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Conference giadev::decstation

Title:DECstation PC Conference
Notice:register note 2, see notes 3 & 4
Moderator:TARKIN::LININD
Created:Tue Jan 10 1989
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:7470
Total number of notes:34994

7390.0. "316sx scrambled cmos" by 35772::TOKAR (klignon by choice) Tue Mar 18 1997 23:24

    
    
    To make a very long story short - a family member recently bought a
    DECstation 316sx (hey it was really cheap).  Another family member
    decided to run the setup diskette on it, however they  ran one for a
    320, and yes it ran.  I managed to get the proper setup disk off the
    web, but it when I run it I get
    
        This SETUP program does not support this  computer
    
    I checked the mother board and it is a 316sx.  I called support and
    they confirmed I was running the right routine.
    
    Is there a version of the setup program that does not check what ever
    it checks to determine the system type.  If not, how do I undo whatever 
    running the 320 setup program did to scramble things.
    
    The only other alternative I can figure is to find an old Digital,
    Packard Bell, or Panasonic mother board to replace the original one
    with.
    
    Any help would be appreciated.
    
    b.t.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
7390.1TARKIN::LINBill LinWed Mar 19 1997 06:3327
    re: 35772::TOKAR
    
    >> DECstation 316sx (hey it was really cheap).
    
    How much did someone pay your family member to take the machine?  ;-)
    
    Since I don't have any direct working knowledge of this machine, I can
    only give you some general suggestions.
    
    1) Clear CMOS memory.  I can't tell you how to do it.  There may be a
    jumper, or there may be a battery that you can remove and leave off
    overnight.
    
    2) Use a generic setup program.  There are only a few limited functions
    that can possibly be done by such a program though.  See the shareware
    conference (humane::ibmpc_shareware) for other pointers.
    
    one example:
    
Directory PCBUHD::SYS$UTIL:[000000]

GSETUP31.ZIP;1            59/60       16-MAR-1989 20:37:20.00  (RE,RWED,RE,RE)

    Good luck.
    
    /Bill
7390.2Bios reset.SNOFS1::16.153.96.192::powellronaldAustralia!Wed Mar 19 1997 18:1811
A service trick I used to use may help here. A company called 
Speedstor used to have a generic AT BIOS setup file as part of their 
disk utility set. It does not work on any of DIGITALs, HPs, NECs or 
Compaqs machines! BUT it does corrupt the bios settings table so 
that you are forced to run the bios setup again, and the bios does 
not check revs when it  is corrupted in this way.  Sorry, but due to 
theft I no longer have a copy of the utility.



 Ron Powell.
7390.3debug to scramble35772::TOKARklignon by choiceFri Mar 28 1997 15:3613
    
    Thanks for the replys.
    
    If corrupting the bios is all I have to do, perhaps I can just enter
    some characters there via debug.
    
    I will try downloading the generic setup and using them.
    
    b.t.
    
    ps 
    Cheap was 50 US Dollars for system, monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer,
    all cables, etc.