I just got these two old computers (486 from IBM) and got two big problems. First the parts are old so I can't find any information on the internet, maybe u can help me.. Do u know where I can find a complete listing from all the IBM parts. I mean motherboard, scsi-adapters. Yeah, one computer has a scsi-adapter and with the oter it is integrated on the motherbord. The seccond problem is that as operating system OS/2 is installed. How am I gonna get rid of it? Can I just deletete the partion with fdisk? Thanx, Jan

About OS/2... Jou CAN delete the os/2 partitions with FDISK, but beware, under OS/2 die drives larger than 512 Mb can be accessed without LBA etc. under normal DOS (and win95) they CAN'T (HPFS-file system) as you say the drives are scsi, I don't know about those, I know about IDE and the older MFM/RLL types. Maybe with a good old-fashioned memory examiner one could fine the scsi controller bioses in the memory map. (probably at C800:0) the integrated controller *should* be controlled by the system bios for setup etc. Good luck with it and let me know if all works out.

You can also take the lid of the computers and look at the part inside, every component with have the companys name on them which should give you an idea of where to go for drivers. if you thinking about running another os, all you have to do is repartition the drive and reformat referably with the install disk that came with the other os. eg windows 95 boot disk lets you prepare hard drive before installation. Hope this helps in some way.

You can fdisk to remove os/2. If the pc is a pure IBM pc with all parts inside being IBM, there will be a number listed on each part called a FRU number. This number can be used to access information on the particular part through IBM.COM support pages. Replacement parts will be hard to find, but you may be able to order similar parts from various suppliers outside of IBM.

I suspect that you will find that it's a MCA based system. IBMs great design after ISA but before EISA and then PCI. Basically if it works use it if not scrap it don't try anything with it. No one but IBM took MCA onboard. If you checkout IBM.COM as above it should confirm it for you.