pjd@cwruecmp.UUCP (dr. funk) (02/13/86)
We just installed the new TOS ROM's in one of our machines. Here's a few pointers. * Installation is generally no problem. The worst part of the procedure is unsoldering the metal shield from the PC board. There are six ROM's to install in positions U2 to U7. Only U4 and U7 were silk-screened on the board, but U2 is the "top most" (nearest to rear) socket. A screwdriver is handy for prying out the old devices. The ROM's aligned quite well and no pins were bent out of place. In case you didn't notice in your haste, the indexing groove on the old chips were on the right hand side! Remember to observe good anti-static, defensive practice when handling the parts. Just to be safe, handle the old ROM's carefully in case you blow up one of the new ones and need to re-install. Overall dexterity/skill level: A little more skill than a Heathkit one nighter is required, but not much. Hardware novices should be able to do the installation themselves without being ripped off by a dealer. * There were a few scenes out of the "software follies of 1986" tho'. If TOS.IMG is present on floppy A while booting, it will boot from the floppy. The TOS ROM tries (and retries!) the floppy drive looking for TOS.IMG, DESKTOP.INF and the accessories. (We also jiggled the power plug loose from the floppy while installing the ROM's and imagine our surprise when we couldn't access the disk. "What the _______") * I'm going with a small RAM disk for the PD microemacs, terminal emulator/FTP, and micro C shell. With the speed that this stuff comes up, "VAX? I don't need no stinking VAX!" Going to 1 Meg may be unnecessary for hardware novices or people like me with a neatness fetish. Still waiting for a 2 Meg upgrade board ...... -- paul drongowski decvax!cwruecmp!pjd case western reserve university pjd%Case@CSNet-relay