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From: hcj@lzsc.ATT.COM (HC Johnson)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: Trouble using ST-minix
Summary: My bet is that you have a problem with Interrupts
Keywords: BIG TROUBLE
Message-ID: <2145@lzsc.ATT.COM>
Date: 27 Aug 90 02:44:46 GMT
References: <1990Aug22.234432.2298@idt.unit.no>
Organization: AT&T BL Middletown/Lincroft NJ USA
Lines: 22

In article <1990Aug22.234432.2298@idt.unit.no>, erlingh@idt.unit.no (Erling Henanger) writes:
> Hello netters.
> I have a strange problem using st-minix, and that is that the system hangs up
> VERY often. Sometimes the system hangs immediately after loading the minix.img,
> whithout getting any chance to login at all !
> This might happen 10-20 times in a row, and then suddenly the system will
> work for hours (and weeks).

TOS (like MS/DOS) is polled not interrupt driven.
MINIX ( like UNIX(r) ) is interrupt driven.

You likely have a problem in either the interrupt handler (MMU and GPIB)
or and interrupt generator (DMA, ACIA).  These problems would normally
not be seen under TOS.  DMA interrupts are never used by TOS.

Try reseating all of the chips, particularly the square ones (CAREFULLY).
This solves many problems.

Howard C. Johnson
ATT Bell Labs
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