IBM PS/2 Model P70 Restoration

Hardware Personal

Repair, archiving, and modernizing an IBM PS/2 Model P70 Luggable computer

This is a work in progress, pictures coming at some point!

RepairLink to this heading

8/18/2023 - The floppy drive does not read/seek and the machine has a dead CMOS battery. These old PS/2s require a “reference diskette” to serve as BIOS configurator so the machine presently doesn’t boot. I am waiting on parts to swap in a GoTek, I’ll look into repairing the drive as well once I’m sure the computer is otherwise in working shape.

ModernizationLink to this heading

I’ve outfitted the machine with a new to me IBM SCSI card part number 84F8015. I haven’t found reference to that part number online anywhere. It came with a 3.5" option diskette that I haven’t found online, I have archived it here.

In order to get away from the ancient spinning drive (which I’m not yet sure works) I’m using a ZuluSCSI in conjunction with the above card to allow a MicroSD to stand in for the hard drive (and other devices). If I had known about it at the time I may have instead chosen this modern MCA SCSI reproduction, the McIDE. Its possible I will revisit the McIDE in the future since the SCSI card while more period accurate is more cumbersome.

Thanks and SourcesLink to this heading

Lots of help on this project has come from ardent-tool.com, an invaluable source on the IBM PS/2.