My Computer History
Background
I have used computers since about 1986. Over the years I have used a lot of machines and written a lot of programs.
Here is the summary.
High Level Languages
C# and VB.NET using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2010, 2008, 2005 and 2003,
- .NET Framework 4, 3.5, 3, 2 and 1.1
- .NET remoting
- Data Access using Linq, ADO .NET, ADO and OleDB consumer classes
- Deployment to Windows Server 2012, 2008R2, 2008, 2003
PHP 7, 5.6 and 4 including deployment to various Linux versions (Red Hat Linux, Centos 6.5, Centos 7.5)
C\C++,
- Microsoft Visual C++ (7, 6, 5, 1.52b) using WTL, STL, ATL, MFC and Windows API,
- Borland C++ (5, 3.1, 1),
- Watcom C version 10,
- djgpp,
- gcc on Solaris 2.6, AIX, Linux (Debian 2.2 Kernel).
Visual BASIC (6, 5, 3).
My preferred editor is Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 because it is small and fast and CodeLobster for PHP.
PHP Storm looks good but a bit slow. Eclipse is nice, but it takes too much memory.
Web technologies
PHP 7.1-7.4, 5.6 and PHP 4,
ASP.NET and Classic ASP,
HTML, XML (MSXML DOM and SAX, Xalan),
Moodle and Totara installation and customisation,
WordPress installation and customisation,
JavaScript and VBScript (In Active Server Pages, embedded in HTML and running in wscript\cscript on the command line),
Java Sun JDK 1.3 (Eclipse, JBuilder 3).
I have installed and configured IIS 5-10, Apache and Bad-Blue for production and test systems.
I have written .htaccess files for Apache and maintain a forum using phpbb on a Linux server.
Database technologies
Microsoft SQL Server 2012, 2008R2, 2008, 2005 (Express, Web Edition and Enterprise)\2000\7\6.5,
Oracle 8i,
MySQL 5 and MySQL 4.x,
Microsoft Access 2002\2000\97.
Microsoft SQL Server is used in a professional capacity. Microsoft Access has been used on smaller projects. Oracle 8i was
used in a previous job. I use MySQL, MySQL WorkBench, PHPMyAdmin and MySQL-Front for maintenance of MySQL databases.
Version Control Systems
Git, Subversion, Rational ClearCase, Visual SourceSafe, SCCS.
Low Level Languages
Intel 80286, 80386 and 80486 assembly,
Motorola 68030, 68020 and 68000 assembly,
Digital PDP 11 assembly,
Zilog Z80 assembly (Spectrum 48k+, 128k+2).
No Longer Used High Level Languages
Ada 83,
Amiga AMOS,
Atari ST STOS and GFA BASIC,
Sinclair BASIC (48k, 48k+, 128k+2),
BBC BASIC and COMAL.
I have written some C and C++ programs on various UNIX formats in previous jobs and at the University of Paisley, where I studied for 4 years.
I graduated there in 1996 with a 2nd Class BSc (Honours) Degree in Software Engineering. I completed my honours project in Enhancing a known Data Compression
algorithm where I turned an Adaptive Huffman\Lempel-Ziv compression algorithm into a fully functioning loss-less data compression package.
Differential Compression was also investigated.
Operating systems
Current
Windows Server 2012, 2008R2, 2008, 2003,
Windows 10, Windows 7,
Android devices, MacOS X.
Legacy
Windows Vista, XP, 2000, NT, ME, 98, 95, Windows For Workgroups, 3.1,
DOS 6.22, 6, 5, 3,
SUNOS 5.5, Solaris 2.6, Linux (Debian 2.2 Kernel),
Apple System 6 (Mac IIsi), KickStart 3.0, 1.3,
TOS 1.62, 1.06, 1.04, 1.02.
Hardware programmed directly
Thomson PGA video capture card driver (C++) made accessible for VB3,
EGA\VGA graphics cards,
Amiga blitter and copper lists,
Atari ST MFP.
My Computers
Current
2020: Desktop
HP Prodesk (Intel i5 4590 3.3GHz 4th Generation), 8Gb RAM, 500Gb, 2 USB 3 ports, 4 USB 2 ports. Windows 10 Pro (x64).
HP SN-208FB DVD±R/RW.
2016: Laptop
Acer ES (1.1GHz Quad Core), 4Gb RAM, 1Tb, 3 USB ports. Windows 10 Home Premium (x64).
Pioneer DVR-K16RA DVD±R/RW dual layer writer 8/24 (Firmware 1.16). 3 USB ports.
