Fired up my three PowerLites...all three need nvram batteries, no surprise. One has a failing display, one has a dead display or an issue with power but they all at least boot up. Bill
On Sun, Oct 22, 2023, 3:36 PM erik--- via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > Thanks Jonathan for the offer. Meanwhile X-rayed the 1643 as well and > connected a really big battery. Here again: Had to start the oscillator > before the UltraBook passed the POST and turned on the display - it is up > and running again now - UltraBook and UltraBook IIi restored. So my final > report: > > (1) Failing UltraBooks and UltraBooks IIi can get a "new" NVRAM, but need > them erazed and the oscillator started. After that, they power up again. > > (2) The procedure given in the Sun NVRAM-FAQ for using the OpenFirmware to > set Machine Type 0x80, MAC, HostID and checksum works as given there (using > the mkp command). This information goes into NVRAM adresses 0x1FD9 and > following. > > (3) Also OpenBoot and the command idprom@ can be used to read the > information (again according to the table in the FAQ) from NVRAM. > > (4) real-machine-type and update-system-idprom are not implemented in the > UltraBooks and they are not necessary as well (information is written to > the NVRAM immeiately with the mkp command). > > (5) During booting, Solaris may complain on a wrong date format in the > NVRAM - but this message goes away after time was set using the OS's date > command. > > (6) The contents of the NVRAM for lower addresses look different between > UltraBook and UltraBook IIi, so it does not make sense using NVRAM contents > from one type on the other one (boot order is at 0x2CB for both, but > TTY-settings differ). > > (7) The Open-Firmware manual lists some interesting additional STOP > sequences on top of STOP-A which may be of help if encountering problems - > e.g. for resetting NVRAM or starting a Forth interpreter on TTYA for > debugging of hardware problems - see page 107 in 901-7042. > > Happy computing and thanks to all who responded or participated in one way > or another... >
