Machine Hardware / Setup
========================

This entry is primarily to discuss the hardware and how I set
it up to work with MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1.

First Glance
------------
When I first got the computer, it wouldn't boot. It would POST,
then tell me there was no keyboard connected. OK, that tracks,
seeing as how I didn't have a keyboard that was compatible with
the PS/2 port. (just for reference, I now have 4 of those
keyboards, lol.) So I ordered a USB-to-PS/2 adapter off
eBay and hooked up one of my existing USB keyboards. Success!

The machine booted into Windows 95. I didn't poke around, as I
don't invade people's privacy like that. I just wanted to ensure
it booted. Once I got it to boot, I ran fdisk and nuked the
partitions.

Now on to inspecting the hardware:

* 24MB of SIMM RAM
* 2.5GB HDD
* 66 MHz 486DX2 CPU
* 2x CD-ROM
* 3.5" Floppy disk drive (of couse)
* Cirrus Logic CL-GD5428 video processor
* Netgear EA201 ISA ethernet card
* AcerMagic S20 sound card
* Some kind of modem (more on this in a bit)

The machine was largely as it was from the factory with the
exception of the RAM, HDD, and ethernet card. Other than that,
it's a pretty standard set up for what you would find in a machine
from the mid-90s. I remember it well!

Now onto this modem... So I'm having a difficult time determining
just what it is. It has a few Cirrus Logic ICs on it, and the
original stickers with FCC ID and such. Those various numbers are
as follows:

Model: CL-2496HF
FCC ID: K2TCL2496HVF
IC 1: Cirrus Logic CL-MD1024-110C-J
IC 2: Cirrus Logic MD1624-11PC-0

I've attempted to determine the model of this card but have had
little luck. Based on the sound card being "Acer" branded, this
modem could also be Acer branded and thus more difficult to
figure out. I've included pictures of the modem in images directory.

I'm using an original Acer 6311-K keyboard, a Mitsumi PS/2 mouse,
original Acer speakers, and a KDS RAD-5 1024x768 LCD monitor from
2002. I originally had an AcerView 55 CRT monitor with it, but it
had some issues with the signal header on the neckboard and when I
fixed that, I introduced another issue and it lost the green
channel. So for now, this KDS LCD monitor will do.

Upgrades
--------

The Netgear ethernet card this machine came with was not compatible
with Windows 3.1. I couldn't find any drivers for it. Most likely
the previous owner installed the card after installing Windows 95
and it worked fine. So I was then stuck with having to find a card
that was compatible with Windows 3.1.

eBay to the rescue once more! From a previous machine I owned, I
knew there were compatible 3COM cards out there. Just as I suspected
eBay had many ISA 3COM Etherlink III cards available for sale at
perfectly reasonable prices. So I purchased one, installed it, and
set up the drivers. This was the easy part of getting this thing
online... We will cover that in a separate section since I want to
dedicate this one strictly to the hardware and general setup.

I ended up finding out the CD-ROM drive was bad, too. It would only
open half way, and wouldn't close without pushing it closed. It
then would not read any discs or spin up. So I replaced it with an
original Mitsumi CRMC-FX001DE CD-ROM drive which worked perfectly.
I put the original one on a shelf pending repair when I have the
time, knowledge, and tools (hopefully!)

Other than those two pieces of hardware, everything else worked
right out of the box! In the next section, I will attempt to detail
how I installed MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 on a 2.5 GB HDD. This was a
while ago, so I may not remember entirely. But I do remember enough
to hopefully help out anyone else who is attempting to do this.

END