SGI Visual Workstation 230 Troubleshooting Guide

M23D system board of the Silicon Graphics 230 (SGI User's Guide, Figure 3-1)

Fault-finding on the SGI Visual Workstation 230, from the error message table and corrective steps in SGI's Silicon Graphics 230 Visual Workstation User's Guide (007-4263-001). The 230 is a standard PC with an Acer-designed M23D board and a conventional BIOS, so it reports problems as BIOS messages during the power-on self-test (POST).

First checks

SGI's corrective steps for any power-on error:

1. Run Setup (Ctrl+Alt+Esc during POST) and compare the settings with the values you recorded when the system was working. SGI names an incorrect configuration as a major cause of power-on errors.
2. Remove the side panel and check the jumpers on the system board and on any expansion cards.
3. If a new disk cannot be reached, check that it has been partitioned and formatted.
4. Check that every connector and card is firmly seated.

If the error persists with the configuration correct and a good battery, SGI's guide suspects a damaged or defective chip. A message that offers "Press F1 to continue" is usually a configuration problem; equipment faults tend to stop the system.

BIOS error messages

Silicon Graphics 230 system error messages (User's Guide, Table 3-4)

Message	SGI's action
CMOS Battery Bad	Replace the lithium battery
CMOS Checksum Error	Run Setup
CPU BIOS Update Code Mismatch	Call for support
Diskette Drive Controller Error or Not Installed; Floppy Disk Controller Error	Check the floppy cable at both ends
Diskette Drive Error	Check the floppy settings in Setup and the drive cable
Diskette Drive A (or B) Type Mismatch	Run Setup and select the right drive type
Equipment Configuration Error	Modify the memory configuration
Hard Disk Controller Error	Run Setup or check the hard disk cable
Hard Disk 0 / Hard Disk 1 Error; IDE channel master or slave drive error	Check all cable connections; replace the hard disk
IRQ Setting Error	Run Setup and remove IRQ conflicts
I/O Resource Conflict(s)	Check the serial and parallel ports for IRQ or I/O address conflicts
I2C Interface or Device(s) Error, System Halt	Shut down and disconnect the power cable
PS/2 Keyboard Error or No Keyboard Connected	Check and connect the keyboard
PS/2 Keyboard Interface Error	Replace the keyboard
PS/2 Pointing Device Error	Check the pointing device connection
Memory Error at: MMMM:SSSS:OOO (W:XXXX, R:YYYY)	Call for support (M = megabyte, S = segment, O = offset, X/Y = written and read patterns)
Memory Size Mismatch; CPU Clock Mismatch	Check the memory size against the specification and run Setup
NVRAM Checksum Error	Call for support
Real Time Clock Error	Run Setup and set the time and date
RAM Parity Error; 64K System Management Memory Bad; SMRAM Not Exist	Call for support
Press Esc to turn off NMI, any key to reboot	Esc ignores the NMI error, any other key reboots; call for support if it repeats

Power and fans

• No power: check the mains cable at both ends and that the voltage switch on the supply matches the mains supply. Check that the supply's cable is plugged into PWR1 and that the front panel power switch lead is on pins 1-2 of the CN13 multi connector.
• The machine switches off when the power button is pressed briefly: the Power Management setting "Power switch < 4 sec." decides whether a short press turns the system off or suspends it.
• A failed supply is replaced as a unit; SGI's guide gives the procedure and warns that the supply may hold dangerous voltages even when unplugged. See SGI Visual Workstation 230 General Maintenance.
• Overheating or shutdowns under load: check that the front fan, the rear fan and the power supply fan all turn, and that the processor fan's 3-pin and 2-pin cables are connected.

Settings lost or clock wrong

"CMOS Battery Bad", "CMOS Checksum Error", "Real Time Clock Error" and repeated "Run Setup" messages all point to the CMOS RAM losing its contents. SGI's guide says that if Run Setup messages keep coming back, the battery may be bad; replace the lithium battery at BT1.

Memory faults

• The board takes 3.3 V, 133 MHz ECC registered SDRAM only. 5 V modules are not supported, and SGI warns that mixing 100 MHz and 133 MHz SDRAM can make the system malfunction.
• "Memory Size Mismatch" after a change: run Setup to confirm the new total; the BIOS detects the memory automatically.
• A DIMM that will not seat may be the wrong way round; the sockets are keyed.

Processor

The processor must sit with its notched corner (pin 1) at hole 1 of socket U3 and the socket lever pushed down. SGI's guide says the processor frequency is set automatically. The JPX1 ratio table is for service technicians, and only needed for a processor SGI did not supply.

Expansion cards

The BIOS detects and configures only Plug and Play cards. The Setup option "Reset resource assignments" clears the stored assignments so that the BIOS reassigns resources at the next boot; SGI suggests it to avoid IRQ conflicts when fitting non-PnP cards.

Related pages

• SGI Visual Workstation 230
• SGI Visual Workstation 230 General Maintenance
• SGI Visual Workstation 230 Capacitor Replacement Guide
• SGI Visual Workstation 330 Troubleshooting Guide
• Capacitor Failure Symptoms