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DOS 3.3 Really was bare bones. (lemmy.nz)

submitted 2 months ago by foliumcreations@lemmy.world to c/retrocomputing@piefed.social

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/46782285

So yesterday I pulled out my old "luggable" IBM 5155 because I wanted to know if I could use it as a Terminal for a terminal.

I have previously successfully connected a Psion 5mx over a null modem to a Raspberry Pie. Figured it would be cool to see if I can get it working on this behemoth as well. I have DOS 3.3 on a 5.25" floppy and another with some supplementary software for DOS 3.3. And wow, not a lot of software included. CTTY won't let me set Baud rate, parity och bit size. So it just freezes, and the CONNECT application doesn't throw up errors either but just sort of is there, regardless of settings.

Anyway will in the future get my self a carrier card for a CF -to-IDE so I can throw DOS 6.6 and PROCOMM on it and see if that gets me anywhere. Unless any of you folks have any tips or scathing criticism on my lack of knowledge of DOS.

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[–] Mandarbmax@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Love to see these things working after all this time!

[–] foliumcreations@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Not to give out to much personal information. But that thing is either as old as me or a few years older. And it is probably in better shape than me.

[–] luthis 2 points 2 months ago

That looks terrible for your neck. Aesthetically beautiful though.

[–] ChrysanthemumIndica@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I think you might need to use the MODE command to set the COM port up prior to use.

Also I'm less sure about this part, but I think CTTY is only useful if you are using the pi as the user terminal (since I think it stops DOS from using the screen/keyboard and redirects that to/from the serial port)? I don't know what programs come on that supplemental disk, but depending on your comfort level, you could create a simple terminal emulator with a batch file, debug.exe, or potentially basic (if that's included). In a pinch, you might also be able to copy an ascii file from the pi to the luggable over the com port (copy.exe COM1 localfile)/(cat remotefile > /dev/ttyS0). You could also encode a binary file as base64 and then use a simple basic program to decode it?

For reference, I'm just a few years older than this thing 😁 and maybe my old brain is misremembering things...

[–] foliumcreations@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I also tried the CONNECT application, and that was not getting further than "_" blinking. I will try using MODE as as you said. Also the documentation is patchy, cause I'm not sure, as you again pointed out, if CTTY can even do what I'm asking of it. My next step will be to get a CF card to IDE converter card and install either, DOS 6.5(along with PROCOMM) or freeDOS or ELKS and try to reestablish connection.

[–] ChrysanthemumIndica@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 months ago

Oh that's cool it came with an XT-IDE controller, I don't think the dual floppy models came with one stock, will definitely save ya some hassle.

I think you're right, trying to get the storage working would be less painful than a serial link bootstrap. Will cross my fingers for ya!