Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
My Sun Ultra 10, or rather both of my Sun Ultra 10s, have an annoyingly common problem: the battery in the NVRAM module is dead. And thanks to Sun storing the machine ID code and the MAC address in the NVRAM, Solaris will not boot properly unless you manually program the NVRAM each cold boot. And if the system loses power for a split-second? Do over!
Which is why I have bought a repair board from The Glitch Works - it will let me repair the original module with a replaceable coin cell battery. You could do a battery mod to the 48T59, but the contacts are more difficult to get to, so this repair board will probably make the job easier.
I've already tried repairing one module. Since I couldn't find my hacksaw, I used a Dremel with disastrous results. Therefore I have bought another hacksaw for the repair re-attempt.
After we successfully repair a module, we'll explore some "upgrades" I have done to my working Ultra 10 (the other one is a parts system, as I don't have enough parts to make it run), as well as, depending on time remaining, install a larger hard drive to perform a full Solaris install.
Will I successfully repair an NVRAM module? Will I mess up even with a hacksaw? Will I have time to install Solaris on a larger hard drive? You'll have to watch to find out!
Links for following along:
NVRAM repair model from The Glitch Works: tindie.com/products/glitchwrks/gw-48t59-1-module-repair-board
*
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☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: jdmcs.net/myinstagram
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My Sun Ultra 10, or rather both of my Sun Ultra 10s, have an annoyingly common problem: the battery in the NVRAM module is dead. And thanks to Sun storing the machine ID code and the MAC address in the NVRAM, Solaris will not boot properly unless you manually program the NVRAM each cold boot. And if the system loses power for a split-second? Do over!
Which is why I have bought a repair board from The Glitch Works - it will let me repair the original module with a replaceable coin cell battery. You could do a battery mod to the 48T59, but the contacts are more difficult to get to, so this repair board will probably make the job easier.
I've already tried repairing one module. Since I couldn't find my hacksaw, I used a Dremel with disastrous results. Therefore I have bought another hacksaw for the repair re-attempt.
After we successfully repair a module, we'll explore some "upgrades" I have done to my working Ultra 10 (the other one is a parts system, as I don't have enough parts to make it run), as well as, depending on time remaining, install a larger hard drive to perform a full Solaris install.
Will I successfully repair an NVRAM module? Will I mess up even with a hacksaw? Will I have time to install Solaris on a larger hard drive? You'll have to watch to find out!
Links for following along:
NVRAM repair model from The Glitch Works: tindie.com/products/glitchwrks/gw-48t59-1-module-repair-board
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: jdmcs.net/mytwitter
