[MikeK]

It's been over 20 years since I had the opportunity to try an O2 for about a month at the agency I worked for. Yesterday I picked one up in great condition, cleaned it up, blew out some dust and reseated the memory. It booted on first try into what looks like a clean install of IRIX 6.5. My question is: I don't see the welcome screen/O2 logo etc., only black, then it goes right to the login screen, so I'm wondering if the OS is set to do that, or if my monitor is not able to display it?

I don't have the root password and don't have an SGI keyboard yet, it's an HP and the escape key works as num lock, no other key works as escape. The monitor is a Samsung SyncMaster 2443bw and works fine when I login to the guest or demo account at 1280x1024. Any suggestions? Thanks very much!

[Irinikus]

There’s a possibility that your keyboard might be the problem, as these machines go into a non-graphical, serial console mode when they don’t detect a keyboard on power up.

What’s strange here is that the graphics system does come up once IRIX has loaded.

Confirm you do get the chime on power up?

I would suggest trying out other PS/2 keyboards on the machine. I personally use a DELL PS/2 keyboard with my O2 and it works fine.

[MikeK]

Thanks very much!. Yes I do get the chime on power up. The Samsung monitor I'm using does support sync on green. Is it possible the previous owner set the O2 to bypass the welcome screen? Is that something you can do/undo?

I tried a second monitor I had and it's the same problem.

[MikeK]

Today I received an official Silicon Graphics keyboard I purchased to go with my o2, hoping this would fix my no Welcome Screen problem. Unfortunately this did not fix the problem, I still just get a black screen until the User Login windows shows up. The keyboard is working fine, all the keys work and the IRIX diagnostic sees it fine.

I've double-checked and my monitor does support sync-on-green, I'm wondering, does the Welcome Screen display at a different resolution than the login screen? Is it possible my monitor doesn't support whatever that might be? Though the monitor does sync while it's black so I'm feeling that might not be it.

Is there a way in software that the previous owner bypassed the PROM or Welcome Screen somehow? Is there a command or way to get it back if that's the case? I do have the root password now as well so I have full control.

Thanks, Mike

[gandtimo]

You could try to set the console-Variable in PROM to "g" by:
Opening a shell as root and enter:

Code:

nvram console g

[jan-jaap]

You could try to set the console-Variable in PROM to "g" by:
Opening a shell as root and enter:

Code:

nvram console g

If that doesn't do the trick (and I think it will), make sure you don't mix up the keyboard and mouse ports. The O2 doesn't like the mouse in the keyboard port and vice versa.

[MikeK]

You could try to set the console-Variable in PROM to "g" by:
Opening a shell as root and enter:

Code:

nvram console g

Perfect that did the trick!! Thank you so much, I now have the Welcome Screen and Prom selections just like every other SGI I've seen!