Monitor problem with Sun Ultra 5

I bought a used Sun Ultra 5 machine with a VGA video port to be used
with PC monitors. I can hear it POST and continue to subsequently boot
up, but the monitor remains blank. I thought I might need a new video
card, but the monitors (Yes, I have tried two of them!) I've used
first go to green, then right back to amber in another second. Would
this indicate the video chips on my machine are bad, and that getting
a card would help, or does this indicate another problem?

Thank You for Responding,

Andrew Stallard

Andrew Stallard wrote:

> I bought a used Sun Ultra 5 machine with a VGA video port to be used
> with PC monitors. I can hear it POST and continue to subsequently boot
> up, but the monitor remains blank. I thought I might need a new video
> card, but the monitors (Yes, I have tried two of them!) I've used
> first go to green, then right back to amber in another second. Would
> this indicate the video chips on my machine are bad, and that getting
> a card would help, or does this indicate another problem?
>
> Thank You for Responding,
>
> Andrew Stallard

Can I assume you have a keyboard plugged in? If so, then perhaps the
OBP is set to send boot info to the terminal on serial port A. If not,
then plug one in.

--
After being targeted with gigabytes of trash by the "SWEN" worm, I have
concluded we must conceal our e-mail address. Our true address is the
mirror image of what you see before the "@" symbol. It's a shame such
steps are necessary. ...Charlie

HI,
Andrew Stallard wrote:
> I bought a used Sun Ultra 5 machine with a VGA video port to be used
> with PC monitors. I can hear it POST and continue to subsequently boot
> up, but the monitor remains blank. I thought I might need a new video
> card, but the monitors (Yes, I have tried two of them!) I've used
> first go to green, then right back to amber in another second. Would
> this indicate the video chips on my machine are bad, and that getting
> a card would help, or does this indicate another problem?
Maybe your monitors can't do the resolution?
Can they go to 1280x1024 around 90-100 MHz in scanrate?

If not, you need to disconnect the keyboard and connect a VT100(or
emulator) to com1(ttya) at 9600 baud and change the res. from there.


/michael

In article <paAqb.36861$>,
Michael Laajanen <> wrote:
>HI,
>Andrew Stallard wrote:
>> I bought a used Sun Ultra 5 machine with a VGA video port to be used
>> with PC monitors. I can hear it POST and continue to subsequently boot
>> up, but the monitor remains blank. I thought I might need a new video
>> card, but the monitors (Yes, I have tried two of them!) I've used
>> first go to green, then right back to amber in another second. Would
>> this indicate the video chips on my machine are bad, and that getting
>> a card would help, or does this indicate another problem?
>Maybe your monitors can't do the resolution?
>Can they go to 1280x1024 around 90-100 MHz in scanrate?
>
>If not, you need to disconnect the keyboard and connect a VT100(or
>emulator) to com1(ttya) at 9600 baud and change the res. from there.
>
>/michael

Is there a plugin video/graphics card installed? If so, you have to
remove it. I don't know if an Ultra 5 has provisions for a plugin
video/graphics card, but I know that an Ultra 10 does and I think
that the Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 have the same mother board.
--
Tom Schulz

HI,
Thomas Schulz wrote:
> In article <paAqb.36861$>,
> Michael Laajanen <> wrote:
>
>>HI,
>>Andrew Stallard wrote:
>>
>>>I bought a used Sun Ultra 5 machine with a VGA video port to be used
>>>with PC monitors. I can hear it POST and continue to subsequently boot
>>>up, but the monitor remains blank. I thought I might need a new video
>>>card, but the monitors (Yes, I have tried two of them!) I've used
>>>first go to green, then right back to amber in another second. Would
>>>this indicate the video chips on my machine are bad, and that getting
>>>a card would help, or does this indicate another problem?
>>
>>Maybe your monitors can't do the resolution?
>>Can they go to 1280x1024 around 90-100 MHz in scanrate?
>>
>>If not, you need to disconnect the keyboard and connect a VT100(or
>>emulator) to com1(ttya) at 9600 baud and change the res. from there.
>>
>>/michael
>
>
> Is there a plugin video/graphics card installed? If so, you have to
> remove it. I don't know if an Ultra 5 has provisions for a plugin
> video/graphics card, but I know that an Ultra 10 does and I think
> that the Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 have the same mother board.

No, they have not the same motherboard, U10 has a UPA graphics port!

/michael