Re: DEC 3000/800 AXP boot problem


Bob Koehler wrote:

getting the ASIC error) could be related.

I found problem causing the ASIC error - there is a post-manufacturing
hack on the IO module that involves two pins of a PLCC being lifted
from their pads and soldered to a diode and resister in parallel. The
other end is soldered via a wire to a pad on the motherboard. The glue
holding the hack to the top of the PLCC has long since deteriorated
and one of the pins was very close to its' neighbour and pad. I moved
this clear and since then a couple of boots have now shown the error.

What I'm noticing now however is that the system is hanging
intermittently. My focus now is on the power supply. I have heard that
capacitors can deteriorate in a power supply - and have personal
experience of old capacitors blowing up. What could I check on the
power supply to determine if that is the problem?

I don't recommend finger heat sinks for most applications, but you
indicate cold seem to work better. Run your fingers around inside
after a failure (carefully) and see if you can find some component
that could use more cooling than originally designed.

I will do this on the mainboard, although if the problem is in the
power supply then that could be tricky!

Mark.

.

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