Update on the XT. Also, cat pics!

As I alluded to in the most-recent e-waste haul video, I've started working on the XT immediately after unpacking everything. Well, that process is taking much longer than expected. This is partially due to me being incredibly busy (annual reviews are coming up at work, so I'm really trying to show out), but it is also due to lacking a few things for XT-class machines. I suspected that the machine didn't have an MFM controller since it had no hard drive. That suspicion was confirmed. I also discovered that I somehow do not have a single 8-bit MFM controller card, only 16-bit... There is absolutely NO way my first XT video is going to lack a hard drive! So I ordered both an IBM original Xebec 62X0775/6 controller, as well as a Western Digital WD1002A-WX1 controller. Those two cards have arrived, so I proceeded to testing. However, I've hit another stumbling block. I remembered very faintly that AT keyboards will not work with XT-class machines. Sure wish that had occurred to me sooner, but it has been nearly 30 years since I've even touched an XT. So, I've ordered an AT2XT adapter. It's slated for delivery on Saturday, which I'm not at all happy about. For those that don't know, this is an active adapter (as opposed to something like a PS/2 to AT DIN adapter). It actually has to convert the AT scancodes to something the XT can understand. While I'd love to get my hands on an actual Model F keyboard, they are far from cheap. Finally, my Seagate ST-412 hard drive seems to have a sticky spindle bearing. I'm working to try and free it up now. If I can't, well I have other ST506-compatible drives which might just save the video.

You might be wondering why I don't go with something like the XT-IDE. Well, in addition to wanting this machine to be as original as possible, I'm absolutely craving those MFM hard drive sounds. Especially in an XT! It's going to be a nostalgia power-hit for me. Haven't heard that since I was probably 9 years old.

Despite the schedule setbacks, I'm having an absolute blast bringing this machine back to life! I did not realize how much latent childish excitement an XT would unlock for me. I can't wait to share it with all of you! Sorry it's taking so long.

Also, new rule: Anytime I miss an upload, you will receive 1 (one) cat pic. For this week's installment here's six, including her as a kitten! Here's the backstory: She was born to street cats and was birthed underneath a portable building where I used to work, about 8 years ago. I had a suspicion something was up when I kept seeing the mother cat coming and going from under there. Well, for whatever reason, the mother stopped coming and going. This might have been caused by an HVAC tech having to crawl under there to do some work. I think that probably spooked mommy cat into re-locating the litter. Well, she left one behind as cats sometimes do... It's not surprising seeing as she is clearly the runt (and still is pretty small). We began to hear relentless kitten crying. It went on for several hours. Knowing that kittens can't live very long at all without milk, I went out there, pulled the siding and there she was. Meowing like her life depended on it (because it probably did). It's funny, because to this day she still is a really vocal cat. Always making cat sounds. I can even get her to meow on cue, especially if I have a treat. Anyway, She was barely able to see, but came to me thanks to a combination of the daylight and me making noise. She crawled out from under, I scooped her up, took her home. There, I put her in the custody of my husband while I rushed to the pet store for some supplies. She was too young for solid food, so we had to bottle-feed her with KMR. The husband immediately took to sharing daddy-duty (kittens need round-the-clock care and BOY did she let you know it). The original plan was to let her grow enough to be self-sufficient, then find her a home. Well, you see how that turned out... Now she lives to eat, sleep and interrupt my work and video editing. 10/10, would raise a kitten again!