VOGONS


Toshiba T1800 386 Laptop

Topic actions

First post, by CarlHopkinsUK

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

So after a little absence from Vogons and having to sell all my retro pc stuff (thankfully all to other enthusiasts) - due to splitting from my long term partner and (ex) fiancee, and dealing with all the crap that brings with a house, banks, paperwork, and finding somewhere to live of course!

After getting settled down again i picked this little wonder up this week...

IMG_20180718_190751.jpg
Filename
IMG_20180718_190751.jpg
File size
215.47 KiB
Views
3728 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception
IMG_20180718_190808.jpg
Filename
IMG_20180718_190808.jpg
File size
237.91 KiB
Views
3728 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Toshiba T1800 Laptop from 1991 - 20mhz 386, no math co-pro, 2mb ram, 40mb hdd etc... and of course a monochrome STN display.

IMG_20180718_191203.jpg
Filename
IMG_20180718_191203.jpg
File size
254.48 KiB
Views
3728 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Unfortunately it does not boot and the in built BIOS suggests the HDD is dead - so a little tear down is in order.

IMG_20180718_184958.jpg
Filename
IMG_20180718_184958.jpg
File size
309.59 KiB
Views
3728 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

e0zer5-2.png

Reply 1 of 27, by CarlHopkinsUK

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Stripping down reveals a the largest 2.5" hdd i have ever seen...

IMG_20180718_185010.jpg
Filename
IMG_20180718_185010.jpg
File size
216.35 KiB
Views
3727 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Looks like normal IDE however, so my just drop a compact flash or something in here.

Whilst i was there i took a look at the built in 3.5" floppy drive, unfortunately it has a ribbon cable attachement...so seems a gotek is out of the question. Hopefully the drive will work with a clean up and service.

IMG_20180718_185328.jpg
Filename
IMG_20180718_185328.jpg
File size
267.16 KiB
Views
3727 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception
IMG_20180718_185346.jpg
Filename
IMG_20180718_185346.jpg
File size
226.96 KiB
Views
3727 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

e0zer5-2.png

Reply 2 of 27, by LHN91

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

I've got an almost identical looking, slightly newer unit, the T1910CS. 25Mhz 486, 4 MB of RAM, Colour STN screen. essentially the same chassis though.

Looking forward to your teardown and to seeing what you do with it!

Reply 3 of 27, by Deksor

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

I've got that laptop. The HDD is just stuck in some way. Disassemble it and move the platters ans it might come back to life ! (I've fixed 2 Conner HDDs if that kind that way and now they're perfectly fine 😀 ). I as also remember having to unscrew the heads and screw them back on attend least one offre them but i'm notre sure if that's also required

Trying to identify old hardware ? Visit The retro web - Project's thread The Retro Web project - a stason.org/TH99 alternative

Reply 5 of 27, by CarlHopkinsUK

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
Deksor wrote:

I've got that laptop. The HDD is just stuck in some way. Disassemble it and move the platters ans it might come back to life ! (I've fixed 2 Conner HDDs if that kind that way and now they're perfectly fine 😀 ). I as also remember having to unscrew the heads and screw them back on attend least one offre them but i'm notre sure if that's also required

Ah ok cool! Thanks for the tip, i will give that a try.

e0zer5-2.png

Reply 6 of 27, by Deksor

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Whoops I just noticed, sorry for some words being wrong, text correction ...

Trying to identify old hardware ? Visit The retro web - Project's thread The Retro Web project - a stason.org/TH99 alternative

Reply 7 of 27, by modbus

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
CarlHopkinsUK wrote:

Whilst i was there i took a look at the built in 3.5" floppy drive, unfortunately it has a ribbon cable attachement...so seems a gotek is out of the question. Hopefully the drive will work with a clean up and service.

It is possible to connect Gotek Floppy Emulator. I had a broken belt in Citizen W1D floppy drive in my Digital HiNote Ultra CT475 docking station, and I made an adapter from 26 pin floppy to 34 pin Gotek, put Gotek inside, and it worked well. Now my 486 laptop has USB port sticking from one side 😀

Reply 8 of 27, by CarlHopkinsUK

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
modbus wrote:

It is possible to connect Gotek Floppy Emulator. I had a broken belt in Citizen W1D floppy drive in my Digital HiNote Ultra CT475 docking station, and I made an adapter from 26 pin floppy to 34 pin Gotek, put Gotek inside, and it worked well. Now my 486 laptop has USB port sticking from one side 😀

Thats good to know that they work that way at least. I know there is a slimline version of the gotek available, so getting something to fit at least should be possible.

