Am new to the site & in my search for help I came across here. Please pardon me if I post to wrong forum. Any help would be much apprieated.
I know your suppose to let go of older tech, but it's kinda hard to when it brings back fond memories of a more simple time. I bought my Apple IIgs back in the late to mid 1980's & it's been one of the most durable computers I have had with the exception of my MacBook Pro Laptop that I have had about 4 years. For over 20 years this Apple IIgs has run without a problem. So, here is what I have & my problem/question.
I have a Woz Limited Edition Apple IIgs with a Internal Vulcan 100MB hard drive. As I have 200+ games & other programs for this computer it brings me back to pleasant times. Over the last 5 or so years I've used it less & two days ago it would not boot.
Is there anyone I can take it to close to Jackson, Tn to see if it's fixable? Or possibly where I might pick up a hard drive control card & possible a replacement for the Vulcan 100MB internal hard drive for my Apple IIgs? Is there a way to use my Vulcan 100MB hard drive with another compent for my Apple IIgs to save me the trouble of reloading everything. I believe the hard drive is intact, but either the SCSI card has went bad or the power supply part in front of the hard drive in the housing has went bad.
The internal HD is same dimension as the power supply for the IIgs as it sets in same place in IIgs CPU. I liked the internal HD as it saved disk swapping.
I took the cover off the IIGS & on the side of the 100MB internal hard drive there is a pop out tray with two fuses which are good. The hard drive was easily removed & upon removal I noticed a small sound like a piece had come loose inside the hard drive housing. Upon opening the top of the housing(top side where the fan is) sure enough a small piece had came unsaurtered right below the fan.
I have considered resaurdering the small part to the board myself as it looks like it controls the fan or is fan related, but am trying to find somewhere to take this to be looked at.
As the hard drive I believe is ok is there any way I can transfer the contents of my old Apple IIgs Vulcan 100mb to another newer hard drive as it sooner or later will go bad?
Any ideas on where to pick up a SCSI card for my IIgs & a replacement internal hard drive that would include the same IIgs power supply?
It has been one good computer & would rather not trash it. Any help would be apprieated as am seeking somewhere that gives me the best chance to fix the problem. I apprieate your time.
Many Thanks
Mike
Hello MickyAAZ,
following up your text it seems you don´t dare to carry out the task by yourself as result of missing experiance with a
soldering iron.... you really tried to give good description... but in this case some pictures would be a giant leap
ahead for carrying out the task of diagnosis. If you can upload them to some place and set here some links to them it would be great advantage for the task....
otherwise if you are looking to get some experienced technician in your area - maybe you will get reply here - but it might be then also recommended to contact IAC ( International Apple Core ) or any local User Group in your area to find such a person....
and just another hint: as far as i know the vulcandrives in general have been IDE-drives and not SCSI.....
but transfering the content from IDE to SCSI sounds like a very good idea, due to the fact that also IDE-drives
have only limited time of lifeexpectation....
another alternate would be to save/backup the contents to a CFFA card from Rich Dreher....
although they are sold out at the moment we can expect another run in the close future and that would be definitly one
of the best options for backing up the stuff to a USBstick. That sticks have no movable parts and therefor can last for many more years... and they have giant partitions ( up to 10 time 32 Megbyte = 320 MB together in one stick ).....
sincerely speedyG
Many thanks on your reply. I've looked & contacted about the CFFA3000 card & had no idea that such a slick thing was out there still for the IIgs. My next question would be any ideas on a way to transfer the info off of my Vulcan 100mb hard drive to a USB drive or compatible device for the CFFA3000 card? I can photo in detail the hard drive if that would help. About 5 or so yeas ago I backed up this hard drive(I forgot which backup program I used) onto 3 1/2 disks(I think it took about 50 or so disks). I am not sure how durable the 3 1/2 disks are. So am not sure if backup disks are still good or not as most likely if even one of the 50 is corrupt that would not enable me to reload. It still amazese that the IIgs lasted as long as it did pushing 20 to 25 years of usage without any trouble.
As I'd like to share the software for my IIgs with others who use it when the CFFA3000 card comes out as most of what I have is copy righted would I break any legal laws by using the CFFA3000 card to tranfer software for IIgs to a USB device then upload to the Internet for everyone to enjoy? Being as the software is 15+ years old, no companies still publishing software for the IIgs, and some of those companies not still existing I wasn't sure if I'd be breaking any laws.
