000/1200/3000
RE: upgrade Tandy 1000 TX (Re: Msg 23350)
From: TAHITI To: HRHJR (NR)
Though I have accumulated several machines over the years I am typing this on a
1000SX with a 286 accelerator card (286 Express - Company now defunct). The TX
is the same machine but with a 286 processor built in. I have tried several
different hard driv
es in this machine using NON TANDY CONTROLLER CARDS and found them all to work.
1. A 65MG Mitsubishi with a DTC RLL XT controller card worked fine. I had
full access to the 65MG's even though some people said I would not.
2. A 540MG Western Digital using a Acculogic IDE XT controller.
3. A 30MG Seagate MFM using a DTC MFM XT controller card.
Radio Shack people will allways tell you you must buy TANDY. Not true.
By the way, I have been able to creat 48K of UMB's on this machine using the
Micro Mainframe Board and QRAM. PCM could not do it, but I have tried the same
process on one other SX and a TX and it worked in both cases. If anyone is
interested just let me
know.
-*-
23396 1JAN95-0846 T1000/1200/3000
RE: upgrade Tandy 1000 TX (Re: Msg 23355)
From: TAHITI To: WESF
There is a program which came with my 3000 setup disks called SPEEDNL. When
you type in SPEEDNL 10,10 this program increases the bus speed to 10MHz. Works
in my machines.
-*-
23397 1JAN95-0931 T1000/1200/3000
RE: IDE hard drive and 3000HD (Re: Msg 23371)
From: TAHITI To: WESF
My experience indicates that the "Tandy tech support guy" does not know what
he is talking about.
-*-
23398 1JAN95-1218 General Information
From: HOWTAN To: ALL
Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 1995!
Howard Tanger
-*-
23399 1JAN95-2203 T1000/1200/3000
RE: HD without boot sector (Re: Msg 23392)
From: WESF To: WALTBOYD
I agree it is probably just a sign of old age. I have used Microsoft's
SCANDISK that came with DOS 6.2, but it doesn't show up anything. The only
time it has crashed was when I was inside it working on something, only
minor stuff like putting in another card. I guess it's just ready to die!
Wesley
-*-
23400 1JAN95-2204 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tandy 3000hd (Re: Msg 23393)
From: WESF To: TAHITI
Thanks. I think I will probably just get a job and a new computer though.
This one has about had it, and is tooo slow.
Wesley
-*-
23401 1JAN95-2205 T1000/1200/3000
RE: IDE hard drive and 3000HD (Re: Msg 23394)
From: WESF To: TAHITI
That's what I figured. The BIOS was just plain tooooooo old.
Wesley
-*-
23402 1JAN95-2207 T1000/1200/3000
RE: IDE hard drive and 3000HD (Re: Msg 23397)
From: WESF To: TAHITI
After calling Tandy's 800 number for tech support, I have found they are
usually a good help. Now as for the guys in my local store...I think they
should change their slogan to something other than "You've got questions,
we've got answers, so and so speaking", because they rarely have the answer
to my tough computer questions...
Wesley
-*-
23403 2JAN95-1544 General Information
486/25mz upgrade
From: MORRIS234 To: ALL
hello all, please pardon my ignorance, I would like to upgrade my "Tandy
Sensation" 486sx 25mz with an overdrive and maybe more
Ram ,but I doen't know what the correct chip names to even shop for them.
Thanks Robert
-*-
23404 3JAN95-2151 General Information
RE: 486/25mz upgrade (Re: Msg 23403)
From: WESF To: MORRIS234
You would be looking for a 486 sx/25 overdrive processor, and I'm not sure
where you would need to look for one of those...your computer probably
uses SIMM chips for memory, and there again, I don't know what speed, etc.
the sensation uses...
Wesley
-*-
23405 4JAN95-2139 T1000/1200/3000
hd crash
From: WESF To: ALL
Would moving or jarring a hard drive without the heads parked cause it to lose
its boot sector and have to be reformatted?
Wesley
-*-
23406 6JAN95-1911 T1000/1200/3000
RE: hd crash (Re: Msg 23405)
From: STANB To: WESF
Hi Wesley,
I guess it _could_ happen. However, I've been led to believe that hard
drives these days are self-parking. Of course, if it's an older hard
drive then YMMV. :-)
Stan
-*-
23407 6JAN95-2048 T1000/1200/3000
RE: IDE hard drive and 3000HD (Re: Msg 23402)
From: LLASHER To: WESF
Can you give that number?
