Consider waiting a long time. If you aren't getting underscores then what 
is probably happening is that the you're memory is just a bit too slow for 
the processor or you've got a bad DRAM and its being constantly "fixed" by 
ECC.

I had a very similar problem and swapping out the memory board fixed it.
--Chuck

At 04:24 PM 11/12/02 -0800, Peter Wrangell wrote:
>Greetings world of NetBSD Vax!
>
>I just picked up an old 3300 out of the junk pile for my winter project
>and I had a hardware question. After I boot the beast I get the standard
>message.
>
>KA640-A V5.3, VMB 2.7
>Performing normal system tests
>41..40..<snip>..21..
>
>Then it hangs at 21. On the HEX led on the box it self I get an "E"
>code, which from what I gather means some type of memory problem(though
>I haven't been able to find out specifics). I have two 16 meg cards in
>the box which I have removed, cleaned, reseated, swapped, sprinkled with
>chicken blood etc.  However, I am still having the above problem. Does
>any one have any clues where to go from here?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Peter