I forgot to mention that I found my old IIgs power supply. I took out the Vulcan 100mb hard drive & controller card installed in slot 7 and reinstalled the IIgs orginal power supply IIgs still runs good without it.
Hello Mickey,
if i shall help with diagnostic and repair some pictures would be required....
one from the loose part
one from the current state of the vulcan and if possible a picture from where the loose part came from....
next question to the backups....
up till now i have made experience that 3 1/2 flopies are rather reliable and can be read within a period of up to 10 years without trouble - if they have been stored carefully....
again to the topic of backing up the harddrive itself we have to turn back to my remark:
is the connector at the backside of the drive 40 pin cable ( and then IDE - as i guess ) or 50 pin cable ( and then it´s SCSI ) ? Depending to the answer i can make proposals on possibilities how to backup the harddrive itself if it is functional.
Up to the question of copyright: well there is quite large discusion out ther about that topic....
my first proposal would be to first examine the archives within the apple web ring starting at asimov to find out what allready is availiable to the public - and by that find out what you have and what has not been released yet....
then the next question would rise - if there is any owner of the copyright next and if there is a general permission to release the stuff or not... and then finally followup steps might rise...
so my prposal would be to first make attempt to answer the open questions and then proceed to the solution resulting from the answers...
sincerely speedyG
Apprieate your help, SpeedyG. Will do my best to upload photos of requested parts hopefully Sunday as am tied up today & Saturday. Hard drive connects to a 40 pin(will verfy tonight when I get home) internal card that was in slot 7 of my IIgs. As I haven't uploaded photos for viewing other than eBay or similar site any idea on where I can load for people to take a look at? The uploading of IIgs games copy righted may get a little dicy, but will take a look when the next batch of CFFA3000 cards come out. Thanks
Hello Micky,
any public space in internet will solve the task ... you just must know the correct internetadress for the link....
for example if you have an emailaccount at GMX or Google they offer space on virtual drive and there are a lot of
costfree services for sharing pictures like
http://s1180.photobucket.com/
and similar services.
sincerely speedyG
Ok, photos are at http://i1344.photobucket.com/albums/p648/MickyAAB/5136CD97-BCC5-4DD7-948A-168D338E8F1E-4083-000003BF23BF5627_zps6c8cc18a.jpg. They may be out of order as I was using my iPhone to upload photos & accidentally had duplicate photos uploaded & could not figure out how to delete the duplicates. Photo description as follows:
1. 3 prong part that came off board directly below fan with following info:
M. K
90. x. 31
MJH16018
2. Photo of top cover taken off showing hard drive toward bottom & the board I'm assuming took place of orginal power supply for IIgs.
3. Photo close up directly above where part came out. You should be able to see the 3 small holes in board where part came out.
4. Photo of card that was in slot 7 of IIgs that ran hard drive.
From what I'm finding out about the CFFA3000 that would be a definate upgrade to what I have. That brings me to my next question. Is there any way to take out the 100mb hard drive & move it to another housing like a external hard drive RO copy contents on hard drive to a flash drive or transfer to something compatible with the CFFA3000 card.
The only reason I ask about this is trying to if possible to keep from having to reinstall everything from scratch. Am definately glad I found out about the CFFA3000 as was completely unaware on new tech for a Apple IIgs.
Thanks
Hello MickyAAZ,
well the pictures really get us a lot ahead.....
The part that dropped out is a kind of transistor - and i will try to find it in the databooks....
without the part it´s for sure that the powersource dropped out of function....
so there are at the moment several options that might bting you back to business.....
up to my first idea ( which i will think over in the next few hours till tommorow )
you might even have the chance to trick the current status and get access to the contents of the disk
without the repair of the powersource itself.... the reason for the delay:
i´m located in germany , it´s at the very moment i write this posting half past eleven in the night and
i will very soon get in to bed and get my sleep - resulting from my restricted health after having a
second serious heartstroke few years ago, i am forced to repect my health limitations.....
but tommorow in the prenoon ( 10:00 Central European Time - Berlin/London ) i will sit down
and explain in detail the different options.....
and i will make a sketch of a possible solution.....
as well as possible options for repair.