I need toa contact them.
-*-
23408 6JAN95-2213 T1000/1200/3000
RE: hd crash (Re: Msg 23406)
From: WESF To: STANB
That's what I was wondering (the drive is 9 years old...). Maybe it isn't
ready to die after all ;-)
Wesley
-*-
23409 6JAN95-2214 T1000/1200/3000
RE: IDE hard drive and 3000HD (Re: Msg 23407)
From: WESF To: LLASHER
The number for what?
Wesley
-*-
23411 7JAN95-2055 General Information
RE: tandy 4000lx math co problem (Re: Msg 23384)
From: TVDOG To: GTABERWB8LUJ (NR)
I can't answer specific questions about the 4000LX, but a 33 or 40
MHz 387 will work fine at 20 MHz. The speed rating is a maximum
determined by testing after the parts were manufactured.
tvdog
-*-
23412 7JAN95-2125 T1000/1200/3000
RE: My color has gone green!!! (Re: Msg 23389)
From: TVDOG To: CHAZ37 (NR)
Regarding the monitor going green, it's likely a problem with either
the monitor or the monitor cable. Check the monitor cable for continuity,
then borrow a CGA monitor from someone and see if the problem persists.
If the monitor is faulty, you shouldn't try to repair it yourself unless
you're a trained technician; a monitor can hold a deadly electric charge
(up to 35,000 volts) for up to a week after it's unplugged. There are
used CGA monitors around for $50 or less.
I can't see that DOS 6.2 would be causing the problem. It also seems
unlikely that DeskMate would cause it. DeskMate *does* store the first
6 colors (4 on the TX) in EEPROM, however; play around with the colors\
in DeskMate Setup.
I'm assuming you still use the built-in video.
Regarding the 4 DIP switches, there are two types of TX motherboards,
the original and the Cleburn model. Both have a set of 4 DIP switches.
The Cleburn also has a second set of 2 DIP switches near the keyboard
jack. Here are the DIP switch settings for the original TX motherboard:
1 OFF composite mono monitor
ON CGA monitor (default)
2 OFF hard drive uses IRQ 5, video uses IRQ 2 (IBM standard)
ON hard drive uses IRQ 2, video uses IRQ 5 (default)
3 OFF floppy controller IRQ 6 disabled
ON floppy controller IRQ 6 enabled
4 OFF printer port IRQ 7 disabled
ON printer port IRQ 7 enabled (default)
(3 is ON by default.) Here are the DIP switch settings for the main
block of 4 switches on the Cleburn motherboard:
1 OFF composite mono monitor
ON CGA monitor (default)
2 OFF on-board IRQ 5 disabled
ON on-board IRQ 5 enabled (default)
3 OFF on-board IRQ 6 disabled
ON on-board IRQ 6 enabled (default)
4 OFF on-board IRQ 7 disabled
ON on-board IRQ 7 enabled (default)
Jeff (tvdog)
-*-
23413 7JAN95-2133 T1000/1200/3000
RE: upgrade Tandy 1000 TX (Re: Msg 23395)
From: TVDOG To: TAHITI
Could you mail or post the instructions for creating 48k of upper memory
blocks on the Micro Mainframe card? I have a 1000TL with that EMS card
and would be interested in how that is done. Question: do you lose
access to expanded memory when you do this?
Thanks in advance.
Jeff (tvdog)
-*-
23414 8JAN95-1914 T1000/1200/3000
RE: upgrade Tandy 1000 TX (Re: Msg 23413)
From: TAHITI To: TVDOG
Just uploded text file today with all the information. Should be posted soon.
Keywords OTHER, TANDY. File name MIC_UMB.TXT. Hope it works on your machine.
-*-
23415 11JAN95-0209 T1000/1200/3000
RE: upgrade Tandy 1000 TX (Re: Msg 23414)
From: TVDOG To: TAHITI
Got MIC_UMB.TXT. Thanks.
Jeff
-*-
23416 11JAN95-1949 T1000/1200/3000
Tandy 1000 EX
From: SZIEMBA To: ALL
Anybody know if there is a way to add a high density floppy disk drive
to a Tandy 1000 EX? Hate to get rid of it as it has served me well and I don't
care if it can't run windowy won't be able to use
100% of the drive. Important things are to match # of heads and sectors/track.
then look for a drive type that has close but NOT over the # tracks actually
on the disk. Good Luck.
