Ultra2 shoots itself in the foot and sticks tounge out

I have acquired (2nd hand) a 2-processor Ultra2. After running for a
while, it shuts its
own power off. Cycling (off-on) the power button or pulling/putting back
the power cord brings
it up again. 'A while' currently means a couple of days, but for a while
ment just
to the 'Initializing memory' message. The better time came after running
with diag-switch?=true.
This has developed with time (I didn' run it for several months), though
maybe it was there
when I got the machine (I never ran it for more than a day).
Since I gather the machine will remember power on/off status through a
power outage there
must be some non-volatile storage somewhere. Could that be faulty?
Also, it has developed a habit of not keeping the CD tray in, with or
without CD.

In article <>, Ulf Tropp <>
wrote:
> I have acquired (2nd hand) a 2-processor Ultra2. After running for a
> while, it shuts its own power off.

Power supply unit (PSU) may be dying.

My boss had that problem... his PSU was so clogged with dust it couldn't
properly run.

Suns do not normally turn themselves off unless it is something very
serious, like failing PSU, failing CPU fan, etc.

It may be worth it to get an inexpensive secondhand Ultra2 to
cannibalise for spare parts like a working PSU, etc.

-Dan

Ulf Tropp wrote:
> I have acquired (2nd hand) a 2-processor Ultra2. After running for a
> while, it shuts its
> own power off. Cycling (off-on) the power button or pulling/putting back
> the power cord brings
> it up again. 'A while' currently means a couple of days, but for a while
> ment just
> to the 'Initializing memory' message. The better time came after running
> with diag-switch?=true.
> This has developed with time (I didn' run it for several months), though
> maybe it was there
> when I got the machine (I never ran it for more than a day).
> Since I gather the machine will remember power on/off status through a
> power outage there
> must be some non-volatile storage somewhere. Could that be faulty?
> Also, it has developed a habit of not keeping the CD tray in, with or
> without CD.

You could hold [STOP]-[D] keys down when you power up the machine, this can
indicate some problems with hardware depending on what LEDs may be light, a
complete list should be in the U2 manual (see docs.sun.com if you don't have
one), but here it is:

Num Lock = Memory failed
Scroll Lock = Memory failed
Num Lock + Scroll Lock = Memory failed
Compose = Memory failed
Compose + Num Lock = Memory failed
Compose + Scroll Lock = Memory failed
Compose + Num Lock +Scroll Lock = Memory failed
Caps Lock = Memory failed
Caps Lock + Scroll Lock = No memory found
(It's the different memories that are tested)

Caps Lock + Num Lock = Main board failed
Caps Lock + Compose + Scroll Lock = CPU 1 failed
Caps Lock + Compose + Scroll Lock + Num Lock = CPU 2 failed

The Caps Lock LED it blinks on and off to indicate that the POSTs are running.

I hope that can give you some indication of troubles.


//Aho

In comp.unix.solaris Ulf Tropp <> wrote:
> I have acquired (2nd hand) a 2-processor Ultra2. After running for a
> while, it shuts its
> own power off. Cycling (off-on) the power button or pulling/putting back
> the power cord brings
> it up again. 'A while' currently means a couple of days, but for a while
> ment just
> to the 'Initializing memory' message. The better time came after running
> with diag-switch?=true.
> This has developed with time (I didn' run it for several months), though
> maybe it was there
> when I got the machine (I never ran it for more than a day).
> Since I gather the machine will remember power on/off status through a
> power outage there
> must be some non-volatile storage somewhere. Could that be faulty?
> Also, it has developed a habit of not keeping the CD tray in, with or
> without CD.

From my life on a field support team, I found that the Ultra2s have a
tendency to start to die in this manner, and it's almost invariably a
flakey power supply. Try blowing it out with some compressed air, and
just for good measure, reseat everything in the box. If the problem
persists, it's probably the PS (although it could be bad power in your
house).

