🚀 go-pugleaf

In <93i762$ee02@rs04.hrz.uni-essen.de> H.-R. Oberhage wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> XIII (XIII@humiliation-clan.com) wrote:
> : I found two nextstation with nextstep release 3.2 installed.
> : I do not have the root password and thus cannot log into
> : the system. Most of the posts give the same procedure
> : which consists entering the rom monitor, etc. Entering
> : the rom monitor is actually my only problem. I tried
> : to hold down the right command key and the ~ key
> : (which is the ESC key, isn't it ?)
> 
> I don't think so, Esc is a key of its own, isn't it.
> 
> : I tried with the both command keys at the same time
> : and the ~ key but it doesn't work. This, off course,
> : just after the Testing System message.
> 
> Anyhow, the key to press with both command (or alternate?)
> keys is the leftmost in the top-row on the numeric keypad(!)
> independant of what's 'written' on it - there are differences
> with national keyboards. I don't know if this means the '~'
> key on an US keyboard, but may be, it does.
> 
> Press the 'other two keys' first, holding them down and then
> the "keypad key", don't start with it.
> 
> This must(!) work as long as the keyboard gives any input
> at all (you can test it by entering text into the 'username'
> field of the login-panel. If that works ...)
> 
> : I'd like to use those nextstep  =( help please
> 
> So just use the 'magic keys' :-).
> 
> Greetings,
>  Ruediger Oberhage

Ruediger is correct.   And to fill in on the US Non-ADB keyboards
the uper leftmost key on keypad is tilde '~'.  On ADB keyboards it's
a =. 

From the following URL section Starting up a NeXT Computer
http://www.channelu.com/NeXT/NeXTStep/3.3/nsa/09_StartShut.htmld/index.html

"When you first turn on your NeXT computer, hold down the right Command key and press the ~ key 
(without pressing Shift) on the numeric keypad immediately after the "Testing system" message is 
replaced by the "Loading from disk" message. (If you have a NeXT computer with an ADB keyboard, press 
the Command bar and the ~ key.) The ROM monitor window opens and displays the NeXT> prompt.
Note:� If you're late interrupting the boot process and the Restart/Power-Off panel appears instead 
of the ROM monitor, press the Power key and try again."

One other note for origional poster.   I've noticed on systems which
had ADB EEPROMs that when one added non-ADB keyboard/mouse
that keystrokes to get to ROM monitor were either impossible to get
to work or finicky..   Basically what I'm saying is that I know I have had
problems getting to ROM with various systems for unknown reasons..

I think the most common were wrong soundbox, keyboard, mouse
on system (ADB vs. NON) or possibly damaged bios, hardware etc..

I'm trying to wrack my brains how I coaxed those systems into
right mode..  One way might have been to disconnect SCSI
so machine wouldn't boot .  Oh yeah the other thing is that
one has to hit that key combination RIGHT AFTER the LOADING
SYSTEM panel dissappears..  On most systems you'll also see
the lights on keyboard flash (numlock, etc.) - that is the time
to hit key combos..  If you wait too long the system will get started
booting and you'll need to do a reset as it suggests above.

BTW:  on Non-ADB systems left command - left alternate
keypad  star (multiply key) ' * ' will cause a hard reset..

Also instead of turning system off in the NOTE above you
can simply do a restart and that should give you a second
chance at getting to ROM monitor as well.

Different BIOS's seem to act a bit differently with regards to what
they display and how they react to key combinations..  

Randy Rencsok
rencsok at  
       channelu d0t com 

http://www.channelu.com/Staff.html
http://www.channelu.com/NeXT - ChannelU NeXT archive
http://www.channelu.com/Turbo - Turbo Software Services page - Including The Black Catalog 
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