How can one get the special cabling as talked about below? I think I mainly need the SCSI terminator... I have the typical SCSI cables and the laptop adaptor.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=13611
The SCSI Port and Cabling
The SCSI port used in PowerBook computers is called an HDI-30. It is a square connector with 30 pins. There are two different SCSI cables. In addition to one of these cables, you may need a terminator, model number M3503xx/A (in the US all model numbers are LL, thus the terminator would be M3503LL/A). Refer to article 24281: "PowerBook: SCSI Cables Used" for images of the various cables.
Apple HDI-30 SCSI Disk Adapter
This adapter, model number M2539xx/A is specifically for SCSI Disk Mode, also known as HD Target Mode. It can be distinguished by its HDI-30 connector having 30 pins (5 rows of 6). The connector on the other end is a standard Centronics 50 connector.
Apple HDI-30 SCSI System Cable
This cable is for connecting external SCSI devices, like CD-ROMs and hard drives, to your PowerBook and it is called the Apple HDI-30 SCSI System Cable, model M2538xx/A. Its HDI-30 connector only has 29 pins. The connector on the other end is a standard Centronics connector.
Do you have the laptop adaptor with a led and a switch or do you have one without a switch ? It doesn't work with the one without a switch. And the switch must be set in the right position.
And do you use it under OSX or OS9 and lower ? Because it doesn't work if your machine is booting in OSX. So you must first set the powerbook to boot in OS9 or lower in order to get it into SCSI target mode.
Hans
Where can I find the one with the switch?
As far as I know (I've got a few Powerbook G3 - Lombards) they came not with the Powerbook, only one without a switch was included. So then those must have been sold separately... (I've no idea where mine came from, I got it from a friend) also keep in mind that SCSI the last Powerbooks with SCSI are nearly 7 years old, so you probably wont find one in an Apple store... ebay perhaps ?
Hans
eBay or the dust covered shelves of a long time Apple reseller/service center are going to be your best bet. I've seen them at resellers in the last few months, albeit with a thick layer of dust on the packaging. I can't remember who made them, but the one you'll want has the switch, has hdi-30 on one end and the standard 25 pin connector on the back. The Apple cable for this was grey in color and had hdi-30 straight to the 50 pin centronics connector IIRC.
I have one, but I dunno why you guys are saying 'you must get the one with the switch,' because mine *doesn't* have a switch, and works fine for SCSI disk mode, I've used it tons of times to restore old powerbooks. Its Apple Part Number 590-0718-A.
I was unable to find any pictures online; so I took some myself:
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6312/dsc13619ml.jpg
http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/2503/dsc13620cf.jpg
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6244/dsc13648ve.jpg
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/6145/dsc13654kc.jpg
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/970/picture20tc.png
john8520... i have the same adapter! no idea where i got it tho... just wanted to chime in. If i can figure out where i got it, i'll repost here.
I got mine with my wallstreet; and I got my wallstreet from its original owner, apparently he got it with the wallstreet, it wasn't an addon or anything.
The ones with a switch are more useful as they can switch between regular SCSI mode and SCSI Disk mode. If you have the choice, get one with a switch. I've got two APS SCSI Doc adapters, with switches and Mac style 25-pin SCSI ports. You can plug any Mac standard SCSI device in without another adapter, not just to older Centronics devices. If you have an adapter without a switch, it's really easy to tell if it's a SCSI Disk mode one or not. Regular SCSI adapters will be missing one pin in the upper coner of the HDI-30 plug, IIRC. The SCSI Disk mode one will have a full square of pins.