Powerbook 180C

Normally, a Disk Tools floppy with Apple's HD SC Setup is used for formatting. This was part of the original operating system (System 7.1 and a system enabler).

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA47341

However, Apple HD SC Setup (the latest version avilable for download is 7.3.5) is not intended for non-Apple drives. If so, a third party formatting utility (such as Lido 7.5.6) may have to be used.

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/Utilities/

Apple's own Drive Setup 1.7.3 may also recognise drives that HD SC Setup cannot handle.

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/Utilities/Drive_Setup/

System 7.1 is not available for download. In this case you would have to use System 7.5.3 instead (no extra system enabler needed here). Unfortunately, System 7.5.3 takes up more hard disk space, and can be a bit slower than 7.1.

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -British/Macintosh/System/Full_Installs/System_7.5_Version_7.5.3/

Also, the System 7.5.3 download is not installed the normal way (see the text file). A separate startup floppy will have to be created.

The Network Access Disk 7.5 can be used (under the same link as Apple HD SC Setup 7.3.5 above). One would create the bootable disk on an older Macintosh computer via the Make A Copy button in Disk Copy 4.2 (or the Make a Floppy command under the Utilities menu in Disk Copy 6.3.3). A formatting utility has to be added manually.

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/Utilities/Disk_Copy/

Before we continue, please post back with answers to a few questions:

a) Is the PowerBook 180c working right now (that is, can it be used to modify disks, et cetera)?

b) If working, which system version? Does it have a PC Exchange control panel or the Apple File Exchange program?

c) The size of the hard drive?

d) What computers do you have access to? Any other old Mac with a built-in floppy drive? A Windows PC with a floppy drive?

e) Do you have StuffIt Expander for Macintosh (for example, version 4.0.1)?

Jan

Hello Jon,

First of all, the system enablers. These were used whenever a machine was released after the introduction of System 7.1. The specific system enabler (see the list above) had to be present in the system folder, otherwise the computer would not boot/function correctly.

As mentioned earlier, no system enabler is needed for System 7.5.3 (nor is it for the Network Access Disk 7.5) in a PowerBook 180c.

You can use one of the other old Macs in order to modify startup floppies.

I would suggest that you create three Network Access floppy disks (see above) to begin with. You can use Disk Copy 6.3.3, but ensure that a properly sector-copied disk is made from the disk image via the Make a Floppy command. Do not drag-copy from a mounted image. Often, Disk Copy 4.2 (the Make A Copy button) is easier to use (only for Disk Copy 4.2 type images, such as for the Network Access Disk).

Then, download, decode and decompress Apple HD SC Setup 7.3.5 (link above). Open a Network Access floppy. Remove everything from the three folders Apple Menu Items, Control Panels and Extensions (inside the System Folder of the floppy). Empty the Wastebasket/Trash. Copy the HD SC Setup program to the base level of the floppy.

Next, download and decode Drive Setup 1.7.3 (link above). Mount the .smi (double-click on it). Drag-copy the mounted "disk" to the hard disk of the machine that you are working with. Creating free space as above is not going to be sufficient here, so another method is used. Open a new Network Access floppy. Open the System Folder of this Network Access disk. Move the System suitcase out of the System Folder (to the floppy's base level). Move the remaining System Folder to the Wastebasket/Trash. Empty the Wastebasket/Trash. The System suitcase would at this point be the only file in the Network Access window. Drag-copy the Drive Setup application to the floppy. Rename Drive Setup; call it Finder instead.

Finally, if a suitable third-party SCSI formatting utility can be located, you may want to use a method similar to the one for Drive Setup 1.7.3 for yet another bootable tools disk.

Jan

One more thing. A plain Network Access floppy can be very useful if you have a Macintosh Mini-DIN-8M to MiniDIN-8M printer cable. If the Mini-DIN 8 printer ports of the PowerBook 180c and another old Mac are connected through such a cable, it is possible to transfer files without the size limitation of a floppy. In order to do this, set up file sharing on the other Mac (where you have all your files). Start the PowerBook 180c from the Network Access floppy. Using the Chooser, connect to the other Mac and transfer files by drag-and-drop. You could even try to run a disk utility placed on the other Mac this way.

Jan

Hi again,

In reply to your latest message: Is there a problem when you use a plain (not altered) Network Access floppy as well? Does a hard disk icon show up on the Desktop then?

Jan

What happens if you press and hold down the four keys Command(Apple) + Option(Alt) + Shift + Delete(Backspace) when starting from a floppy?

Otherwise, you could check the behaviour when starting from a Network Access floppy with the hard drive removed (remember to insulate the hard drive connector board inside the PowerBook 180c).

Jan

The idea behind the key combination was to try to block out a possibly bad hard disk drive driver.

Since the computer starts OK with the hard drive removed, it appears to be a problem with the hard drive (maybe even a bad driver). However, we cannot completely rule out the possibility of a hardware issue in the PowerBook itself, in the circuits leading to the drive. You could perhaps examine the board(s) through a magnifying glass (look for obviously damaged or discoloured components, such as leaking electrolytic capacitors).

Just to confirm, a startup from the modified Network Access floppy containing Drive Setup 1.7.3 should directly result in a window named Drive Setup on a grey background. The window has a List of Drives (with one item if the drive is detected). The menu bar should show Apple, File and Functions menus (all accessible).

Did you find a third-party SCSI formatting utility for Macintosh? It might not be a bad idea to try one of those, too.

Unfortunately, another good 2.5" SCSI drive is not easy to find.

14 MB is the maximum amount of RAM for this computer, which is more than sufficient for the things that you are trying to do. You may want to remove the extra 10 MB RAM for a test.

Jan

Jon,

I doubt that you can find a Linux version that would work on a 68030 processor Mac with 14 MB of RAM. It would probably be much better to try to locate a third-party formatter for Macintosh (maybe an Internet search for SCSI Mac format or something similar).

Jan

Jon,

Just noticed that there is a project called Linux/mac68k, but I do not know anything about this. I still recommend searching for other Macintosh SCSI formatting applications.

Jan

Hi Jon,

>Its frustraiting I cant find a connector so I could just connect it up to another computer and format it that way

I am using an old external enclosure for 2.5" SCSI drives for similar purposes, but such devices are very difficult to locate nowadays.

New/used 2.5" SCSI hard drives are usually expensive, if available at all. An alternative could perhaps be something like this, where a CompactFlash card is used as a "hard disk" (try a Google translation):

http://www.artmix.com/CF_powermon_II.html

>What I dont understand about all this is that when I turn the mac on without a floppy it will boot up from the hard drive up to the point when it gets a memory error.

It could be a software problem (a bad driver). If so, reformatting with the subsequent installation of a new driver should help.

A hardware issue cannot be ruled out. Difficulties to stay accessible on the SCSI bus could be related to power or termination among other things.

It is a bit worrying that the hard drive did not appear in the List of Drives in Drive Setup 1.7.3. That seems to be an indication of SCSI (hardware) trouble. It would be interesting to see what Lido 7.56 or another third-party utility had to report.

BTW, the PowerBook 180c should be used with a 7.5 VDC power adapter capable of delivering 3 A.

Jan