In the meantime you could give me one answer:
do you have a powersupply availiable from an old IBM XT or AT computer somewhere in your place or can you get
one from anywhere around your place ?
this kind of stuff is normaly dumped to trash and a recycling yard would normally sell such device for some amount like $5 to $10.
If you have such a device it might be very usefull.
i ask you please for some patience .... after my 8 hours sleep i will turn back tommorow morning with detailed reply...
sincerely speedyG
SpeedG,
Sorry to hear about your health limitations. No worries on time frame being pushing as I am 44 years old & as ive gotten older much more patient than in my earlier years. I live in USA. I'll look into IBM power sources you mentioned, but up in air on my ability to find. Am totally a beginner on working on computers & only have a general idea. Most likely much less than general idea as haven't had to work on internal components before.
Thanks
MickyAAZ
Hello MickeyAAZ,
Lets just get few things at the beginning together....
Due to the part that dropped out of the powersupply i suppose the Interfacecard itself and the Harddisk to be OK.
First thing to do and to check out if this is correct will be to insert the Vulcan-Interfacecard with the
flat-ribboncable into slot 1 or 2 - but WITHOUT the harddisk connected and another bootdrive like diskdrive connected
and then try to boot from Slot 5 or 6. If that is possible then we may asume the Interfacecard to be O.K. !
Don´t forget to change setup of slot ( prefereable slot 2 ! ) in options to "my card" !
Next step will be as mentioned in the sketch below - to get a PC-Powersupply of the old-fashioned ones ( for the XT !)
that still has the cable with a switch on it like in the picture. If you connect only the molex powercable for Harddisks
like in the picture displayed to the Harddisk an switch on power of the PC-supply
- then you should hear very silent - the Harddisk motor spin up rotation..... If that happens - we might also asume the Harddisk to be O.K. !
When searching for the PC-XT-Powersupply i recommend to search for one that has the additional Powerplug outlet as displayed in the picture.
That second outlet was formerly used to plug in the Monitor aiming for the purpose to switch on both units simultanously.
Then connect the units together as displayed in the picture below - take care of the red marked side of the flatribbon-cable !
If your PC powersupply does NOT have the second Powerplugoutlet on backside - then put both powerplugs ( the one from the IIGS and the one from the PC-powersupply in a twin- or triple adapter
to keep sure they are on the same powersourceoutlet !
In that case it is also recommended to make with short lab-cable with crocodileplugs connection between the housing of the PC-supply and the housing of the IIGS powersuply at the metalcase.
They have both internal connection to ground and the lab-cable will connect the both groundings of the supplies.
( In that case it is allways important to powerup the PC-supply first to get the Harddisk spinning up before the IIGS is switch on power ! )
Otherwise if you have connected everything together like in the drawing you can switch on both units ( The PC-power and the IIGS ) simultanously with the external switch (
assuming that the powerswitch at the back of the IIGS is in "ON" position ) and then if the contents of the Harddisk are also in good condition
- you should be able to boot first from drive in slot 5 ot 6 from diskdrive
and then at promt issue the boot command for the Vulcan by entering bootcammand for the slot
where the Vulcan Interfacecard is plugged in - PR#1 or PR#2 ....
and then the IIGS should boot from the Harddisk.
If that is O.K. then you should seek for another backup solution like the CFFA as soon as possible
and then transfer the entire contents from Harddisk to the CF-Card or the USB-stick.
Give feedback on the results of the tests listed above and on complettion of the final backup task
and take care of the units as long as they are in open uncovered status !
I hope this explenation is well understandable also for "non-technical" user.....
if any questions are left - drop in here another posting
sincerely speedyG
SpeedyG,
I've looked to find computer hardware stores close to me & only one is a Best Buy which most likely won't have the power supply, but will check with them.
As closest after best buy is like 100 to 150 miles away(roughly $100+ in travel expenses) I looked online & found what looks like your photo on eBay. Is either of the two links below what I need?
Link 1-brand new
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-ASTEC-AA14320-Large-Size-AT-Style-Power-Supply-230-Watts-IBM-Compatibles-/111068704437?pt=PCA_UPS&hash=item19dc35eeb5
Link 2-used
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-AT-Power-Supply-Magitronic-506-Switching-Power-Supply-/300899048549?pt=PCA_UPS&hash=item460efb1c65
As my IIgs CPU that Vulcan hard drive came out of has most of the slots full I'll use another IIgs CPU that i have that only uses the ram card slot.
