Sharp PC-3000

[MegaMalain]

Do you have pics or a reference you can share to open theSharp PC-3000? My unit displays a POST Failure - 0003 on screen right after I insert batteries and power it on. I have a feeling the previous set of batteries left in it by the previous owner leaked and some of it got onto the circuit board. I’d like to see if cleaning it off will resolve the error message. Thanks!

[Andrello]

You can find the instructions for opening the unit in the Service Manual, I am posting here the page describing the simple operations needed.
According to the Technical Reference Manual, the POST error 003 refers to "Chilly boot SRAM test failed because a value read from a byte did not match the value written to it", maybe the SRAM IC is noto working or, most likely, there is a fake contact.

Service Manual (dragged).jpg (1.43 MiB) Viewed 16156 times

[ArchiMark]

Hi everyone,

Discovered this great forum after discovering the great 'List of DOS based palmtop PCs webpages.

Have a nice HP 200LX upgraded to 8MB and double-speed now. Very nice and built like a tank....but tempted to get a larger palmtop such as the Sharp PC 3000 to get a larger keyboard and display for my old eyes....

A few questions please. Please note that I am not an expert with DOS like many of you.

1. DOS Versions

200LX has DOS 5. Is there much difference between it and DOS 3.3 on the 3000 other than size limit on storage cards?

2. Printing

On my 200LX I can print with my little Pentax PocketJet Plus 3 printer. Is there any way to use it with the 3000?

Assume, if not then I'd need to transfer files to other computer and print from there.

3. Windows

If I ran windows and want to use a mouse, What is easy way to connect it to 3000? Any other issues with using a mouse?

4. CF Card

So, if I get a 32MB compatible CF card / adapter I can use it to install and/or run DOS (and Windows if I install it...) programs from?

5. General Info

Any other things I should be aware of or concerned about regarding getting a 3000 or using one?

Thank you for any and all input!

Mark
Silicon Valley

[ArchiMark]

Hi again,

Well, I went ahead and got a nice condition Sharp PC-3100 and a Tidalwave (clone?) PS-1000.

Finally found a 1 MB SRAM card that works in these machines.

Now I want to install the SUNDRV driver so that I can use CF cards in them too. Much easier to deal with.

However, I am not a DOS expert and I am not sure how to properly install the driver.

Do I copy all the unzipped files to my D: drive and then run 'sinstall' from DOS prompt or ?

Thank for any help with this.

Mark

[ArchiMark]

Got driver installed!

But now have issue with recognizing the 1999 SanDisk 16MB CF card (SDCFB).

When I do 'sformat b:' I get message 'General failure accessing card'.

Did something else and got message that driver only works on SunDisk cards......

SanDisk cards are SunDisk cards...company just changed name.....

Any suggestion how to resolve this issue?

Thanks,

Mark

[willinliv]

3. PCMCIA slot, this is the real hell bout this PC. I made a lot of trials with W95/W98/XP but always unsuccessful. I think I hardily need the 2MB SRAM card image (http://www.tankraider.com/userup/1479409597.zip) formatted on a Poqet prime PQ-0181. Unfortunately the file is no longer available. Does someone has it and can share with me?

Hi Andrello, did you get a copy of the SRAM file that kyodai shared? I am in the same position. Thanks, Will

[willinliv]

Had a bit of success today. Firstly using an SRAM card to transfer files between a HP 200LX and the Sharp PC-3000 - I found it tricky to get both to play nicely with the same SRAM but found most success with formatting on the Sharp in dos 'format a:' then transferring over whilst in Filer on the HP with success about half the time (otherwise I/O device error shown on HP - card is 2MB Pretec). And even then if I tinker too much with the SRAM it can corrupt it for the Sharp to be able to read any files, so once to load up the files and that's it. With this was able to launch Laplink5 and do some transfers over parallel (my only original adapter) - needs Low Power mode to be turned off. Then for the main event I wanted to see if I could create a serial connection so that I could rely upon the in-ROM version of Laplink in case my SRAM completely died, fixing up a cable using a microSD extension with a 3-wire type null. Happily this would work over LL5 but just could not get the inbuilt laplink to work - think it might be because I cannot set it to Force the 3-wire connection type in the same way as you can set LL5. At least I have a couple of ways to connect, but still reliant on SRAM until I can find a proper Laplink adapter.