Help Wanted - Indigo R4400

Discussion:

Help Wanted - Indigo R4400 - new to me

(too old to reply)

darkmagewall

2007-04-01 04:38:25 UTC

Hello all Indigo Guru's,

I have purchased an Indigo R4400 at a local swap event. All I got we
the computer, no mouse, KB or Monitor. I have purchased an adaptor
for the mouse and kb so I can use a standard PS/2 mouse & KB. I have
also purchased (off of eRob [eBay]) a 13W3 adaptor to connect to a vga/
svga monitor. Listing stated it would work with a SGI systems.

I connect everything and turn the unit on I hear a tone and I can see
that the both HD are spinning and being access initial by the system
during a post but I see not thing on the screen. I have tried two
different monitors, one is a HP Pavilion v90 and the other is a Sony
Trinitron Multiscan 200sx.

What could be the issue? I'm not sure that the system even has an OS
install but I would thing I should see some kind of Post to the screen
on booting up the system correct? Is it a default resolution issue
between monitor and the indigo? I'm not sure just yet need to really
check out the video card but what I can note from the back of the case
is I has the 13W3 connector and BNC type connector labeled GEN LOCK
and a PS/2 styled 3 pin connector labeled 3-D with a picture of 3-D
glasses.

If more detail about this system are needed let me know and I will try
to get them if at all possible as I have been working with and on
computer PC, Macs for my personal use now some 21 years and I'm still
learning about them.

I got this system a something to learn more about Unix on. So it
would nice to at least get it up and running.

Any help and I would be grateful.

Kind Regards,
darkmagewall

Alan Walker

2007-04-01 22:16:57 UTC

Permalink

Post by darkmagewall
Hello all Indigo Guru's,
I have purchased an Indigo R4400 at a local swap event. All I got we
the computer, no mouse, KB or Monitor. I have purchased an adaptor
for the mouse and kb so I can use a standard PS/2 mouse & KB. I have
also purchased (off of eRob [eBay]) a 13W3 adaptor to connect to a
vga/ svga monitor. Listing stated it would work with a SGI systems.
I connect everything and turn the unit on I hear a tone and I can see
that the both HD are spinning and being access initial by the system
during a post but I see not thing on the screen. I have tried two
different monitors, one is a HP Pavilion v90 and the other is a Sony
Trinitron Multiscan 200sx.
What could be the issue? I'm not sure that the system even has an OS
install but I would thing I should see some kind of Post to the screen
on booting up the system correct? Is it a default resolution issue
between monitor and the indigo? I'm not sure just yet need to really
check out the video card but what I can note from the back of the case
is I has the 13W3 connector and BNC type connector labeled GEN LOCK
and a PS/2 styled 3 pin connector labeled 3-D with a picture of 3-D
glasses.
If more detail about this system are needed let me know and I will try
to get them if at all possible as I have been working with and on
computer PC, Macs for my personal use now some 21 years and I'm still
learning about them.
I got this system a something to learn more about Unix on. So it
would nice to at least get it up and running.
Any help and I would be grateful.
Kind Regards,
darkmagewall

Hi,

If you want the appropriate working monitor for this see my earlier post and
get monitor with another free working Indigo.

Alan

Knut Roll-Lund

2007-04-02 08:30:57 UTC

Permalink

Post by darkmagewall
I connect everything and turn the unit on I hear a tone and I can see
that the both HD are spinning and being access initial by the system
during a post but I see not thing on the screen. I have tried two
different monitors, one is a HP Pavilion v90 and the other is a Sony
Trinitron Multiscan 200sx.
What could be the issue? I'm not sure that the system even has an OS
install but I would thing I should see some kind of Post to the screen
on booting up the system correct? Is it a default resolution issue
between monitor and the indigo? I'm not sure just yet need to really
check out the video card but what I can note from the back of the case
is I has the 13W3 connector and BNC type connector labeled GEN LOCK
and a PS/2 styled 3 pin connector labeled 3-D with a picture of 3-D
glasses.
If more detail about this system are needed let me know and I will try
to get them if at all possible as I have been working with and on
computer PC, Macs for my personal use now some 21 years and I'm still
learning about them.
I got this system a something to learn more about Unix on. So it
would nice to at least get it up and running.
Any help and I would be grateful.

I'm no SGI expert unfortunately but I have an indigo and an Indy.

I think you would get a boot screen regardless if the HD is installed or
not.

Possibly your 13W3 adapter doesn't work. I have read warnings that those
sold on eBay aren't to be trusted. Even though they say SGI they have
Sun pinning and won't work with SGI with a normal multisync monitor. I
have no firsthand knowledge of this so maybe someone else can confirm this.

