Internal Hard Disk - replacement types

[dvdborn]

Hi Supersurrexit,

I'll perform some tests with my stopwatch when I find some time. But I'm pretty sure the card solution is faster. And certainly much more quieter.

Cheers,
David

[adr3laynyc]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a long time E-mu (E2, E3, E3X) user, but new to the group.  This is a fantastic thread!  Many thanks to the top level geniuses who have contributed so much here...

So I have all the pieces needed to do this to my EIIIXP as I know some others have done, and I gave it a go this afternoon but I hit a snag and have a couple of questions.  This is after following Escobar's overview of proper setting on the Acard and the CF-->IDE adapter...

Does anybody know if the terminator jumper on the E3X itself (internal SCSI side) needs to be in place when utilizing this CF/HD mod? 

This is the jumper (one of two) next to the resistor packs for the termination-- my machine has never had an internal HD, and the manual says it ships with termination power disabled.  I didn't want to damage anything by trying before asking someone who has a working flash E3X first!

Also, has anyone experienced the outcome that I did so far:  you format your card, it proports to take just a matter of seconds to successfully complete, it shows up in disk status with proper ID and full memory free, but when you try and save anything it says "SCSI Disk Full!" instead.

I suspect that it's my Sandisk card, but I purposely tried to get an older, slower type.  It seems 133x is the max for this mod, but maybe 40x is better?  How fast is the normal SCSI drive bus access in mb/s anyway on a disk drive from 1992?  This discrepancy may be the cause of the conflicts with the newer, faster cards...

Thanks very much for the help and I look forward to joining other conversations in the future!

Cheers,
Robert

[viszla-ator]

As far as regular old SCSI drives go, today I was able to install a Quantum 700MB Trailblazer - Apple branded, model TR70S026 Rev 01 - A S043C.

Like dvdborn's Quantum Maverick ProDrive, it took about 2 hours to get it formatted and verified.  So far it is working great! 

[dr.c]

Take an old Quantum for Mac. It works perfectly !

[rokuez]

Thanks Karl for giving me the links of the pieces of gear to buy, and thanks to all who replied to this thread.

I've been shopping around for the parts to CF my two EIII's

I plan on buying 4 of these Acard AEC-7720U so that I can have 2 CF cards in each EIII

This is the cheapest place in the USA that is in the USA from what I know.  $30 each.

http://ctrsurplus.com/acardaec-7720uscsitoidebridgecardadapter371.aspx

Manufacturer: Acard
Model Number: AEC-7720U
Revision Number: 3.71

Before I spend the $120 for 4 of these, can someone tell me if the revision 3.71 is the version of the firmware?  If so will I need to upgrade that firmware to 3.88?  If so how does one go about doing that?

[rokuez]

Better place your orders quickly for the   Acard AEC-7720U

This is the cheapest place in the USA that I know.  $30 each.

http://ctrsurplus.com/acardaec-7720uscsitoidebridgecardadapter371.aspx



I've been watching the quantity go down from 38, 20 the next day, then I just purchased my four that I need now there are 16 left.  I have no deal with these guys and I'm not trying to make an advertisement for them BUT they are FAR cheaper then anyone else I found selling these things.  Next cheapest place I found was selling the Acard AEC-7720U  for like $70!!

The cheapest place i found for the "dual ide bootable to compact flash cf converter" is this place

http://yhst-24919672089015.stores.yahoo.net/bootable-dual-ide-to-cf-converter-adapter.html

I ordered two of them.  one for each EIII, and these allow 2 cf cards per device.


Now I'm on the hunt for cheap kingston 1gb compact flash cards that have the white flower and little purple triangle!  I found three on amazon and ordered them all, and am bidding on one from ebay.


I've attached some images of the three things minus the cable that you need for cf'ing EIII

First pic is of the  Acard AEC-7720U , second pic is the special kingston cf card, third pic is the dual bootable compact flash converter.  With these and a scsi cable I should be able to have 2 cf cards in one EIII ^_^

[Escobar]

Thank you Rokuez,

It's good to know!

//Escobar

[toader]

Now I'm on the hunt for cheap kingston 1gb compact flash cards that have the white flower and little purple triangle!  I found three on amazon and ordered them all, and am bidding on one from ebay.

   I just got my first eiii -  the rack model.  I am in love with it already...  don't have much storage space though, so I decided to try your ideas.  I just ordered the stuff Rokuez mentions above.  I found some CF cards like the ones you mentioned (the kingston with the flower on the front).  Here is the link in case you're interested: http://www.flashmemorystore.com/kingston-compact-flash-1024.html

[rokuez]

Here is a guide on how to install 2 one gb cf cards in your EIII.

