Re: Who Knows Corvus?

[jdb8042@tam2000.tamu.edu (John Donald Baker)]

In article <3mv1p6$iap@er7.rutgers.edu>, Kid <neiderma@eden.rutgers.edu> wrote:

>Here we go with more "what the hell is this" hardware game...  :)
>
>I have what I think is a big Corvus hard drive.  Maybe.  It has a
>set of ports on the back.  A video in and video out (but neither
>whow anything when an RCA cable was connected from them to a
>composite monitor), VCR remote port (32 pins or so),

These are for videotape backup equipment, but they only work if you have
the additional videotape backup controller installed inside the unit.

>processor port (32 pins or so), drive port (32 pins or so),
>and 4 DIP switches.

These ports are 34-pin headers (2x17).  The "Processor" port is where the
cable from the system host adapter card (Apple ][ or whatever) connects
and the "Drive" port is the connection for chaining a second drive to the
first one.

The drive is commonly known simply as a Corvus Flat-Cable hard disk, since
a 34-line ribbon cable is typically used to connect the computer to the drive.

>There are 3 LEDs on the front and the sticker says "Corvus Systems".
>When powered up, it makes a spinning-up noise like an older hard drive

There are also a number of switches on the front, most notably a "FORMAT"
and "RESET" switch.  I think there's a third switch, but I forget what it is.

>coming online.  There is a hand-written note on top taped that
>says "sell this along with the set, it is photographic equipment".

I wonder where they got that idea?  Duh!

>Of course I didn't get it as part of a set.  Help?  If you know what
>it can do, would you be interested in it?  I can't figure out
>what to do with the thing.

Originally, it would only work with DOS 3.3 (like a bunch of 140K/400K disks
organized by volume number), PASCAL or CP/M (MS-SoftCard, natch).  The
host adapter was never upgraded to ProDOS, but there is a third-party
ROM named "Pro-CORE" by Tom Vier (I think that's right) which allows operation
under ProDOS, although you'll need the original ROM for low-level formatting
and firmware installation (among other things to juggle).

I presume you didn't get the host adapter card with it.  Well, it happens
that I have one of these beasties and a controller card for it.  I certainly
wouldn't mind playing with chaining a second one off of the system.



John D. Baker ->A TransWarp'802'd Apple //e CardZ180 Z-System nut //
Internet:  jdb8042@tam2000.tamu.edu, @blkbox.com, jdbaker@taronga.com
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