Digital Personal Workstation Upgrade Guide

This document, the "DIGITAL Personal Workstation Upgrade Guide," published in August 1998, provides step-by-step instructions for upgrading a DIGITAL Personal Workstation by replacing specific hardware components.

The upgrade process primarily involves replacing the:

• Main Logic Board (MLB)
• Fan Pipe
• Riser Card (PC164 Riser, which includes an integrated Ultra SCSI controller)
• And, in certain variations, the Speed Button.

The guide outlines a detailed upgrade procedure, which includes:

1. Pre-Installation Steps:

   • Backing up all applications and data.
   • For Windows NT systems, a critical "HAL" (Hardware Abstraction Layer) code update is required before the hardware upgrade. This involves renaming the existing HAL.DLL file and copying a new HALMIATA.DLL (renaming it to HAL.DLL) from a hardware support disk.
   • Shutting down the system, unplugging the power cord, and allowing at least 15 seconds for power supply capacitors to discharge safely.
   • Wearing a grounded wrist strap to prevent static discharge.

2. Hardware Installation:

   • Removing the system cover, external cables, and the old Main Logic Board.
   • Removing the old Riser Card and fan pipe.
   • Installing the new fan pipe and reinstalling the fan assembly.
   • Transferring components from the old MLB to the new MLB: This includes memory (DIMMs), Bcache option, and, for specific CPU variations, the CPU chip itself.
   • Installing the new Riser Card and reconnecting associated cables.
   • Installing additional memory modules (DIMMs) and any option cards.
   • Carefully seating and securing the new MLB into the system chassis.
   • Replacing the speed button (if applicable), which involves removing the front bezel.
   • Replacing the system cover and powering on the workstation.

3. Post-Upgrade Software Configuration (for Windows NT):

   • Changing CD-ROM device drivers: Disabling the old "CSA4XX" driver and enabling the new "ATAPI" driver (setting its startup type to "Boot").
   • Updating other device drivers (including QLogic SCSI, Graphics, Sound, and Ethernet) using a provided backup CD.
   • Notes specific cautions regarding "Autosense" settings for media types and mentions a specific ATAPI driver error log entry (Event ID 22) that can be ignored.

The document also provides a table of minimum required firmware and software versions for OpenVMS, UNIX, and Windows NT operating systems to ensure compatibility with the upgraded hardware.