PowerBook 2400c vs Mac OS 8.5

[KnobsNSwitches]

I have a PowerBook 2400c that is happiest running 8.1. 

I have a CF card and a PCMCIA adapter to move files between newer systems and this. I can have the system folder for 8.1 on either the internal drive or the CF card, no problem. CF card is formatted HFS+. 

For fun, I'd like to get it updated to 8.5 (you know, more PPC native code and all that).

Installing 8.5 (update or clean install) will work, but throw a blank bomb error on boot off the CF card. It will then eject the card and refuse to attempt to boot off of it.

If I install 8.5 on the internal drive it will boot normally, but I can't copy files from the drive to the CF card -- anything over a kilobyte or two will freeze everything. The card is an 8 GB SanDisk, the PCMCIA adapter is a generic one from amazon. This copy behavior also exists if I install Mac OS 9 (or 9.1, haven't tried 9.2). I'd prefer to stick with 8.5 or so.

I've tried various combinations of extensions on, off, etc, and I just can't figure out what is going on. I've also tried not updating the apple hard disk drivers when installing operating systems, etc. 

Does this ring a bell for any one else? Am I missing anything? Any reason copying or read/write behavior would change?

 

[MOS8_030]

The problems I've had with CF cards are usually speed related. They're too slow.

Just guessing here, but for troubleshooting first I would try a different CF card then maybe adapter.

You could also try partitioning the card, just to see if makes any difference.

 

[KnobsNSwitches]

I do have one more CF card laying around, that's a good point. This one is new, and it says 50x speed on it, I mean, SanDisk wouldn't lie, would they? ;-)

 

[just.in.time]

I have a PCMCIA to SD adapter, and cards over 2gb have issues. This is true in OS 9.1 back to 7.6.1.

if you happen to have an old 256mb or 512mb card laying around I would recommend trying that just to see.

Also, on a side note, if you are going to 8.5, you might as well update to 8.6. It runs smoothly on my 2400c with 80mb RAM.

 

[AlpineRaven]

Ive got this one (see link below) in my PowerBook 3400 - worth having and noticeable speed improvement.
Cheers

AP

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/44-Pin-Male-IDE-To-SD-Card-Adapter-V9R8-E2U4/282694560298?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

[KnobsNSwitches]

I have a PCMCIA to SD adapter, and cards over 2gb have issues. This is true in OS 9.1 back to 7.6.1.

if you happen to have an old 256mb or 512mb card laying around I would recommend trying that just to see.

Also, on a side note, if you are going to 8.5, you might as well update to 8.6. It runs smoothly on my 2400c with 80mb RAM.

Well....this was it. I have no idea why the 8 GB card worked in 8.1 but nowhere else, but I have a 256 meg card that i just installed 8.5.1 on and it's copying files back and forth happily. Terrific!

Now to find a USB cardbus card, just to see...

 

[just.in.time]

I think the 2400 and 3400 can use Cardbus cards but they require a modification inside the computer itself (to accept the physical card) and wiring up a ground plate to the frame. Something to that effect. Best of luck! If it works for you please let me know. I’ve always been interested in trying it on my 2400c.

 

[KnobsNSwitches]

I’ve read conflicting things about cardbus in the 2400, sone say a wire needs to be soldered inside, sometimes not. Once I get a replacement internal battery I figure I’ll crack it open then and find out.

 

[Byrd]

I can confirm you don't need to solder any wires to make the 2400c PCMCIA slots cardbus compliant, it's more finding cardbus cards that fit.  Of note, the MacAlly PCMCIA USB 1.1 card fits (merely because the plastic housing on the card is a bit thin and cheap, so it slides in without problems with minor flex), and that's probably the only one you'd want for cardbus (apart from a FW card or some rare VGA video card).  The 3400c shares the same chipset and has the same "issues".

This site used to spell it out for 2400c/3400 cardbus, however I can't seem to access it today nor does it seem to be archived.

http://fweb.wallawalla.edu/~frohro/Cardbus/Cardbus.html

JB

 

[KnobsNSwitches]

I can confirm you don't need to solder any wires to make the 2400c PCMCIA slots cardbus compliant, it's more finding cardbus cards that fit.  Of note, the MacAlly PCMCIA USB 1.1 card fits (merely because the plastic housing on the card is a bit thin and cheap, so it slides in without problems with minor flex), and that's probably the only one you'd want for cardbus (apart from a FW card or some rare VGA video card).  The 3400c shares the same chipset and has the same "issues".

This site used to spell it out for 2400c/3400 cardbus, however I can't seem to access it today nor does it seem to be archived.

http://fweb.wallawalla.edu/~frohro/Cardbus/Cardbus.html

JB

I THINK I've seen that site previously, but it isn't on the archive nor Google's cache. I wonder why?

Thanks for the heads up. I will look for a macally USB card. I admit, it's more one of those "fun to stretch" hardware projects rather than any real need being served. 

 But it'd be cool.

 

[Byrd]

I'm not too sure either

You don't need the MacAlly card specifically, any generic OHCI compatible PCMCIA USB 1.1 card should work out of the box, but you'll need to shave the card down a little so it can enter smoothly and be ejected by the 2400c mechanism.  I've had success with the PCMCIA, fixed dual port USB 2.0 cards as well but they tend to be more difficult to fit and modify.

JB

 

[just.in.time]

There is a modification in the PowerBook PCMCIA cage that you can do so you don’t have to shave off a bit of the leading plastic from every CardBus card.  Also, that wire modification in the PowerBook is for the grounding plate (present on most CardBus cards, not present on standard PCMCIA cards) located on the CardBus cards.  Some CardBus cards can work without the ground plate grounded (some USB 1.1 cards, especially models that only provided low power to the ports), others will not work at all (many FireWire cards).

 

[Byrd]

My experience is getting into any PCMCIA card cage - Mac or otherwise - is that of difficulty as the mechanisms almost always need dismantling and they can be a right royal annoyance to reassemble. I’d prefer to slightly modify the cards.