lock up with XENIX

[don kossman]

In article <5478 at cps3xx.UUCP> usenet at cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) writes:
>From article <118 at quame.UUCP>, by bryan at quame.UUCP (Bryan A. Woodruff):
>> In article <180 at mdi386.UUCP>, bruce at mdi386.UUCP (Bruce A. McIntyre) writes:
>>> I am running into a problem with a client, and want to know if anyone
>>> on the net may have a suggestion..
>>> The problem is that at sporadic times, the system just locks up solid.
>Alot of PC keyboards have a switch on the bottom to select it as a XT
>or an AT style keyboard. I've seen machine lock up under DOS or XENIX
>sometimes if this switch changes settings while the machine is running.
(etc)

i have a similar problem on an ALR 386/220 running xenix 2.2.1.  1M ram,
65M Microscience RLL drive w/Adaptec 2370A.

symptom is that the system "locks up" occasionally.  it seems to
happen most when i switch to another multiscreen and log in.  but
it also happens at other times.  all multiscreens go dead- no response
to keyboard input.  don't have any users on ports so don't know if
they're dead too.

A "solution" turned out to be:  unplug the keyboard from the computer.
plug it back in.  repeat a few times while hammering on the keys, especially
on the return key.  at some point during this procedure the system
speaker will emit a LONG beep as the keyboard connector is plugged back
in.  at that point the problem is solved, and the system will respond
as though nothing has happened.

there is apparently a REAL FIX to my problem (which may NOT be the same
as your problem).  it involves having a copy of adbL and patching
the kernel.  i have somehow lost the information (it appeared quite
a while ago in this newsgroup) and furthermore do not have adbL.
SCO knows about the problem, i believe it is officially called the
"keyboard lockup problem".  call them and ask.  let us know what you
find out... (i can't afford SCO tech support).

don
--
-- 
Don Kossman, SEI Information Technology, Los Angeles
mahendo.jpl.nasa.gov!jplgodo!seila!don OR sun!suntzu!seila!don