Re: System/38 Archaeological Dig Request

Mark,
You may be right. That was some decades back.

On Mon, Jul 14, 2025 at 1:22 PM Mark Waterbury via MIDRANGE-L <
midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hi, Rob,
AFAIK, the S/36 machines had only what were called "microcode" diskettes,
either 8" or 5.25", depending on the model (5360, 5362 = 8",5363, 5364 =
5.25").
The early AS/400s (CISC, IMPI) had MULIC and/or FULIC tapes, for Model
Unique or Feature Unique Licensed Internal Code.
Thankfully, IBM did away with that nonsense by the time of the
CISC-to-RISC migrations.
Mark


On Monday, July 14, 2025 at 01:05:37 PM EDT, Rob Berendt <
robertowenberendt@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Never touched a S/38 but on the S/36 we had something called MULIC or
Model
Unique Licensed Internal Code.
We also had IBM media issued to us specific to our environment which I
think had keys, or something like that, imbedded into that. If you needed
something in a pinch the local IBM rep had something called 'gold code'
which would install on all machines.
Summary: Would someone else's media be useful in your situation?

On Mon, Jul 14, 2025 at 10:35 AM Joe George <jgeorge@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hello list friends,

The info on the subscription page says “S/38 discussion is allowed, if
anyone still has one of those systems”. Well, hello! :-) In the last week
or so we got a S/38 in to the shop as a restoration project. The machine

is

intact and in surprisingly good shape as far as a machine from 1980 can

be.

The only issue is that I believe it at one point had external DASD hooked
up to it and now that DASD is gone. I’m fairly certain the machine will

IPL

at least to some level of diagnostics, but won’t bring up CPF because of
the missing DASD.

I know it’s a long shot of long shots, but if anyone has *anything* s/38
related laying around gathering dust somewhere, I’d be interested in
acquiring, at least copies, to see if we can get this machine running
again.

I worked on a LOT of 38s as an FE in the 80s, and they still fascinate me
as the predecessor to the AS/400, so I’m putting in as much effort as I

can

to get this machine working again. There are very few S/38s still around,
and none I’m aware of will fully IPL, so pretty much anything is on the
table to get this one working if at all possible.

(We’re a non-profit restoration group, btw, not anyone out looking to

make

a buck, if thats even at all possible with a System/38… :)

Thanks for your time,
Joe

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