[rescue] Need input... need input... on SparcBook2

Fri Aug 31 12:51:42 CDT 2001

This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.

------_=_NextPart_001_01C13245.97DC1640
Content-Type: text/plain

I had the same problem a few years back with a SparcStation 2.  The eprom
was locked by the maintenance password.  A sun rep from Sun told me about
the way he once solved that problem with a SS5.  It sounds weird but I did
it and it actually works.

He it goes...
	1)  You switch the eprom from the good machine to the bad one.
          (This is what could be you main problem since I've got no idea if
you can remove the eprom from the SparcBook)

	2)  You boot the bad machine with the eprom from the good one.

	3)  Once you've got yuour OK prompt, you change back the eprom
without stoping the machine.

	4)  So you now have SparcBook with a locked eprom but you've passed
the password stage.

	5)  You now have write access to the eprom and you can change the
password (just look in the open boot documentation for the exact command.)

have fun

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: BSD Bob the old greybeard BSD freak
[mailto:bobkeys at weedcon1.cropsci.ncsu.edu]
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 2:09 PM
To: rescue at sunhelp.org
Subject: [rescue] Need input... need input... on SparcBook2

For several years, now, I have been running a SparcBook2 laptop (32MB
2x350mb hd) as a sort of portable ferry box/terminal box/etc.
I have a second one that works fine, except it needs some silly
``maintenance key code'' entered to get the thing beyond the initial
prom boot.  It can't even access cdroms to reboot/reinstall.
Call it a ``feature'' not a bug....(:+}}...  It seems to have been
overkill in security at the design stage, and woe to the service techie
that has to fix the critter.

Anyway, the company has lost the capability to regenerate these codes,
as told to me by a company folk.  So, the spare machine is dead in
the water.

Anyone know anything about SparcBook2 critters that might be able to
get around this silly maintenance key code so I can try to rescue the
thingy?   I saw a few tidbits on the Solaris 1 for them on Bills archive,
but, I really could use some more input, as ol' Johnny No. 5 was want
to say**.

Any insights into possible tricks to resurrect a perfectly fine
Sparc laptop are appreciated.

Thanks

Bob

** From the movie series Short Circuit.

_______________________________________________
rescue maillist  -  rescue at sunhelp.org
http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue

------_=_NextPart_001_01C13245.97DC1640
Content-Type: text/html
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">
<META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version =
5.5.2653.12">
<TITLE>RE: [rescue] Need input... need input... on SparcBook2</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>I had the same problem a few years back with a =
SparcStation 2.  The eprom was locked by the maintenance =
password.  A sun rep from Sun told me about the way he once solved =
that problem with a SS5.  It sounds weird but I did it and it =
actually works.</FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>He it goes...</FONT>
<BR>        <FONT SIZE=3D2>1)  =
You switch the eprom from the good machine to the bad one.</FONT>
<BR><FONT =
SIZE=3D2>          (This =
is what could be you main problem since I've got no idea if you can =
remove the eprom from the SparcBook)</FONT></P>

<P>        <FONT SIZE=3D2>2)  =
You boot the bad machine with the eprom from the good one.</FONT>
</P>

<P>        <FONT SIZE=3D2>3)  =
Once you've got yuour OK prompt, you change back the eprom without =
stoping the machine.</FONT>
</P>

<P>        <FONT SIZE=3D2>4)  =
So you now have SparcBook with a locked eprom but you've passed the =
password stage.</FONT>
</P>

<P>        <FONT SIZE=3D2>5)  =
You now have write access to the eprom and you can change the password =
(just look in the open boot documentation for the exact =
command.)</FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>have fun</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Fred</FONT>
</P>

-----Original Message-----
 From: BSD Bob the old greybeard BSD freak
 [<A =
HREF=3D"mailto:bobkeys at weedcon1.cropsci.ncsu.edu">mailto:bobkeys at weedcon=
1.cropsci.ncsu.edu</A>]
 Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 2:09 PM
 To: rescue at sunhelp.org
 Subject: [rescue] Need input... need input... on =
SparcBook2

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>For several years, now, I have been running a =
SparcBook2 laptop (32MB</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>2x350mb hd) as a sort of portable ferry box/terminal =
box/etc.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>I have a second one that works fine, except it needs =
some silly</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>``maintenance key code'' entered to get the thing =
beyond the initial</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>prom boot.  It can't even access cdroms to =
reboot/reinstall.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Call it a ``feature'' not a bug....(:+}}...  It =
seems to have been</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>overkill in security at the design stage, and woe to =
the service techie</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>that has to fix the critter.</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Anyway, the company has lost the capability to =
regenerate these codes,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>as told to me by a company folk.  So, the spare =
machine is dead in</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>the water.</FONT>
</P>

Anyone know anything about SparcBook2 critters that =
might be able to
 get around this silly maintenance key code so I can =
try to rescue the
 thingy?   I saw a few tidbits on the =
Solaris 1 for them on Bills archive,
 but, I really could use some more input, as ol' =
Johnny No. 5 was want
 to say**.

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Any insights into possible tricks to resurrect a =
perfectly fine</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sparc laptop are appreciated.</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Thanks</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Bob</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>** From the movie series Short Circuit.</FONT>
</P>

<P><FONT =
SIZE=3D2>_______________________________________________</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>rescue maillist  -  =
rescue at sunhelp.org</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2><A =
HREF=3D"http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue" =
TARGET=3D"_blank">http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue</A></FO=
NT>
</P>

</BODY>
</HTML>
------_=_NextPart_001_01C13245.97DC1640--