Problems with external hard disk

[HAL2001]

I own a iBook Clamshell 300MHz without firewire with OS 9.2. I would like to use an external case, USB with a 2.5 inch hard drive in it. This case works on my Mac Mini G4 with the special version of OS 9.2.2. for Mac Mini G4's, but it doesn't work with my clamshell. I even tried to give some extra power the case with a powered USB hub but it doesn't work. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[mikes-macs]

Only specific usb controllers will boot a clamshell externally. USB 1.1 compatible chipset. Search for a drive enclosure with Prolific PL-3507 chipset.

 

[HAL2001]

Thanks. Booting would be great but it doesn’t even connect in my case.

 

[mikes-macs]

Sorry, I thought you were trying to use it to boot the clamshell. This 2.5" HDD is it one that you just picked up or have you used it in the Clamshell perviously? Perhaps the disk itself is not formatted with Apple Partition Map. Use the G4 Mini to see if the disk was formatted with APMs. Also confirm that the USB port is working. A PPC Mac uses the Apple Partition Map while Intel Macs use GUID but some USB enclosures use MBR.

 

[Cory5412]

Does System Profiler see the disk?

If not, unfortunately it's probably what it looks like your'e thinking: the bus on the iBook may not provide enough power.

A viable work-around to this may be to use a powered USB hub. (This is probably the cheapest option.) (EDIT: just saw your other thread -- bummer!)

In terms of booting, if you wanted it, is that OS 9 also has a weird HFS+ limit of roughly 200 gigs for a boot partition.

Other options would involve swapping to a powered desktop disk or a powered toaster or using a flash drive or SD card reader, which should fit within the clamshell iBook's power budget.

Other-other options may be to use a more modern, lower power drive such as a USB SSD or a more modern/thinner pocket HDD, although I say this and I haven't tested the 2TB pocket disk that works with my QS'02 on my iBook. (/366, but.)