I´m triyng to donwload the errorlog from an OEC 8800 to a floppy by means of a boot floppy disc but nothing happens. I cannot enter in DOS mode.
I´ve checked the BIOS configuration, everything looks OK.
Boot off of a DOS boot disk and then look for three .txt files (dir *.txt). The three files you want are errlog.txt, shotlog.txt, and debuglog.txt. They may be quit large and not all fit on the floppy. If you have a compression tool like PKZip or something, you can zip them and get them on the disk or you might be able to get them off of the system one at a time.
When you boot off of a DOS boot floppy the system is operating in DOS and not the OEC Nucleus software.
PKUnzip is a little utility that you can put on a floppy to compress the .txt files down to a smaller size. You can get the files without it, just takes a little more work. Here’s the way to grab them…
Hook up a VGA monitor and a DIN-5 style keyboard to the back of the workstation (if you don't have a DIN-5 style, you can pull off the cover on the side of the workstation and there is a little access panel in the upper right corner held in place by several Torx 20 screws. Remove that panel and you can see the top of the Single Board Computer. You'll see a PS2 style connector there; this is an adapter from the DIN-5 connector on the back of the workstation. You can unplug that and plug in a PS2 style keyboard there.)
When the system boots into DOS you'll be at an "A:/" prompt on your VGA monitor. Key in "C:" this will change you to the system's hard drive. At the "C:/" prompt type in "dir *.txt" and you should see 4 .txt files. The three that you are interested in are errlog.txt, shotlog.txt, and debuglog.txt. You can copy them to a floppy with the command "copy errlog.txt a:/" and so forth.
What I'm saying is that a floppy is limited in space to 1.44Mb and sometimes those files get up to 1.3Mb. If you aren't DOS savvy, and a lot of us are rusty now days with DOS falling by the wayside, you can copy them to the boot floppy that is in the drive one at a time. Each time you copy one to the floppy, pull the floppy out of the OEC and stick it in a computer. In your computer move the .txt file from the floppy to your computer. It's a little slower this way, but you can grab all three files and not mess with compressing them.
Once you have the files on your computer, WordPad makes a decent viewer for them. Hope this helps! Let me know if you need anything else.
I just re-read your initial post...can you not get it to boot from a floppy disk at all? Maybe you have a bad floppy? I can't recall if you can disable the floppy in the bios of an OEC or not...
I´ve tryed several DOS boot disk but nothing happens at all. Don´t know whether is a configuration problem or just the GE services blockade this option. Here in Spain, you have lot of problems concernig the passwords, hardware and all of this stuff. Most of the times you cannot access to the system if you don´t have soft and hardware from the company.
I´ll keep on trying.
Thanks anyway for your detailed help. I´ll rate you 5 stars.
There are no service passwords on x800 systems. If you can't boot into DOS from a floppy drive you either have a bad floppy, bad floppy drive, bad cabling, or power issues.
I have run into systems that for some reason don't grab the floppy myself. I was usually able to just reseat everything and it worked that way. If you an old floppy drive laying around it might be worth it to hook it up and see what happens.
Are you sure that your floppy disk itself is good and is a bootable system disk? I've done that to myself a couple of times too.
GBS offers service, repair, rentals & spare parts for your ventilators. With over 40 years of experience our certified & factory-trained biomedical technicians refurbish all our used ventilators. Call today 800.558.9449
Fernando Canga
OEC 8800 Error log problem
March 17, 2009 08:42
I´m triyng to donwload the errorlog from an OEC 8800 to a floppy by means of a boot floppy disc but nothing happens. I cannot enter in DOS mode.
I´ve checked the BIOS configuration, everything looks OK.
Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot
to rate and post a comment
Wes Boyd
Re: OEC 8800 Error log problem
August 24, 2009 10:36
Boot off of a DOS boot disk and then look for three .txt files (dir *.txt). The three files you want are errlog.txt, shotlog.txt, and debuglog.txt. They may be quit large and not all fit on the floppy. If you have a compression tool like PKZip or something, you can zip them and get them on the disk or you might be able to get them off of the system one at a time.
Hope this helps!
-Wes
to rate and post a comment
Fernando Canga
Re: OEC 8800 Error log problem
August 25, 2009 12:00
Hi Wes
Thanks, but I don´t understand you when you said:
"Boot off of a DOS boot disk and then look for three .txt files (dir *.txt..."
How can I use a compressor while I´m working in the OEC workstation?
Thanks a lot
Fernando
to rate and post a comment
Wes Boyd
Re:OEC 8800 Error log problem
August 25, 2009 04:45
Hey Fernando,
When you boot off of a DOS boot floppy the system is operating in DOS and not the OEC Nucleus software.
PKUnzip is a little utility that you can put on a floppy to compress the .txt files down to a smaller size. You can get the files without it, just takes a little more work. Here’s the way to grab them…
Hook up a VGA monitor and a DIN-5 style keyboard to the back of the workstation (if you don't have a DIN-5 style, you can pull off the cover on the side of the workstation and there is a little access panel in the upper right corner held in place by several Torx 20 screws. Remove that panel and you can see the top of the Single Board Computer. You'll see a PS2 style connector there; this is an adapter from the DIN-5 connector on the back of the workstation. You can unplug that and plug in a PS2 style keyboard there.)
When the system boots into DOS you'll be at an "A:/" prompt on your VGA monitor. Key in "C:" this will change you to the system's hard drive. At the "C:/" prompt type in "dir *.txt" and you should see 4 .txt files. The three that you are interested in are errlog.txt, shotlog.txt, and debuglog.txt. You can copy them to a floppy with the command "copy errlog.txt a:/" and so forth.
What I'm saying is that a floppy is limited in space to 1.44Mb and sometimes those files get up to 1.3Mb. If you aren't DOS savvy, and a lot of us are rusty now days with DOS falling by the wayside, you can copy them to the boot floppy that is in the drive one at a time. Each time you copy one to the floppy, pull the floppy out of the OEC and stick it in a computer. In your computer move the .txt file from the floppy to your computer. It's a little slower this way, but you can grab all three files and not mess with compressing them.
Once you have the files on your computer, WordPad makes a decent viewer for them. Hope this helps! Let me know if you need anything else.
-Wes
to rate and post a comment
Wes Boyd
Re: OEC 8800 Error log problem
August 25, 2009 06:39
I just re-read your initial post...can you not get it to boot from a floppy disk at all? Maybe you have a bad floppy? I can't recall if you can disable the floppy in the bios of an OEC or not...
-Wes
to rate and post a comment
Fernando Canga
Re: OEC 8800 Error log problem
August 26, 2009 11:14
That´s it.
I´ve tryed several DOS boot disk but nothing happens at all. Don´t know whether is a configuration problem or just the GE services blockade this option. Here in Spain, you have lot of problems concernig the passwords, hardware and all of this stuff. Most of the times you cannot access to the system if you don´t have soft and hardware from the company.
I´ll keep on trying.
Thanks anyway for your detailed help. I´ll rate you 5 stars.
Fer
to rate and post a comment
Wes Boyd
Re: OEC 8800 Error log problem
August 26, 2009 02:17
Fernando,
There are no service passwords on x800 systems. If you can't boot into DOS from a floppy drive you either have a bad floppy, bad floppy drive, bad cabling, or power issues.
I have run into systems that for some reason don't grab the floppy myself. I was usually able to just reseat everything and it worked that way. If you an old floppy drive laying around it might be worth it to hook it up and see what happens.
Are you sure that your floppy disk itself is good and is a bootable system disk? I've done that to myself a couple of times too.
-Wes
to rate and post a comment
Fernando Canga
Re: OEC 8800 Error log problem
August 27, 2009 10:04
Thanks Wes
I´ll try again with a new floppy, I guess that the drive is Ok ´cause it is used for the GE technicians.
I´ll let you know what happens
Thanks again
to rate and post a comment