Special thanks to Karl Scott for helping me with the jumper settings and scanning the acard instructions.  Also thanks to everyone on this thread who contributed to getting the cf card-hard drive working in their EIII's ^_^

First make sure you have the following

MATERIALS


2 -  Acard AEC-7720U

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/aec-7720u.gif

Here are images of the instructions manual that comes with the Acard.  thanks to Karl Scott we have these images.  If you buy a used Acard chances are you won't have these instructions.

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/img006.jpg
http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/img007.jpg
http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/img009.jpg
http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/img008.jpg

2 - Kingston 1gb cf cards (white flower with purple triangle)

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/10181601940.jpg

2 - Dual Bootable Compact Flash Converter (single will work from what I've heard from others but I ordered dual accidentally and they work for me)

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/4443_1_b.JPG
http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1252.JPG
http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1251.JPG

1 - Y Cable going from 4 pin HD power connecter splitting into two 4 pin HD power connector

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1258.JPG  Shown on the right

2 - Y cable going from 4 pin HD power connector splitting into two 4 pin 3.5 Floppy Drive Power Connector

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1258.JPG Shown on the left

1 - SCSI Cable which can connect at least two devices.  You may want a SCSI Cable that can connect three or more devices.  For example 2 CF Cards, 1 Zip Drive, 1 CD Drive would require a SCSI Cable that needs 4 connections for four devices.  Make sure you purchase a scsi cable with enough length for a four device, or even three device connection setup.

You may also need jumpers if you are buying a used Acard AEC-7720U, at least I did.

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1253.JPG


STEPS FOR JUMPERS AND ASSEMBLY

1.  Jumper Settings for the Acard AEC-7720U are as following

JP1 - Determines the SCSI Number for the CF Card.  I would set this to 1.  Then set the second Acard AEC-7720U to 2 (this is for the second cf card's scsi number).  & Finally make sure you zip drive, if you are using one, has it's scsi number set to something other than 1 or 2.

JP2 - Put a Jumper on it, making it terminator enabled, and place it horizontally so that it is across both pins.

JP4 - Put a Jumper on it, making it terminator enabled, and place it vertically so it is across both pins.

JP3 - Do not put a jumper on this.

Take a look at the image below.  You will see JP2 & JP4 both have jumpers on them.  BUT notice for JP1, I have the jumper placed vertically on SCSI ID 4, I suggest putting it to 1 & making the second cf card have a scsi id of 2, but do whatever you like.


http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1254.JPG

For a more detailed discussion on jumper settings please look at Escobar's post on page 2 of this thread http://eiiiforum.com/index.php?topic=4.15

2. CF Card Jumper Setting.

See the image below.  There are three pins, meaning the jumper can only be on two of the pins.  You will see that the jumper is placed vertically on the bottom two pins.  Leaving the top pin to be jumper-less.

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1252.JPG

For a more detailed discussion on jumper settings please look at Escobar's post on page 2 of this thread http://eiiiforum.com/index.php?topic=4.15

3. Which slot on the Dual Bootable Compact Flash Converter to place the CF Card?

Place the CF card on the top slot so to speak.  This is the slot, where the power connector and three jumper pins are.  See the image below.

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1252.JPG


4.  Plug the Dual Bootable Compact Flash Converter into the Acard AEC-7720U like so in the image below.

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1255.JPG


5.  Assemble the "Y cable going from 4 pin HD power connector splitting into two 4 pin 3.5 Floppy Drive Power Connector" to the two conjoined pieces from step 4 as in the image below.

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1259.JPG

6.  Now for the Assembled CF Card HD installation. 

If you have a zip disc instead of a 3.5 floppy drive you will need to either keep the HD connected on the scsi cable, OR remove the zip disc and connect a 3.5 floppy drive that works with the EIII. 

THE EIII CANNOT BOOT FROM THE ZIP DISC EVEN IF THE OPERATING SYSTEM IS ON THE ZIP DISK. 

So you either have to boot from the HD, which has the OS on it.  Or disconnect the HD, have a 3.5 floppy drive connected AND have a copy of the EIII OS on a 3.5 floppy disc.

So in conclusion you will be copying the OS from a 3.5 floppy disc, or the HD which you will be leaving connected.  I suggest you disconnect the HD, and have the OS on a 3.5 disc so as to not run into any SCSI ID Problems.

