28 Sep
2023
28 Sep
'23
4:41 a.m.
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(a)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).