PM9500/ATTOExp/MaxPowr/ZPostFacto??? |
September, 26, 2003 12:24 PM |
hooksets |
Hi, I really new at this stuff, but I installed a MaxPowr G3 Upgrade Card in a PM 9500 that had a 2GB drive. Worked great MacOS 9.1. I was able to find (a deal for such a low budget person like me) 3 HDs and an ATTO Express PCS card w/ cable and 3 Drives...1 4GB Quantum and 2 Western Digital 18.3 lvd 10k RPM drives that were taken out of a G3 server. I'll try to explain the several problems and questions I have as best a possible... I installed the 3 drives and the ATTO card. the first time, I had the MaxPowr G3 (400Mhz) installed. along with the orig. HD and CD on their orig. SCSI cables (50 pin). It worked with crashes occassionally as I finally got 9.1 on the Quan. 4GB. However, it just kept crashing at start-up no matter what I did. Finally, I took out the MaxPowr Upgrade and re-installed the orig Mac 233Mhz. It seems fine like that, but I really need the faster speed of the Upgrade card. Also, with the help of some downloaded software (Mac OS9 Helper), I was able to install Mac OS 9.2.2 on the Quantum and one of the W.D 18.3 drives. I want to install 10.2 on one 18.3 and have the 9.2.2 on the smaller HD. I have downloaded XPostFacto and can't really figure out how to use it?!? (I am a techinal dummy). It seems to download stuff onto the drives but that is all. When I try to install the 10.2 I just get the message "Tis can't be installed on this particular model" or something to that effect...the same as without the XPostFacto. Most likely I just don't know wat I am doing, huh? Where can I find the instructions on how to use XPostFacto...nothing comes with, just some control board pops up on the screen . The main question is this...Am I going to be able to use the 3 HDs, the ATTO Exp card AND the Maxpowr G3 Upgrade AND install MAC OS 10.2? Or must this machine stay at 233Mhz w/ out the Upgrade and only 9.2.2? I would really appreciate some help in this. Richard Largaespada |
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RE: PM9500/ATTOExp/MaxPowr/ZPostFacto??? |
September, 30, 2003 12:00 PM |
cjsconfections |
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I have a very similar system to yours. My Atto card wouldn't boot X until I used the open firmware option on XPostFacto. Beware!!!! While it now workd fine to boot into X, to go back to 9 I have to TAKE OUT OF THE COMPUTER. The firmware of my card was modified and it will only work with versions of X. If I remove the card, I can boot back into 9 but to get back to the drive on the Atto card I have to have a version of X on the internal scsi bus. If you do what I did and do not have a drive with X on the internal bus, you will never get back to that drive on the Atto card. If I were you, I would take one of the wide drives and get an adapter to go to 50 pin so that I could make this thing work. You won't see much of a difference in everyday performance between the drive on the Atto card and the internal bus. Don't forget to reformat your hard drive with the hard drive setup in 9.2. You can also partition it there if you wish. A good place to get adapters (or any scsi stuff) is http://www.mcpb.com |
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RE: PM9500/ATTOExp/MaxPowr/ZPostFacto??? |
September, 26, 2003 1:08 PM |
jseibyl |
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First, take a deep breath...... Yes, you should be able to install with your upgrade, I hear the ATTO cards are pretty good for this. But I use Adaptec, and I know that I can't instal or boot OSX from a drive on that card, so I run my osx from a drive on the main system bus. Not sure if ATTO cards boot or not, others can help with that..... Okay down to it. Before you try to run xpf, you need to get the system stable with your drives in OS 9.x. OSX is VERY picky about scsi drives and if you are having difficulty in 9, it will only get worse in X. Sounds like the timing is off on the drives and it is not the proc. The new proc will magnify the difficulties for the drives. This means getting the ID's and termination correct. It might help to take one of the drives off the ATTO card, as it is easier to stabilise the system. Once you make sure the drives are stable and it is solid in 9, try xpf. From what you are saying, it sounds like you (or the machine) are not selecting the proper "instal from where" and "install to" options. When you run XPF, you just need to select the install CD, and then the target of where you want it to go. XPF writes some files to that target disk and then begins the instal after a reboot. Sounds like it is not finding the target drive, which should be a blank drive. It might help to take one of the drives, and plug it into the "slower" bus on the mobo, the connector right next to the one that your main hd is in, and try to install onto that drive. Make sure you have drive termination set. I would try putting a drive on the main system bus, take the ATTO card out for now, until you get jag running, then the card should just work. Then add drives one by one. Keep us posted, and good luck! FYI I have a pm9500 g4 800 1 gig ram 4 drives, two on main bus, one external, one on adaptec card. I am running 10.2.6 and it is running great. |
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RE: PM9500/ATTOExp/MaxPowr/ZPostFacto??? |
September, 26, 2003 1:05 PM |
hooksets |
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Thanks for the reply...just writing all this down jogged my memory a bit and I did find the webpages with the directions and compatibilty issues. Looks like my biggest issue is whether or not I can use this ATTO card and Hard Drives with the MaxPowr G3 Upgrade. Maybe I'll have to settle for a new bigger HD and use the ATTO and those 10k drives later if I get a faster old Mac. |
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RE: PM9500/ATTOExp/MaxPowr/ZPostFacto??? |
September, 26, 2003 12:52 PM |
brinster |
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I think 10.2 will only install if you have a G3/G4. So if you still have the 233 in, it won't install. Also, try selecting verbose mode in XPF...fooling with the throttle settings sometimes helps. |
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