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DEC original 5.25" floppies - worth keeping?

M

Malvineous

Experienced Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2010
Messages
119
Location
Brisbane, Australia
Hi all,

I recently picked up a collection of "old floppies" on eBay, with the intention of writing over them and using them as working floppies with my retro x86 PCs.

However when they arrived, it turned out that they were all RX50 floppies and many of them were original Digital disks.

Before I reformat them for use with PCs, I thought I'd better check to see if they are of any value. Is anyone here able to advise whether these should be kept, or whether they are common enough not to worry?

The labels say things like:

  • RX99 REVISION HISTORY
  • RX102 BOOT COMMAND FILE, NCON4
  • RX113 KERNEL DIAGS
  • RX120 VAX TU81 DIAG
  • RX123 VAX DEBNT/DEBNT
  • COMMAND LANGUAGE 1/2 CONSOLE, CONSOLEDCL1
  • VAX CIBCA REPAIR LEV DIAG PT3
  • CZX10C0 M-11 MAINT RX50 10
  • * MDM BOOT 2 *, 11/8/88
  • * LNV21 MDM DIAGNOSTIC *, (NALNA.EXE), 11/11/88
  • DMII MASTER MENU INSTL B RX50

Here's a pic:

dec.jpg
 
I wouldn't overwrite factory original disks like those. Given the system, those would be relatively uncommon, and I would be surprised if they are archived anywhere. But someone else more familiar with the platform will have to tell you if those specific titles/versions are desirable or useful.
 
I'll guess that there are people that would trade them for NOS floppies. As said before, don't overwrite them under any circumstances.
 
If you want to be cheap and get disks to overwrite, find somebody who has a bunch of 80s-90s randomDATA disks, not program disks. Especially crap like medical records or personal documents or whatever where you aren't deleting anything that may be of value to the future.

There are people out there who would probably love to have those disks. I'd hate for them to be overwritten with an ADTpro client or AppleDOS or some other ultra-disposable, common piece of software.
 
Well these were half the price of random data disks so you can't really blame me for taking the cheap option! I figure random data disks might have something more interesting on them too, whereas program disks are likely freely downloadable already so the data isn't as rare.

But not to worry, I had a PM from a local who swapped the disks for some PC parts I am interested in, so they'll likely survive for a while longer now :)
 
Well thanks to Malvineous I have them now, and they won't be overwritten. I've had a quick look at them and there are a few duplicates. Mostly they appear to be possibly(?) part of an incomplete numbered set.
Before long I'll make a complete catalog of the labels and post here. I have an RX50 in my pile of Qbus gear but not operational yet (as is usual with my stuff!).
 
Here's the list of 5-1/4" diskettes. I typed them in rather than photos of the labels in case someone ever searches for them. One line per disk.

COPY - MASTER MENU INSTAL B RX50

* LNV21 MDM DIAGNOSTIC * (NALNA.EXE) 11/11/88

* MDM BOOT 1 * 11/8/88

* MDM BOOT 2 * 11/8/88

DECmate software BL-DY77A-BV DM11 MASTER MENU INSTL B RX50 (C) 1984 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORP

BL-FL1GA-ME 000MRB5834 VMB.EXE, CI MICROCODES NCONG (C) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FJ11L-ME 000MUB5677 VAX CIBCA-A MICROCODE UPD FLP (C) 1987,90 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FJ12E-DE 000MUB5679 VAX CIBCA REPAIR LEV DIAG PT1 (C) 1987,90 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FJ13-DE 000MUB5139 VAX CIBCA REPAIR LEV DIAG PT2 (C) 1987,90 DIGITAL EQIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FK24D-DE 000MUB5143 VAX CIBCA REPAIR LEV DIAG PT3 (C) 1988,90, DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FI62D-DE M38911H3 CIBCI REPAIR LEV DIAG PT 1 (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FI63B-DE OMUNOS1314 CIBCI REPAIR LEV DIAG PT 2 (C) 1986,87 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH39N-ME 000MUB6215 COMMAND LANGUAGE 1/2 CONSOLE CONSOLEDCL1 (C) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-G0MAL-MC 000MUB9940 CZMX5L0 M-11 MAINT RX50 5 (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP.

BL-G0NA0-MC 000MUB4099 CZMX600 M-11 MAINT RX50 6 (C) 1989 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP.

