DEC CELBRIS GL 6200 won't boot after BIOS flash - Boot Block corrupt?

[LongPete]

Hi,

My DEC CELBRIS GL 6200 was running a DEC-modified Phoenix BIOS (v1.04) that didn't recognise the USB ports so I downloaded the last version (v1.09) and created the floppy necessary for flashing it. The release notes said that this required jumper settings to be changed for modifying the Boot Block, so I set these jumpers accordingly.

The flash went perfectly (so it said!) and the message asked me to turn off the machine and restart it.

Since then I get nothing. No video. No beeps. However the discs run up etc. and all leds I would expect to be lit are lit.

I have tried using a "Crisis Recovery diskette" for v1.09 - the mobo has a switch for running this that I set - and it hasn't solved anything. (I tried one for v1.04 as well but it scored no better.) However, the diskette reader did activate when I switched on, though its led didn't light up.

I've tried resetting the CMOS through the appropriate switch with no luck.

I reckon the boot block has been corrupted. Does anyone know if there is a way to reflash this, or have I just created an electronic sculpture only good for looking at (and remembering the good old days when there was DEC!)?

Can anyone help me, please?

Thanks,

Pete

 

[ski]

What's the current status of the boot block jumper(s)?

 

[LongPete]

Hi ski,

I tried the Crisis Recovery diskette with the jumpers set first to "Boot Block Modification enabled" then with them set to "disabled". (They're currently still on "disabled".) Still nothing works!

Pete

 

[ski]

Check the CMOS battery.
It's also possible, however highly coincidental and improbable, that a hardware item has failed.

 

[LongPete]

Hi ski,

Just been out and bought a new CMOS battery. No change :-(

Cheers,

Pete