Ultra 40 hangs right before memory test during POST
While I do enjoy using my Sun Ultra 40 Workstation, there is one thing that bothers me. And I am wondering if I can get a help from you guys.
Before I describe what I am experiencing, I politely ask you not to tell me to go other place for using Windows O/S. :)
Anyway, here's what happens:
Ultra 40 hangs right before Mem check during POST (Power-On Self-Test) when rebooting after running h/w monitoring software such as Speedfan or EVEREST Ultimate Edition to see CPU temps or Fan speed of my Workstation.
It seems that my keyboard is working since I can warm-reboot by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del and I can see Num Lock light goes on when pressing Num Lock key, but that's about it.
Even rebooting my system (either cold-boot or warm-boot) won't help me getting through POST. And I won't be able to go into the BIOS (CMOS) Setup Menu, since Menu screen comes up after Memtest during POST. As I stated before, it just doesn't do anything when it's supposed to run Memtest during POST. Plus there is no BIOS (CMOS) menu to turn Memtest off.
Only way to make my system to pass the POST process is to disconnect the actual power cord and reconnect it. Then it reboots fine.
Does anyone know what's going on?
Is this BIOS firmware related bug?
I am desperately seeking for help.
# 1
Oh, I forgot to mention this.
When SpeedFan was ran for the second time, it displayed the information saying SMBUS was busy.
It seems when SMBus gets accessed, something happens, and SMBUS is not being released even after software that has accessed SMBus is terminated.
And either cold boot or warm boot won't release SMBus and this is causing POST problem.
I am not so sure though. sigh.......
sang
# 2
DId you find a fix? I'm having similar problems.
# 3
Nope. I don't even know how to contact Sun to report this problem.So, I guess I have to live with it. :`(
# 4
You contact Sun by logging a Technical Support support-case.
With a Service contract, you can use a web-based online interface.
With a warranty, it would be easiest to just contact them by telephone.
You tell them the serial number of the computer and they log the case for you.
A support engineer will call you back.
The [url=http://www.sun.com]Sun Microsystems web site page[/url] has a "Contact" link on its front page.
That link can be found at the bottom left corner of the web page.
That will get you to listings of all the global telephone numbers:
http://www.sun.com/secure/contact/
# 5
Thanks for the reply.
I did call Tech Support in Korea. (where I live) :)
But all they could to is to replace the motherboard, which of course didn't fix the problem as you had guessed already.
And tech here is not as well educated as ones in the US.
That's why I thought it would be more helpful to contact Sun USA directly to report my problem, and request firmware fix.
But unfortunately, I was not able to submit my report due to unrecognized serial number. :(
I hope there's direct email link where I can contact Sun directly.
# 6
Unfortunately, this shining blue globe we all live on
is split into regions of responsibility as far as Sun's techsupport is concerned.
Consequently, system serial numbers are registered for their respective geographical regions.
Asia and Pacific is referred to with an abbreviation of APAC.
Europe, Middle East, and Africa is the EMEA area for support.
The Western Hemisphere is further split. North America is one support region
and Central America is grouped with South America for their own support responsibilities.
In this way, Sun gets local people to help where the equipment is sold, without any language barriers.
You need to go back to your local support center, refer back to your case number,
and request they go through an escalation procedure for a second examination.
If this effects you there is a chance it may effect thousands of owners of that model computer.
They send it through escalation reviews in your APAC support,
and they may decide to open a North American case, for the sole purpose of a review of the issue.
(After a local escalation, they may not need to consult North America,
because there may already be an answer in a database that your first engineer overlooked.)
There is no mandatory rule that they must escalate out of their region.
Your local Sun Microsystems people get back to you on your local case number
when there is any sort of an answer.
This may all seem complicated or maybe have too many layers of procedure,
but it is done so that everyone in Sun gets it all documented
into the troubleshooting databases, and gets trained where to find the answers.
