[rescue] Trying to rescue a Sun Ultra 45

[Peter Stokes]

Hi Sean

Just to confirm you get no output from the serial console before it powers
down?

I have seen issues with the fans in the psu being reported as faulty, when
they are not, pull the small black lead from the PSU to the motherboard to see
if that makes a difference.

Alternative is that something is crowbar'ing the PSU, so unplug the disk
backplane and the main fans to see if it makes a difference.

Peter
---------------------------
Peter Stokes
Ashlyn Computer Services
Tel: 01636 627990
Mbl: 07977 532320
---------------------------



On 14 Jan 2014, at 16:53, Sean Tedio <seantedio at gmail.com> wrote:

> I have acquired a Sun Ultra 45workstation. The Sun part number is
> A89-XHZB1-9AF-1GDT. I felt the junk heap was an improper end for such
> a fine machine and so I decided to bring it home.
>
> Short Story:
> The machine powers on for a few seconds and then turns off. I have a
> number of LEDs on the motherboard and I'm wondering if there is any
> way to obtain diagnostic information from them.
>
> Long Story:
> After taking the box home, I found out why it was in the junk heap...
> It powers on for about 5 seconds and then shuts itself off. I inquired
> to the IT department as to the reasons for it's disposal and they
> cited this behavior. They said they first noticed the machine would
> turn off at randomly causing it to be removed from circulation and
> then ended in the scenario I just described. I started normal hardware
> diagnostics and removed video card/ram/harddrive and tried again with
> the same result. I figured the mostly likely candidate was the power
> supply. I hooked the power supply up to a powersupply tester and it
> found no faults on the default 24pin ATX connector. I tested the
> remaining connectors using a voltmeter and confirmed that all voltages
> were correct according to their wire color. I then took the power
> supply apart and inspected it for bad capacitors, visual or smells of
> burning, and found none. I have found a number of power supplies on
> ebay, but they are used, and I'm not sure of their condition or if
> they will even fix the problem. What I am hoping to find is more
> information on the motherboard LEDs and their meanings. I have used
> all my google-foo powers and come up with manuals for the system, but
> none describe motherboard LEDs only the LED on the front of the
> system. It doesn't appear that I can get any support from Oracle (no
> surprise there).
>
> So now I have come to you hoping that by some miracle you might know
> something about this system that may help me in saving it from the
> junk heap.
>
> Thank you in advance,
>
> -Sean
> _______________________________________________
> rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue