Re: Intermittent boot from a Focus into GSOS

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

"Michael J. Mahon" writes ...
> 
> I have a 540MB (IBM drive) Focus card (with scads of 32MB ProDOS
> partitions) in slot 7 of a ROM3 //gs.  When I switch on the power, it boots
> into GSOS about once in ten times.  The other nine times, I get the
> "bouncing apple" and "check boot device" or whatever.  I have to switch
> off the power for a couple of seconds and then back on--then, most of
> the time, it boots into GSOS.  Ctl-OA-Reset never fixes the problem--
> it just goes back to the bouncing apple.
> 
> This is a little annoying, as well as being hard on the power supply!

     For sure. The highest probability of parts failure occurs when power is
switched ON.


> Anyone know what I need to do to make booting more repeatable?
> 

     Besides trying Bart's suggestions, you might also check your voltages at
the Slot in which the drive is located. (Checking a nearby empty Slot may be
easier and still give a pretty good indication of voltages going to the Focus.)

     The ROM 3 is supposed to have better (heavier) power line traces going to
Slot cards than a ROM-01; but, if the basic layout is similar, Slot 7 (where
the Focus usually goes) will experience the greatest drop in voltages.

     If your IIgs includes other power-sucker boards-- like an accelerator--
and if your IIgs power supply leads are the typical skimpy ones included with
the standard power supply, then there is pretty good chance that the Focus is
under-powered.



Rubywand