Hello,
when turning on my AlphaPC there is no Screen-Output. Power-on is indicated, HDDs are rotating but nothing else happens. I thought the former user set up a serial console so i tried via terminal emulator to get a screen (via cross-over serial connection). It didn't work either.
I am not pretty sure about about the system but i think that it is an A5000 which was selled by Vobis/Highscreen in 1998. There is no brand on the case and the numbers found on the mainboard didn't show me anything via google. I found some mainboard mauals and so i an sure that it is a 164 board, but i have no idea if it is a SX or LX.
If someone knows how to do a hardware reset on this Alpha or how to get the serial console or the graphical interface work, please help me.
[quote:903a913515="Yuccaman"]Hello,
when turning on my AlphaPC there is no Screen-Output. Power-on is indicated, HDDs are rotating but nothing else happens. I thought the former user set up a serial console so i tried via terminal emulator to get a screen (via cross-over serial connection). It didn't work either.
[/quote:903a913515]
It sounds like it could have a major problem. If it's got a graphics card, I would think you'd see something come up on it. It the drives power up, but after a while, there's no activity, then it would appear that it's not auto-booting, either.
I'm rather late at this, but thought I'd give my $.02. Have a look at the 164LX and the 164SX motherboard technical reference manuals. On page 22 on both of these manuals there is a schematic of the board. That should help you sort out which of the two is yours.
When you have found out which of the two boards is in your computer, go over to http://ftp.digital.com/pub/Digital/Alpha/firmware/ and download the latest SRM firmware for it (or follow the instructions for creating a firmware cd). You can then enter Failsafe mode (check the manual you downloaded earlier for the SW1 switch) and update the firmware in your board's flash memory, eventually erasing any and all tweaks the previous owner had made.
malmberg August 04 2022 No more VAX hobbyist licenses. Community licenses for Alpha/IA64/X86_64 VMS Software Inc. Commercial VMS software licenses for VAX available from HPE.
ozboomer July 20 2022 Just re-visiting.. No more hobbyist licenses? Is that from vmssoftware.com, no 'community' licenses?
valdirfranco July 01 2022 No more hobbyist license...sad
mister_wavey February 12 2022 I recall that the disks failed on the public access VMS systems that included Fafner
parwezw January 03 2022 Anyone know what happened to FAFNER.DYNDS.ORG? I had a hobbyist account here but can longer access the site.
gtackett October 27 2021 Make that DECdfs _2.1A_ for Vax
gtackett October 27 2021 I'm looking for DECdfs V2.4A kit for VAX. Asking here just in case anyone is still listening.
MarkRLV September 17 2021 At one time, didn't this web site have a job board? I would love to use my legacy skills one last time in my career.
malmberg January 18 2021 New Hobbyist PAKs for VAX/VMS are no longer available according to reports. Only commercial licenses are reported to be for sale from HPE
dfilip January 16 2021 Can someone please point me to hobbyist license pak? I'm looking for VAX/VMS 7.1, DECnet Phase IV, and UCX/TCPIP ... have the 7.1 media, need the license paks ... thanks!
