Files off an old SCSI Mac

[MyOldMac]

So I am trying to recover files off an old, non functioning Performa 6116.  The computer fails to power up.  It could be a battery on the motherboard, could be a power supply, or who knows what. On Most old computers that have an IDE, EIDE, ATA or SATA  drive I'd just pull out the hard drive, connect it to another computer via an external case, or adapter.  Since the 6116 has a SCSI drive and my current computers use SATA I'm struggling with how to do this for a few reasons. 1) Is there an inexpensive SCSI enclosure that has a USB port that I can use? 2) If not an enclosure, Is there an adapter from SCSI to SATA? 3) Is there a SCSI card for PC that will read an old mac formatted drive that will allow me to pull off the old files? 4) What variety or flavor of SCSI is the drive in a 6116?

 

While the files have a good amount of sentimental value I'm not looking to invest a ton of money into figuring it out. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

[Cory5412]

Ideas 1 and 2 do not exist, for all intents and purposes. Where they might technically do, they're not inexpensive and prices on these adapters are not falling.

 

There are PCI scsi cards if you have an old computer with regular PCI or PCI-X (not PCI Express, which is found in modern computers from 2005 and newer) slot but Windows tools to read Mac data aren't always "good" and I don't know the state of HFS or HFS+ flesystem support on Linux/BSD. (PCIe scsi might exist, I don't happen to have seen it.)

 

The type of SCSI drive a 61xx will have is a 50-pin scsi drive. 

 

One thing to try when you have an opportunity is to rapidly turn the machine on, then turn it off and then turn it back on. If it powers up, but doesn't show video, this will get video showing and you can then see about using serial, floppies, or networking to transfer the data, or if you decide you don't need or want it, what to do with the machine.

[Dog Cow]

About 6 months ago I installed an Adaptec 2906 SCSI PCI card in my blue & white Power Mac G3 that will communicate with old-style Mac SCSI devices such as what is in your Performa.

 

Your Performa 6116  has what is now called Parallel SCSI. It will also be called Fast SCSI, SCSI-1, or SCSI-2. Look for these terms when searching for a PCI card.

 

Do not worry about the Macintosh file system, HFS, as you will use a utility do a block read from the SCSI drive.

Edited April 2, 2020 by Dog Cow

[LaPorta]

Id almost think it would be cheapest to

Mail one of us the drive And have us extract the data for you.

[Torbar]

You might be able to use a SCSI PCI card, make an image of the drive, and boot that off of an emulator, (sheepshaver or something?), and get the files off using that.

 

But I agree with what LaPorta said, finding a member here willing to do it may be the cheapest/easiest way

[Papichulo]

Try removing the battery and turning it on off quickly i have the same computer 

[AlpineRaven]

On 4/6/2020 at 5:54 AM, Papichulo said:

Try removing the battery and turning it on off quickly i have the same computer 

Yep this - turn it on and turn it off.

 

Alternatively - is to get another SCSI based Macintosh to retrieve the HDD media or ask another media to do that for you

Cheers

AP

[Realitystorm]

On 4/2/2020 at 5:02 PM, MyOldMac said:

3) Is there a SCSI card for PC that will read an old mac formatted drive that will allow me to pull off the old files?

You say for PC, if you mean windows 10, then yes, there are cards and drivers, you can often get the cards cheap on eBay.  http://www.savagetaylor.com/2018/02/11/scsi-on-windows-10-adaptec-aha-2940-adaptec-29xx-ultra-or-aic-7870-adaptec-78xx/

 

Once connected you can create an image of the drive using DD 

http://www.savagetaylor.com/2018/05/28/setting-up-your-vintage-classic-68k-macintosh-creating-your-own-boot-able-disk-image/

 

There are then various methods for getting files off an image, I cover some on my site.  Planning to write a blog entry to describe how to do what your doing

Edited April 7, 2020 by Realitystorm