MICS 6.1 XC: reusing system and need to shrink size. 1

[blizkid]

I am installing an older MICS 6.1 XC system that was expanded out to 6 station mods, 2 trunk mods and 1 analog mod. It has a regular 6 port expansion card, a 6 port combo card, a PRI card and a LS card in the main cabinet. I want to remove the 2 expansion cards and the PRI card. This new system will only need the 4 LS lines.

I've taken the 3 cards out and rebooted. System goes into "IN MAINTENANCE" mode and never comes out. I've put the 3 cards back in and it comes back to life. I've done a "STARTUP" command and let it come back up. Then powered down and taken the cards out. "IN MAINTENANCE" again. I've tried putting the 3 cards in one at a time and tried rebooting and the same "IN MAINTENANCE" happens. The only luck I've had is to try shorting the battery in the cabinet. Now I've got the PRI card out, but still can't take out the expansion cards. GRRRRRR!

What am I missing? Does XC software require the 2 expansion cards?? I'd really like to take them out and use them somewhere else.

Thanks.

 

[gtechjoe]

If XC software not needed in MICS try using a non XC software.

 

[exsmogger]

Take out all expansion cards, then short the memory cap and let the system come back up.

Brian Cox

http://www.jandjcommunications.com

 

[curlycord]

Agreed

I find if you short the cap in the NVRAM cartrige and the one in the KSU you will boot up to default within a few minutes where one or the other takes 15-20 minutes.

You should be ok with the existing software.

 

[blizkid]

I've tried shorting the battery in the KSU and I think that's how I got the PRI card out. Maybe I'm not doing it right. I took out everything to get to the back plane and put my needlenose across it.

Where is the one in the NVRAM? How do I short it out?

 

[NARSBARS]

Needle nose, ouch! At least use a piece of wire with approximately a ten ohm up to a hundred ohm resistor.
Especially when you get inside the cartridge.

NARSBARS

 

[exsmogger]

If my first suggestion didn't work, try this:

Bring the system up with both expansion cards installed. Then do a STARTUP. When the display shows "Applying template" count to 5 and pull the power. Then remove both expansion cards and power the system back on. Let us know if that works.

Brian Cox

http://www.jandjcommunications.com

 

[phasesplitter]

when it comes up in maintenance to you get an opption to do a cold reset. If so select reset and power down when you power back up it should reset

 

[phoneguy427]

Make sure you know which ext is the alarm set, this is the one that will display the cold restart message. Make sure you have that one hooked up when you power up.

 

[RikRodgers]

Or, you could install it all, and be optimistic about future business. No need to waste good hardware.

 

[blizkid]

Ok, here's what I did.

I powered down the system and left everything in place. Powered up and did a "start up". When "applying template", counted 5 secs and pulled the power. Pulled the 6 port expander cards and also put in 6.1 non-XC software. System went into "in maintenance". Powered down. Put the 6.1 XC software back in and powered up. Defaulted, but it came up without needing the expansion cards. So - yea!

I probably didn't need to use the non-XC software. I think pulling the power after the template had started was probably what did it.

Thanks for all the help and advice.

 

[MarvO1]

You are right on the pulling the power. that would do the trick. I make a lot of people mad on this forum for telling people not to short out any caps or Bats, but we see a lot of posts about systems, RADs, etc. not keeping programming. NARSBARS is very correct in stating the use of a resistor to discharge the programming. That is the way to do it. Do it properly, or complain about items not keeping programming. Your chouce.
You might not see the problem for a year or more, but if your RAD or KSU can't keep programming, somebody has probably shorted it in the past. I carry a 110 ohm resistor with me for this purpose.
Sorry for being so blunt, but, this has been my "pet peeve" on this forum for years.
Your choice.

If it is your home equipment, you probably wouldn't short it, but if it a customer's, would you???????

MarvO said it

 

[curlycord]

Yep!

Otherwise your draining the battery while shorting it.

Good post Marv

 

[blizkid]

Thank you for the info on not shorting the battery. It was suggested to me by another tech locally. I'm glad I found this forum. I'll ask you guys first next time...

 

[silver987]

I agree Marv, would you open up your computer at your home or office and start shorting out things??
I think not!!!

http://www.silverlakecom.com