Greg Lentz(GLENTZ)
-*-
23419 13JAN95-0037 General Information
RE: pc (Re: Msg 23387)
From: GLENTZ To: SERAPIONS (NR)
Don't have any suggestions for DOS 6.22 or Windows. I suggest the bookstore
and just look through some of the computer reference books to see what fits
your needs.
Greg Lentz(GLENTZ)
-*-
23420 13JAN95-0050 T1000/1200/3000
RE: upgrade Tandy 1000 TX (Re: Msg 23395)
From: GLENTZ To: TAHITI
I also have used third party HD controllers with no problem. In fact I have
a Seagate RLL XT controller running the same 65MB Mitsubishi as well as an old
SEagate 30MB MFM that was pushed out to 43MB because of the differences in RLL
and MFM technology. I tried an Acculogic Rampat+ Memory card but it wouldn't
because of some kind of weird tandy bus timing. INtel ABove Bd ISA and Intel
Matched Memory classic board work fine. I keep thinking about switching to
IDE and the Acculogic was one of only a few choices but I was worried it
wouldn't work. Now I know it does. By the way the Intel ABove Bd gives me
96K of free UMB's after using 16K for the EMS driver. QRAM has access to all
of it as well as DOS 5.0 Loadhigh and devicehigh.
Greg Lentz(GLENTZ)
-*-
23421 13JAN95-0058 T1000/1200/3000
RE: Tandy 1000 EX (Re: Msg 23416)
From: GLENTZ To: SZIEMBA
you should be able to do it. Try DCS industries in AThens OH or MIcro systems.
Both advertise in PCM but PCM hasn't been published in awhile. Try some
previous messages. I remeber somebody recently posting the #'s. I think it was
in
late NOvember. Person was STANB.
Greg Lentz(GLENTZ)
-*-
23422 13JAN95-0524 T1000/1200/3000
RE: Tandy 1000 EX (Re: Msg 23421)
From: TVDOG To: ALL
Here are the numbers for Tandy upgrade parts:
PC Enterprises
2400 Belmar Blvd. Bldg. B-16
Belmar, N.J. 07719
sales (800) 922-7257
tech (908) 280-0025
DCS Industries
5265 Hebbardsville Road
Athens, Oh. 45701
sales (800) 537-3539
tech (800) 637-3402
Micro Systems
1524 County Line Road
York Springs, Pa. 17372
sales (800) 548-5182
tech (717) 528-8493
Tandy Corporation:
Tandy Computer Support Services
400 Atrium ONe Tandy Center
Fort Worth, Tx. 76102
ph. (817) 878-6875
Tandy Software Exchange
(817) 347-7960
Tandy Software Replacement
(800) 451-9409
Tandy Catalog Orders
(800) THE-SHACK
(they will refer you to other places you need to reach)
Jeff (tvdog)
-*-
23423 13JAN95-2050 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tandy 3000hd hard drive type (Re: Msg 23418)
From: WESF To: GLENTZ
I've heard some bad things about disk manager, and apparently, conner doesn't
even like what it ships with its products...the reason the hard drive wouldn
not work with my computer is that the BIOS is old enough that it does not
support IDE drives...
Wesley
-*-
23424 13JAN95-2051 T1000/1200/3000
RE: upgrade Tandy 1000 TX (Re: Msg 23420)
From: WESF To: GLENTZ
Any idea why a Seagate ST-251 hard drive would not work in my 3000HD even
though it has an MFM interface?
Wesley
-*-
23425 14JAN95-0051 T1000/1200/3000
RE: Tandy 1000 EX (Re: Msg 23421)
From: SZIEMBA To: GLENTZ
Thanks for the reply. I'll try it. Steve
-*-
23426 15JAN95-0624 Printers and Peripherals
DMP 207 printer
From: JOHNEMLER To: ALL
I have a client with a DMP 207 dot-matrix printer that won't print in color.
Does anyone here have any suggestions on how I can fix the problem?? I
have tried going in and loading several different drivers for printers
that this model will emulate, and have gone thru all the various settings,
to no avail. This has me quite frustrated, and that is not a normal condition
for me!!! :)
Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated.
