We are trying to retrieve some old files from an old alpha ('98 vintage) DEC3000 300LX. The files are on the associated COMPAQ scsi drives (DS-RZ1ED-VW). There was a problem with the files that were backed up from the machine when it was shutdown in 03. The alpha is probably not bootable. No keyboard or monitor. We tried to ftp in through hyperterm, but had no joy. Any suggestions on how we might connect directly to the old hard drives to try to retrieve the old files.

Of course if the system is not booted, You can't ftp to it. Without keyboard and monitor, the serial line of the DEC3000 (the DB25 connector marked with a printer symbol) can be used as serial console. Connect a COM port of the PC running Hyperterm to this serial port. (needs only a 3-wire cable: Rxd,Txd,signal ground, pins 2,3,7 on the DB25). Then the Alpha SRM console prompt ">>>" should appear. Type "boot" to boot. Second option, if the system does not boot: Take the (SCSI-) disk out of the DEC3000, mount it on another VMS system. You don't have another VMS system?, then: Third option: Get an Alpha emulator for Your PC, (google e.g. for "Personal Alpha"), make an image copy of the disk to a virtual disk on the PC, connect it to the Alpha emulator as boot disk and boot VMS from it. Fourth option: For Unix-type systems, google for software like "ods2" or "ods2reader": a program which is able to read VMS formatted disks, and at least retrieve "text" files. No luck for "binary" or indexed files though. Joseph Huber, http://www.huber-joseph.de ITRC

Maybe also this discussion is of interest: http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service... Joseph Huber, http://www.huber-joseph.de ITRC