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

[Kari Uusimäki]

On 31.12.2009 18:15, H Vlems wrote:
> On Dec 31, 5:01 pm, AdeV<s... at solutionengineers.com>  wrote:
>> Wilm Boerhout may or may not have intoned:
>>
>>> Steven Schweda mentioned  on 31-12-2009 14:38:
>>
>>> [snipped]
>>
>>>>     Otherwise, there is some boot-time debugging which can be
>>>> turned on.  Should be in the FAQ.
>>
>>> 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?
>>
>> --
>> Cheers!
>> Ade.
>
> I can mail you a verified copy, no problem. I spent enough money
> already on stamps for Christmas cards....
> Alternatively, I can set up an Alpha for inbound ftp and you can
> download your own image. But I strongly suspect that this is the
> master version of the VMS073.IMG file you've found on the internet!
> I'm more interested in the Plextor drive, did you manage to locate the
> caddy?
> Michael Kraemer is right though, VMS doesný play well with third party
> cd drives. A VAXstation 3100 M78 uses a Pioneer	DR-U12X and an
> Alphaserver 1200
> has a Toshiba XM-5701TA. All the others use DEC RRD4x drives.
> Good luck
>
>
> Hans


Btw. many of the DEC RRD* drives are made by Toshiba. But if the CD 
drive wouldn't work correctly the boot wouldn't go as far as it appears 
to have now. I also do suspect the CD medium rather than the drive. If 
Hans sends you a tested CD try using that first.

The old RRD drives weren't built to support CD-R media and they are 
known not to accept CD-R media. The CD-R drives instead are built to be 
fast rather than accurate. The latest RRD drives (like the RRD46) do 
accept CD-R media better. If you find one on Ebay, go for it. They 
should be affordable.

Good luck with your VMS hobby!

Kari