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Mac10 ext. HDD Pinout & drivers needed :D

MarNo84

Well-known member
Hi Friends,

I just dig out my old MAC10 (by Paradise Systems Inc.) external serial hard drive. It once came with my Macintosh 512k. Sadly I can't find it's serial data cable anymore after our last moving in 2019 :(  ​
Does somebody has the same drive and/or can tell me the serial pinout/wiring to get it hooked up on a Mac 128/512k?​

I want to solder me a new data cable ;)  ... a common serial 1to1 cable doesn't work. :/  ​
 ​

Ah and if someone may also has the service/user manual and a dump of the drivers diskette - this would be rocking awesome :D  ​
...Google didn't help much...no information found about this thing - nowhere :(
 ​
Many thanks :D
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Realitystorm

Well-known member
I wonder if the cable was essentially a null modem cable.  

Apple IIgs, IIc+, LC III null modem: https://retrofloppy.com/products/

Tougher will be finding the init file for this, I did some digging and found some info on how to format this HFS that mentions an INIT file will be needed, but no luck finding the actual file.  https://www.macgui.com/usenet/?group=8&id=5834, perhaps you're lucky and still have the init on an old boot disk.

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
I doubt its Null Modem/Printer as it doesn't make sense for it to be on an AppleTalk Network like shared Printers of the era. Handshaking would slow it down, no? So more likely it uses a dedicated Serial Port/Cable connection the way I see it. Never know until you try it, I've plugged the wrong cable (serial) into a digitizing tablet to Apple IIe with not problem other than lack of communication. I'd imagine a wrong cable connection to a Mac would be the same deal, but could be problematic.

Anyone know for sure if plugging the wrong cable would cause no damage?

 

MarNo84

Well-known member
I doubt its Null Modem/Printer as it doesn't make sense for it to be on an AppleTalk Network like shared Printers of the era. Handshaking would slow it down, no? So more likely it uses a dedicated Serial Port/Cable connection the way I see it. Never know until you try it, I've plugged the wrong cable (serial) into a digitizing tablet to Apple IIe with not problem other than lack of communication. I'd imagine a wrong cable connection to a Mac would be the same deal, but could be problematic.

Anyone know for sure if plugging the wrong cable would cause no damage?
Oh yes, there can be damage done if the 5V / 12V line on the serial cable goes to the wrong line of the Mac10 :/  well.. I will wait and hope for some good schematics/pinout before I try my luck ;)

 

Realitystorm

Well-known member
I forgot the 512k had 9 pin ports  vs the mac plus's din-8.  There was mention that the mac10 has a pass through, so the. second port should be standard serial if it's designed for a serial modem or printer to be attached.  If there is a direct connection between the ports you might be able to sort out some of the pins.

 
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