-*-
23427 15JAN95-2153 Printers and Peripherals
RE: DMP 207 printer (Re: Msg 23426)
From: WESF To: JOHNEMLER
Is there possible some DIP switch that has to be set? If you can't figure it
out, call 1-800-the-shack. If you go through enough stupid menus "press 1 for
whatever, 2 for whatever, etc" then you can get to tech support and hang on the
line for a half hour, but when you get through, they are generally good help.
Wesley
-*-
23428 16JAN95-0011 Printers and Peripherals
RE: DMP 207 printer (Re: Msg 23427)
From: JOHNEMLER To: WESF
thanks
-*-
23429 17JAN95-0444 General Information
RE: Radio Shack Complaints (Re: Msg 23127)
From: EXIBAR01 To: TKLIMCHAK (NR)
Well, lesse where should I start? :)
I have had many bad run-ins with the local radio Shacks around here (please
note the plural!)
I have yet to find a Radio Shack that gives any kind of good service.
I have found that if you go in there to get a component, or an item for
yourputer
you are best to NOT talk to any of the salespeople there. Usually they won't
have
a clue.
One time sticks out in my mind most:
I was looking for a simple centronics 34 pin ribbon connector, at the
last
resort, I called radio shack. The manager picked up the phone, I'll call him
"MOE"
Well, I asked Moe what I was looking for, and he said "HUH? A centrical
connector? How many pins?" I said" No, a Centronics 34 pin ribbon connector.
The type that is used for printers."
He paused, asked me to hold. When he came back to the phone he said that he
had a couple connectors and that I would have to go down and see if they have
the one
I need. Then he asked me "Is this for a Tandy?" (Now I was like "huh? what's
it matter???) But, I told him that is was not for a Tandy, then he said, now
get this, "OH, well these connectors will not work on anything other than a
Tandy!")
Can you imagine that? A printer connector that will only work on a Tandy!
Now I am not saying that there are people in Radio Shack stores out there
that know what they are talking about, After reading a few messages here I
KNOW there are stores out there that are a genuine help to people. But, the
person I spoke to was the manager, and I have had a few dealings with him in the
past as well...
Oh well, I wish you luck with your problem with radio shack, you are not
alone...
Just my two cents worth :)
Exibar01
-*-
23430 18JAN95-1958 General Information
RE: Radio Shack Complaints (Re: Msg 23429)
From: WESF To: EXIBAR01
Actually, believe it or not, there is a printer cable that will work ONLY with
a Tandy. Some of the older computers (1000SL is what I had), you have t432 22JAN95-0104 T1000/1200/3000
tl2 hard disk upgrade
From: KEVINGIBSON To: ALL
My brother owns a Tandy 1000 Tl/2. He recently asked me to assist
him in finding a larger hard drive for his machine. I have had some
experince working on 100% compatibles. The problem is I know almost nothing
about Tandy machines. I already suggested buying a new machine, but he wants
to keep his TL/2 a couple more years. I need to know what kind of hard
drives will work on this machine. From reading old messages in the Forum it
appears that not just any hard drive will work. I believe the Tandy TL/2
uses the XT style IDE drives -- but I'm not sure if they are the standard
XT-IDE drives or Tandy's own special version. He doesn't want to spend much
money on this old machine, so the budget is tight on this upgrade. He
is currently running a 20 Meg drive. I suggested going to an 80 meg drive,
but I do not know what the Tandy BIOS supports. 40 Megs may be enough if the
BIOS does not support 80 megs. Another issue is that he is running DOS 3.?
which doesn't support large hard drives -- I do not know how to handle this
problem on the Tandy -- on 100% compatibles partitioning the drive is the
answer -- I'm not sure if the Tandy DOS supports this. To keep the cost and
complexity of this upgrade low, we would like to find a drive that is
compatible with the motherboard controller. -- One last note, I am assisting
him in the installation by phone so I need to keep the procedure as simple
as possible. I would appreciate any advice on how to perform this upgrade!!
-*-
23433 22JAN95-1005 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tl2 hard disk upgrade (Re: Msg 23432)
From: RSALOMON To: KEVINGIBSON
You might contact DCS Industries, 1 800 537-3539. They have hard drives for
Tandy.
-*-
23434 22JAN95-2151 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tl2 hard disk upgrade (Re: Msg 23433)
From: KEVINGIBSON To: ALL
I've seen DCS industries ad in Computer shopper. I was shocked at the prices
that they were charging for hard drives. A 42 meg smart drive goes for $219!
