Revitalization of a PCMCIA Rev. B card cage

[MikeatOSX]

[SIZE=12pt]My Rev. B card cage (Apple M2864 V1/B) was working, when I got it some years ago with a PowerBook 520c.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]But only for a short time, so I thought it became defective. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Yesterday I've read these posts:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]https://www.mail-archive.com/powerbooks@mail.maclaunch.com/msg07749.html[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]and it made me curious. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]I didn't know that MacOS 8.1 has built-in PCMCIA drivers, so I removed all extension named "PC card..." or "PCMCIA..." from the extension folder and one control panel. But not the PCMCIA control strip module. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]After restart I tried several of my PCMCIA2CompactFlash adapters and the smallest CF-Cards. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]And suprise (!) one CF Card and (second surprise!) a CF2MicroSD adapter with a 1 GB MicroSD card inside were immediatly recognized by the REV. B card cage and it invited me to format it, which was finished in a few seconds and I was able to copy files on it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]I had problems with bigger cards (4GB and more) but I don't mind as I have cards now for exchange. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]So if you are owning a REV. B, don't give up and try all adapters and cards you have. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Working CF-adapters: [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Transcend, DeLock and Startechnik[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]CF-Cards:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]SanDisk Extreme III 2 GB and[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]DeLock microSD adapter with 1GB microSD.[/SIZE]

 
 

 

[Byrd]

That's some interesting research - do you think Apple hobbled CF card access using their PCMCIA drivers?

Can you boot from the CF card?

 

[MikeatOSX]

I suppose Apple repaired their CF card drivers for Rev. B in MacOS 8.1, but inside, without extensions. 

Rev. B allows to format a card in HFS+ so it can be used on a recent Mac for exchanging files, but Rev. B doesn't like more than one partion on a card. It wants to format this card. Limit is always 2 GB. 

Booting didn't work for me. 

 

[MikeatOSX]

Some more infos:

Name:         PC Card Software
Version:      2.0
Released:     April, 1996
Description:  This software is for the PowerBook 500 series Rev C PCMCIA
expansion module only and is required in order to use that module. This software
will not update a Rev A or Rev B module to a Rev C - this can be done via a
module replacement only. If you are using System 7.5.2 or System 7.5.3, this
software can also be attained by using the Custom Install feature of the system
Installer.

PC Card Software 2.0

To use, download, double-click the downloaded file (this decompresses it), and
use Disk Copy to create the disk or use a disk mounting utility to mount it on
your desktop. Disk Copy can be found in the Utilities folder posted here.

PowerBook PC Card Software 2.0:
---------------------------------------------
File Name                        Version #
---------------------------------------------
Apple Modem Tool                 1.5.4             
Generic PC Card modem            2.0.1           
Motorola CELLect (Cellular)                      
Motorola CELLect (Land)                          
PC Card Extension                2.0             
PC Card Modem (USA)                               
PC Card Modem Extension          2.0.3             
PC Exchange                      2.0.5             
Serial Tool                      1.0.2           
Text Tool                        1.0.1           
TTY Tool                         1.0.1           
VT102 Tool                       1.0.2           
XMODEM Tool                      1.1             

From the PC Card Software 2.0 ReadMe:

Important Information About Your Macintosh PowerBook PCMCIA Expansion Module

Congratulations on purchasing your PowerBook PCMCIA Expansion Module.  This
document adds to and updates the information in the manuals that came with your
module.  It is a good idea to read this document now, and keep a copy handy for
future reference.  

If your PowerBook is connected to a printer, choose Print from the File menu to
print a copy of this document.  When you are finished reading and printing,
choose Quit from the File menu to quit the SimpleText application program.

Contents
   
Tips
   - Using PC Cards
   - Using a DOS-formatted PC Card
   
Troubleshooting
   - Selecting a PC Card as a startup disk
   - Starting machine with PC Card(s) inserted

Tips:

Using PC Cards

•  For best results, purchase only cards that have been qualified for use on a
Macintosh computer.  If you are in the United States, you can receive a faxed
list of currently available PC Cards by calling 1-800-462-4396 and requesting
document 10307.  You can call this number anytime.  In Canada, call
1-800-263-3394 and request document 10307.  Outside the United States and Canada,
please consult your Apple-authorized dealer.

