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Level 1

8 points

Powerbook 180C

I have a powerbook 180C that I have recently spent many hours fixing up. But I need to install a new system on the hard drive. The problem I have is I cannot find anything to let me prep the hard drive. I tried getting various versions of disktools on floppy images but every one I tried kept telling me it couldn't work with macintosh. I cant find a set of original install floppies to re-install the system so can only rely on what I can get from apple and other websites. Does anyone have a set of these floppies they can send me images of or know where I can download something to let me partition & format the hard drive?

PowerBook, Other OS, Mac OS 7.5.3

Posted on Mar 26, 2013 1:40 PM

21 replies

roadrash-uk Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 28, 2013 4:14 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

Thank you Jan. Again some very interesting information. I agree about using a CF card as a hard drive. A lot of old computers like the Amiga 2000 (I still have one) are now being used with these instead of a hard drive. I will have to take a serious look at using one of these.

I have just downloaded Lido.7.56 so will give it a try and let you know what happens. I was also wondering if it could be something like a driver problem but haven't read anything yet about needing a driver for the hard drive on a powerbook 180C. It might have been in the original set of install disks. I will have to keep my eyes open on ebay for a set if they come up. Its a pity Apple doesn't make them available like other Computer manufacturers. Just in case its of interest to you I have added all the apple computers I own to my profile so you can see what machines I have in my collection.

cheers

Jon

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

22,261 points

Mar 28, 2013 11:29 PM in response to roadrash-uk

Hello again,

The driver is installed by the formatting utility, be it Apple HD SC Setup, Drive Setup or a third-party program. Often, the utility carries out the formatting, partitioning and driver installation in one sequence, but a separate driver update is also possible.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1249

Saw the list of computers under your profile. Nice collection. In order to rule out effects from hardware inside the PowerBook 180c, could you not test the hard drive using the PowerBook 140 mentioned?

Otherwise, I guess that a connector similar to the following example may be what you are looking for:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270840619638

SCSI disk mode can per se be used between a desktop Mac and the PowerBook 180c (where the latter is operated as an "external hard disk") if you have access to the proper cable/adapter. However, this also means that circuits inside the PowerBook 180c are involved, so for a hard drive test it would be better to use a direct connection to another machine. Details about SCSI disk mode can be found in Chapter 14 of the following manual for PowerBook 160/180 computers.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/0302674APB160180UG.pdf

Jan

roadrash-uk Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 29, 2013 3:28 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

It did cross my mind to try it in the 140 (which also has its hard drive removed because it was faulty) but I expected I might get the same results as with the 180C & just wanted to connect it up to somthing thats not trying to boot from it to rule out a hardware fault.

It will be really handy to find a cost effective alternative to the original hard drives like the CF card but these are very epensive at the moment. I have seen 1.4GB 2.5" SCSI hard drives but I am not sure they would be compatable with the 180C etc because of their considerably larger capacity.

I did see those connectors but I am trying to source some in the UK because the ones on Ebay are in the USA and the carriage is nearly as much as the cost of the connector itself. If I cant source some here I will have no choice.

The SCSI disk mode is very interesting and will definately be worth a try and see what happens.

I am currently watching a powerbook Duo 280C on Ebay that I would like to get as well.

Apple Powerbook Duo 280c

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

22,261 points

Mar 29, 2013 4:55 AM in response to roadrash-uk

>I might get the same results as with the 180C & just wanted to connect it up to somthing thats not trying to boot from it to rule out a hardware fault.

If you start the 140 from a properly modified floppy (based upon the Network Access disk) with a valid system, the computer is not going to try to boot from the hard drive to be tested. The floppy drive is always first in the boot order. If the hard drive is mechanically and electronically OK, it should then be possible to carry out a reformat operation.

>It will be really handy to find a cost effective alternative to the original hard drives like the CF card but these are very epensive at the moment.

The SCSI-to-CF adapter (without the memory card) would be approx. £70. I have not tested one of those yet. Have used CompactFlash in PC Card adapters for CF in various machines with PC Card slots, though (but since all have IDE hard drives, except the PB5xx with a PCMCIA expansion module, the situation is not directly comparable).

>I have seen 1.4GB 2.5" SCSI hard drives but I am not sure they would be compatable with the 180C etc because of their considerably larger capacity.

Should not be a problem. See the articles below for additional information.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA27115

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA28860

Jan

roadrash-uk Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 30, 2013 4:01 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

I have just ordered a firewire cable to try the SCSI disk mode & will lt you know how it goes when its comes.

Thanlks again Jan you have been very helpful.

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

22,261 points

Mar 30, 2013 8:16 AM in response to roadrash-uk

Jon,

Do you mean an HDI-30 SCSI disk adapter (cable)?

The HDI-30 plug that is supposed to be connected to the PowerBook 180c must have all 30 pins for SCSI disk mode (it can be a complete cable with a 30-pin plug one end, or an L-shaped adapter for a separate cable). Some adapters have a switch that would let you choose between SCSI disk mode and normal SCSI operation (in the latter case the last pin is disconnected).

A FireWire cable cannot be used.

Jan

Powerbook 180C