Reviving old mac 50 pin SCSI drives

**chemist** · 11-09-2007, 03:25 PM

I purchased a refurbished(I assume) Quantum ELS85S from Hard Drives USA for several old Mac LC520s that I use in the teaching profession. I know these are obsolete but they are easy to use in my situation. When I first hooked it up it wouldn't get recognized. I tried it a couple of more times, taking it out and putting it back in, and it finally was recognized. I loaded 7.5.1(I know, don't laugh too hard) and it worked. I loaded a bunch of files and it worked perfectly. I removed it to put a 50 pin IBM drive that I've had for several years to retrieve some more files to load on the new Quantum. I hooked the Quantum back up and since then my computer and other 520s I have won't recognize the drive. It's like it's not there. Says there is no SCSI device using Norton tools. I get a small mac icon with a question mark on startup. The company says there is nothing wrong with my drive and I don't know what I'm doing. I had assumed it didn't work the first time due to a bad pin connection. I have tried different connectors, computers, etc. but it still won't get recognized. I hear the drive start spinning on startup, then it stops. The IBM works everytime though. Would anyone have any suggestions? If I send it back and they test it good, they will charge me 25% restocking fee and send another one(no refunds).
Also, I have several old Quantum drives that display the same problems. I have read they just get old, the bearings go bad, etc. Is there anyway to revive these old drives that give the question mark icon on startup? Much thanks to anyone who can address this.

**chemist** · 11-12-2007, 01:38 PM

Moderator: If you think I might have better luck with a reply in Mac Support, please move my thread there. If not, I'll keep waiting. Thanks.

**linderman** · 11-12-2007, 04:16 PM

are you setting the scsi ID's on these so each drive has its own ID ???

**chemist** · 11-12-2007, 08:10 PM

These computers will only accept one drive.

**chemist** · 11-13-2007, 05:30 AM

Disregard the last post. No. I've never done that and wouldn't know how. Is it possible with those machines?

**linderman** · 11-13-2007, 11:26 AM

"if" your scsi drives are all connected by a single data cable/ then you must set the drive ID jumpers so each drive has its own ID

the boot drive is usually "0"

the controller is usually always "7"

???????? is this the way you intend to connect your drives ?

**chemist** · 11-13-2007, 04:00 PM

No. This machine will only accept one at a time. I just pull one out and put another in. They're interchangeable. I just have this new one(reconditioned I assume) that the computer won't recognize as being there. Just like if there wasn't a drive inserted.

mikem_uk · 11-14-2007, 12:00 AM

Something that can happen to these old drives is that the heads eventually create a fine groove into the parking area of the platter and the heads are not always able to get out 'of the rut' - it seems to be a sporadic issue. I have seen this problem many times with old Quantum drives.

If you listen to the drive spin up, when it is at full speed, you should hear a short sequence of quiet ticking noises as the drive calibrates. If you can not hear these noises, it is most likely the problem I described above.

if you can hear the calibration noises, then it would be a config problem. I know where my money is though :)

Mike

11-09-2007, 03:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
chemist Moderator, Analyst, Security Team; Rangemaster, TSF Academy Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,279 OS: XP SP3	Reviving old mac 50 pin SCSI drives I purchased a refurbished(I assume) Quantum ELS85S from Hard Drives USA for several old Mac LC520s that I use in the teaching profession. I know these are obsolete but they are easy to use in my situation. When I first hooked it up it wouldn't get recognized. I tried it a couple of more times, taking it out and putting it back in, and it finally was recognized. I loaded 7.5.1(I know, don't laugh too hard) and it worked. I loaded a bunch of files and it worked perfectly. I removed it to put a 50 pin IBM drive that I've had for several years to retrieve some more files to load on the new Quantum. I hooked the Quantum back up and since then my computer and other 520s I have won't recognize the drive. It's like it's not there. Says there is no SCSI device using Norton tools. I get a small mac icon with a question mark on startup. The company says there is nothing wrong with my drive and I don't know what I'm doing. I had assumed it didn't work the first time due to a bad pin connection. I have tried different connectors, computers, etc. but it still won't get recognized. I hear the drive start spinning on startup, then it stops. The IBM works everytime though. Would anyone have any suggestions? If I send it back and they test it good, they will charge me 25% restocking fee and send another one(no refunds). Also, I have several old Quantum drives that display the same problems. I have read they just get old, the bearings go bad, etc. Is there anyway to revive these old drives that give the question mark icon on startup? Much thanks to anyone who can address this. Last edited by chemist; 11-09-2007 at 03:28 PM.

11-12-2007, 01:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
chemist Moderator, Analyst, Security Team; Rangemaster, TSF Academy Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,279 OS: XP SP3	Re: Reviving old mac 50 pin SCSI drives Moderator: If you think I might have better luck with a reply in Mac Support, please move my thread there. If not, I'll keep waiting. Thanks.

11-12-2007, 04:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,403 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Reviving old mac 50 pin SCSI drives are you setting the scsi ID's on these so each drive has its own ID ??? __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

11-12-2007, 08:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
chemist Moderator, Analyst, Security Team; Rangemaster, TSF Academy Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,279 OS: XP SP3	Re: Reviving old mac 50 pin SCSI drives These computers will only accept one drive.

11-13-2007, 05:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
chemist Moderator, Analyst, Security Team; Rangemaster, TSF Academy Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,279 OS: XP SP3	Re: Reviving old mac 50 pin SCSI drives Disregard the last post. No. I've never done that and wouldn't know how. Is it possible with those machines?

11-13-2007, 11:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,403 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Reviving old mac 50 pin SCSI drives "if" your scsi drives are all connected by a single data cable/ then you must set the drive ID jumpers so each drive has its own ID the boot drive is usually "0" the controller is usually always "7" ???????? is this the way you intend to connect your drives ? __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

11-13-2007, 04:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
chemist Moderator, Analyst, Security Team; Rangemaster, TSF Academy Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,279 OS: XP SP3	Re: Reviving old mac 50 pin SCSI drives No. This machine will only accept one at a time. I just pull one out and put another in. They're interchangeable. I just have this new one(reconditioned I assume) that the computer won't recognize as being there. Just like if there wasn't a drive inserted.

11-14-2007, 12:00 AM	#8 (permalink)
mikem_uk Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Letchworth UK Posts: 16 OS: XP Pro	Re: Reviving old mac 50 pin SCSI drives Something that can happen to these old drives is that the heads eventually create a fine groove into the parking area of the platter and the heads are not always able to get out 'of the rut' - it seems to be a sporadic issue. I have seen this problem many times with old Quantum drives. If you listen to the drive spin up, when it is at full speed, you should hear a short sequence of quiet ticking noises as the drive calibrates. If you can not hear these noises, it is most likely the problem I described above. if you can hear the calibration noises, then it would be a config problem. I know where my money is though :) Mike __________________ Mike UK