•  Don’t use an SRAM storage card as a startup disk on your PowerBook.  Use SRAM
cards for extra storage only.

•    Never eject a PC Card manually (with a paper clip) while the PowerBook is in
sleep.  You may damage the card or lose data. 

Using a DOS-formatted PC Card

•  If your PowerBook has the Macintosh PC Exchange control panel installed and PC
Exchange is turned on, you can use a PC Card that has been preformatted in a DOS
format in your PowerBook.  However, you cannot start up your computer using the
DOS-formatted PC Card; you can only start up your computer using a Mac
OS–formatted PC Card.  If you want to reformat your DOS-formatted PC Card as a
Mac OS–formatted PC Card, you need to turn PC Exchange off, and then format the
card as you would any non-Mac OS–formatted disk.  Follow these steps:

1. Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu.
2.    Open the PC Exchange control panel.
3.    Click the Off button and close the PC Exchange control panel.
4.    Insert your PC Card.
A window appears asking if you want to initialize (format) the disk.
5.     Click Initialize to format the PC Card.

•  Once the PC Card is reformatted, you can turn Macintosh PC Exchange back on in
the PC Exchange control panel.

•  You cannot reformat a Mac OS-formatted PC Card as a DOS-formatted PC Card with
PC Exchange. To do so, you need to use a DOS/Windows computer with PC Card
capabilities.

Troubleshooting:

Selecting a PC Card as a startup disk:

•  The user may experience some difficulty in selecting a PC Card as a startup
disk.  If a system alert "beep" is heard when attempting to select a PC Card as a
startup disk, simply restart the machine, then reselect the startup disk.

Starting the computer with PC Card(s) inserted:

•  Under some configurations, the user may experience problems when starting up
with a PC Card inserted.  If this occurs, remove the the PC Card before starting
the computer.

(revised 02/19/96)
© 1996 Apple Computer, Inc.
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, and PowerBook are trademarks of Apple Computer,
Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.  DOS and Windows are trademarks
of Microsoft Corporation.

PowerBook 520 540 550

 

[gpbonneau]

I already tried the PCMCIA module (revB) to use CF card to boot on my PB520c, that run well



The CF card appears in the Finder (I was able to format the card). I put a copy of the system folder from the hard drive and was able to boot from the CF card:

  

I also tried to do that in my PB540c with a PowerPC upgrade, from Apple (in fact a Newer Technology processor card with a PPC603ev/133MHz), but the PCMCIA module don't work in this case, only rev C can, not the rev B :-(

 

[MikeatOSX]

I assume you formatted the card with HFS, not HFS+. 

Your standard PB 540c: does it have a working PRAM- or main-battery?

Mine doesn't boot that way. Main battery dead, PRAM battery new. 

 

[gpbonneau]

I assume you formatted the card with HFS, not HFS+. 

Your standard PB 540c: does it have a working PRAM- or main-battery?

Mine doesn't boot that way. Main battery dead, PRAM battery new. 

520c run with 7.5, which is HFS only, and, as all 68k, even if you run 8.1 to use HFS+, it cannot boot on HFS+ volume, only PPC can.

540c run well, but no battery inside (all dead), and PRAM battery is empty. And I need to wait a couple of minute after to plug power supply to be able to start it.

With the PPC upgrade, It run 8.1 from his internal SCSI HD 800MB HFS+.

Unfortunately, my PCMCIA module rev B cannot run with the PPC upgrade, only rev C can.

  

Processor upgrade from Apple (made by NewerTech.):

 

[pax]

Good job! Oh, I wish I had one of those PCMCIA expansion modules for my 520. I have lots of cards that I use in my 3400 that would also love to be able to use with the 520.

 

[MikeatOSX]

I'll try the Rev. B booting again, later. 

I'm [SIZE=12pt]refurbishing my three 540c before. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]They are really good machines.  :mrgreen: [/SIZE]

 

[MikeatOSX]

Oh, I wish I had one of those PCMCIA expansion modules for my 520.

I got both modules very cheap with a 520c and a 540c. The owners didn't really know what they were selling.  :lol: