SE/30 Common Fixable problems — #15

Post #15 by jukingeo

Source Forum	68kMLA
Category	Networking
Post Date	Thu, 4 Feb 2010 - 03:08
Original URL	https://68kmla.org/bb/threads/se-30-common-fixable-problems.19764/

Post

Geo,
To clarify some things:

- Mode32 is a System Extension file, meaning that it is like a .dll file under Windows. The file is designed to "patch" a Mac that was "crippled" with 24-bit addressing. The architecture is 32-bit, but for some reason, Apple released the model as 24-bit addressing. Without that Mode32, or equivalent, the Mac won't address anything higher than 8 megabytes of RAM. The system was addressing 24-bits and Mode32 patches in that missing 8 bits of code.

Ok, gotcha. So once I get a SE/30 or Classic II, I should look to see if "Mode32" is on the system? Where would I get it if it doesn't have it?

There does exist a BASIC interpreter for the Mac called Chipmunk BASIC. It is compatible with QBASIC, QuickBASIC and Microsoft BASIC languages. It even includes a built-in conversion to Pascal and Assembly code languages, IIRC.

I came across this version of Basic this afternoon, but didn't get too far into my readings. I wanted to see what the commands looked like that would access the serial port.

- Asante makes both a SCSI to Ethernet adapter and LocalTalk to Ethernet adapter. LocalTalk is the 8-pin jack(s) on the back of each Mac. You will need either adapter to translate Ethernet to an older Mac. You will be able to file share, Internet access and send documents to a printer on an ethernet network.

Now in terms of the file sharing I SHOULD be able to do that even if my other PC's are Windows right?

- You can use either the LocalTalk or SCSI ports to send and receive special hardware controls on projects. I'm not familiar with how exactly to do so on SCSI, but with LocalTalk, you'll be having better luck overall. The LocalTalk Modem port is a serial port (RS-422) and you'd be sending that type of level of control on the projects. I can assume that compatibility is more supported via serial verses SCSI.

Is the Local Talk port any different from the two serial ports on the back of the machine? At any rate, most of the serial interfaces I have worked with with the PC were RS-232 and for MOST applications, it was fast enough. From what I been reading, RS-422 is even faster...so I might not even need to use the SCSI port.

- It's hard to say what largest SCSI drive you can use on an SE/30, but just remember that System software from 6 through 7.5.5 doesn't recognize HFS+ or HFS Extended partitions. That didn't become available until Mac OS 8.x. If you do put a rather big, several gigabytes sized drive inside, be sure to create each partition to have up to 2 gigabytes size. HFS only allows that to be the maximum size to natively support.

Yes, that point was made very clear to me early on when I was suggesting the use of an IDE drive with converter in the event that I get a Mac that has a bad hard drive. I know that I have an old 3 (or 6)gig drive laying around and while that is small for my PC needs, it is rather massive in regards to the Macs we are talking about.

- If you do install 64 megabytes or more in your SE/30, be prepared to wait awhile for the RAM test on first power up to finish. This is only when you power on the Mac from a cold boot.

For the most part I really only intend to go to about 32meg. Most of these machines scoot along nicely with 4meg, so 32 should be PLENTY.

- Some model printers may need to support AppleTalk as well as PostScript to work with Macs on a network.

73s de Phreakout. :rambo:

Ok, it does seem that my best bet is the LaserJet 4 printer that was mentioned.

Actually, there were serial-to-ethernet adapters. I'm aware of two- the Farallon EtherWave Mac/PB adapter and a similar one from Dayna.

Good to know, but obviously they are no longer made, right? So I probably would have to track one down.

I use to use one of the Farallon adapters with a Duo 230. It was okay, albeit a bit slow.

I'm pretty sure to use IP networking (OpenTransport) over the serial port you would need to have an AppleShare IP server setup, or a MacIP router like a Cayman Gatorbox. I have both a Gatorbox and an Asante EN/SC SCSI to Ethernet adapter. For a single computer the SCSI to Ethernet adapter is probably the easier setup. Obviously, the best option is to have ethernet card in the SE PDS slot.

Yes, the PDS slot would be the best way to go in the case of the SE/30, but if I should end up with a Classic II, which doesn't have the port, I would like to know if its possible to hook it up to the internet by 'external' means. So you are saying that I should rather go the way of SCSI for the ethernet connection rather than the serial port? I don't think I ever saw a SCSI to Ethernet adapter, but then again, I never did much work with SCSI before.

Do some forum work (like I am doing now).

Click to expand...

Even that may be ambitious. A lot of sites (I'll throw out AtariAge as an example ) will be totally unusable.

Ok, so what would I be able to do on the internet?

Ok, so in that case then the hard drive would be bad and it is asking for a bootable floppy.

Click to expand...

Or, there is no HD, or there is no OS installed on the HD, or the HD cable is unplugged... you get the idea.

Yup, gotcha, but I would be (of course) referring to a worst case scenario in that I find a machine that has a 'bad' HD in that I COULD replace the drive.

Now...next (but slightly off topic) question guys. MIDI. This is something that the Mac was famous for and I do believe that these older Macs could handle that, correct? If so then I would again need some kind of adapter. What programs were made for the 68k Macs that could do MIDI work?

Thanx,

Geo