Hi,
I have Dig.Personal Workstation 500a, Processor Alpha 21164, AlphaBIOS Ver.5.68.

This hardware was not being used for long time, now I am, a OpenVMS system programmer, trying to boot this machine. I have licensed Alpha system Firmware update v5.4 CD, OpenVMS Alpha v7.2 (in 2 CDs) and OpenVMS v7.2-1 (in 1 CD) and OpenVMS v7.2 Layered Products CD.

I hope this system previously had Win NT OS. When I started booting, it displays "No OS". Then I went to SETUP screen thru "F2" key. I did AlphaBIOS upgrade by Update -> Update Full ROM -> Update SRM -> Exit. then I put OpenVMS CD and cycled the system Power. But when I restart (switch on) the computer with OpeNVSM CD in the drive, it displays the same screen with "F2 - SETUP", "Pause", "ESC"... , it did not go to ">>>" prompt. If I can go to this >>> prompt, I can set os_flags to "", set os_type to OpenVMS, and boot from DQxx device. But now it does not go to this SRM prompt.
Please give some idea on how to install and boot my system.

Thanks
Archunan

Depending on the configuration , You may or may not convert a DPWS 500a from WNT to VMS or DEC Unix, those configurations only work for system-installation, if the IDE interface is Cypress, not Inter SIO, which is Your problem most probably.
So You need an external CD drive for system installation, later the generated system will be able to use the CD drive.

This topic has been discussed many times in comp.os.vms and the HP ITRC forum for VMS, go to
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/familyhome.do?familyId=288

and search for the answers.