Sonnet Presto

[thatsteve]

I picked up a Sonnet Presto for my LCIII+ recently for a damned good price, been looking for one for a couple of years, so was stoked to get it! Only problem is, cant find the right drivers! In particular, I think I need the System 7 enabler, I'm running 7.6.1. Sonnet site has drivers for the Presto Plus, but not for this one. Does anyone have an image of the install disk they can send me?

S

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Have you called Sonnet? Every time I've called them I have been amazed at the incredible level of Tech Support and Customer Service. Back in the day, I got to talk directly to a couple of their engineers.

 

[Unknown_K]

From what I recall (when I was digging for a driver for the Presto Plus I own) the driver online IS for the original Presto and a tech had to email me the driver for the plus.

 

[thatsteve]

Hello gents. Thanks for the replies, sorry to not respond sooner, got overtaken by life and haven't had any time to tinker with the old Mac, until this weekend...

Well, I've sourced what I think I need directly from Sonnet tech support. I have the Presto extension, which I've placed in the extensions folder, and the System 7 and System 8 enablers, which I've placed in the system folder.

Now, when I install the card, the machine chimes but won't boot at all. Bugger.

When I removed the card and reboot, the Presto extension has a red cross through it.

Any ideas? Have I put the enablers in the right place?

S

 

[Unknown_K]

Sonnets site has drivers for the Presto and not the Presto Plus (I had to get them to email me the correct drivers for my Plus).

 

[thatsteve]

Unfortunately the Sonnet download only has the System 8 enabler. But they mailed me the 7 enabler directly so I (in theory!) have all the requisite software, just not having any luck getting it to boot with the card installed.

I know it needs 32 bit memory on but in the Memory control panel there is no option for this, so I'm assuming the LCIII+ is already set to 32 bit mode?

S

 

[thatsteve]

Right, just done some reading up on Mode32 and yeah, the LC series doesn't require it as it's always in 32 bit mode. So that ain't the issue.

I just removed the VRAM and booted. Still nothing. Then removed the 32MB stick of RAM and... it gets to the Happy Mac before freezing.

Help!

S

 

[thatsteve]

I also have an FPU installed on the motherboard, could this be conflicting? I don't have an extraction tool so can't easily pull it out to check...

S

 

[spiceyokooko]

The LCIII has 32 bit clean ROMs and therefore doesn't need Mode 32. It was the older 00, 020 and 030 processor machines that didn't have 32 bit clean ROMs that needed Mode 32 to enable 32 bit addressing.

Sounds to me like you're getting software errors.

I'd start from a clean fresh install of System 7 and switch off all the non essential extensions and control panels and work from there. The Sonnet extension needs to be in the extensions folder and the system enablers simply loose in the system folder. From memory you need to install the Sonnet software with extensions off, so install a fresh system, zap the PRAM, remove the non-essential extensions and control panels, boot with extensions off and install the Sonnet software. Reboot and if it still crashes, then either you still don't have the right Sonnet software and/or there may be a problem with the card itself.

If you don't want to overwrite your existing System Folder (and you probably don't if you you've got a lot of application preferences in there) simply create 2 new folders and move the System file into one, the finder into the other and rename the System folder itself as something else. When you now install the fresh System 7 it will create a new System Folder on the hard disk. It's now easy to go back your previous system by reversing the process.

 

[thatsteve]

Thanks for that, think I'll give it a go this evening.

I just tried booting with extensions off (shift held down) and the card installed, and it worked. So, does that indicate it's not a physical issue with the card and more likely software? Obviously, with the Presto extension not being loaded the card wouldn't have been enabled but it's got to suggest it's not the physical presence of the card itself stuffing it up?

I'll persevere, although if it turns out the card will continue to clash with my 32MB of RAM once I've ironed out the software bugs then I think I'll be passing her on, having to deal with 4MB of stock RAM only sucks!

S

 

[spiceyokooko]

So, does that indicate it's not a physical issue with the card and more likely software?

It does to me, yes, but just because the machine booted with the card installed and didn't crash, doesn't mean there isn't anything wrong with the card itself, you probably won't find that out till you get the Sonnet software to load and work with it. It is a good sign though!

Installing and testing a fresh installed System 7 with minimal extensions and control panels really should solve the problem if it is a software conflict.

 

[ojfd]

Try the old trick of forcing the Presto extension to load first at the boot - i.e. put a space or two in front of its name and see what happens.

 

[olePigeon]

I have a Sonnet Presto and drivers in my LC. You only need the Presto extension. The other 2 System Enablers (Virtual Enabler and System 8 Enabler) are only if you want to run OS 8, and if they're installed on anything except OS 8 your Mac won't boot. So you should boot with extensions off and remove those enablers. It'll probably work after that.

Also, it doesn't work on a Color Classic with a VRAM upgrade.

 

[thatsteve]

Right, just followed spiceyokooko's advice and started with a fresh install. No luck, same as before.

Have also followed ojfd's tip re getting the Presto extension to load first.

Tried junking the System 7 enabler as per OlePigeon and only having the Presto extension. Well, with the 32MB RAM installed on the motherboard, nothing (as usual) other than the chime. But with the RAM removed it will boot, albeit with the Presto extension bearing a red cross and then a message saying the accelerator did not start up correctly...

Bugger. Any thoughts?

 

[olePigeon]

System 7 enabler? Something doesn't sound right. My Presto diskette only has the Presto extension and two enablers: Virtual and System 8.

Are you sure you're using the correct software?

 

[olePigeon]

Also, is 32-bit memory addressing turned on? That's needs to be turned on.

 

[thatsteve]

Yeah, the Presto software download from Sonnet's site has 2 enablers for OS8 but I had seen a couple of other forum posts in other places where people mention a System 7 enabler, so I mailed Sonnet asking for it and they sent me it! It's also mentioned in the Presto Plus installation pdf that's on their site, so it definitely does exist!

But what use it is, I don't know. When the 7 Enabler is in my System folder, nothing happens. Junk it out and just have the Presto extension, it boots. But still doesn't work.

I actually have 2 versions of the Presto extension, v3.1 (1996-1998 Sonnet Technologies) (114Kb) and v3.2.1 (beta 1996-2000 Sonnet Technologies)(152Kb). The 3.2.1 is the one that Sonnet mailed me, 3.1 is the downloaded one from their site. 3.2.1 causes a "bus error" when loading the extension, whereas 3.1 just doesn't load/enable the card.

Can you check which extension you are using? If you mail me yours and it doesn't work then perhaps there is something wrong with the card.

S

 

[thatsteve]

And I'm using OS7.6.1, so 32 bit is always on.

 

[spiceyokooko]

Right, just followed spiceyokooko's advice and started with a fresh install. No luck, same as before.

What did you do and what did it do?

Did you zap the PRAM? Did you run it with minimum extensions? What happened? Did it crash? Did the Presto extension load or have an X through it? Where was the Presto extension loading? At the start or at the end? You can force the extension to load either at the end or at the start by using spaces before it or a ~ before it.

What's the deal with the RAM?