[rescue] Contents of rescue Digest, Vol 163, Issue 14

Mon Jun 13 06:55:23 CDT 2016

Hi Folks

Per chance I decided to dust off one of my old SS20 chassis and put it
to good use over the weekend (maybe this thread got me started). The
following may be unrelated to the issue at hand but it does speak to
some issues getting a machine to boot off of CD and what I eventually
did to get it going...

At any rate the basic config was SS20  + 1 CPU + 2Gig HDD + Sun thin
CDROM + 512M memory + GX Graphics.

The OS on the 2GIg drive was toast as the other drive that had some part
of the OS was no-longer in the machine. That and I wanted a solaris 2.6
machine and it was booting NetBSD.

So here is the interesting thing ( and I have wasted many hours over the
last couple of days)

It didn't matter what CD I tryed to install from (4.1.4,Solaris 1.1.2,
Solaris 2.3,2.4,2.5,2.6, NetBSD,OpenBSD) I could not get this machine to
boot off of CDROM. I replaced with another non-sun and got the same
results either

LEVEL 15 Interrupt

OR

Can't read disk label
Can't open disk label package

After resetting nvram, changing disks, re-seating scsi cables, checking
terminators etc I still got the same result.

I finally pulled the memory and using some electrical cleaner sprayed
the memory sockets and the edge of each SIMM and using a tissue cleaned
each edge of each SIMM before re-inserting. Once done I powered on the
machine. Inserted Solaris 2.6 and typed in "boot cdrom".....and off it
went, the install started and the familiar solaris banner came up.....

YMMV but given the age of these machines I would look at carefully
removing your memory (try not to stress the SIMM socket too much) and
giving the socket and edge a clean....who knows it may just work for
you...

