28 Sep
2023
28 Sep
'23
10:08 a.m.
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).