Yet we have a few datapoints showing that a dead NVRAM/RTC still boot UltraBooks just fine! As I said, I personally confirmed with my UltraBook IIe. Pretty sure the NVRAM is dead in my SPARCbook too, I can confirm that today.
Thanks, Jonathan ------- Original Message ------- On Thursday, September 28th, 2023 at 05:08, erik--- via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > > > > Hmmm, not sure on that one actually. So it does not boot up at all? > > > Yes - exactly! > > > In the desktop Sun workstations and e.g. the Tadpole SparcBook, a lost > > NVRAM at least > > shows the firmware prompt on the screen (no HOSTID and no ethernet MAC). > > > Yes, that is different in the UltraBooks. There is very likely some deep > hardware specific stuff in the NVRAM. In Tafpoles, SparcStations and similar > (I have some of them) there is NEVER a sticker with the serial numer on the > NVRAM, but in the UltraBooks there is. That is also anindication for me, that > the NVRAM is paired to the hardware. > > > situation is not as severe as with the UltraBooks where the screen remains > > black/dark and > > no interaction is possible! > > > Exactly - and therefore I fear, that all the UltraBooks will die, once the > relevant bytes get lost. Mine operated for some years with the "Invalid > NVRAM" message until I attached the battery to the NVRAM and herein > completely erased it because it was completely without power for some time > (old battery was down to 0.426V).
