DEC PWS 500 specific notes

Pixx

Notes

Console issues

It appears that my machine's factory default in case of battery fault is to fall back to ARC/WindozeNT :-(
In this case:

Replace battery (see below)
In the AlphaBios setup, press F2 to choose CMOS setup
Choose F6 for "advanced setup", this allows to select SRM console
Press F10 to save the changes and PowerOff/On

Keyboard issues

To change keyboard properties, at the (SRM) console:

set kbd_hardware_type LK411
set language

Bootable CD-ROMs

The builtin IDE Toshiba lets you boot/install Tru64, but not VMS. Installing VMS required an external Plextor drive.

RAM

The PWS 500 can take 6x256MB, PC100-222 72bit registered unbuffered 3,3V. DEC part numbers 64MB: 54-25092, MS300-BA.
The following RAMs worked:

HP D8266A 256 Mbytes-133MHz D8266-68002(32MX72) PC 133 REG,SDRAM EXCH:D8266-69000 REPL:D8266-63000
MT 9LSDT1672G-133B1 PC133R-333-542-A1 128MB,SYNCH,133MHz,CL3,ECC
MT18LSDT1672AG-10EB4 PC100-222-620 128MB,ECC
Samsung PC133R-333-542-B2 128MB,SYNCH,133MHz,CL3,ECC
MT 18LSDT3272G-133E1 PC133R-333-542-B1 256MB,SYNCH,133MHz,CL3,ECC
2077-024 204989 HM L3 T4
Kingston KTC3614/256
MemoryWorkx MXM256S/PC100E (7ns)

Note, however, that the console level RAM test is very rudimentary. RAM which passes this test may still crash the OS (Tru64) later.

Battery replacement

The PWS uses a standard 3V Lithium battery located on the motherboard, with "+" on the upside.
The motherboard can easily be removed by loosening the two holders and pulling it out from the chassis.

Last updated: 5-May-2012, M.Kraemer