Dr Johnny Blanchard

The Sun Ultra 30 is running, turned out that one of the hard drives was shorted and two memory sticks were in back to front. Incredibly the memory seems to be fine.

I just need to fix the NVRam - so a bit of melting and dremeling to do this weekend - and then I have to find the right values to set. Plus I’m guessing the other hard drive is also dead, so I’ll need to work out a solution for that.

Feb 24 at 10:34amWeb
Show threadDr Johnny BlanchardFeb 25
Remember when I said on of the drives was shorted? Yeah - I should have checked the drives more carefully
Show threadRobee? Na! 🌈Feb 25
@jonn_blanchard Oh my that’s quite the failure mode!
Show threadJonathan ‘theJPster’ PallantFeb 24
@jonn_blanchard I do have a pile of SCA SCSI drives here, all tested working (for now). Or this is a good excuse to try out the new SCA Ultra Wide version of the @BlueSCSI.
Show threadDr Johnny BlanchardFeb 24
@thejpster @BlueSCSI ah, is that available? I was looking online and all the places that sell pre-built ones were saying coming soon
Show threadJonathan ‘theJPster’ PallantFeb 24

@jonn_blanchard @BlueSCSI ah, still says awaiting firmware… soon hopefully.

https://shop.flamelily.co.uk/ultrawide80

BlueSCSI Ultra - Wide SCA (80 pin)

All your retro SCSI and PCB needs in one place. New stuff for old tech.

Flamelily Retro
Show threadDr Johnny BlanchardFeb 24
@thejpster @BlueSCSI 🤞that would be the ideal
Show threadJonathan ‘theJPster’ PallantFeb 24
@jonn_blanchard I can sell you a mechanical drive that might last long enough to cover you until it's done. Maybe.
Show threadDr Johnny BlanchardFeb 24
@thejpster haha, I might take you up on that. I’ll fix the NVRam and see if that changes anything with the drive that isn’t shorted
Show threadBlueSCSIFeb 24
@jonn_blanchard @thejpster - @TechByAndroda is putting the finishing touches on some hardware/software for SCA - soon!
Show threadRegionales Retro-RechenzentrumFeb 24
@jonn_blanchard Do you know the „Necroware“ method for NVRAM modules? When heated with hot air, the plastic casing gets brittle and can be pulled apart. No dremeling, no mess. Sorry if already known, but I‘m enthusiastic about this improvement of the process
Show threadDr Johnny BlanchardFeb 24
@3rz I was considering trying a heat gun this time - I’ve never used it before though (never apologise for trying to share knowledge)
Show threadRegionales Retro-RechenzentrumFeb 24
@jonn_blanchard Between 70-90 degree Celsius seems to be a good
"hot spot" (pun intended). Surprisingly low temps.
Show threadonionFeb 24
@3rz @jonn_blanchard this was news to me, any guides or just point and heat?
Show threadDr Johnny BlanchardFeb 24
@onion @3rz I think the Necroware videos are probably the best guide for the melt method - I’m not sure if he also did a text guide @3rz ?
Show threadRegionales Retro-RechenzentrumFeb 24
@jonn_blanchard @onion I"m not aware of a text form - I only know his video where he showcases the process of unsoldering the NVRAM module, then heating it at 70-90 deg C, then prying apart the shell casing of the module, which got brittle.
Show threadRegionales Retro-RechenzentrumFeb 24

@onion @jonn_blanchard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecTZtZhE9bI&t=763s has the trick. Way cleaner than dremeling/drilling.

(if timeskip-parameter is lost, start watching at around 12:43)

#nvram #rtc #dallas #necroware #brittle

Let's talk about RTC options once again

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