--
Knut
(delete 'nogarbage.' for email)

Graeme Brett Houston

2007-04-02 17:22:44 UTC

Permalink

Hi i have bought 2 of these converters fro mebay and both do not make a pc
monitor work with the SGI system when it was working, but work ok on the
SUN's, i thought it was just my monitors did not have sync on green but it
could be the wiring.

thanks

Post by Knut Roll-Lund

I'm no SGI expert unfortunately but I have an indigo and an Indy.
I think you would get a boot screen regardless if the HD is installed or
not.
Possibly your 13W3 adapter doesn't work. I have read warnings that those
sold on eBay aren't to be trusted. Even though they say SGI they have Sun
pinning and won't work with SGI with a normal multisync monitor. I have no
firsthand knowledge of this so maybe someone else can confirm this.
--
Knut
(delete 'nogarbage.' for email)

TJ Ciaffone

2007-04-04 01:52:54 UTC

Permalink

On Apr 2, 12:22 pm, "Graeme Brett Houston"

Post by Graeme Brett Houston
Hi i have bought 2 of these converters fro mebay and both do not make a pc
monitor work with the SGI system when it was working, but work ok on the
SUN's, i thought it was just my monitors did not have sync on green but it
could be the wiring.
thanks

Post by Knut Roll-Lund

I'm no SGI expert unfortunately but I have an indigo and an Indy.
I think you would get a boot screen regardless if the HD is installed or
not.
Possibly your 13W3 adapter doesn't work. I have read warnings that those
sold on eBay aren't to be trusted. Even though they say SGI they have Sun
pinning and won't work with SGI with a normal multisync monitor. I have no
firsthand knowledge of this so maybe someone else can confirm this.
--
Knut
(delete 'nogarbage.' for email)

I, too, have a new-to-me SGI, an Octane, but have had the same problem
with the monitor not syncing with the Video board when hooked up with
a Sun brand 13W3 to SVGA adapter. So, now that it is clear that the
units sold on eBay usually do not work, does anyone have a source for
SGI monitor cables? Any other suggestions for getting the monitor to
sync?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

TJ

Toni Grass

2007-04-04 21:20:13 UTC

Permalink

TJ Ciaffone wrote:

[...]

Post by TJ Ciaffone
I, too, have a new-to-me SGI, an Octane, but have had the same problem
with the monitor not syncing with the Video board when hooked up with
a Sun brand 13W3 to SVGA adapter. So, now that it is clear that the
units sold on eBay usually do not work, does anyone have a source for
SGI monitor cables? Any other suggestions for getting the monitor to
sync?

http://www.deepspacecables.com/

Toni

darkmagewall

2007-04-05 16:04:36 UTC

Permalink

Post by Toni Grass
[...]

http://www.deepspacecables.com/
Toni

Hi Tony,

Have your tried one of their adapters? I have seen them on eBay for a
short time then they were gone. I have been to their site but have
yet to get one of there adapters. What was your results from buying
and use an adapter from them? Please let me know.

Thanks and Kind Regards,
Mike

Toni Grass

2007-04-05 18:23:23 UTC

Permalink

[....]

Post by darkmagewall

Post by Toni Grass
http://www.deepspacecables.com/
Toni

Hi Tony,
Have your tried one of their adapters? I have seen them on eBay for a
short time then they were gone. I have been to their site but have
yet to get one of there adapters. What was your results from buying
and use an adapter from them? Please let me know.

I use several for my Octanes, Indys an Indigo2. Works perfect with SGI
CRTs and also cheap TFTs (no sync problem). Delivery was fast (even to
Austria). The adapters for SGI and SUN really have different pin layouts

Toni

Thomas Jahns

2007-04-02 15:34:22 UTC

Permalink

"darkmagewall" <***@fightfor.org> writes:
[no image when connecting monitor to SGI]

There is a relatively easy method to determine wether your machine works
at all (only memory, CPU, mainboard and PSU have to be functional):
Disconnect any PS/2 devices and attach a serial terminal to first serial
port (some round 8pin connector on Indigo^2) (null-modem and terminal
emulator like minicom or hyperterminal on another computer will
suffice), expect 9600bps, 8N1 transfer then wait for some text on
power-up.

Depending on wether you have some experience with serial communications
or not this is either trivial or very complicated.

Thomas Jahns

--
"Computers are good at following instructions,
but not at reading your mind."
D. E. Knuth, The TeXbook, Addison-Wesley 1984, 1986, 1996, p. 9

Paul

2007-04-06 05:56:27 UTC

Permalink

BTW, an older Mac serial cable works nicely for the 8 pin to DB-[9|25]

Post by Thomas Jahns
[no image when connecting monitor to SGI]
There is a relatively easy method to determine wether your machine works
Disconnect any PS/2 devices and attach a serial terminal to first serial
port (some round 8pin connector on Indigo^2) (null-modem and terminal
emulator like minicom or hyperterminal on another computer will
suffice), expect 9600bps, 8N1 transfer then wait for some text on
power-up.
Depending on wether you have some experience with serial communications
or not this is either trivial or very complicated.
Thomas Jahns
--
"Computers are good at following instructions,
but not at reading your mind."
D. E. Knuth, The TeXbook, Addison-Wesley 1984, 1986, 1996, p. 9