HP OpenVMS Systems

OpenVMS Bootstrap and Console Floppy?

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The Question is:

 
I have a ALPHA 1000/266 server. I cannot boot VMS 7.1, v7.2 or 7.3. I believe
 there is a problem with the floppy drive. I can read from it but cannot write
 to it. When I run the console diags "TEST" the floppy fails on write. My
 question is:
 Is there anyway to disable the floppy drive from the console so that VMS does
 not try to check for it during the installation process?? When I try to
 install VMS, I get a bugcheck dump with an error message saying that the IO
 database is not consistent.
However I can load UNIX and Linux with no problem. I believe these OS does not
 check for the floppy during install.
 
 

The Answer is :

 
  OpenVMS does not check for, nor require, nor access the floppy drive
  during a standard OpenVMS disk bootstrap, unless the floppy drive is
  specifically targeted for the bootstrap.  (This CAN be the case if
  the system is explicitly configured to boot from the floppy, or if
  the system is requiring a low-level firmware reload, please see the
  OpenVMS FAQ and the references there to the SRM firmware website for
  details of this latter case.)
 
  Please also ensure that you have followed the steps in the OpenVMS
  FAQ for switching from the ARC/AlphaBIOS console -- the console that
  is required by Microsoft Windows NT on OpenVMS Alpha -- to the SRM
  console -- the console required for both Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS Alpha.
 

  

     

     
answer written or last revised on ( 1-JUN-2001 )
     
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