Accessories
Dell SE2417HG 24 inch widescreen monitor (March 2020),
Dell 8115 Keyboard,
Microsoft 600 Mouse,
UMC 21.5 inch TV Monitor for vintage computers (via Scart).
Old Monitors are now located here.
Old PCs are now located here.
Still got, still working
2020: Atari 520STFM
TOS 1.02, Single Sided Drive.
This machine was very reasonable priced as owner said it was not working.
Repairs:
New Drive Belt Fitted (3/1/2021).
Mouse cleaned inside and out.
2020: Amstrad CPC 464
I always wanted to try one. Got one with a new PSU and scart video adapter cable.
2007: Commodore C64C
Nice, clean machine.
Has 8580 SID chip.
2007: Commodore C64
Needed VIC-II and keyboard from spare parts machine.
Has 6581 SID chip.
2006: ZX Spectrum 128k+2
Good for RGB-Scart testing.
2002: ZX Spectrum 48k+
Bought on eBay for £8. Took a bit of cleaning up but now in excellent condition. I had to get one for old times sake.
2000: Atari 520STFM
TOS 1.04, 512k RAM. Bought a second hand STFM AGAIN because I thought I might have a go at programming an emulator but
it is simply too difficult! Excellent for nostalgia. Second hand fun.
2000: Atari 2.5Mb STF
Used for spare parts to make the STE work during disk conversion.
Modifications:
2006: Replacement PSU and keyboard purchased. Original floppy drive returned to this machine.
1994: Commodore Amiga 1200
Excellent demos and a few good games. The hard disk is really required to use the North C compiler.
The Zappo external PCMCIA CDROM beat PC drives at that time, but I still swapped it later for the hard disk.
68020 was nice, Kickstart 3.0.
Modifications:
2006: Amiga PCMCIA TCP-IP link setup!
2006: 60Mb hard disk broke! Replaced with a 230Mb hard disk.
1992: Commodore Amiga 500
Kickstart 1.3, 512k Chipram, 512k Fastram. Modified (track cut) to provide 1Mb Chipram for CDTV.
A very nice machine.
1991: Atari 4160STe
TOS 1.06. Originally a 520k machine upgraded to 1Mb by 4*256k SIMMs.
After a few years the keyboard, floppy drive and power supply all had to be replaced.
Modifications:
2006: Short button floppy drive and matching lid purchased, original key tops used, STF keyboard used. Upgraded to 4Mb.
2001: Floppy drive, keyboard and PSU from 2Mb STF used. The STF has a long button so I had to use the STF lid too!
1986: ZX Spectrum 48k
Second hand, but this was the first computer I ever owned and I am extremely fond of it. A classic.
Modifications:
2007: Rusty, weak DC Socket replaced with one from a Panasonic TU-CT21 Freeview Box on 22nd April 2007. Next day was the 48k's 25th Birthday!
2001: The keyboard was cleaned and membrane replaced. I bought 2 keyboard membranes from Trade-In-Post for £6 each just incase it ever needs
another one in my life time.
Games Consoles
2010: PlayStation 3
For GT5 and Afterburner Climax.
2007: Nintendo DS
For Yoshi's Island DS.
2007: PS-One
Required for Arcade Party Pak!
2006: Sony PlayStation 2 Compact
Ideal for Outrun 2006, GT4, THPS 3 and Klonoa 2 and an excellent DVD player.
Model number: SCPH-77003 CB
2006: Microsoft XBox
For Panzer Dragoon Orta and Outrun 2. Second hand of course.
2004: N64
Purchased second hand with Mario 64 and Mischief Makers.
2000: Sega Dreamcast
Shenmue, Shenmue 2, MSR and the best version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.
1997: Sega Saturn
Essential for Sega Ages, Sega Rally, Sonic Jam, Panzer Dragoon, Panzer Dragoon Zwei and Panzer Dragoon Saga.
Sold on
Classic computers
1990-1991: Atari 520STFM
TOS 1.04, 512k RAM. Sold to upgrade to an STe.
1988-1990: ZX Spectrum 48k+
Better keyboard, loudspeaker and less wobbly interface. We bought it with Full Throttle from John Menzies.
I regret selling it now...
Games consoles
25th March 2005-23rd April 2007: Sony PS2 Compact
Swapped for Mark's old PS2 so he could upgrade, old PS2 traded for Nintendo DS.
1st December 2001-25th March 2005: Sony PlayStation 2
SCPH-30003 R, traded-in for a PS2 Compact.
3rd January 1998-21st December 2001: Sony PlayStation
Rage Racer, FF7, Retro Force and Klonoa were excellent but now I can play them on the PS2!
Old backup drives
100Mb Zip Drive (22/3/1997-21/12/2003).
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