I need to get recover files off an old Macintosh SE hard drive and I'm having trouble finding a Mac compatible dock/enclosure/reader.
I did a search on eBay and people wanted astronomical prices.
I feel stupid, because I know I must have thrown at least 3 of these away in the past.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 24" 3.06GHz iMac with no video.
Yes, as you have noticed, there are some (relatively expensive) USB-to-SCSI adapters. However, it is not certain that these will work under a modern Mac operating system version, so you would really have to check that first before you buy. The adapters were originally intended for existing external SCSI devices when the iMac was introduced.
If it is a plain Macintosh SE (not the FDHD version), the computer would use 800K floppies. Unfortunately, there is no way of handling 800K Mac disks in a USB floppy drive. With an FDHD Macintosh SE 1.44 MB floppies can be used, which would have allowed file transfers to a modern computer through a USB floppy drive.
One alternative could be to look for an inexpensive approx. 1991-1997 Mac to be used as an intermediate machine. Computers from this period have built-in floppy drives for both 800K and 1.44 MB. If the intermediate computer has an Ethernet port, further transfers can be carried out via a local network or through the Internet.
If the Macintosh SE has a terminal emulation (communications) program, one could also arrange a null-modem transfer to a modern computer. The latter (Mac or PC) would need a USB-to-serial adapter or a direct serial port and a corresponding communications program. Alternatively, a serial modem could be connected to the SE for transfers modem-to-modem (locally or via the phone lines).
Yet another alternative could be to look for two Zip 100 drives, one SCSI and one USB. It should then in principle be possible to copy files to a Zip disk in the SCSI drive at the SE and then to read the disk in the USB drive at a modern computer.
Jan
Yes, as you have noticed, there are some (relatively expensive) USB-to-SCSI adapters. However, it is not certain that these will work under a modern Mac operating system version, so you would really have to check that first before you buy. The adapters were originally intended for existing external SCSI devices when the iMac was introduced.
If it is a plain Macintosh SE (not the FDHD version), the computer would use 800K floppies. Unfortunately, there is no way of handling 800K Mac disks in a USB floppy drive. With an FDHD Macintosh SE 1.44 MB floppies can be used, which would have allowed file transfers to a modern computer through a USB floppy drive.
One alternative could be to look for an inexpensive approx. 1991-1997 Mac to be used as an intermediate machine. Computers from this period have built-in floppy drives for both 800K and 1.44 MB. If the intermediate computer has an Ethernet port, further transfers can be carried out via a local network or through the Internet.
If the Macintosh SE has a terminal emulation (communications) program, one could also arrange a null-modem transfer to a modern computer. The latter (Mac or PC) would need a USB-to-serial adapter or a direct serial port and a corresponding communications program. Alternatively, a serial modem could be connected to the SE for transfers modem-to-modem (locally or via the phone lines).
Yet another alternative could be to look for two Zip 100 drives, one SCSI and one USB. It should then in principle be possible to copy files to a Zip disk in the SCSI drive at the SE and then to read the disk in the USB drive at a modern computer.
Jan
I have (2) Macintosh SE's models M5011, 20SC Hard Disk -Not the FDHD version.
I don't quite understand what you mean by "Unfortunately, there is no way of handling 800K Mac disks in a USB floppy drive".
Jan Hedlund wrote:
One alternative could be to look for an inexpensive approx. 1991-1997 Mac to be used as an intermediate machine. Computers from this period have built-in floppy drives for both 800K and 1.44 MB. If the intermediate computer has an Ethernet port, further transfers can be carried out via a local network or through the Internet.
Will this work?
This article may answer a lot of questions.
Hi,
>I don't quite understand what you mean by "Unfortunately, there is no way of handling 800K Mac disks in a USB floppy drive"
USB floppy drives (as well as PC internal floppy drives) are only capable of handling 1.44 MB Mac-formatted and 720K or 1.44 MB PC-formatted disks. Even though an 800K Mac-formatted floppy uses the same type of diskette (2DD/DSDD) as a 720K PC-formatted one, the Mac variant needs a mechanism with a variable speed not present in a USB or PC drive. The variable speed explains the larger formatted capacity of the 800K Mac disk.
