Data General One laptop 2502-A DG!/2T 512k + 256k laptop

start of notes about the DG one systems.  One is a 2 floppy 2T variant.  The other is the Pharaoh test system.   The Pharaoh system will be covered in another post

front view

case

battery box

owner's manual

boot order

drive table

--30--

Data General Eclipse front panel

This is a nice buy off of Ebay.  It happens to use the same plastic casting as the Nova 3 front panel bezel (of which there are three in stock).

It didn't say which model, but I'm suspecting S-120 or such unless corrected.

Also the seller nicely left the key with it, or didn't notice it, so there is a genuine (I'm guessing) DG key.  I had just gotten a replacement Ace for the Nova 1200s, so now have keys for all of the ones with key on / off.

Key is in this bag

Data General Nova 4 Manuals

Manuals which came with two Data General Nova 4 systems.  Drawings will require a B size scanner.

Data General Nova 3 CPU board

Nova 3 CPU board from Nova 3 system

overall view of the board

View of an grouping of 24 pin chips

 The 4 chips with 2 16 pin DIPs between them are 74S181 4 bit ALU's so this is a '181 processor for math

Grouping of pals on right side of board

right side edge card connector.  shows some more pals

Grouping of 8 pin dips on the left side, top of photo is left edge card

ECO tag on the bottom of the board

IC's between the 8 pin grouping mentioned on left side of board, and the ALU photo

Datum controller 4091 for Diablo 30 on Data General Nova (3)

The Datum controller in the DG Nova 3 was a Datum 4091 optioned for the Diablo 30 drive.

Looks like acquiring one of those, or an emulator may be in order to gen up a working system.

Option sticker

Part number 4091-NDC

Datum logo on component side etch

Clipping about the Datum controllers from Computer World

Bitsavers link to Datum catalog mentioning the controller subsystem.

Data General Nova 3

A nice small system Nova 3, 2 16K core boards, and basic I/O card.

Seller had powered it on to hear the fans run, maybe not a good thing, but will see.

Nova 3 System

Card cage, CPU bottom, 2 16K core, Basic I/O

I/O connections on back

Legend on back of system (unverifed for now, other than type of board)

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Basic I/O and two 16K boards, showing etch info

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Processor board

A link to a page for the Datum 4091 controller for the Diablo 30 in this system is here.

Nova 3 CPU board

Link to page for the Nova 3 CPU in the system is here

Nova 3 Front panel

Ebay purchase of a somewhat abused Nova 3 front panel.

It was harvested for most all of its light bulbs, and took a shot to 4 switches., of which 2 fell off.

The bezel is in good shape.  The selector switch knob is missing.

Here are links to some restoration / repair efforts by others.  Luckily there seem to have been a few.

Video of live one:   https://youtu.be/mjXLGLQJi6Y

foxdata.com restoreation page:  http://www.foxdata.com/blog/tag/nova-312/

This shot here pretty much matches mine:  http://www.foxdata.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/nova_3_console_lamp_driver_dg_113-7748.jpg

This is some sort of chip with Nova 3 in the name of the jpg
http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/still-image/Data_general/Data_general.Nova_3.102635449.lg.jpg

Eclipse uses same plastic, different sticker.
http://simh.trailing-edge.com/photos/eclipse-s130.jpg

Nova 4 and another Eclipse shared this style plastic
http://www.ithistory.org/sites/default/files/hardware/Nova4.jpg

http://www.ithistory.org/sites/default/files/hardware/EclipseS140.jpg

Our buddies at so much stuff have an STL file for switches:
http://svn.so-much-stuff.com/svn/trunk/3D/DataGeneral/Nova3Handle.stl
http://svn.so-much-stuff.com/svn/trunk/3D/DataGeneral/Nova3Handle.skp
http://svn.so-much-stuff.com/svn/trunk/3D/DataGeneral/Nova3Handle.jpg
   finally all their stl files, etc.
http://so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/cad/3d.php

Component Guide for DG parts referenced below courtesy of Vincent Slyngstad

015-000028-03_DG_Components_Guide_Oct75.pdf

End of panel, holes for selector and power switch.  P/N 002-004544

One of two indicators not removed

IC needs to be ID'ed.  The 7651 is probably the date code.  Need the manufacturer and what a 630 chip is.

The Fox restoration pages seem to have chips with the 3/4 circle log, and nothing wrong.  My board has all 7400 series, some DG components, and the ITT ceramic chips.

DG 040 Dual 4 input nand gate
DG 630 Quaduple 2 input Positive NAND Buffer W/Open Collector outputs.
DG 004 Triple 3 input NAND Gate

Probably roms, need to look ITT 9004-5D

Other remaining bulb

quick shot of panel from right end

Selector switch, and power switch