[stevieboy]

BMC 20 ultimax 3.

I've not used this machine for a few weeks and switched it on yesterday to start setting up a job. Everything was fine, loaded tools in, vice on, billet set up etc. Then switched it off and went home as it was getting late. Turned it on today to start the job and got this:

No boot device available

Strike F1 (vga) or control-s (ascii) to retry boot

F2 (vga) or control-r (ascii) for setup utility.

I switched it off, waited a few seconds, then back on again and it worked fine, carried on with the job no problems. Any ideas what this might be. Is it the sign of impending doom.(wedge) A sneak preview of things to come.(nuts) Or is it just teasing me because i've neglected it.:stickpoke

[stevieboy]

Well i got exactly the same thing today on start up. Switched it off then back on again and it worked fine.

Anyone got any ideas what this might be or experienced it before.

[fasto]

As I recall Ultimax III uses a 486 PC for it's control. This sounds like the CMOS battery is low or dead on the 486 motherboard.
I'd run the CMOS setup utility and use a digital camera to take pics of the screen(s) before the battery goes totally flat.

I'm sure that you'll get even better advice shortly! This forum is great for support.

[bloke]

Just in!
The CPU in this age machine is a 386 single board computer. The BIOS is held on EPROM and will more than likely have the memory and hard drive settings pre-programmed.
There was a set of PROMS where you could change parameters but it's unlikely it has them.
More likely the hard drive is beginning to get shakey or the power supply is having start-up wobbles.
Make sure you have a config and leadscrew map back-up and it'll be easy to sort if it falls over.

[stevieboy]

Ok,

The power supply was a new one from Hurco a couple of years ago. So with that, it's more likely to be the hard drive. Silly question but could the extreme cold be a factor. I've got the leadscrew maps jotted down in a note pad from when I sorted out the backlash. So what do I need to do about the config then. I'd hate for it to throw the towel in and be in a complete mess because of it.

Any more help?