>Will this work?
The picture appears to show a PowerBook G3 Series Floppy Disk Drive Expansion Bay Module. As far as I know, that device should be able to handle both 800K and 1.44 MB Mac disks.
With the proper combination of operating systems, one can also set up a LocalTalk network connection between a Macintosh SE and a PowerBook G3 Series (with a round MiniDIN-8 printer port).
The PowerBook in question has an Ethernet port that would allow connections to a router and the Internet.
Another transfer method to a more modern computer would be to use a CompactFlash memory card as a "removable hard drive" in an inexpensive PC Card adapter for CompactFlash in a PC Card slot of the PowerBook G3 Series. If the other computer does not have a PC card slot or a built-in card reader, an external USB memory card reader could be used
Jan
Jan Hedlund wrote:
Hi,
USB floppy drives (as well as PC internal floppy drives) are only capable of handling 1.44 MB Mac-formatted and 720K or 1.44 MB PC-formatted disks. Even though an 800K Mac-formatted floppy uses the same type of diskette (2DD/DSDD) as a 720K PC-formatted one, the Mac variant needs a mechanism with a variable speed not present in a USB or PC drive. The variable speed explains the larger formatted capacity of the 800K Mac disk.
>Will this work?
The picture appears to show a PowerBook G3 Series Floppy Disk Drive Expansion Bay Module. As far as I know, that device should be able to handle both 800K and 1.44 MB Mac disks.
With the proper combination of operating systems, one can also set up a LocalTalk network connection between a Macintosh SE and a PowerBook G3 Series (with a round MiniDIN-8 printer port).
The PowerBook in question has an Ethernet port that would allow connections to a router and the Internet.
Another transfer method to a more modern computer would be to use a CompactFlash memory card as a "removable hard drive" in an inexpensive PC Card adapter for CompactFlash in a PC Card slot of the PowerBook G3 Series. If the other computer does not have a PC card slot or a built-in card reader, an external USB memory card reader could be used
Jan
Tell me if we're on the right page. You're telling me that I could...
1: Stick a floppy drive in the SE and copy files to it
2: Read those files from my PowerBook
I don't know if that will work, because the drive is questionable. I removed it after getting the flashing Folder+?
>1: Stick a floppy drive in the SE and copy files to it
Yes, if it is a floppy drive of the same type that you earlier removed, and if the Macintosh SE starts up OK from the hard disk. You would need 2DD/DSDD diskettes (PC pre-formatted disks will not be recognised, but can be reformatted to Mac in the SE). Do not use HD/2HD diskettes.
>I don't know if that will work, because the drive is questionable.
The floppy drive, not the hard drive?
>I removed it after getting the flashing Folder+?
The floppy icon with a flashing question-mark means that the computer cannot locate a valid system folder (on the hard disk in this case). What one then usually tries first is to boot the computer from a tools floppy of some kind, in order to check whether the hard disk (and its contents) can be detected. If necessary, one can run Disk First Aid to repair a damaged file system.
Which operating system version is on the Macintosh SE hard drive?
>2: Read those files from my PowerBook
Is it a PowerBook G3 Series (WallStreet or WallStreet II) with an original Apple floppy drive expansion bay module? If so, it ought to work (use Mac OS 8.x to 9.x on the PowerBook).
Jan
Jan, I ordered one of those expensive USB connectors off ebay and it didn't fit (thankfully, he let me return it).
Even though the cable was indeed 50-pin, the drive (Miniscribe 8425s) uses some weird kind of connector that resembles an an old-school IDE PATA drive?
I've never seen anything like it...
I have since repaired the SE by purchasing a new drive. Do you know if it is possible to connect a SECOND drive?