Likewise, the belt has failed in this as well, rest of the drive looks fine.

e0zer5-2.png

Reply 9 of 27, by CarlHopkinsUK

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
Deksor wrote:

I've got that laptop. The HDD is just stuck in some way. Disassemble it and move the platters ans it might come back to life ! (I've fixed 2 Conner HDDs if that kind that way and now they're perfectly fine 😀 ). I as also remember having to unscrew the heads and screw them back on attend least one offre them but i'm notre sure if that's also required

So i gave Deksor's suggestion a go...so apart again

IMG_20180719_222113.jpg
Filename
IMG_20180719_222113.jpg
File size
252.64 KiB
Views
3622 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

...and inside

IMG_20180719_222809.jpg
Filename
IMG_20180719_222809.jpg
File size
238.58 KiB
Views
3622 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Unfortunately, the heads move freely so its not this causing issues...

e0zer5-2.png

Reply 10 of 27, by Deksor

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

That's how it was for me as well, but when I reassembled it, it worked again. Try to power it on while it's open

Trying to identify old hardware ? Visit The retro web - Project's thread The Retro Web project - a stason.org/TH99 alternative

Reply 12 of 27, by bgonev

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Any news on this topic ? Yesterday I've got a T1800 in very good condition, but unfortunately the HDD (MK1122FC) is not working. I've opened it to check if the head is stuck, but it is not a case.. The drive is starting to spinning for 5 sec then it restart itself (restart the spin cycle...). From what I've read on the net - the bios checks for the model ID (or name) of the disk, and if this is true, then IDE2CF with ANYDRIVE is not an option.
Any suggestions are more than appreciated - I want this baby up and running 😀

Reply 13 of 27, by Deksor

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Maybe a BIOS mod could work ? It's not entirely impossible, but it's not easy either.

Trying to identify old hardware ? Visit The retro web - Project's thread The Retro Web project - a stason.org/TH99 alternative

Reply 14 of 27, by pentiumspeed

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Pick up any PATA drive even 100GB and put it in and set the capacity via BIOS setting like 500MB and use fdisk and format to see?

Cheers,

Great Northern aka Canada.

Reply 15 of 27, by bgonev

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
pentiumspeed wrote on 2022-06-13, 01:08:

Pick up any PATA drive even 100GB and put it in and set the capacity via BIOS setting like 500MB and use fdisk and format to see?

Cheers,

Not possible with stock BIOS as there is no option to choose for the HDD model type (querying and autodetecting the HDD model/type at the boot time).

Reply 17 of 27, by Deksor

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

If you can dump the bios I'll try to have a look
Maybe we can at least change the hardcoded geometry or disable some checks

Makes me wish there was a pcmcia version of XTIDE (if that's even possible)

Trying to identify old hardware ? Visit The retro web - Project's thread The Retro Web project - a stason.org/TH99 alternative

Reply 18 of 27, by TronadaSport

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Hello everyone, if it was possible to modify the bios of the T1850 as it is done in other machines (T3200sx,t2000) that would be fantastic. I have had good results in those other laptops to install a CF card. In my T1850, I have desoldered the motherboard bios and read it with willem eprom and it could be edited and re-recorded. If someone has knowledge I can supply the original file to try to study the modification.

You have to manage to rescue these machines!!

Attachments

  • 20220620_232608.jpg
    Filename
    20220620_232608.jpg
    File size
    1.61 MiB
    Views
    2403 views
    File comment
    t1850 bios
    File license
    Public domain

Reply 19 of 27, by Deksor

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Well I can have a quick look at that, but I'm not an expert so don't have too much hopes. However if you post it here, maybe someone else will eventually see it. I'm gonna try to put a different HDD geometry as it's probably the easiest. Do you know what is the current HDD's geometry though ? I need the Cylinders Heads Sectors values.

Trying to identify old hardware ? Visit The retro web - Project's thread The Retro Web project - a stason.org/TH99 alternative