Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!att!linac!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!hellgate.utah.edu!fcom.cc.utah.edu!cc.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!jrd
From: jrd@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Phoenix Bios (Intel 386-33)
Message-ID: <1990Nov19.181706.42819@cc.usu.edu>
Date: 20 Nov 90 00:17:05 GMT
Organization: Utah State University
Lines: 15


	Peter Holsberg reported that his AT&T 386-33 machine booted extremely
slowly during the POST sequence if the serial port was attached to another
machine. He wondered if the other machine was providing a login: msg or
similar.
	Well, I have the same machine and the serial port is attached to a
serial printer (Epson FX850). If the printer is plugged in then, as Peter
experienced, the POST menu (hwd stuff) grinds out one character every few
seconds until done or I have had enough. Unplugging the printer lets it
zip through at normal speed. My best guess is the Phoenix Bios in the machine
is very unhappy with signals being asserted on the serial port during POST
and eventually times out to progress. But why should it work so slowly
through the entire boot up screen?? The printer is not sending anything.
	Intel itself made the motherboard, with it's embedded serial ports.
	Joe D. (misery loves company)