Re: Dead Vaxstation?

[hugl <huglhuglhugl%gmx.net@localhost>]

On 15.03.2016 11:50, Matt Dainty wrote:
> * Tobias Nygren <tnn%NetBSD.org@localhost> [2016-03-15 06:16:12]:
> > On Tue, 15 Mar 2016 06:09:24 -0400
> > Matt Dainty <matt%bodgit-n-scarper.com@localhost> wrote:
> >
> > > I came to power on my Vaxstation 4000/90, S3 switch is up which I believe
> > > is correct for using a serial terminal however I get nothing displayed.
> > >
> > > The power LED lights up, I can hear the fans humming, the hard disk spins up
> > > and the eight diagnostic LEDs are all lit but don't ever change, even when I
> > > press the halt button. I know the serial terminal is good as it works on my
> > > DEC 3000/600.
> > >
> > > Anything I can try? I figure the Dallas DS1287 timekeeper chip probably has
> > > a dead battery by now but that wouldn't stop the machine powering up
> > > would it?
> >
> > That's what I figured too, but it actually does prevent it from POSTing.
> > My 4000/90 also appeared completely dead until I bodged a fresh lithium
> > cell into the RTC, after which it came back to life.
>
> That's good to know, I won't junk the Vaxstation just yet then. I think
> my DEC 3000/600 has the same problem as it's forgetting settings across
> cold boots but will at least boot to the SRM albeit with an NVR fault so
> I think I've got two DS1287's to fix up or replace.
>
> I notice you can get DS12887's which are the replacement part. Aside from
> the problem that these still contain the timebomb of an embedded battery,
> do they work?
>
> I've done a similar fix for the timekeeper chip on Sun Sparcstations in
> the past where it's actually preferred to fix the existing chip with a
> replacement battery as the newer chips have slightly different
> characteristics and prevent the machine booting automatically.
>
> Matt
Even an empty or missing DS1287 timekeeper shouln't prevent it from 
POST. If the memory isn't configured properly the 4000/90 doesn't do 
anything. The physical location of the memory banks is 
interleaved/mirrored, so if you only have 4 modules of the same size and 
type there will be emtpy slots in between. If you have two sets of 
different sizes, then the 4Mb modules must go into bank 0:

From the manual p. 6-23:
When installing four 4-MB memory modules and four 16-MB
memory modules, the 4-MB memory modules must be installed in
memory locations 0A, 0B, 0C, 0D.

Check your memory configuration and the slot labels on the mainboard.

For the DS1287: I used a file (rasp?) to open the plasic casing where 
the contacts are, cut the metal and soldered short wires to them. They 
are attached to a coin cell which is sitting next to the IC.
Be careful when ordering original DS1287s online: some of them are 
indeed 'new' but 15 years old.
(When did the DS1287 go out of production?)

Lo