If either link is IBM power supply I need, it may be 1 to 2 weeks before I get the power supply into me as they mail via economy shipping.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP
Hello MickeyAAZ,
i just guess you want to bring up the harddisksystem as soon as possible....
- just even if there are limitations given at the moment with it like in the configuration above....
I you can get back the box running like in description above, then besides waiting for the next run of the CFFA card
you would get by that solution the freedom to send the supplycassis of the vulcan with the extracted transistor to somebody in the USA
who might carry out the soldering and repair to get that supply back to life....
just a hint on my behalf....
checkout here in the threads at the appleII thread and the hardware related topics those which deal about powersupplies...
( maybe with the search function top right corner ? )
then checkout which members took part in the discussion and have shown detailed knowledge about the topic....
make a list of those members and then checkout by viewing their accout and the listed contributions
- if they are still active ( i.e. have written something within the last weeks )and if they have also entered their location note that too...
then try to contact those closest to your place by pm ( privat message ).
Maybe your lucky to find one of the members close in your area who will support you with the repair itself....
sincerely speedyG
Did have a question about the "old monitor power cable". The orginal cable for the IIgs has plug on end coming from power supply like you plug into the wall outlet.
Is there a specific mame for the old monitor power cable? As I am unfamiliar with pc power supplies not sure what plug is needed to plug into female on pc supply.
THANKS
Hello MickyAAZ,
well that cables don´t have a special name... but there is only one kind of plug that fits in that kind of plugin....
If you ask in an electronic shop or at the recycling yard one of the "old guys" and take along a printout of that picture that guy should recognize the correct needed cable and be able to give the right one....
and just another hint: don´t take one of those ATX-power supplies.... !
they dont have external switch on cable and there must in such case also be made a bridge for the supply to even startup....
that would be the less good choice.... - only if there is nothing at all comparable around, the ATX can become a solution...
in such a case drop here a note and i´ll give extended instruction, how to deal with that misfit....
sincerely speedyG
No rush on booting hard drive up as my IIgs was used slightly to reminess. I will check with discussion groups on possible people to repair. Do you think either link would be pc power source needed? Most likely buying the pc power supply would be least expensive on transferring info from hard drive. As well, with this being a very old uncommon piece for IIgs the odds of fixing may be very uncertain.
THANKS
Hello MickeyAAZ,
well i just tried to figure out the best way to fix your desires:
get back again access to the harddisk,
identifying the trouble,
setting up priority, how to solve the issues with the existing experience and knowledge availiable,
then proposal, how to solve the task of the repair,
and get ahead agein by waiting for the results from the tasks executed....
try to keep the task at affordable price....
well the next step for the one to execute the repair would be to find a Databook with data on the MJ( R or H ) 18018
and try to find fitting replacement ( if the databook isn´t availiable
- the transistor itself will be even more difficult to find (!) due to obsolescence
- so next option would be replacement ( but that needs to know the data of the transistor )
of course there are also neat small powersupplies availiable, that could solve the task...
- but then you should take a experienced pal along to give you recommendation
upon choice of fitting powersource that matches your demands....
lets first wait and find out if you get somebody in your area to solve the repair.....
of course i could also take that task... but mail to Germany with import taxes and
mailing back fees also with importing taxes and fees would amount up that high that it nearly would
exceed rhe total value of the item.... so lets find out if that can be avoided....
quite a time ago i had published a story similar to this problem....:
http://www.harrowalsh.de/Elektronik/APPLEBOX/powersupply_upgrading.htm
but that requires some more experience with a soldering iron and some knowledge about dangerous voltages in powersources...
the proposal at the moment on the desk should be able to be solved with no more expenses than $10 to $15....
and as i explained - on long term the CFFA will become anyhow without alternativ, because i realy wonder that
the IDE Harddisk is still working in correct order.... most of the drives out of those days have died in the meantime
due to failures in the hardware ( malfunction of recalibration, malfunction of sensors or other issues... )
so backing up the software to a storage-medium without working parts like a stick or card will be longer lasting
solution for the future too....
