On Wed, 20 Sep 2000, Tony Duell wrote:
> My experience with these machines suggest that unless you _know_ you have
> a complete, working, system it's best to start with a minimal system (CPU
All I know is that I have a complete rusting system. ...well, it was
complete before I thoroughly disassembled it back in 1997. It's only
the chassis, that's still rusting, the power transformer now seems to
be ok.
> This is going to be somewhat general, but it'll give you an idea of
> what's involved. When you actually get started, post more questions, and
> I (and others) will get out the manuals.
>
> To start with, take the cover off the CPU box (the unit with the octal
Ermmm... I already did that. :-)
> keypad on the front). Make a note of what all the boards are, where they
> go, their M-numbers (on the handles of the boards), etc. And where all
> the cables go (some go to the frontpanel in the CPU box, some go to the
> peripherals (if you have disks, for example) and some will go to serial
> ports for the terminals. Also mark which way round they go, of course.
Did that too. Alas, I'm still saerching for those notes where I jotted
all that down, in detail.
> Then pull all the boards and cables. Identify what the various boards do
> from the Module Lists (e.g. on the web).
Did that.
> With all the boards out, plug the CPU box PSU (only) into the mains. I
My PSU is in bits as well... I took it apart to oil the transformer,
like I did the PDP-8/e, if you recall. For those unfamiliar with the
concept of oiling a transformer, it was an attempt at slowing down the
rusting of the cores.
> would guess you have a 110V unit and it'll have a normal 15A 3 pin plug
> on it. For the moment, disconnect the small 3-pin power control bus
> plugs, but again note how they go.
Did that.
> Turn on the CPU box at the front panel control, and the fans should start
Ok, but no fans are going to start at this point. :-)
> up. Check all power lines at the backplane with a voltmeter (again, ask
> here as to what pins to check if you don't have information on the
> backplane). If any are missing/incorrect, it's time to start
> troubleshooting the PSU.
When I get this machine reassembled, I'll go through all these steps.
Thanks very much for providing everyone on this list with information
about the correct way to bring a machine back to life rather than the
horrid "just plug it in and see what happens" approach that some take.
[...]
> With that configuration you should be able to enter programs on the front
> panel and run them. You should also be able to run Console ODT (a tiny
Speaking of the front panel of these machines, has anyone here added more
lights to the front panel in order to have a real set of blinking lights?
Something tells me that doing so shouldn't be too difficult a hack.
> That should give you a general idea of what's going to be involved...
Yes, lots of fun. :-)
--
R. D. Davis "The best way to gain a true understanding of
rdd_at_perqlogic.com Wile E. Coyote on the Roadrunner cartoons is to
http://www.perqlogic.com/rdd fly, head-first, off a horse into something like
410-744-4900 a fence or a tree; trust me, this works." --RDD
Received on Wed Sep 20 2000 - 16:28:45 BST