I downloaded FreeAXP 3.0.0.620 onto my Windows 10 (x64 Home) laptop (i3-8130 2 cores, 12 Gi, and all seemed well. I configured the virtual Alpha and started the emulator - both PuTTY windows popped up with the FreeAXP banner but the console one didn't have the POST messages, nor of course the >>> (dead sergeant) prompt. I tried running the Virtual Alpha Configuration Utility "as Administrator" but that didn't help. More or less on a whim, I tried "Troubleshoot compatibility" for it. It chugged away for a long time, as such things do, then eventually offered to set a Windows 8 compatibility attribute. I agreed, and now the emulator is working great.
I was able to load OpenVMS 7.1-1H1 and am running that now. My next task is to get DECwindows to work so I can read Bookreader documents. And eventually to disable the Idle loop (I don't have SYS$IDLE_REMOVE.COM - must have been in VMS versions later than 7.1-1).
Huge shout-out and thank you! to the authors of FreeAXP for their generosity in making this product available to us all, and of course to DEC (and its several successors) for the Hobbyist program.
I am glad you got FreeAXP up and running. Thanks for the shout out.
I run FreeAXP on Windows 10 Home Version 1803 (OS Build 17134.765). I do not need to use compatibility mode. If you have a chance, run winver from the cmd prompt and post the Windows version and build you are using..
malmberg August 04 2022 No more VAX hobbyist licenses.
Community licenses for Alpha/IA64/X86_64 VMS Software Inc.
Commercial VMS software licenses for VAX available from HPE.
ozboomer July 20 2022 Just re-visiting.. No more hobbyist licenses? Is that from vmssoftware.com, no 'community' licenses?
valdirfranco July 01 2022 No more hobbyist license...sad
mister_wavey February 12 2022 I recall that the disks failed on the public access VMS systems that included Fafner
parwezw January 03 2022 Anyone know what happened to FAFNER.DYNDS.ORG?
I had a hobbyist account here but can longer access the site.
gtackett October 27 2021 Make that DECdfs _2.1A_ for Vax
gtackett October 27 2021 I'm looking for DECdfs V2.4A kit for VAX.
Asking here just in case anyone is still listening.
MarkRLV September 17 2021 At one time, didn't this web site have a job board? I would love to use my legacy skills one last time in my career.
malmberg January 18 2021 New Hobbyist PAKs for VAX/VMS are no longer available according to reports. Only commercial licenses are reported to be for sale from HPE
dfilip January 16 2021 Can someone please point me to hobbyist license pak? I'm looking for VAX/VMS 7.1, DECnet Phase IV, and UCX/TCPIP ... have the 7.1 media, need the license paks ... thanks!
, and all seemed well. I configured the virtual Alpha and started the emulator - both PuTTY windows popped up with the FreeAXP banner but the console one didn't have the POST messages, nor of course the >>> (dead sergeant) prompt. I tried running the Virtual Alpha Configuration Utility "as Administrator" but that didn't help. More or less on a whim, I tried "Troubleshoot compatibility" for it. It chugged away for a long time, as such things do, then eventually offered to set a Windows 8 compatibility attribute. I agreed, and now the emulator is working great. 