| Click here to select a new forum. |
| How can I access the hard drive from a modern computer? |
Posted by: trekkimonstr on 2026-09-10 21:21:22
So, at some point (few years ago), I found my mom's old PowerBook 180, plugged it in, and it worked! not much on it, but super neat. Left it plugged in overnight, and I guess there was a power surge, cause it wouldn't boot (I always thought the idea of power surges frying electronics was a myth). So now I figure, what if I just access the HDD directly? Take the thing apart, get it out, and realize -- what the fuck connector is this?
Drive is an IBM WDS-280, seeing 48 pins (two rows of 20[gap]4). From EveryMac, it says it's SCSI. And seems it's some proprietary/rare thing, and I have little to no electronics experience, so I'm completely lost. Anyone have any idea where I can find the appropriate adapter? or what the appropriate adapter even is?
Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this thread, I literally just made an account for this post. Also posted on Reddit, fwiw. Thank you all much in advance |
Posted by: finkmac on 2026-09-10 21:31:38
you say there's not much on it... is the data on it important? because you're going to need to buy a few things.
at the minimum, you'd need a Zulu-Compatible SCSI Emulator (like the Laptop GBSCSI2), and a IDC50 2mm pitch IDC cable like this.
what exactly doesn't boot anyways? the disk? the powerbook? what's your end goal here? |
Posted by: Byrd on 2026-09-10 21:39:42
A 2.5" SCSI HD is hard to get data off short of nerd level adapters (2.5" to 3.5" adapters aren't cheap as a start) which I'm guessing you don't want to get for one device. The drive itself may have also crashed which means whats on it might not be retrievable at all.
If keen I'd seek out a local retro computing group and see if you get get someone to either resurrect your PowerBook 180, or pull the HD and put into another PowerBook from the same era. Use a utility such as Norton Disk Doctor on the drive to see if the drive is repairable. |
Posted by: trekkimonstr on 2026-09-10 21:42:33
Data not super important, but I remember there being something at least. End goal is to be able to image it so I can emulate it at any point in future. Powerbook doesn't boot. Haven't tested the drive specifically (and no idea how to). |
Posted by: trekkimonstr on 2026-09-10 21:43:24
A 2.5" SCSI HD is hard to get data off short of nerd level adapters (2.5" to 3.5" adapters aren't cheap as a start) which I'm guessing you don't want to get for one device. The drive itself may have also crashed which means whats on it might not be retrievable at all.
If keen I'd seek out a local retro computing group and see if you get get someone to either resurrect your PowerBook 180, or pull the HD and put into another PowerBook from the same era. Use a utility such as Norton Disk Doctor on the drive to see if the drive is repairable. Where do I look to find such a group? I'm in the Bay Area so I'm sure there are some, but no idea of anything in this world |
Posted by: finkmac on 2026-09-10 21:44:27
A 2.5" SCSI HD is hard to get data off short of nerd level adapters (2.5" to 3.5" adapters aren't cheap as a start) it's not hard with initiator mode these days. just need an IDC cable of the appropriate pitch. |
Posted by: jmacz on 2026-09-10 22:33:08
Where do I look to find such a group? I'm in the Bay Area so I'm sure there are some, but no idea of anything in this world
If you aren’t in a rush, show up here: https://www.mactoberfestmeetup.org/
I can bring my PowerBook 540c and we can test the drive and if it works, copy the contents to an image on a micro SD card which you can use with Basilisk II emulator. |
Posted by: mikes-macs on 2026-09-11 08:53:08
Left it plugged in overnight, and I guess there was a power surge, cause it wouldn't boot (I always thought the idea of power surges frying electronics was a myth). Can you tell if it gets any power at all? It may be just that the power supply is fried as it was probably on it's way out. |
Posted by: trekkimonstr on 2026-09-20 22:37:40
Can you tell if it gets any power at all? It may be just that the power supply is fried as it was probably on it's way out.
Not sure. Been several months since I tried to charge it. This time, I just opened it up to get the hard drive out, before realizing the issue.
If you aren’t in a rush, show up here: https://www.mactoberfestmeetup.org/
I can bring my PowerBook 540c and we can test the drive and if it works, copy the contents to an image on a micro SD card which you can use with Basilisk II emulator.
That would be amazing, thank you so much! I've registered, and will hopefully see you there! (Should I DM as it approaches to figure out how to find you, or will it be pretty small, or?) |
Posted by: mikes-macs on 2026-09-22 00:40:45
Left it plugged in overnight, and I guess there was a power surge, cause it wouldn't boot I had a feeling that when you said it wouldn't boot you really meant that it wouldn't even turn on. It's easy to confuse the meaning of the two but there is a true distinction between them because "it wouldn't boot" means there is something wrong with the software or medium that the software is on usually. We still don't know that yet. The HDD could still be fine, it sounds like the whole thing has a power issue. Fix that and it should be okay. I always save taking apart these vintage laptops as a last resort or have someone experienced do it, otherwise you risk breaking something.
There must be something irreplaceable on it for you to go to this extreme but even in your first sentence you said there isn't much on it. |
| 1 |