Post 2459366 by cefiar@social.chinwag.org
(DIR) More posts by cefiar@social.chinwag.org
(DIR) Post #2328838 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-27T06:25:00Z
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In case you wanted to see the inside of an Apple Macintosh LC II...Unfortunately the 80MB SCSI hard drive doesn't want to work this morning. I can hear it try to power up, but then it stops and boot fails, leaving me with the well-known "where's my boot floppy?" icon.#retrocomputing
(DIR) Post #2328855 by mike@social.chinwag.org
2018-12-27T07:03:52Z
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@bobstechsite I fondly recall a mate showing off his LC III and me being somewhat jealous as I had a rather drab 486 at the time.
(DIR) Post #2329172 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-27T06:37:18Z
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On the upside opening it up (you just snap up two plastic catches on the back of the case and it lifts up like a pizza box) has revealed that replacing the PRAM/CMOS battery would be straightforward. 👍The plan I think is to just buy a cheap replacement hard drive with new cables. That would reveal if it's the hard drive that's done or (more seriously) if the PSU is on its way out.
(DIR) Post #2329173 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-27T07:10:47Z
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The fun thing about internal SCSI hard drives is that there's no physical limit to the size. This is because they have their own onboard processor, so the underlying system only communicates with the firmware instead of having to track actual file locations on disk.There is one limitation though: the maximum partition size System 7.x can support is (I think) 2GB.
(DIR) Post #2329174 by cefiar@social.chinwag.org
2018-12-27T07:24:11Z
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@bobstechsite 2GB on System 7.0. Higher limits on system 7.5 (4GB, up to 2TB on 7.5.2 in some machines). Useful link: http://www.savagetaylor.com/2018/01/01/mac-os-standard-format-specifications-apple-kb-article-8647/ - FWIW: You might be able to use a SD to SCSI adapter as well, like: https://amigastore.eu/600-scsi-to-micro-sd-adapter.html
(DIR) Post #2329185 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-27T07:24:22Z
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@mike I also get the impression that if I was teleported back to 1992 and had the money I'd have gone with a Mac rather than a DOS machine 😁 (I was born a year before this thing released, so it's fair to say my computing history played out differently. But I have a fondness for old Apple computers)
(DIR) Post #2329275 by mike@social.chinwag.org
2018-12-27T07:28:09Z
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@bobstechsite I was running BBSes in that era, so PC was a bit of a no-brainer. I got quite jealous of the pretty things I saw on the machines of Amiga and Mac friends though.I don't think I ever considered actually owning a Mac back then, although I've had a few since. If you sent me back there now I'd just load up on Amiga gear though. :awesome:
(DIR) Post #2329284 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-27T07:28:33Z
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@cefiar thanks for the links!The tricky bit is I'm not sure which version of System 7 I have, because the install floppies annoyingly don't have a version number on their labels 🤦♂️ And I agree, a SCSI to flash storage solution is a far more elegant and long term solution. I'm currently dodging it because of the cost: https://amigakit.amiga.store/product_info.php?products_id=1264
(DIR) Post #2329329 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-27T07:30:48Z
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@mike you could smugly observe that you can run emulated System7.5 faster than an LC III 😁 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jph0gxzL3UI
(DIR) Post #2364463 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-27T07:16:53Z
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I've picked up a 9GB SCA SCSI drive for £13 that should do the trick, although for the Apple Macintosh LC II to access all of it I'd need 5 separate <2GB partitions 😅 I also ordered a much newer 36GB drive for £6 that uses an SCA80 connector, as I suspect I'll be able to use that in another project I have planned. 👍
(DIR) Post #2364464 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-28T11:14:23Z
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Update: neither of the drives I ordered fit the Macintosh LC II. Having checked eBay for drives that do... they're hella expensive 😱
(DIR) Post #2364465 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-28T11:16:16Z
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It would seem I'm better off ordering @cefiar's suggestion after all. That'll teach me to actually remove a component and check the connectors before ordering cheap replacements online! 😅 https://amigastore.eu/600-scsi-to-micro-sd-adapter.html
(DIR) Post #2364466 by cefiar@social.chinwag.org
2018-12-28T11:40:03Z
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@bobstechsite There are others out there too. That was just the first one I came across. Might find something cheaper on eBay.
(DIR) Post #2459366 by cefiar@social.chinwag.org
2018-12-31T05:47:31Z
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@bobstechsite I had a quick browse on eBay and couldn't find anything significantly cheaper than amigastore's SCSI to SD, BUT: I found you can buy adapters for 80 pin SCA SCSI (the connector on the drives you bought) to 50 pin SCSI (what the LC II expects) somewhat cheap that should allow you to convert the drives you got to 50 pin SCSI and use them in the LC II. Link with pics for reference (not specifically recommended as an AU seller and shipping would be killer): https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SCSI-SCA-80-PIN-TO-50-PIN-SCSI-Adapter-SCA-80-PIN-TO-IDE-50-Male-Converter/173690719890
(DIR) Post #2459502 by bobstechsite@bobadon.rocks
2018-12-31T05:57:52Z
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@cefiar thank you for this link!I since bit the bullet and opted for the SCSI to MicroSD adapter. But I may pick up a couple of these adapters in the New Year for future projects.
(DIR) Post #2459556 by cefiar@social.chinwag.org
2018-12-31T06:00:54Z
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@bobstechsite No probs. I didn't think of it at the time, otherwise I would have mentioned it then! Doh. Still, given how cheap you got those 80 pin drives, at least if you blow up one of those it's not like it'll cost you much to replace. 😀