Now disconnect the HD from the 4 pin HD power connector, and connect the item in the image below.  NOTICE you are only going to connect ONE CF Card Assembly.  So you will only be connecting the item to the left in the image below.

7.  Now for me my EIII saw the CF card immediately.  However some users have not had their cf card identified by the EIII's OS.  If this is the case go to Page 1 of this thread and read Escobar's post where he begins by saying.

"First time you boot everything up it might be that EIII won't find the CF card, if that's the case you need to turn the power off and remove the jumpers from the SCSI->IDE adapter, boot EIII again, and then turn the power off. Replace the jumpers and turn on the power again. I had to do this before EIII could find the card but it eventually did."

8.  Once you CF Card is seen by the OS go to the Module called Master then - 7 Disk Utilities - then 7 Format Disc.

The formatting for one cf card will take 2 and a half hours.  This is not an exaggeration it will take quite a while.

While my CF Card was formatting I would randomly see a red LED light go on and off as the OS was accessing and formatting the CF Card.

9.  Now that the CF Card is formatted go back to Module Master - 7 Disk Utilities - and 4 Copy software.

You will either be copying the OS From a 3.5 floppy disk or the original HD which you left connected.

10. Now according to Dr. C once the OS is installed you should try to copy a blank bank to the CF Card.  It doesn't matter if anything is in this bank.  Simply press save bank and attempt to save a bank to the CF Card.

I for some reason or other was not able to do this.  I kept receiving "SCSI Hardware Error" when I was trying to save this bank.

I simply turned off the EIII, turned it back on and the EIII booted up from the OS on the CF Card.  After that restart, I was then able to save a blank bank and I did so just to be prudent.

11.  Now if you want to install another CF Card, which would give you two 1 gb CF-Hard drives so to speak simply assemble another device like the one show in the image below.  Except now you will need the "Y Cable going from 4 pin HD power connecter splitting into two 4 pin HD power connector"

shown on the right of the image below. 

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/IMG_1259.JPG

Repeat the same steps for this new cf card assembly and you will have to wait another 2.5 hours for the second cf card to format.  Install the OS on this second CF Card and you will be almost finished.


12.  Now you or your tech will need to re-calibrate your PSU, at least I did.  After I had my two CF cards installed formatted and working I checked the Voltage coming off of the PSU.  Which is described in this thead

According to Dr. C DO NOT DISCONNECT ANY CABLES FROM ANYTHING WHEN CHECKING THE PSU Voltage, so ignore the disconnecting of power cables from devices in the thread below.

http://eiiiforum.com/index.php?topic=8.0

Leave everything connected and just check the voltage at the one point i.e the molex connector's yellow wire, the molex connector going to the card cage.  If you don't know what you're doing let your tech do this for you.


When I checked this voltage at this point I noticed it was at something like 6 volts, when it should be at 5.05 volts.  It had been at 5.05 volts when the HD had been connected, but I suppose sense the two CF Cards require less power it had been giving off too much power now with these less power hungry cf cards attached (i'm not positive about this but it is my guess).

Here is an image of the PSU with a circle around the calibration pot

http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/eiiicf/PSU Pot.jpg



If for some reason or other the links for these images don't work, private message me and let me know and i'll fix the image links.

[dr.c]

This mustt heve been a real great effort to send this message, we should all thank rokuez and give him the golden medal.

Thanks a lot, this is great.

Best regards

Dr.C

[Elmbeatz]

approved!   
Thumbs up!

[dvdborn]

Great post Rokuez!
Thanks.

David
http://dvdborn.blogspot.com

[quique]

thanks rokuez! somehow, i didn't read the last page of this thread and missed your step by step instruction,..very helpful..time to order the parts...

but it looks like i missed out on the $30 Acard.

i still dont mind spending $100 for it  ...to have 2gigz of CF in my EIII...thats awesome!

[thetoolwiz]

Does anybody here have one of those ACard adapters they'd be willing to sell me? I've got the IOData one and it doesn't work, and I can't find any ACard ones anywhere.   (I'm in the USA.)

-David

[rokuez]

Does anybody here have one of those ACard adapters they'd be willing to sell me? I've got the IOData one and it doesn't work, and I can't find any ACard ones anywhere.   (I'm in the USA.)

-David

http://www.atacom.com/program/atacom.cgi?SEARCH=SEARCH_ALL&KEYWORDS=SCIB_ACAR_E7_UM

this is the cheapest place that i found by googling "Acard AEC-7720U" ,  "AEC-7720U" and "AEC7720U" from the shopping part of google.  after this $74.95 place the cheapest I was finding them was $99