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

[AdeV]

Wilm Boerhout may or may not have intoned:
> AdeV mentioned  on 31-12-2009 17:01:
> > Wilm Boerhout may or may not have intoned:
> >
> >> B /R5:20000 [DKAxxx] should get you some, /R5:30000 some more
> > 
> > Thanks for the advice, Wilm. 
> > 
> > Both of those changed the output message, so instead of displaying the 
> > VMS banner, I got:
> >   [same sysboot messages as last time, about the paging file, then]
> >   %SYSBOOT-E-Unable to locate file PDDRIVER.EXE
> >     83 BOOT SYS
> > 
> > The uVax then tried to boot from the network, until I told it not to.
> > 
> > Seems to me the CDR is not being read properly?
> 
> Hmm, I did not expect the boot switches to alter the boot sequence, just 
> to deliver progress reports about loading drivers etc. so you can see 
> where it goes wrong.

It seems to be rather early in the process.... I can only assume that, 
if allowed to boot normally, it's loading something corrupt causing a 
system crash (hence needing to power off/on); wheras setting the flags 
make it take a different path, which it is completely unable to do... 
Maybe. It's all a bit of a guess, TBH.

> Seems to me that letting it boot over Ethernet is your best bet (after 
> setting up your Simh VAX as a cluster boot server)

I think you're right. I've no idea how to do that, is it covered (in 
%VAX-ADMIN-NEWBIE terms...) anywhere? But anyway, I need at least an AUI 
transciever to plug the '3100 into my lan, so that will be next week at 
the earliest now.

-- 
Cheers!
Ade.