Another ad from a different company on the same page has a 364 meg drive for
$202 (not Tandy of course).
I hope there is a more reasonable source of hard drives. I'm sure that my
brother will not be willing to pay that much for a hard drive for this old
machine. I'm wondering if a generic xt-compatible hard card might work in
the tl/2 -- has anyone tried one of these?? Also -- if anyone has a used
drive comatible with the tl/2 and is willing to let it go ultra-cheap ---
please leave me e-mail.
Thanks,
Kevin Gibson
-*-
23435 23JAN95-1521 T1000/1200/3000
Labels
From: CRYAN To: ALL
I am looking for a shareware program that can print labels on a Tandy 1000.
IS there one available?
Christopher.
-*-
23436 24JAN95-2201 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tl2 hard disk upgrade (Re: Msg 23432)
From: WESF To: KEVINGIBSON
One drive that seems to me was an 8-bit xt-type was the Seagate ST-351 A/X or
something like that. Can's say for sure.
Try calling Tandy at 1-800-the-shack, and go to the technical support thing
through the menus, they should be able to tell you what you need to know.
Wesley
-*-
23437 26JAN95-1827 General Information
Radio Shack - JUNK
From: 1008OM To: ALL
Having worked at Radio Shack for a couple of years and owning a couple of
Tandy computers myself I can positively say that Radio Shack deals in junk.
Not only has the return rate for one problem or another been very high if
not the highest in the industry but their prices are indeed the highest when
compared ratiowise to other brands and that includes IBM. People find it easy
to get a Radio Shack brand because of their credit but in the final analysis
they end up paying much more. Computers don't go awok after 90 days, 6 months
or even a year monitor included. Now as far as my experience with the Radio
Shack
models I have... 3 times in the repair shop in a year and a half. Monitor out
of order after ayear and a half. If my experience along with those that have
bought their computers back for one problem or another doesn't justify my
comments then I'm sorry for you.
By the way... full time I work at a place for 20 years where IBM's are used
and in 10 years of usage only one had major problems out of 25 computers. My
point is proved.
-*-
23438 26JAN95-2254 General Information
RE: Radio Shack - JUNK (Re: Msg 23437)
From: POGI To: 1008OM
My Tandy 1000 has been going since May of 1989 no problems. I even have the
original hard disk.
-*-
23439 26JAN95-2332 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tandy 3000hd hard drive type (Re: Msg 23423)
From: GLENTZ To: WESF
Sorry to hear about your bios and IDE drives not getting along
Greg Lentz(GLENTZ)
-*-
23440 26JAN95-2334 T1000/1200/3000
RE: upgrade Tandy 1000 TX (Re: Msg 23424)
From: GLENTZ To: WESF
Need more info on what actually happens? I have some old MFM drives and
various controllers. Some are not compatible.
Greg Lentz(GLENTZ)
-*-
23441 27JAN95-0218 General Information
RE: Radio Shack - JUNK (Re: Msg 23437)
From: SEAFROMAN To: 1008OM
Geez...it sounds like you and Radio Shack parted on bad terms. It seems to
me that the Tandy's couldn't have been too bad or you wouldn't have
purchased two of them. Myself, I own three Tandys and every one of them is
still operational. I have a Model IV, 1000 TX and a 2100. I also have two
DMP printers that still work. As far as prices go, I've checked around in
the past and Tandys were usually one of the lower priced PCs available.
True, some of their add ons are highly priced but there are enough third
party dealers around to find what you need at a resonable price. As for
feeling sorry for anyone, you should feel sorry for yourself that you parted
Radio Shack on such bad terms that you feel a need to come on this forum and
bad mouth Tandy and don't even have enough backbone to put your name after
the post.
Yo! Here's a quarter!
Jeff Seawell
Lynchburg, Va
seafroman@delphi.com
-*-
23442 27JAN95-1040 General Information
RE: Radio Shack - JUNK (Re: Msg 23437)
From: RSALOMON To: 1008OM
I really don't think your point is proved, unless your point is that you are
unhappy with Radio Shack. Radio Shack charges too much for computer add-ons
but outside of that I don't see any problem with them.
I have a 2500 that has been going fine for about three years and before that
I had a TL-2 that I had no problems with and which I gave to someone and it
is still being used.
