• Hello MLAers! We've re-enabled auto-approval for accounts. If you are still waiting on account approval, please check this thread for more information.

Can I use a IDE drive in a old macintosh classic II?

I found this really good deal on ebay for a faulty mac classic II and the problem is simple, HDD has failed.

I have found A HDD for it. Here it is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUANTUM-42S-PRODRIVE-LPS42S-40MB-3-5-SCSI-HARD-DRIVE-940-40-9404-APPLE-661-0216/172096401811?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D831eedf352c44354a0602e7ee590b1d1%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D322003217941

Anyone know how I could install mac OS onto the HDD? Because I don't have any other macs.

Thanks.

P.S. Sorry if this is in the wrong section of the form I am new.  :)

 
The HD you are pointing at is SCSI, not IDE.

IDE is not supported by a Classic.

Floppy is the the original way to install Mac OS.

 
Where would I find a mac OS floppy for the original version? If possible in the UK. I have looked on eBay but can't find any.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
An IDE Drive in a Classic II? Not directly. Though you can screw it in, the screw holes should be compatible to mount it.

But to connect it, you need a SCSI to IDE "Bridge" or Adapter. You can search ebay for one, Aztec is a popular brand for Mac users to connect IDE drives to the Mac's SCSI Port. Make sure that it is a 50 pin SCSI and 40 Pin IDE type adapter.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
SCSI to IDE adapters tend to be very expensive, certainly more than you would have paid for a "good deal" Mac Classic II.

A modern alternative which is a little cheaper is the SCSI2SD, which lets you use an SD card.

An article on our wiki goes into a lot of detail about your options.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
But to connect it, you need a SCSI to IDE "Bridge" or Adapter. You can search ebay for one, Aztec is a popular brand for Mac users to connect IDE drives to the Mac's SCSI Port.
Do you have a link? I've only seen Aztec in terms of the compact flash adapters, which if I remember is the whole point of the outfit that's making them.

Here's artmix's available ebay items: http://www.ebay.com/sch/artmix/m.html?item=301879718421&hash=item46496ef215&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

EDIT: Found a SATA adapter, so you can use a 2TB disk in your Mac Classic: http://www.ebay.com/sch/artmix/m.html?item=301879718421&hash=item46496ef215&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Another possibility is to replace the internal floppy diskette drive with a floppyemu, more information and store here: http://www.bigmessowires.com/floppy-emu/ which may get you some additional flexibility in terms of how you load software on. (you could download images from the Internet and put them on an SD card to use with the floppyemu.)

You can use both for a totally solid-state Mac.

We also have a forum vendor selling SCSI2SD adapters with a compatible card, more info here: https://68kmla.org/forums/index.php?/topic/26188-new-batch-of-scsi2sd-adapters-and-microsd-bundles-in-stock-and-ready-to-ship-from-usa/

If you are not in the USA, there might be a closer seller.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Derole123...
 
I swapped out the SCSI HD in my Color Classic for this SCSI to CF card:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CF-AztecMonster-CF-3-5inc-SCSI-Converter-Card-New-Condition-for-AKAI-E-mu-/301879718421?hash=item46496ef215:g:F3MAAOSw1XdUXEEp
 
It will bolt to the sled that your hard drive uses. Then you plug in the power and plug in your SCSI cable.  I bought a 4GB CF card made by SanDisk for $11.00:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GHBBJUG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00
 
4GBs is a lot of memory.  You can divide it into two "hard drives" and each will be a little less then 2GBs large.  As well as having a faster color classic, the above draws less current than a old time SCSI hard drive.  And the solid state SCSI to CF card produces far less heat than your SCSI hard drive produced.  Your classic II will run so much cooler.
 
Anything that reduce the heat in the case is a good thing IMHO.  And I like the idea that I am not taxing my power supply as much as I did. 
 
This all cost about $130.00.  It was good investment for me.  
 
mraroid
 
I'd spring right for the SD if I were you. You'll get a better deal in the long haul. Invest any extra cash into re-capping both the logic and analog board of that Classic II. Both are prone to go over time.

 
I think uniserver from this forum sells 68 pin SCSI drives with a 50 pin adapter.  Ask him if he has any left maybe and how the price compares to the SCSI2SD.

 
On a classic, the 68 pin hard drive is seriously overkill, to say nothing of the noise and additional power consumption you can expect from it. Then again, I'm biased.

 
Yeah i'm not selling them at the moment.  I have like (10)  2.5" 10,000rpm drives left, They are 500ma on the 5v rail, and 700ma on the 12v rail. they are quiet, small, pretty energy efficent considering its a 10K hard drive,  And they are simply the fastest solution out there hands down.   I don't have a line on cost effective SCA to 50pin scsi adaptors, so that is why these screamers are sitting for the moment.   

 
Back
Top