"when the henn has dropped her egg, we might discuss about how to use the egg.... "
lol
sincerely speedyG
Hi Micky,
An outfit called Newer Technology makes this little gem:
USB 3.0/2.0 Universal Drive Adapter.
http://www.newertech.com/products/usb3_universaldriveadap.php
With this you can connect your hard drive directly to the CFFA 3000.
Cost at Other World Computing (OWC) is $39.95.
Mine is the 2.0 version, but it has helped me on many occasions.
Do not discount what Speedy and Keatah have told you.
This is just another avenue that you can look into.
Steven
Steven,
Thanks for info. Does that have a power supply to give hard drive power once USB cable is attached from CFFA3000 to USB 3.0/2.0 Universal Drive Adapter.
? The next run of CFFA3000 cards won't be out until Fall of this year. So, right now am just looking at options to see if 100mb HD is still working. The CFFA3000 is best option but want if possible access to my Vulcan 100mb hard drive to transfer.
Micky,
Go to the bottom of the web page.
It shows all that is included with the kit.
And yes...it has a power supply.
I APPRIEATE everyone's help. It will take me a little time to gather everything to take a shot at accessing the hard drive. From what I'm running into in tracking down parts, etc. 2 weeks or more. I will post here what happens. MANY THANKS
Ok, I was able to find a old IBM AT or AX power supply, but was able for a long shot to work out. As I was fairly certain that hard drive was good & control card good as well I felt the replacement power supply in the enclousure with the hard drive had went bad. I gambled $25 on newer technology SuperSpeed USB Universal Drive Adapter.
As my luck goes they sent me the wrong item, it did have the same power supply as to what I had ordered. So, I took the 100mb hard drive out of it enclouser & sit it on a mousepad upside down to keep the hard drive on rubber. Then I connected the hard drive to the inserted slot 7 card. I power both the IIgs & power cord going to the hard drive. I held my breath & turned both on.
Holy smoke, although I thought of another word at the time, hard drive works. As using a internal hard drive outside without a enclouser I will put it back in the power supply enclousure until the CFFA3000 comes out & then transfer.
Did have one last question. Does anyone know if I put the card that controls this hard drive in say slot 6 & the CFFA3000 card in slot 7, would that cause any conflicts? If conflicts should occur, which slots would be best for both as I'm looking at running both long enough to transfer info my old 100mb Vulcan hard drive to the CFFA3000 once it comes out. Or would I need to ask the manufacturer of the CFFA3000 card? Many thanks for all your input & help.
Before I shut my IIgs off I ran SlotS an version 1.40 which is one of the programs on the hard drive. Is there any such thing as a ROM Ver 2 on the IIgs & if so what kind of comparison compared to ROM 01 & 3. Here is what SlotScan displayed:
Apple Computer Type:
IIgs ROM Ver 2 (Update ROM in Orig. Motherboard)
Total Ram 3325, 3.25Meg
Was just curious. Thanks
Almost forgot to ask about storing the internal card for 100mb hard drive. Is it better fore to leave the card in slot 7 with the hard drive disconnected? Most likely 4 to 6 months before the CFCA3000 card come out. Thanks
Hello MickyAAZ,
well i´m glad at least the harddrive starts up its duty when outside with external supply.
There is no restristion with the slots... but my advice would be:
keep the drive and the Interfacecard meanwhile outside the IIGS both each in own antistatic bags.
And when CFFA3000 is availiable, first only insert the CFFA and prepare some madia ( 2 USB-sticks ) for use.
After they have been prepared and after you have installed system 6 on the sticks and they can be used for booting,
then powerdown the IIGS and insert the IFCard for the harddrive in a slot below the CFFA and boot from stick -
this will cause the IIGS to boot to System 6 then after booting the System will recognize the harddrive and start popping up the partitions of the harddrive to the desktop.
Then start transferring the files to the stick and repeat the procedure second time with second stick.
By that you will have a backup besides the harddisk on a second stick....
Of course you should power down and up each time you change the stick....
- then start cleaning up the entries in the stick ( like hello programms to access the contents ) and
besides - hunt for a guy to repair the original powerunit. If the original powerunit is back again - you can start putting things back in original condition....
sincerely speedyG
speeduG,
Thanks for info. I still can't belove a hard drive 20+ years old still works, knock on wood.
Best Wishes
speedyG,
Keyboard on my iPhone is way too small. Best Wishes
Steve,
Thanks for info on 3.0/2.0 USB info. Best Wishes