Retro Computing Enthusiast Tries Restoring a 1986 DEC PDP-11 Minicomputer

More than half a century ago, Digital Equipment Corporation released the first of their 16-bit PDP-11 minicomputers, continuing the PDP-11 line until 1997.

This week long-time Slashdot reader Shayde writes:

I've been working on a 1986 PDP/11 that I basically got as a 'barn find' from an estate sale a year ago. The project has absolutely had it's ups and downs, as the knowledgebase for these machines is aging quickly. I'm hoping to restore my own expertise with this build, but it's been challenging finding parts, technical details, and just plain information.

I leaned pretty heavily on the folks at the Vintage Computing Federation, as well as connections I've made in the industry — and made some great progress... Check it out if you're keen on retrocomputing and old minicomputers and DEC gear.

The entire saga is chronicled in three videos titled 'Barn Find PDP 11/73 — Will it boot' — part 1, part 2, and this week's latest video. 'What started as a curiosity has turned into an almost 10-month-long project,' it concludes, creeping up hopefully on the possibility of an awe-struck glimpse at the PDP-11's boot sequence (over two minutes long)

'So cool,' responded Jeremiah Cornelius (Slashdot reader #137) in a comment on the submitted Slashdot story. 'I have huge affection for these beasts. I cut my teeth in High School on a DEC PDP11/70 and AT&T SysV, and a little RSTS/E in 1979-82. We switched systems by loading different cakelid platters into the washing-machine drives, and toggling the magenta keys.

'I've thought about the Blinkenlights 7/10 scale emulator, tha uses an RPi, but I envy you and hope you have fun.'

Read more of this story at Slashdot.