[Info-vax] Modding a DS10-L

[Rich Jordan]

On Mar 15, 12:09 pm, Rich Jordan <jor... at ccs4vms.com> wrote:
> One of my two hobbyist DS10L systems has bit it; the main logic board
> is dead and it just isn't cost feasible to repair/replace right now.
> So I have a full set of working spares (less the MLB, all tested in
> the second DS10L) including two extra 512MB DIMMs, sadly not the rare
> low profile DataRAM models.  And I have some tools (and access to
> others) and I'm not afraid to use them. especially on spare parts.
>
> I was thinking about cutting a nice rectangle in the lid right over
> the memory slots.  Then making a sheet metal cap that would provide
> enough clearance so that I could use the DIMMs vertically instead of
> with the right-angle adapters.  That would allow me to take my working
> DS10L up to 2GB.  The cap would get riveted to the case lid (I don't
> have access to a welder, nor the skills to non-destructively weld
> sheet metal).
>
> I don't expect any problems except for possibly the frontmost case
> screw mount, which might partially overlap with the area needing to be
> cut.  Given continuous metal still shielding the system/RAM, am I
> likely to run into any EMI problems caused by the system? I don't
> think cooling will be affected enough to matter (as long as there is
> some turbulence to prevent the metal cap from becoming a dead-air
> hotspot).
>
> Fun to think about while I wish  (and keep an eye out for) a free/
> cheap DS15 or free/dirt cheap DS10...
>
> Rich

On further study of the service guide it looks like the DS10 series do
have SROM access like older boxes but so far I haven't found info on
accessing it.  There's a 10-pin IDC-style port labeled SROM (factory
only), and the dip switches have a couple of interestingly named
options:  SW3#8 apparently select for fail safe boot; on an AS200 I
blieve that caused it to boot a firmware floppy to load SRM (assuming
corrupted flash).  SW8#5 can run the SROM mini-debugger, and SW1#2
"SROM flash select spare".  I tried a failsafe boot with an old floppy
download and still got the 6 beeps; I'm going to see if I can get a
new floppy built to try just in case.

But I still suspect the MLB is dead.