hope that helps

Cheers

Richard

On Mon, 13 Jun 2016, at 11:55 AM, Gary Sloane wrote:
>  From: Gary Sloane <gksloane at hotmail.com>
> To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
> Subject: Re: [rescue] SunCD Repair
> 
> See http://www.pimpworks.org/sun/suncds.html for a description of Sun
> compatible OEM CD drives.
> 
> 
> 
> > From: rescue-request at sunhelp.org
> > Subject: rescue Digest, Vol 163, Issue 14
> > To: rescue at sunhelp.org
> > Date: Sun, 12 Jun 2016 12:00:01 -0500
> >
> > Send rescue mailing list submissions to
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> >
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of rescue digest..."
> >
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> >    1. Re: SunCD Repair (Eddie Cottongim)
> >    2. Re: SunCD Repair (Eddie Cottongim)
> >    3. Re: SunCD Repair (r.stricklin)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2016 22:22:22 -0400
> > From: Eddie Cottongim <jcotton at intergate.net>
> > To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
> > Subject: Re: [rescue] SunCD Repair
> > Message-ID: <575CC75E.8010903 at intergate.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> >
> > A few updates and remarks which might be helpful to others given recent
> > discussion.
> >
> > On the CD:
> >
> > No obvious problems with capacitors. Its hard to test them in circuit.
> > These are the surface mount, short metal can version which are difficult
> > (for me) to replace.
> > Good idea on the insufficient spindle friction. I tried making it a
> > little more sticky, but no luck.
> > It actually attempts to spin up three times before it stops.
> >
> > On using a DVD with SparcStation 10:
> >
> > I ordered a SCSI DVD, an HP A5220-67003. On the SS10, it seems to be
> > able to boot CDs and at least access DVDs (but possibly not boot - I
> > didn't have a known-good one to try) DVDs. Other note:
> >
> > NetBSD installed and seemed to work. From the CD, its pretty bare bones,
> > but perhaps a good starting point.
> >
> > Debian Etch at first appeared to have trouble mounting the CD, but this
> > turned out to be due to running with 32 megs of RAM. With more RAM (160
> > meg), it installed with no problems. It takes a lot of disk space, and I
> > had to go with no desktop to get it on a 1 gig drive. Once running, it
> > printed an esp driver message for every hard disk access - no relation
> > to the DVD, but it got very tiring, so I moved on. I think that can be
> > fixed. I may come back to this later.
> >
> > Various Solarii would boot, but fail in the installer with disc access
> > related messages either when starting OpenWindows or suninstall. My best
> > guess is a compatibility issue with the drive. On an installed system, I
> > would play with the scsi_options, but it would seem to require building
> > a new install CD. Haven't tried yet.
> >
> > Hope this helps someone.
> > Eddie
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Steve Sandau wrote:
> > >>> Are there any service manuals, repair ideas etc available for the Sony
> > >> CDU-8012? I've got one that responds to probe-scsi, but "test cdrom"
> > >> gives
> > >> back a "-1" failure (not much help), and is dead otherwise. It spins
> > >> the CD
> > >> briefly, then stops. No obvious internal problems after partial
> > >> disassembly.
> > >>
> > >> The "obvious problem" with all these drives is failed electrolytics.
> > >> One of
> > >> the ones that's come across my bench also had a dusty optical path.
> > >> Chances
> > >> are good your drive is eminently repairable.
> > >
> > > The other problem I used to run across was the spindle not having
> > > enough friction to spin the cdrom fast enough. ISTR the symptom as
> > > spin, not get up to speed and stop trying. Cleaning the "gripping"
> > > surface on the spindle was sometimes enough to get some use out of it.
> > >
> > > Steve
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > This message has been scanned for viruses and
> > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> > believed to be clean.
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2016 23:47:21 -0400
> > From: Eddie Cottongim <jcotton at intergate.net>
> > To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
> > Subject: Re: [rescue] SunCD Repair
> > Message-ID: <575CDB49.4000107 at intergate.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> >
> > Another note about using a DVD (or any replacement CDROM) with a
> > 411-style case: The SCSI connector was upside down on my new drive, and
> > there's not a lot of cable slack inside the case, so everything doesn't
> > quite pack in. Can be used with the cover off and parts laying loose.
> >
> > Eddie Cottongim wrote:
> > > A few updates and remarks which might be helpful to others given
> > > recent discussion.
> > >
> > > On the CD:
> > >
> > > No obvious problems with capacitors. Its hard to test them in circuit.
> > > These are the surface mount, short metal can version which are
> > > difficult (for me) to replace.
> > > Good idea on the insufficient spindle friction. I tried making it a
> > > little more sticky, but no luck.
> > > It actually attempts to spin up three times before it stops.
> > >
> > > On using a DVD with SparcStation 10:
> > >
> > > I ordered a SCSI DVD, an HP A5220-67003. On the SS10, it seems to be
> > > able to boot CDs and at least access DVDs (but possibly not boot - I
> > > didn't have a known-good one to try) DVDs. Other note:
> > >
> > > NetBSD installed and seemed to work. From the CD, its pretty bare
> > > bones, but perhaps a good starting point.
> > >
> > > Debian Etch at first appeared to have trouble mounting the CD, but
> > > this turned out to be due to running with 32 megs of RAM. With more
> > > RAM (160 meg), it installed with no problems. It takes a lot of disk
> > > space, and I had to go with no desktop to get it on a 1 gig drive.
> > > Once running, it printed an esp driver message for every hard disk
> > > access - no relation to the DVD, but it got very tiring, so I moved
> > > on. I think that can be fixed. I may come back to this later.
> > >
> > > Various Solarii would boot, but fail in the installer with disc access
> > > related messages either when starting OpenWindows or suninstall. My
> > > best guess is a compatibility issue with the drive. On an installed
> > > system, I would play with the scsi_options, but it would seem to
> > > require building a new install CD. Haven't tried yet.
> > >
> > > Hope this helps someone.
> > > Eddie
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Steve Sandau wrote:
> > >>>> Are there any service manuals, repair ideas etc available for the Sony
> > >>> CDU-8012? I've got one that responds to probe-scsi, but "test cdrom"
> > >>> gives
> > >>> back a "-1" failure (not much help), and is dead otherwise. It spins
> > >>> the CD
> > >>> briefly, then stops. No obvious internal problems after partial
> > >>> disassembly.
> > >>>
> > >>> The "obvious problem" with all these drives is failed electrolytics.
> > >>> One of
> > >>> the ones that's come across my bench also had a dusty optical path.
> > >>> Chances
> > >>> are good your drive is eminently repairable.
> > >>
> > >> The other problem I used to run across was the spindle not having
> > >> enough friction to spin the cdrom fast enough. ISTR the symptom as
> > >> spin, not get up to speed and stop trying. Cleaning the "gripping"
> > >> surface on the spindle was sometimes enough to get some use out of it.
> > >>
> > >> Steve
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > This message has been scanned for viruses and
> > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> > believed to be clean.
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2016 21:11:58 -0700
> > From: "r.stricklin" <bear at typewritten.org>
> > To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
> > Subject: Re: [rescue] SunCD Repair
> > Message-ID: <485C4920-1724-42EA-B93F-E148FDD06BA2 at typewritten.org>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> >
> > On Jun 11, 2016, at 7:22 PM, Eddie Cottongim wrote:
> >
> > > No obvious problems with capacitors. Its hard to test them in circuit.
> These
> > are the surface mount, short metal can version which are difficult (for me)
> to
> > replace.
> >
> > These are exactly the ones which have almost certainly failed.
> >
> > ok
> > bear.
> >
> > --
> > until further notice
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Subject: Digest Footer
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > rescue maillist  -  rescue at sunhelp.org
> > http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > End of rescue Digest, Vol 163, Issue 14
> > ***************************************
> _______________________________________________
> rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue