HP 9000/840S is alive (sorta)

From: Steve Robertson <steverob_at_hotoffice.com>
Date: Wed Jun 9 09:50:17 1999

> >
> > Before I can start the system in multiple user mode, I gotta figure out
a
> > fail safe way to change the ROOT password. According to the MAN pages,
you
> > gotta supply the current password if you use the "passwd" command. That
> > won't work because I don't know the current password. DOH!
>
> Actually, most versions of passwd bypass the request for the old password
> if you are running them as root. I'd try 'passwd root' and see what
happens.
>

I was able to create a new user through "sam" (HPUX system tool) with ROOT
privileges. Unfortunately, I cannot get the system to reboot reliably. Keep
getting HD errors.

Previously, the system was failing while running FSCK during the boot
process. At that point, it would drop me to a shell as ROOT. That's how I
was able to get in before.

Last night, I ran FSCK manually to fix the problems and it did recover the
cylinders on the disk. Now when it is booted, it doesn't fail the FSCK so,
it continues and fails at different point. It just keeps looping and saying
"error blah, blah, blah, PID 1 killed".

Haven't figured out a way around that one, YET! Might be able to pass a
parameter while booting that will cause a different boot behaviour?

Looks like I'll probably have to reinstall the OS from scratch. I don't
think there was any thing on the system that wouldn't be included in the OS
installation anyway. I ordered the FREE software upgrade (HPUX 9.0 to HPUX
10) from HP and hope to hear from them in the next few days. I just hope
it's on a medium that I can read.

I sorta goofed and only ordered a couple of licenses. Originally, the
system had 64!

I'll let you know what happens.

Anyone know where I can HPIB "shoebox" drive for this thing?

See Ya,

Steve Robertson - <steverob_at_hotoffice.com>
Received on Wed Jun 09 1999 - 09:50:17 BST