We have come across a few calls where the customer was trying
to install Solaris 2.5.1 11/97 on an Ultra 5 or 10 system
and it would not even go into install mode.  It dropped to 
the # sign after giving the following error:

Output:
 -boot cdrom
 -Boot device: /pci@1f,0/pci@1,1/ide@3/cdrom@2,0:f
 -SunOS rel 5.5.1 version generic-103640-12
 -copy right --
 -configuring the /devices
 -configuring the /dev
 -sunw,hme0:link down-cable problem
--
--
 -NOTICE: hs_findhsvol:bread:error=[5]
 -hsfs mount failed, trying ufs...
 -mount:/devices/pci@1f,0/pci@1,1/ide@3/atapicd@2,0:a is not fs type
 --Bad /usr
 -(this could be due to using /usr from a boot server.)
 -Type: hsfs, Path:/devices -------/atapicd@2,0:a
 -#

The fix is to replace the media.
It is NOT a hardware problem.

We are looking into 
how customers are suppose to get replacement media 
under warranty.  It is NOT to send them to the DDB 
queue.  We have already gotten turned down by them 
twice trying to replace media under warranty.  They 
tell us they only replace media under contracts.  Shaun
Clark is in the process of trying to find out how customers
get bad media replaced under warranty.  As soon as he has
the info, he will send an email out to let all of you know.