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Osborne One FS

A

AntiqueSounds

New Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2008
Messages
6
Location
Mid Michigan
Gang,

I figured I'd place this here as a starter. I have an Osborne One; Serial #247379. I want it to go to a good home. I dusted it off last night and it powers-up fine. The floppy (A) tries to read the boot disk, but I get a boot error. I tried all of the disks I have and it just won't boot C/PM. I think it's because all of the floppies are now bad. But if it isn't, then it's the floppy drive(s) that are bad. The drive spins, but it does not read a boot sector. I thought about opening it up and fixing the drive(s), but I figured most of y'all would enjoy this beauty as-is, and would easily fix it just like I would if I kept it.

The only thing that was ever wrong with it prior to this was that the keyboard plug was messed-up when I got it. I fixed it with a kludgy pin fix. I'd recommend that the new owner only unplug the keyboard when absolutely necessary. The pin will eventually wear out.

I also have the manuals and floppies (that may be bad) of Fortran, PL/I, Dbase III.

I could take pix, but y'all know what this unit looks like. And it looks just like it should. Let me know if you want me to take pix.

I live between Flint and Saginaw, Michigan. I can ship this, but it might take me a few days to pack it and it will cost some $$ to ship cuz of the weight.

Make me an offer or trade for a working way to punch Hollerith cards.
__________________

See? I am a newbie. I posted this in the wrong place initially.
 
Maybe the boot drive just needs to be cleaned and oiled? I had two of my vintage machines show this symptom and a lube job was all that was needed.

I was quick to blame the floppies, but actually they were ok.

Tez
 
Booting from right-hand drive

Booting from right-hand drive

To get an Osborne 1a to boot from the right drive:

1. Power on unit.

2. At the 'Insert disk in Drive A and press RETURN' prompt, simultaneously press the following two keys:
SHIFT key (either one), and the COMMA key that is above the RETURN key

Unit will then attempt to boot from right drive (which is now A: - left drive is now B:)
 
modem7 said:
To get an Osborne 1a to boot from the right drive:

1. Power on unit.

2. At the 'Insert disk in Drive A and press RETURN' prompt, simultaneously press the following two keys:
SHIFT key (either one), and the COMMA key that is above the RETURN key

Unit will then attempt to boot from right drive (which is now A: - left drive is now B:)
Click to expand...

niiiice - I didn't know that!
Is that in all rom revisions? there is from like 1.2 all the way to 1.44 for the O1a...

Cool thing to know!


T
 
modem7 said:
To get an Osborne 1a to boot from the right drive:

1. Power on unit.

2. At the 'Insert disk in Drive A and press RETURN' prompt, simultaneously press the following two keys:
SHIFT key (either one), and the COMMA key that is above the RETURN key

Unit will then attempt to boot from right drive (which is now A: - left drive is now B:)
Click to expand...

Hooray! It works! Thanks! Now I just need to open it up and fix the drive A.
It's still for sale if anyone wants it. Cute little beast that it is! :cool:
 
I'll eBay the Osborne in a week if there are no takers.

I'll eBay the Osborne in a week if there are no takers.

I got no offers yet, so I'll eBay it in a week or so. I do want it to go to a good home. After all, y'all knew how to get it to boot from the B drive so you must love the babies! Shipping shouldn't be too bad. It's the machine, plus a box of software/manuals. Guessing about $50 to anywhere in US/Canada. Or pick-up in central-eastern lower Michigan.

Now I have C/PM, PL/I, DBase, Wordstar and everything! Thanks all! :)
 
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