jnyb99
Level 1 (4 points)
Classic Mac OS

Q: SCSI problem in OS 9.2.1, 733 MHz G4

I installed an Adaptec 2930U card in the G4 listed in the title. The card shows up in System Profiler, but when I connect it to any one of several Jaz drives, they don't appear on the desktop, or in Drive Setup, or in Disk First Aid.

 

Before that, I was trying the same thing with the previous SCSI card that was already in the machine, I think it might have come with it when it was new (?). I can't locate it at the moment but it had the old style connector (SCSI-1 perhaps?). I have a ton of SCSI cables but the same thing would occur-card showed in System Profiler, but no devices that I connected would appear. Besides the Jaz drives, I had some other old SCSI devices like CD drives, and old Apple hard drive, etc.

 

I have another G4, a slightly faster DP G4 that's at my shop. I'm going to try the 2930U card and the Jaz drives in that, but I'm afraid the same thing will happen.

 

I urgently need to transfer the data on the Jaz drives. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

G4 733 MHz, Mac OS 9.2.x

Posted on Aug 17, 2016 7:56 AM

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jnyb99

Q: SCSI problem in OS 9.2.1, 733 MHz G4

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  • by jnyb99,

    jnyb99 jnyb99 Aug 17, 2016 9:56 AM in response to jnyb99
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 17, 2016 9:56 AM in response to jnyb99

    ok, so to update I brought the 2930U card to my shop and installed it in the old G4 I use there (dual 867 MHz) booted into OS 9.2.2

     

    same issue occurred card appears in System Profiler, but Jaz drive does not appear anywhere (desktop, Drive Setup, Disk First Aid).

     

    (The card also appears when I boot up in OSX 10.5.8, but not the Jaz drive-again, I checked in Disk Utility and even with Diskwarrior, no dice).

     

    Referring back to OS 9 again, I'm powering up the Jaz drive before the computer, as I've read the correct procedure to be. After everything is up and running, I insert the Jaz cartridge and hear the familiar sound of it spinning up and so forth, the LEDs blink a few times, etc.

     

    I also have an Adaptec 2940U2W card that I tried in the first G4 (the 733 MHz one) and it, too, shows up in System Profiler. I don't have the right adaptor to connect it to the Jaz drive, however, so I couldn't test that aspect of the problem. I ordered an adaptor (it was less than $10.- shipped) so when it arrives I'll try again, but I can't help thinking the problem lies elsewhere.  It's occurred with several Jaz drives, several Jaz  cartridges, and a few cables that I had in case one might be bad, so odds are I'm overlooking something.

  • by Jeff,

    Jeff Jeff Aug 17, 2016 7:47 PM in response to jnyb99
    Level 6 (11,559 points)
    Aug 17, 2016 7:47 PM in response to jnyb99

    As for the Adaptec 2930U controller card, I believe that's the PC version of the card.  The version of the card for use in Macs is the 2930CU.  Because devices connected to the card are intended to be bootable, the card must have Mac firmware.  The System Profiler will often recognize installed "PC" PCI cards, but that doesn't mean that they'll function.  I have a 2930CU installed in a pair of B&W G3s for use with older SCSI peripherals.  Devices connected to them are recognized and function correctly.  You must remember to properly terminate the SCSI device, which can usually be done with a slide switch on the back of the Iomega device.