Oversized HDD with Mac IIsi?

[dv-]

Have a 9GB scsi HDD I’m trying to use with a IIsi. I can boot from a CD image on a ZuluSCSI to format and install an OS.

When I initialize the drive I get a prompt about volume size, so I create a 1GB volume. It mounts, I install an OS, and then… nothing. It won’t boot from the volume and if I reboot from the ZuluSCSI and try to mount the volume with disk utility, I get an error saying I need a 68040 or PPC to use the “large volume.”

I’ve done this same thing twice now with the same issue. (Tried installing 7.1 and 7.5.)

Do I need a 68040 or PPC to support drives (not just volumes) over a certain size? All I can find online are references to the maximum volume size (2GB for 7.1, 4GB for 7.5, etc.)

 

[croissantking]

Not sure what’s gone wrong, but I’ve used a IIsi with an 18GB SCSI very happily, so it’s not a hardware incompatibility at least

 

[nathall]

What utility are you using to partition the drive? Sounds like a potential issue with the driver that is getting put on the drive. I’ve seen that error before at some point in the past and am racking my brain to recall what it was.

I can also vouch for large drives working on the IIsi without issues.

 

[dv-]

Not sure what’s gone wrong, but I’ve used a IIsi with an 18GB SCSI very happily, so it’s not a hardware incompatibility at least

Interesting; that's good to know. Thank you!

 

[dv-]

What utility are you using to partition the drive? Sounds like a potential issue with the driver that is getting put on the drive. I’ve seen that error before at some point in the past and am racking my brain to recall what it was.

I can also vouch for large drives working on the IIsi without issues.

Disk Utility 1.7.3 included on this: https://www.macintoshrepository.org/931-apple-legacy-software-recovery-cd

 

[joshc]

Use FWB HDT to create a smaller partition on it and then try.

https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/fwb-hard-disk-toolkit-452

 

[mikes-macs]

Agreed, FWB HD Toolkit or Lido can take care of that.

 

[croissantking]

I mean you should be able to use the patched HD SC Setup, making sure that you set up a custom partition under 2GB in size. I can't see why it wouldn't work – something's not configured correctly.

 

[cheesestraws]

I always find the A/UX HD SC Setup useful in this kind of circumstance.

 

[robin-fo]

Although this might sound a bit far-fetched: Are you sure your SCSI chain is properly terminated? I could imagine the data transmission just barely works and an error happens every now and then… Does your drive maybe require termination power for internal active termination?

 

[joshc]

I always find the A/UX HD SC Setup useful in this kind of circumstance.

I always forget that this even exists.

 

[cheesestraws]

I always forget that this even exists.

It's a very useful thing to have in the toolbox. Makes fewer assumptions than the "consumer" HD SC Setup, has better partitioning options, doesn't have the approved HD list - and also doesn't do the weird custom driver thing that FWB / Lido / Silverlining do.

 

[nathall]

Disk Utility 1.7.3 included on this: https://www.macintoshrepository.org/931-apple-legacy-software-recovery-cd

I bet it’s a driver issue. Agree with the others in trying one of the other utilities.

 

[dv-]

Well, it works now. The only difference was updating the driver and repartitioning with a patched version of HD SC Setup 7.3.5. Thanks for the advice!

 

[dv-]

And then it stoped working again as soon as I unplugged the external ZuluSCSI. Maybe it is a termination issue. Huh.

 

[dv-]

This is the adapter that's on the drive. I thought RN1 and RN2 provided termination to the drive. Any idea how I could test/check those?

I tried putting on a jumper of the "term power" jumper of the HDD but it doesn't make a difference. https://www.seagate.com/staticfiles...n_guides/atlas_10k_iii_installation_guide.pdf

 

[dv-]

Is it possible the adapter requires termination power from the motherboard to work correctly? (Knowing that it works with a Quadra and the IIsi doesn't have termination power on its internal SCSI connector?)

 

[dv-]

Okay, so I've dug out a couple other internal HDDs, some of which are even Apple OEM, and have found that _none_ of them are recognized without the ZuluSCSI plugged in. If it's plugged in, the drives format, mount, and can be booted from just fine.

However, the drives all work fine in my other IIsi. (!)

So I guess it's something wrong with the SCSI chain or controller on the first IIsi, which makes me sad. Traces all check out; not sure where to go from there, except swapping the chip?

 

[Forrest]

Your post on December 8 shows a terminator with passive termination (resistors). Sometimes you need active termination. I think the ZuluSCSI is acting as an active terminator. If your hard drives work with a ZuluSCSI, it sounds like a permanent solution to me and not that expensive.

 

[dv-]

Your post on December 8 shows a terminator with passive termination (resistors). Sometimes you need active termination. I think the ZuluSCSI is acting as an active terminator. If your hard drives work with a ZuluSCSI, it sounds like a permanent solution to me and not that expensive.

Yeah, it just irks me, having to leave an external device plugged in like that. I was hoping to have it working "the right way" and not just "sorta works if you..." you know? :-(

Do you know if the original HDDs for the IIsi included active termination or something extra?

I wouldn't mind replacing the HDD with an internal SCSI emulator, but everybody seems to be out of stock of internal BlueSCSI kits at the moment, and the preassembled ones are more expensive.