Jan Hedlund wrote:
>1: Stick a floppy drive in the SE and copy files to it
Yes, if it is a floppy drive of the same type that you earlier removed, and if the Macintosh SE starts up OK from the hard disk. You would need 2DD/DSDD diskettes (PC pre-formatted disks will not be recognised, but can be reformatted to Mac in the SE). Do not use HD/2HD diskettes.
>I don't know if that will work, because the drive is questionable.
The floppy drive, not the hard drive?
>I removed it after getting the flashing Folder+?
The floppy icon with a flashing question-mark means that the computer cannot locate a valid system folder (on the hard disk in this case). What one then usually tries first is to boot the computer from a tools floppy of some kind, in order to check whether the hard disk (and its contents) can be detected. If necessary, one can run Disk First Aid to repair a damaged file system.
Which operating system version is on the Macintosh SE hard drive?
>2: Read those files from my PowerBook
Is it a PowerBook G3 Series (WallStreet or WallStreet II) with an original Apple floppy drive expansion bay module? If so, it ought to work (use Mac OS 8.x to 9.x on the PowerBook).
Jan
Jan Hedlund wrote:
>1: Stick a floppy drive in the SE and copy files to it
Yes, if it is a floppy drive of the same type that you earlier removed, and if the Macintosh SE starts up OK from the hard disk. You would need 2DD/DSDD diskettes (PC pre-formatted disks will not be recognised, but can be reformatted to Mac in the SE). Do not use HD/2HD diskettes.
>I don't know if that will work, because the drive is questionable.
The floppy drive, not the hard drive?
>I removed it after getting the flashing Folder+?
The floppy icon with a flashing question-mark means that the computer cannot locate a valid system folder (on the hard disk in this case). What one then usually tries first is to boot the computer from a tools floppy of some kind, in order to check whether the hard disk (and its contents) can be detected. If necessary, one can run Disk First Aid to repair a damaged file system.
Which operating system version is on the Macintosh SE hard drive?
>2: Read those files from my PowerBook
Is it a PowerBook G3 Series (WallStreet or WallStreet II) with an original Apple floppy drive expansion bay module? If so, it ought to work (use Mac OS 8.x to 9.x on the PowerBook).
Jan
Jan Hedlund wrote:
>1: Stick a floppy drive in the SE and copy files to it
Yes, if it is a floppy drive of the same type that you earlier removed, and if the Macintosh SE starts up OK from the hard disk. You would need 2DD/DSDD diskettes (PC pre-formatted disks will not be recognised, but can be reformatted to Mac in the SE). Do not use HD/2HD diskettes.
>I don't know if that will work, because the drive is questionable.
The floppy drive, not the hard drive?
>I removed it after getting the flashing Folder+?
The floppy icon with a flashing question-mark means that the computer cannot locate a valid system folder (on the hard disk in this case). What one then usually tries first is to boot the computer from a tools floppy of some kind, in order to check whether the hard disk (and its contents) can be detected. If necessary, one can run Disk First Aid to repair a damaged file system.
Which operating system version is on the Macintosh SE hard drive?
>2: Read those files from my PowerBook
Is it a PowerBook G3 Series (WallStreet or WallStreet II) with an original Apple floppy drive expansion bay module? If so, it ought to work (use Mac OS 8.x to 9.x on the PowerBook).
Jan
That appears to be a standard (old) internal SCSI connector.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCSI_connector
An external SCSI hard drive can be connected to a Macintosh (SE) computer. The hard drive must be placed in an enclosure with a power supply and a SCSI ID switch. It may be difficult to locate such enclosures today, but you could perhaps look for an early complete external SCSI CD-ROM unit instead (and then remove the CD-ROM drive and replace it by the hard drive). Usually, the case has a CEN-50 connector, so you would need a CEN-50 to DB-25M SCSI cable in order to connect the device to the SCSI port of the computer. Unless the enclosure is internally terminated, a separate terminator is also required.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ta27743
Jan
I should add that it is possible to connect an external SCSI hard drive to a PowerBook computer (with a square HDI-30 SCSI port) as well, if an appropriate cable is used. See the PowerBook manual for details.
Is there a 50-pin SCSI to USB reader or enclosure?
