Thread
CF AztecMonsters have landed
Hi,
I just got my Aztec Monster today, and i successfully partitioned and formatted an 1GB SanDisk Extreme III card with Atto utility, on a Mac LC III runnin OS 7.6.1. I copied the system to the first partition, and after installed it to the main board, i successfully booted. That silence is priceless!!! It feels a little faster.
However, i couldn't initialize the same way my another CF card, a SanDisk Extreme III 2GB, only in one partition. On a PowerMac 8200, running the same OS, i could make the 2 partition work the same way as i did on Mac LC III with the 1GB card, so i also copied the system on it. When i tried to boot the Mac LC from it, i got the questionmark. I think the system can't boot from it.
Now i will try to do something on Mac LC III, booting from HD, and attach the 2GB card in external case.
One more thing: now it's really easy to copy large files from OS X to these cards directly! Before that i had to write CD's...
I just got my Aztec Monster today, and i successfully partitioned and formatted an 1GB SanDisk Extreme III card with Atto utility, on a Mac LC III runnin OS 7.6.1. I copied the system to the first partition, and after installed it to the main board, i successfully booted. That silence is priceless!!! It feels a little faster.
However, i couldn't initialize the same way my another CF card, a SanDisk Extreme III 2GB, only in one partition. On a PowerMac 8200, running the same OS, i could make the 2 partition work the same way as i did on Mac LC III with the 1GB card, so i also copied the system on it. When i tried to boot the Mac LC from it, i got the questionmark. I think the system can't boot from it.
Now i will try to do something on Mac LC III, booting from HD, and attach the 2GB card in external case.
One more thing: now it's really easy to copy large files from OS X to these cards directly! Before that i had to write CD's...
Just received my CF AztecMonster the other day, and transplanted it into a SCSI enclosure to sit under my Mac Plus. I was extremely disappointed when I read this line in the manual:
Thanks,
-10d
Does anybody know why we would have to cut a wire on the SCSI header for this to boot from a Mac Plus? I'd rather not start hacking cables. Are there any other options?Mac Plus does not boot from this card normally. You must cut #40pin RST function from flat cable. CF card volume is recommended under 2GB.
Thanks,
-10d
As you need this mod only for booting from this device, you only need to cut the internal flat cable, and just 1 of the 50 pins (easy to replace).
maybe his point is, for the amount of money he paid for it, maybe he was hoping for a jumper or a dip maybe?
I think he would understand if he built the adaptor his self using about 20 bucks in parts.
I think he would understand if he built the adaptor his self using about 20 bucks in parts.
Yes, this is a point of view, but another one is that this is a really easy mod, and at the end he will have an super quiet, and stable Mac (without the constant fear of dying HD's).
You're right there could be a jumper, but this is why i always advise peoples to get the more information possible about the product they want to buy.
You're right there could be a jumper, but this is why i always advise peoples to get the more information possible about the product they want to buy.
Completely aware that the mod is incredibly easy. But why waste a good cable--and throw more useless crap in the trash--when you shouldn't need to? Part of the fun of retrocomputing is finding uses for old gear, not destroying more of it.As you need this mod only for booting from this device, you only need to cut the internal flat cable, and just 1 of the 50 pins (easy to replace).
As you need this mod only for booting from this device, you only need to cut the internal flat cable, and just 1 of the 50 pins (easy to replace).
I was leaning more towards uniserver's comment that a jumper or dip would have been a better design. Personally, I see more value in a jumper or the RST pin than providing a socket for the drive LED. I could care less about the money it costs since in the long run this is a more elegant--and cheaper!!--solution. But I can't stand bad design.maybe his point is, for the amount of money he paid for it, maybe he was hoping for a jumper or a dip maybe?I think he would understand if he built the adaptor his self using about 20 bucks in parts.
Agreed, but you can only collect as much information as much as the seller (in this case, via eBay) makes available.but this is why i always advise peoples to get the more information possible about the product they want to buy
I would venture a guess here that the slightly-non-standard SCSI implementation of the Mac Plus is to blame. The Plus was released a bit before the SCSI spec was final, and as such has a few differences.
Sorry for the Wiki link, but it's all I can find at the moment with Apple's older dev notes disappearing...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_Plus
Sorry for the Wiki link, but it's all I can find at the moment with Apple's older dev notes disappearing...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_Plus
In my opinion, while it would have been nice for the AztecMonster to include such a jumper, I would say that if the device is SCSI-compliant and the Plus isn't, I wouldn't hold that against the device designer.The SCSI implementation of the Plus was engineered shortly before the initial SCSI spec was finalized and, as such, is not 100% SCSI-compliant.
[...]
The Plus went through two ROM revisions during its life. The initial ROM was replaced after the first two months as it had a serious bug which prevented the Mac from booting if an external SCSI device was powered off. The second revision fixed a problem with some SCSI devices that could send the Mac into an endless reset at startup.
There is also a very relevant previous thread on the topic of SCSI on the Mac Plus here: http://68kmla.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11371