Help Retrieving files from LC II

Hi,

Since data files on an LC II typically are small (compression and maybe segmenting can be used, too), the easiest way would probably be to connect an external USB floppy drive to the G5. Use 1.44 MB diskettes for the transfers.

Alternatively, if you have a suitable modem, install (via floppies from the G5 USB floppy drive or via a PC with a built-in floppy drive) a PPP program and a small email or ftp client or a server (e.g. NetPresenz) on the LC II, and transfer the files through the Internet.

There are other methods. For instance, use a PC-style USB-to-serial adapter (often with a DB-9M output) on a modern Mac, and set up a direct link to the (serial) Modem Port of the LC II (over an appropriate cable combination). Standard terminal emulation software is used on both sides. Or, buy an Ethernet card for the LC II.

Jan

Do you have any intermediate generation computers available like a G3 beige? Something that bridges the jump between the SCSI and non-SCSI (mostly) Macs? My beige can read SCSI drives, floppies, and SCSI peripherals (e.g., old Zip) as well as USB, Firewire, burn CDs.

The direct lnk with terminal emulation software is interesting but I am unsure about this as I think (but don't know) that this will merely enable the xfer of text and not programme files.

Generally speaking, you can transfer program files. Methods and protocols depend a bit upon the application used. ZTerm is an example of a shareware program for Mac.

If you have access to a PC with a built-in serial port (DB-9M), you could even use that machine as an intermediary. All that is needed then would be a plain Mac modem cable (MiniDIN-8M to DB-25M) combined with a PC null-modem cable (DB-25F to DB-9F; sometimes you will find null-modem cables with both DB-9F and DB-25F connectors each end). Use something like the communications section of ClarisWorks on the LC II and HyperTerminal (part of Windows) on the PC. In case of transferring files via a PC, it is essential to encode (MacBinary or BinHex) or at least compress (StuffIt) any Mac program files. Otherwise, the resource forks of the Mac files will be lost. A data file (such as a word processing document) can (normally) be used with only the data fork intact.

Jan

Hello Robert,

and also I could probably use this with any old mac

If you have access to another old Mac with a round MiniDIN-8F Printer Port (see also the reply by Limnos earlier), it can be even easier. A normal Mac printer cable MiniDIN-8M to MiniDIN-8M can be connected directly between the Printer Port of e.g. an LC II and the corresponding port of the other Mac. That is a simplified LocalTalk network. Then enable AppleTalk on both machines. Turn on File Sharing on one (e.g. the LC II). Use the Chooser (AppleShare) on the other machine to connect. Finally, just drag-copy files from one hard disk to the other.

If the other Mac has Ethernet, you could also (if you so wish, and if necessary) try the LocalTalk Bridge 2.1 software here, which would allow you to bridge a LocalTalk network to Ethernet.

Jan