[Info-vax] PWS 600au lost its memory: CMOS reverts to AlphaBIOS

[Marc Schlensog]

On Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:09:14 GMT
VAXman-  @SendSpamHere.ORG wrote:

> In article
> <a14734b1-7a11-4f2a-84a8-7726c3ac697e at f18g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
> Ken Fairfield <ken.fairfield at gmail.com> writes:
> >So I powered on my digital Personal Workstation 600au today and found
> >it
> >going through the AlphaBIOS boot checks, and the "splash" screen
> >showing
> >a PWS, etc.
> >
> >This happened once before, so I remembered to go into the Setup,
> >choose
> >CMOS setup, and go into the Advanced CMOS setup were I could switch
> >back to the OpenVMS SRM console.  That done, I saved the new settings
> >(which was confirmed by a message), exited and powered cycled the
> >box.
> >
> >No luck.  I booted into the AlphaBIOS again.  I tried several times.
> >The one
> >thing I think is key is that the AlphaBIOS complained first about an
> >invalid
> >time.  I expect the battery for the BBCC (is that what it's called?)
> >is way dead.
> >
> >So two questions:
> >
> >1) Given the CMOS setup is non-volatile, does the system nevertheless
> >boot
> >into the (default) AlphaBIOS if the clock chip's battery is dead?
> >That seems
> >to be the symptom, but I'd like to know if there could be a different
> >cause.
> >
> >2) Can someone point me to documentation one changing the battery, or
> >if it's integrated, the battery-backed clock chip?  Part numbers and
> >possible
> >sources would be much appreciated.
> 
> Many of the Alpha systems would default to the wrong console when
> there was a failure of the NVRAM backup battery.
> 
> Look on the board.  Most of these used the nickel sized CR2025 or
> CR2032 "watch" cells.

It's a CR2032. Just replace it, switch to SRM in AlphaBIOS and you're
set. I've done this just recently with two PWS I got :)

regards,

Marc