Dick
-*-
23443 27JAN95-2144 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tandy 3000hd hard drive type (Re: Msg 23439)
From: WESF To: GLENTZ
Yeah, tell me about it. If an IDE hard drive won't work, I'm sure an IDE
CD-ROM won't work either...question: do you have to set up a proper drive
type for a SCSI drive?
Wesley
-*-
23444 27JAN95-2146 T1000/1200/3000
RE: upgrade Tandy 1000 TX (Re: Msg 23440)
From: WESF To: GLENTZ
Well, not sure what you meant, but when I was trying to get a new MFM drive
to work, it would not. My controller is a WD-1003 WA2 (maybe WA3 or wa5), not
sure. Sure it's a WD-1003. The hard drive I was trying to get to work was a
Seagate ST-251. Even tried another controller, and it still wouldn't work!
Wesley
-*-
23445 28JAN95-1520 General Information
RE: Radio Shack - JUNK (Re: Msg 23437)
From: KEVINGIBSON To: 1008OM
In all the years when I had a Tandy COCO III, I never had trouble with it.
My brother has never had trouble with his TL/2 either. I must say that Tandy
does not express confidence its own products, however. That 90-day warranty
just does not measure up to the warranties offered by other electronics
companies. 1 year is the minumum warranty in my opinion. 2-years is my
preference. Hewlett Packard warrants its printers for 3 years!
Unfortunately, I have had trouble with one Radio Shack product --
a portable CD player. Less than 1 year after I purchased the player, it started
skipping. I could put the same CD player into an OLDER CD player and it would
not skip. The trouble was not limited to a particular CD either. I took the
player to RS and shelled out the $50 fee to have it fixed - they said it was out
of alignment. (--no, I did not drop it!) I thought that this was the last
problem I would have with it ---- WRONG!!! Shortly after the service warranty
ran out, the player started skipping again. I wrote a letter of complaint and
enclosed a recording of the skipping and sent it to the president of Tandy.
After it went through upper management, the manager in charge of consumer
service offered to fix the CD player free of charge. So one would think that
this story has a happy ending -- right? -- WRONG!!!~!!!! Less than three
months after I received the player, it began doing the same thing again. I
haven't bothered to talk to Tandy again. I did find a way to stop the skipping
-- by moving the read head all the way to the end of the track -- so at least
I can use the CD player. I will not buy another CD player from RS for this
reason. This may be an isolated occurence, but there is still no excuse for
it. On the last service call, RS should have REPLACED it instead of repairing
it. Any device that has a history of trouble should be considered a lemon and
discarded by the service people.
I also mentioned the inadequate warranty period in the complaint, but I have
yet to see longer warranties at Radio Shack. I suppose any big company will
have a few problems such as this one, and I do NOT say that Radio Shack sells
junk -- but I do think that they do not express enough confidence in their
products through their warranties.
-*-
23446 28JAN95-1530 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tl2 hard disk upgrade (Re: Msg 23436)
From: KEVINGIBSON To: WESF
Thanks for the number. According to a book of mine, there are three
Seagate drives which are similar to that number. The ST351a, ST351a/x, and
the ST351x. All three are 42 MB drives with identical physical parameters.
I must assume that they are MFM drives -- are they hard cards or must one buy
a separate controller?
Thanks again,
Kevin Gibson
-*-
23447 28JAN95-1614 General Information
Sensation answering machine problem
From: DAN25 To: ALL
I have a Tandy Sensation.It came with a program to answer the phone.It did
what it was supposed to do until I had to have a faster modem.I installed
a USR Sportster 14.4.I had problems with the two modems trying to work at the
same time time I guess.What I know about computers you could put in a thimblnyone,rack your brain and try to find me an answer.You
will never know how much it will be appreciated.Thank you for your time in
advance. Sincerely,
DAN25
P.S.I guess it goes without saying that the new modem works fine or else you
wouldn't be reading this.Thanks again for any help you might be able to give
me.
-*-
23448 28JAN95-2208 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tl2 hard disk upgrade (Re: Msg 23446)
From: WESF To: KEVINGIBSON
I am now lost as to what we were talking about...anyhow, the drives you
mentioned, as far as I can tell are IDE drives and not MFM drives. The
ST-251 (not 351) that is a MFM that I was trying to get to work with my
computer and would not...As for the 351 series drives you were talking about,
you have to have an IDE controller card in order to get them to work with your
ssystem. You can pick them up for $20 or less...
