Apple ROM on Quantum SCSI drives

[8bitbubsy]

Heya,

I've got a Quantum ProDrive ELS 170S, which is identical (except for 10MB size difference) to the ELS 160S that is shipped as a configuration option for the Macintosh Quadra 700.

My problem is that this HDD doesn't have any Apple firmware, are there any way to hack the ROM so it'll be like the Apple ROM? I know that I can just patch Apple HD SC Setup to bypass the ROM check, but it would be cool to do this for perfection. The ROM is a 32-pin PLCC and it's socketed. You can use a 32-pin PLCC to 32-pin DIP adapter to use this in your general EEPROM reader.

I'm asking nicely, could someone please dump the ROM from their Quantum 160S if they have one..? I don't know if it's illegal or not, the ROM is probably not decrypted or anything, so why should it be illegal to just desocket the chip and dump it...

I know these Quantum drives are shitty when it comes to stability over the years, but I frankly don't care. Mine is working like a champ.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I didn't see your other posts, welcome aboard!

Anything coming out of Apple equipment in the the way of firmware is a good bet for a copyright notice, but the bootdriver on a HDD controller just might not have a copyright.

So I don't know offhand, it could, conceivably, be a legitimate request. Why don't we amend your question to be an inquiry as to the existence of copyright notification within, or on, the ROM in question for now? I'm leaning hard on the copyrighted side of the bet, but it's an interesting question for now.

Is there a copyright sticker on the ROM in Question?

< . . . loses battle between doing something useful and satisfying idle curiosity . . . again! : >

The first HDD pulled randomly from the IDE box:

QuantumProDriveLPS 250MB AT - Apple Logo - Firmware Copyright 1994 - printed on large sticker

SCSI Drive from 7600:

Quantum FireBall TM 1.2GB - Apple Logo - NO FIRMWARE COPYRIGHT NOTICE! [:O] ]'>

Question remains interesting! [] ]'>

 

[8bitbubsy]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I decided to give up, so I removed the socket and the solder on the pads, then I soldered the EPROM to the PCB instead. Just to make the drive live a little longer if I store it in a cold room or something. Those sockets tend to corrode easily over the years.

 

[CelGen]

That's a lot of work for a ProDrive considering they are about as hit and miss with stictation as one can get.

 

[Charlieman]

I am presuming that 8bitbubsy is smart enough to spot the mistake. Smart enough to question what is on the ROM.

Is there anyone out there with the desire and kit and ability to read an Apple disk identified ROM?

 

[Dennis Nedry]

I guess I haven't seen a SCSI hard drive that specifically required Apple firmware to work on a Mac. I thought that all SCSI drives were totally cross-platform.

Have you connected the drive with its original firmware and used "Apple HD SC Setup v7.3.5 (Patched)"? That's available here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~gamba2/hd.html

 

[8bitbubsy]

I have, but it just doesn't feel as real as having a drive with the Apple firmware. You know, perfection.

CelGen: This drive is working perfectly, also I have a theory to why they might fail so much -- there's two DC SMD capacitors on the volt input stage, they filter the voltage lines so that the motors and logic doesn't get ripple (ripple is really bad for motors, they'll run differently thus get damaged over time). These caps leak like a mad man, they're of the same shape as the ones found in SEGA Game Gear. They kind of look like tantalum caps, but there is a visible radial capacitor inside them, with both legs on one of the sides. I changed them with new radial caps on mine.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

. . . it just doesn't feel as real as having a drive with the Apple firmware. You know, perfection.

Nope, for me, perfection has always been a large capacity Seagate, Western Digital or Toshiba HDD , that hasn't had its firmware borked for Apple in order to have the logo slapped onto the case . . .

. . . and the copy of HDT light/personal edition/whatever that comes with it!

IMHO, of course. }

 

[CC_333]

"Perfection" is a subjective term. What may be perfect to one person may be absolutely hideous and imperfect to another.

For example: an Apple ROM'ed hard drive is considered perfect by 8bitbubsy, but a drive not bearing Apple's ROM is considered perfect by Trash80.

It's all relative...

c

 

[techknight]

IMHO, perfection means it works. lol. no fuss, no weirdness, it just works.....

 

[CC_333]

IMHO, perfection means it works. lol. no fuss, no weirdness, it just works.....

With that being said, then Macs must be perfect by design-- They usually just work out of the box with no problems or other weirdness (some brand new PCs that I've gotten are far from perfect in this regard).
c

 

[techknight]

it was sarcasm. lol.

Meaning perfection to me is: at least the darned thing works. lol.