Mild Trouble

Arbitrarily defined, mild trouble is the kind of problem that does not render the entire system nonoperational.

A Display Station Does Not Work

• No reaction when powered on.

  • Check the power cable to make sure that it is still connected to the outlet on the wall.

  • Check that the outlet has power.

• Check for smokeF or burning odors.

  • Turn the display station off immediately. There may be a short circuit in its circuitry that can cause a fire.

    No sign-on display.

  • Check the intensity knob. Sometimes the knob might be turned to the minimum intensity by accident.

  • Go to another display station and vary on the failing display station using the Vary Configuration (VRYCHG) command.

  • Check that the interactive subsystem is started (typically QINTER) using the Work with Subsystem Jobs (WRKSBSJOB) command.

• The keyboard does not work.

  • If your keyboard is detachable, make sure that the cable is firmly-connected to the body of the display station.

  • Check the input-inhibited indicator on the screen. If it is on, the system may be busy processing the last request. If a blinking four-digit number is present on the bottom-left corner of the screen, press the Help key, and the system will explain the problem.

  • Then press the Reset key (also labeled Error Reset key on older display stations). The user may have entered the Setup, Record, or Play mode by pressing the corresponding key. Press the appropriate key again to exit these modes.

A Printer Does Not Work

• No reaction when powered on.

  • Check the power cable to make sure that it is still connected to the outlet on the wall.

  • Check that the outlet has power.

• Smoke or burning odors.

  • Turn the printer off immediately. There may be a short circuit in its circuitry that can cause a fire.

• Nothing prints.

  • The printed output you are expecting may be directed to another printer or output queue that is not currently attached to the printer.

  • Check the printer's message queue for pending inquiry messages that may explain why the printer is not printing. The messages may reveal printer-related problems such as the need to change forms or that the printer ran out of paper. If you don't know the name of the printers message queue, use the Display Device Description (DSPDEVD) command and supply the name of the printer.

  • If the printer is a laser printer, it may have run completely out of toner and could be printing blank pages.

  • Check that the printer is varied on using the Work with Configuration Status (WRKCFGSTS) command. If it is varied off, vary it on now.

  • Check that the printer writer is started using the Work with Writers (WRKWTR) command. If it is not started, start it now. You may have to reply to a printer message immediately after starting it.

A Tape Drive Doesn't Work

• No reaction when powered on.

  • Check the power cable to make sure that it is still connected to the outlet on the wall.

  • Check that the outlet has power.

• Smoke or burning odors.

  • Turn the tape drive off immediately. There may be a short circuit in its circuitry that can cause a fire.

• No reaction to SAVXXX or RSTXXX commands.

  • Some save and restore commands take a while before your tape drive reacts because the system needs to do some housekeeping chores. Save or restore operations that involve large objects, such as libraries, will cause the most delay. Give your system time.

  • Check that the tape drive is varied on using the WRKCFGSTS command. If it is not varied on, vary it on.

  • Check the system operator's message queue (QSYSOPR) for pending inquiry messages that may explain why the tape drive is not working.

  • Check that you have mounted a tape into the drive, and that the tape drive is in a ready state.

• Errors occur during the tape operation.

  • Clean the tape path of your tape drive. The tape path can become dirty and prevent your tape drive from operating.

  • Check that the tape you have supplied is properly initialized. If the tape is not initialized, initialize it.