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AlphaStation 500 Firmware Upgrade Issue |
abruzzim
Member
Posts: 4
Location: New York, NY
Joined: 22.03.08 |
| Posted on March 22 2008 07:49 |
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While attempting to upgrade the firmware on an AlphaStation 500, I received the following console output:
[preceding text omitted]
ef.ee.ed.ec.eb
The firmware update does not go any further. Do you know what error condition the AlphaStation is attempting to report that is preventing the firmware update?
Mario Abruzzi |
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| Author |
RE: AlphaStation 500 Firmware Upgrade Issue |
abruzzim
Member
Posts: 4
Location: New York, NY
Joined: 22.03.08 |
| Posted on March 23 2008 03:23 |
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The firmware is being reloaded because the original AlphaStation 500 hardware failed. Another AlphaStation 500 was purchased and the internal components were swapped. The replacement AlphaStation 500 was running VMS V6.x and not V7.3-2. While attempting to boot the original HDD, the console message reported that the firmware needed to be upgraded to at least V7.2.
I will try removing the PCI peripherals before the next firmware upgrade attempt.
I actually think the EB code means that the firmware cannot determine the processor speed, which is supposed to be a non-fatal error. |
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| Author |
RE: AlphaStation 500 Firmware Upgrade Issue |
abruzzim
Member
Posts: 4
Location: New York, NY
Joined: 22.03.08 |
| Posted on April 07 2008 14:30 |
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I was under the impression that Alpha floppy firmware failsafe loads and/or upgrades were to be avoided. Is this method the best way to proceed with this specific issue? |
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| Author |
RE: AlphaStation 500 Firmware Upgrade Issue |
abruzzim
Member
Posts: 4
Location: New York, NY
Joined: 22.03.08 |
| Posted on April 07 2008 18:44 |
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Update and Final Resolution:
I did not see the connection between "pulling the PCI hardware" and "forcing the failsafe" update, so I "pulled the PCI hardware" first.
Removing all of the adapter cards, in this case, the 100 Mb ethernet card, the video graphics card and the SCSI controller card, allowed the AlphaStation to complete the P.O.S.T. past the ".eb." code. After the update, one PCI adapter at a time was re-installed and a test firmware update was performed. The test updates were successful until the video graphics card (PBXGB-AA) was re-installed. That adapter consistently caused the P.O.S.T. to hang at ".eb.".
The firmware update from the floppy was not necessary since I had a CD-ROM from DEC/Compaq/HP.
Thanks for the point in the right direction. |
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