Wesley
-*-
23449 28JAN95-2209 General Information
RE: Sensation answering machine problem (Re: Msg 23447)
From: WESF To: DAN25
Ok, if you can give me the following info, I can almost guarantee you that I
can help. What com port is the original modem on? What com port is the new
modem on? What is the built-in com port (what #)?
With that info, I should be able to help (no guarantee though...)
Wesley
-*-
23450 29JAN95-0025 General Information
RE: Radio Shack Complaints (Re: Msg 23430)
From: EXIBAR01 To: WESF
Yes, I agree, the local Wal-Mart would have a better price for a
printer cable. But, I was looking for a 50 pin ribbon connector.
I am sure he had a printer cable in his hand (standard 34 pin DB) and thought
it would only work on a Tandy.
Oh well....
As far as that printer cable on the 1000sl... Leave it to Radio Shack to
make a non-standard printer connector! :-)
Exibar01
-*-
23451 29JAN95-1900 General Information
RE: Sensation answering machine problem (Re: Msg 23449)
From: DAN25 To: WESF
The original modem is on COM2.The new modem is on COM1.I believe the built in
com port is COM2.I set it up with the disk that came with the modem that
checkedout the system and told me which com port to use.I hope this helps.Also
why can't I re-enable the built in serial port in the system setup? Thank you
for your
time.
DAN25
-*-
23452 29JAN95-2101 General Information
RE: Radio Shack Complaints (Re: Msg 23450)
From: WESF To: EXIBAR01
Yep. When that special printer cable went bad, I just put in a second
(standard) printer card so I wouldn't have to put out $30 for another special
cable!
Wesley
-*-
23453 29JAN95-2103 General Information
RE: Sensation answering machine problem (Re: Msg 23451)
From: WESF To: DAN25
Hmmm...sounds like a big mess. Well, start out this way. Set the original
modem on COM2, the new one on COM3, and then re-enable the serial port in the
system setup. If that won't work, set up the original as COM1 and see if you
can re-enable the on board port. Sounds like your problem is in the COM port
settings and having conflicts. You can only set one device per COM port.
Let me know if that works.
Wesley
-*-
23454 30JAN95-2045 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tl2 hard disk upgrade (Re: Msg 23448)
From: KEVINGIBSON To: WESF
I was looking for either an IDE drive or a hard card for this system. I was
hoping to find an 80 meg drive compatible with the motherboard controller --
something which may not be possible. Although the price for adding the IDE
controller for the ST-351 isn't bad. If I do add an IDE controller, the mother
board controller will need to be disabled. I hope there are jumpers to do that.
If I disable the motherboard hard drive controller, does it also disable the
motherboard floppy drive controller?? Will just any 8-bit IDE card work on the
TL/2 or does Tandy require an unusual type? I'm helping my brother do this
upgrade over the phone and I must try to keep the procedure simple since he
has no experience upgrading machines. All of my experience has been with
AT compatibles (non-Tandy) and I am constantly worried about compatibility
problems with generic hardware and Tandy machines.
Thanks for the help.
Kevin Gibson
-*-
23455 30JAN95-2346 General Information
RE: Radio Shack - JUNK (Re: Msg 23438)
From: 1008OM To: POGI
The Tandy 1000EX/HX was probably the best around from Radio Shack. I am
not knocking it but the current ones 486+. When I had my HX I put a 90meg
hard drive and 2400 modem. The inserting of diskettes and out again was
a pain but I got used to it. It served it purpose back then. I did not work
at Radio Shack back then. I can only relate when I was working there and
the amount of returns was above average with the prices being one of the
highest in the industry. Parts or additions cost an arm and a leg... thank
you for your reply.
-*-
23456 31JAN95-0005 General Information
RE: Radio Shack - JUNK (Re: Msg 23441)
From: 1008OM To: SEAFROMAN
First of all I did not leave Radio Shack in bad terms at all. In fact I got
along very well with the Manager and everybody else who worked there. When
Christmas was over I knew that things would get slow so I made my money and got
out. You're probably a die hard Radio Shack man but you should take those rose
colored glasses off. The pay at Radio Shack f
I worked there for 2 years and saw what was going on.
The repair rate was very high for someone buying a new computer in relation to
other brands. THe add ons and cost an arm and a leg. One could get a better
deal with other brands.