Colin

Ulf Tropp wrote:
> I have acquired (2nd hand) a 2-processor Ultra2. After running for a
> while, it shuts its
> own power off. Cycling (off-on) the power button or pulling/putting back
> the power cord brings
> it up again. 'A while' currently means a couple of days, but for a while
> ment just
> to the 'Initializing memory' message. The better time came after running
> with diag-switch?=true.
> This has developed with time (I didn' run it for several months), though
> maybe it was there
> when I got the machine (I never ran it for more than a day).
> Since I gather the machine will remember power on/off status through a
> power outage there
> must be some non-volatile storage somewhere. Could that be faulty?
> Also, it has developed a habit of not keeping the CD tray in, with or
> without CD.


I would suspect bad electrolytic capacitors in the power supply, any TV
shop should be able to fix that for you, or you could replace the PSU.

Ulf Tropp wrote:

> I have acquired (2nd hand) a 2-processor Ultra2. After running for a
> while, it shuts its
> own power off. Cycling (off-on) the power button or pulling/putting back
> the power cord brings
> it up again. 'A while' currently means a couple of days, but for a while
> ment just
> to the 'Initializing memory' message. The better time came after running
> with diag-switch?=true.
> This has developed with time (I didn' run it for several months), though
> maybe it was there
> when I got the machine (I never ran it for more than a day).
> Since I gather the machine will remember power on/off status through a
> power outage there
> must be some non-volatile storage somewhere. Could that be faulty?
> Also, it has developed a habit of not keeping the CD tray in, with or
> without CD.

As others have said, the spontaneous powerdowns are most likely due to a
bad power supply.

Spitting out the CD tray is caused by a cracked gear on the tray drive
motor spindle - the cracked gear has enough grip on the spindle to open
and close the tray, but slips when it tries to raise the laser head.

The fix is to remove the tray drive spindle gear, squeeze it to close
the crack, wrap a couple of turns of thin wire around it just below the
gear teeth, and add a drop of superglue to keep the wire in place.
Roughen the spindle a little with sandpaper before pressing the repaired
gear back on.

Sunny

Ulf Tropp wrote:
> I have acquired (2nd hand) a 2-processor Ultra2. After running for a
> while, it shuts its
> own power off. Cycling (off-on) the power button or pulling/putting back
> the power cord brings
> it up again. 'A while' currently means a couple of days, but for a while
> ment just
> to the 'Initializing memory' message. The better time came after running
> with diag-switch?=true.

Ultra2 machines are quite fond of cooling air; any restriction of the
air flow
on the left side of the machine will cause it to very quickly overhead
and
shut itself off via internal temp. sensors.

I'd also open it up and clean out the dust - it will help.

- Bart (I had one of these as a desktop for years).

"Colin B." <> writes:
>In comp.unix.solaris Ulf Tropp <> wrote:
>> I have acquired (2nd hand) a 2-processor Ultra2. After running for a
>> while, it shuts its
>> own power off. Cycling (off-on) the power button or pulling/putting back
>> the power cord brings
>> it up again. 'A while' currently means a couple of days, but for a while
>> ment just
>> to the 'Initializing memory' message. The better time came after running
>> with diag-switch?=true.
>> This has developed with time (I didn' run it for several months), though
>> maybe it was there
>> when I got the machine (I never ran it for more than a day).
>> Since I gather the machine will remember power on/off status through a
>> power outage there
>> must be some non-volatile storage somewhere. Could that be faulty?
>> Also, it has developed a habit of not keeping the CD tray in, with or
>> without CD.
>
>From my life on a field support team, I found that the Ultra2s have a
>tendency to start to die in this manner, and it's almost invariably a
>flakey power supply. Try blowing it out with some compressed air,

I recently upgraded the OBP in my Ultra2, and whn I opened it up to
change the jumper that write-enables the flash PROM, I couldn't find it
because there was about 1 cm of dust inside it, and the PSU vents were
completely clogged up. As a first step, I'd clean the inside out with
one of those cans of compressed "air", or a vacuum cleaner (carefully!)

--
"Other people are not your property."
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