wbader@scarecrow.csee.lehigh.edu0 (william bader) (10/05/89)
I have a Dell 310 running Xenix 2.3 with a Cybernetics 8mm tape drive and an 8 port Arnet smartport card. Running tar to the tape drive in multi-user mode usually crashes the system (invalid opcode, kernel panic). tar and doscp to the floppy will crash about 1 in 3 times, especially if something else is running. I was doing backups to tape in single user mode every day for about three months, but it crashed today. I suspect a Dell hardware problem related to the pattern of access to RAM because earlier revisions of the 310 motherboard have had similar problems, but Dell refuses to look at anything that does not happen under DOS. Any suggestions? William Bader 215-837-8485
bob@consult.UUCP (Bob Willey) (10/05/89)
In article <wbader.89oct4205311@scarecrow.csee.lehigh.edu> wbader@scarecrow.csee.lehigh.edu0 (william bader) writes: >I have a Dell 310 running Xenix 2.3 with a Cybernetics 8mm tape drive and >an 8 port Arnet smartport card. Running tar to the tape drive in multi-user >mode usually crashes the system (invalid opcode, kernel panic). >tar and doscp to the floppy will crash about 1 in 3 times, especially >if something else is running. I was doing backups to tape in single user >mode every day for about three months, but it crashed today. >I suspect a Dell hardware problem related to the pattern of access to >RAM because earlier revisions of the 310 motherboard have had similar >problems, but Dell refuses to look at anything that does not happen >under DOS. Any suggestions? We have experienced similar problems with a Dell PC Limited 386/16 machine running Xenix 2.3.2 and a Computone Intelliport AT8 card, and a Archive FT60 tape backup (external). We experieced the same type of symptoms with the system PANIC'ing at intermittent intervals. We had Dell replace the memory board and the SIMMS (which you cannot buy anymore!!). Our customer has 3mb installed in the machine, and we suspected a memory problem but to no avail. We have seemed to get around the problem now by using CTAR by Microlite Corp. in place of tar. It has made the problem go away, and we have enjoyed using CTAR due to some of it's other features (like being able to create a bootable floppy to restore from). Apparently it uses memory in an entirely different manner than tar and does not run into the Dell problem I hope this helps. -- .. Computer Consulting Service .. Bob Willey .. .. P.O. Drawer 1690 .. uunet!consult!bob .. .. Easton, Maryland 21601 .. (301) 820-4670 .. ...............................................................
james@bigtex.cactus.org (James Van Artsdalen) (10/07/89)
In article <wbader.89oct4205311@scarecrow.csee.lehigh.edu>, wbader@scarecrow.csee.lehigh.edu0 (william bader) writes: > but Dell refuses to look at anything that does not happen under DOS. Whoa - slow down there! This is *>decidedly<* not the case. Our standards for support have nothing to do with the host operating system. I suspect a misunderstanding of some kind. The description you gave certainly sounds supportable. > Any suggestions? In general, call technical support. I don't have the 800 number handy, but it should be in your manual. Or you can mail to me (or call), and I will forward the message to them, and they will get back with you. In this particular case I've already forwarded William's message off to technical support. -- James R. Van Artsdalen james@bigtex.cactus.org "Live Free or Die" Dell Computer Co 9505 Arboretum Blvd Austin TX 78759 512-338-8789
sauer@dell.dell.com (Charlie Sauer) (10/07/89)
Note also that support@dell.com is a valid mail address for support issues.
--
Charlie Sauer Dell Computer Corp. !'s:uunet!dell!sauer
9505 Arboretum Blvd @'s:sauer@dell.com
Austin, TX 78759-7299
(512) 343-3310