BL-G00AN-MC 000MUB9942 CZMX7N0 M-11 MAINT RX50 7 (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP.

BL-FNSAK-MC 000MUB9933 CZMX8K0 M-11 MAINT RX50 8 (C) DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP.

BL-FMHAK-MC 000MUB4096 CZMX9K0 M-11 MAINT RX50 9 (C) 1989 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP.

BL-FMYAC-MC 000MUB4097 CZX10C0 M-11 MAINT RX50 10 (C) 1989 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP.

BL-FH09K-DE 000MUB4302 RX111 MICRODIAG #5 NDIAG8 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH10K-DE 000MUB4303 RX112 MICRODIAG #6 NDIAG9 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-10J-DE 000MUB1478 RX112 MICRODIAG #6 NDIAG9 (C) 1986,88 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH10J-DE 000MUB1478 RX112 MICRODIAG #6 NDIAG9 (C) 1986,88 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH12H-DE 000MUB4305 RX113 KERNEL DIAGS NDIAG10 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH13K-DE 000MUB4306 RX114 VAX HARDCORE + INSTR NDIAG11 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH14C-DE M44920H3 RX115 VAX CI DIAGS #1 NDIAG12 (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH15J-DE 000MUB4307 RX116 VAX CI DIAGS #2 NDIAG13 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH16E-DE 000MUB4308 RX117 VAX DWBUA/UNA DIAG NDIAG14 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH18D-DE 000MUB2621 RX119 VAX VT/LP UNIBUS DIAG NDIAG16 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH19E-DE 000MUB4309 RX120 VAX TU81 DIAG NDIAG17 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH20K-DE 000MUIB4498 RX121 VAX DIAK DIAGS NDIAG18 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH21D-DE 00MUB2803 RX122 VAX DMB32 NDIAG19 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FI47H-DE 000MUB6223 RX123 VAX DEBNT/DEBNI DIAGS NDIAG20 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-G0EAM-MC 000MUB4098 CZMF1MO M-11 MAINT RX50 A (C) 1989 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP.

BL-G0FAN-MC 00MUB9935 CZMF2N0 M-11 MAINT RX50 B (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP..

BL-G0IAK-MC 000MUB9936 CZMX1K0 M-11 MAINT RX50 1 (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP..

BL-G0JAM-MC 000MUB9937 CZMX2M0 M-11 MAINT RX50 2 (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP..

BL-G0KAL-MC 000MUB9938 CZMX3L0 M-11 MAINT RX50 3 (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP..

BL-G0LAM-MC 00MUB9939 CZMX4M0 M-11 RX50 4 (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP..

BL-FH12G-DE M44920H3 RX113 KERNEL DIAGS NDIAG10 (C) 1988 DIGITAL EQUIP.MENT CORPORATION

BL-FH15H-DE 00MUB2620 RX116 VAX CI DIAGS #2 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT COPORATION

BL-FI48L-ME 00MUB6244 RX98 CI VMB SYSTEM CODE NCON5 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH67N-ME 000MUB6221 RX99 REVISION HISTORY NCON3 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH43J-ME 00MUB6219 RX102 BOOT COMMAND FILE NCON4 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH11N-ME 000MUB4492 RX104 DIAG SUPERVISOR NDIAG1 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH22J-ME 00MUB6213 RX105 VAX DISK FORMATTERS NDIAG2 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH23J-ME 000MUB6214 RX106 VAX AUTOSIZER NDIAG3 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH07K-DE 00MUB4300 RX109 MICRODIAG #3 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH08K-DE 000MUB4301 RX110 MICRODIAG #4 NDIAG7 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH11M-DE 000MUD2798 RX104 DIAG SUPERVISOR NDIAG1 (C) 1986,89 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH05J-ME 000MUB1113 RX107 MICRODIAG #1 NDIAG4 (C) 1986,88 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH06J-DE 00MUB1474 RX108 MICRODIAG #2 NDIAG5 (C) 1986,88 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH07J-DE 000MUB1115 RX109 MICRODIAG #9 NDIAG6 (C) 1986,88 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH08J-DE 000MUB1475 RX110 MICRODIAG #4 NDIAG7 (C) 1986,88 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION

BL-FH09J-DE 000MUB1477 RX111MICRODIAG #5 NDIAG8 (C) 1986,88 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
 
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