[Info-vax] MicroVAX 3100-30 - won't boot...

[AdeV]

Steven Schweda may or may not have intoned:
> AdeV wrote:
> 
> > Hmm, of course, it COULD be trying to format the HDD...
> 
>    Not likely.  That's not something it would do on its own.
> 
> >  how long should
> > I leave it before I give up? It's a 1.08GB drive, and so far I've left
> > it at the OpenVMS message for maybe 1/2hr.
> 
>    Not long.  Not that long.  Where is your console terminal
> connected?  On some newer (Alpha) systems, if you choose the
> wrong serial port, then you may get some messages, but
> eventually the system starts talking to only the right port,
> so a terminal on the wrong port looks dead.  (I've never tried
> using the wrong port on an old VAX.)

I've got 2 terminals plugged in, in ports 0 & 2. Depending on where the 
dip switch is set, either of those ports are the active one. I need to 
try the printer port too, but that needs a NUL modem cable I think, and 
mine are all straight through. Although I'm sure I've got a null modem 
adapter here somewhere....


>    With an NVR complaint, I'd guess that the battery is dead,

Me too, the system's been unplugged & stored in a box for at least 5 
years, maybe longer, it'd be amazing if the battery lasted that long.

> so the TOY clock is mis-set, so VMS will ask the user for the
> date and time during start-up.  If it's asking on some other
> serial port, then you may have a very long wait before it
> continues.

True, although the next message I was expecting to see is:
  %WBM-I-WBMINFO Write Bitmap has successfully completed initialization.

and that should appear before the time/date prompt?

> 
>    Otherwise, there is some boot-time debugging which can be
> turned on.  Should be in the FAQ.
> 

I'll look, ta. 

-- 
Cheers!
Ade.