First post, by StickByDos
I got a 286 based computer and I'm trying to revive it more as a challenge than for nostalgia since I didn't use 286 during the days and I already have 386 sx and dx.
It is a Leanord Elan Challenger 286
CPU and ram are on an isa card and there is a board which hold isa slots and power connector inside the case (6 16bit, 2 8bit)
AMD 286 12.5MHz (and it's warmer than 386)
8 simm slots (and I've upgraded to 8MB)
NEAT chipset
bios configuration needs a setup disk I don't have (and I can't find on internet), I'm trying to make a setup program throught reverse engineering, I found easily neat datasheet there
I have to find how are stored in CMOS
- HD params
- EMS config
- Memory timing / wait state
- Turbo switching (it's done throught software, there in no turbo switch on the case)
I've replaced cmos battery with 4 AA batteries
It has a mfm controler WD1006-MM2
3"1/2 HD and 5"1/4 HD fd
NEC D5126 MFM hd, I can use it because there was writen on a sticker to select type 18
a 8bit I/O card with 2 serial and 1 parallel ports, it was installed in a 16 bit slot, I moved it to a 8bit one.
It had a Video7 G2 GC205, I replaced with a Tseng ET4000AX 1MB
I installed a SoundBLaster 2 and a NIC SMC EtherEZ
I installed a scsi controler AHA1520B, it would be easier to upgrade hd but for the moment, I don't have a spare scsi hd
I use umb_drvr.sys for umb and I have 627664 bytes free
Since I haven't found yet how to setup ems throught the chipset, I use an AST Rampage286 with 2MB
I managed to connect it to my lan with ms-lan client using tcp-ip
Type win to loose the power of your computer !