At my place of work which is highly technical in computer aspects I took a
little survey of some 60 people and guess which computer was mentioned as the
worst one?....you guessed it...
Radio Shack caters to one who has no knowledge or little knowledge in
computers and the easy credit it offers makes one jump into buying one. You
can say all you want to about how great RS is but my experience says otherwise.
-*-
23457 31JAN95-0318 General Information
RE: Radio Shack - JUNK (Re: Msg 23456)
From: SEAFROMAN To: 1008OM
Mr. no-name (or is it a Miss/Mrs.?) -
What is it you are trying to say?
>>First of all I did not leave Radio Shack in bad terms at all.
Then why did you come on this forum carrying on like a disgruntled employee,
spewing forth inaccuracies and unsubstantiated arguments?
>>When Christmas was over I knew that things would get slow so I made my
>>money and got out.
>> .
>> .
>> .
>>I worked there for 2 years and saw what was going on.
The first statement sounds like you were seasonable help and the latter
statement sounds like you this was your regular job...which was it?
>>The repair rate was very high for someone buying a new computer in relation
>>to other brands.
What other brands does Radio Shack sell besides Tandy brands? This
appears to be an unjustified comparison. (Yes, I'm aware that currently
Radio Shack sells AST brand computers but the PCs they currently sell that
bare the Tandy emblem are also made by AST).
>>I took a little survey of some 60 people and guess which computer was
>>mentioned as the worst one?....you guessed it...
You mean to tell me that everyone in this whopping group of 60 all had owned
Tandy computers and have first hand knowledge of ownership?
>>Radio Shack caters to one who has no knowledge or little knowledge in
>>computers and the easy credit it offers makes one jump into buying one.
Would you like the name of a doctor to have your foot removed from your
mouth?
I'm begining to wonder if you've even seen inside the box of a Tandy because
if you had, you would realize very little of it is "Tandy", the bios chip is
from AMI or Pheonix, the hard drive might be from Seagate, the floppies
might be Teacs, the CPU is Intel, the OS is from Microsoft, just to name a
few of the componets. This just further illustrates my point that you're a
disgruntled Radio Shack employee because if Tandy computers were as bad as
you say they were, you would have to include all these other manufacturers
in your complaint. But because you don't, you're obvioulsy not as
knowledgeable as you claim to be and you're trying to mask your disgruntled
feelings towards Radio Shack by attempting to smear their PC product line.
Give it a rest!
Jeff Seawell
Lynchburg, Va
seafroman@delphi.com
-*-
23458 31JAN95-1934 T1000/1200/3000
RE: tl2 hard disk upgrade (Re: Msg 23454)
From: WESF To: KEVINGIBSON
Hmmm...I kinda doubt that you'll be able to disable the on-board hd controller.
I know on my old 1000SL there was no way to disable the floppy controller.
You'll probably need a controller with its own BIOS, but I don't know for sure.
Maybe someone else here can tell you more. If the "Smartdrive" is the same
thing as an "IDE" drive, then the same controller should work, but I don't know
for sure, as I have no experience with a tl/2, only its 8086 cousin, the sl.
Wesley
-*-
23459 31JAN95-2345 General Information
RE: Radio Shack - JUNK (Re: Msg 23455)
From: POGI To: 1008OM
> The Tandy 1000EX/HX was probably the best around from Radio Shack. I am
> not knocking it but the current ones 486+. When I had my HX I put a 90meg
> hard drive and 2400 modem. The inserting of diskettes and out again was
> a pain but I got used to it. It served it purpose back then. I did not work
> at Radio Shack back then. I can only relate when I was working there and
> the amount of returns was above average with the prices being one of the
> highest in the industry. Parts or additions cost an arm and a leg... thank
> you for your reply.
>
>
I had an HX too, good machine. The new Tandy's (486s) are not made by Tandy
any more I think they are ASTs. I can agree with you on the pricing, I thought
the price of my TX1000 was high, so I waited for one of there holiday sales,
then got it. Upgrades and parts are somewhat higher than other places. If
Tandy started making there own again I woud purchase from then again, high
prices and all, heres why. I presently have a 486 from a reputable local
vendor, I looked at the motherboard one day and found two very thin wires
bridging what appears to be a missing trace, and a capacitor scabbed on to the
under side of the board. You wouldn't find anything like that coming from a
Tandy factory.
Pogi@delphi.com
-*-