68kMLA Classic Interface

This is a version of the 68kMLA forums for viewing on your favorite old mac. Visitors on modern platforms may prefer the main site.

Click here to select a new forum.
Troubleshooting booting from CF card using IODATA idsc21-e scsi to ide adapter
Posted by: Motu on 2023-11-09 20:48:57
Hi there, I have been trying to boot my PowerBook 520c from an external SCSI hdd enclosure housing an Iodata idsc21-e scsi to ide adapter connected to a ide cf card adapter and a 2gb Transcend cf card.
I have been able to install an image of system 7.6.1 (the same image I am to successfully boot from on my BlueSCSI) onto the cf card after formatting it to hfs.

The 520c will see, access/read & write to the card if I boot the machine from the BlueSCSI attached to the scsi hdd enclosure, but once I remove the BlueSCSI and try booting from the cf card itself I can't get the machine to boot.

Has anyone else had success booting from cf cards with these iodata scsi to ide devices in their Macintosh's?

Thank you
Posted by: bigmessowires on 2023-11-09 21:47:12
Is there SCSI adapter terminated? Maybe the BlueSCSI is providing your termination, and when you remove it your SCSI bus becomes unterminated.
Posted by: Motu on 2023-11-09 22:48:01
I have tried the iodata with both termination on and termination off (by means of a jumper just like on BlueSCSI).

It refuses to boot either way.

Noob Mac question alert...

Is there a type of open firmware I can access on the powerbook 520c that might allow me to grant boot access at a deeper level on the computer itself?
Posted by: MacUp72 on 2023-11-09 22:52:16
does the Iodata idsc21-e look like that? how does that fit into a 520?
Bildschirmfoto 2023-11-10 um 07.51.52.jpg
Posted by: Motu on 2023-11-09 23:54:25
Yes, it looks exactly like that.

I have it fitted inside an external scsi hdd enclosure connected via a Macintosh hdi 30 scsi adapter.
Posted by: MacUp72 on 2023-11-10 00:05:28
external, ok..and what is installed inside the PowerBook? ..a BlueScsi?
Posted by: Motu on 2023-11-10 00:20:30
The external SCSI enclosure has the iodata idsc21-e connected to an ide cf card adapter (the jumper on this is set to master), on the back of the enclosure it has 2 x female centronics 50 sockets, one goes to the powerbook 520c via a centronics 50 to db25 scsi cable and the other has my BlueSCSI v2 centronics 50 version with a 16gb micro sd card in it.
I have an image of system 7.6.1 on my sd card set on scsi id 6. The BlueSCSI is terminated.
My cf card is set to scsi id 4 via the jumpers on the iodata adapter
Posted by: Motu on 2023-11-10 01:53:36
I have had success with this iodata idsc21-e scsi to ide adapter/ide cf card adapter in my Atari Falcon, my Atari TT and three of my vintage Akai sound samplers (s2000, s3200 & s5000), all have been able to boot from the cf card.
Unfortunately the Macintosh is not wanting to boot from the cf card even though it can identify/read & write to it if booted from the BlueSCSI
Posted by: s_pupp on 2023-11-10 09:04:06
Try formatting the CF card with FWB hard disk toolkit, version 1.6 or 3. With the similar Acard SCSI-IDE adapter connected to a CF-IDE adapter with a Transcend industrial CF card, that’s the combo that allowed me to boot (SE/30 and IIfx). As far as ability to boot goes, I had no luck with Intech HDST, Lido, Anubis, in LaCie, or patched Apple HD Setup. I also had little luck with recent Transcend industrial cards - what has worked consistently is an older version…

IMG_7653.jpeg
Posted by: Motu on 2023-11-10 09:09:31
Thanks s_pupp, I will give that a try
Posted by: register on 2023-11-12 06:26:03
Try formatting the CF card with (…)
Yes, the operability of a setup might depend on the software used to format the drive. The results vary for each combination of actual storage media hardware, adapter, host computer and drive setup software. A while ago, in the Wiki we assembled a table of tested flash memory with configuration details and results. I found the Wiki to be troublesome to edit or even access for just some time. Is there hope to get the Wiki back to an operational state?
Posted by: Motu on 2023-11-13 03:34:28
Hi s_pupp,

Thanks heaps for the tip.
FWB Hard Disk Toolkit v3 did the trick!
I am now able to boot successfully off the 2gb Transcend cf card in the iodata idsc21-e.

Thanks so much for that.

Best regards,

Motu
Posted by: s_pupp on 2023-11-13 05:47:30
Hi s_pupp,

Thanks heaps for the tip.
FWB Hard Disk Toolkit v3 did the trick!
I am now able to boot successfully off the 2gb Transcend cf card in the iodata idsc21-e.

Thanks so much for that.

Best regards,

Motu
I’m glad to hear that. Thanks for the update.
1