Re: Weird problem: SCSI flash drive works but won't boot

[Stephen <stephenhd55@gmail.com>]

On Jun 13, 3:15 pm, "ict@ccess" <gids...@sasktel.net> wrote:
> On Jun 13, 1:27 pm, Stephen <stephenh...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hi everyone --
>
> > After many years I'm trying to get my beloved ROM 01 IIGS up and
> > running again.   I have a old SCSI drive but I fear it will not last
> > much longer, so I am trying to set up a flash hard disk using hardware
> > I already have.  I have an Apple High-Speed SCSI card connected to an
> > Accent SCSI PCMCIA card reader.  In the reader I have a 256MB
> > SimpleTech compact flash card via a PCMCIA-CF adapter.  The device is
> > self-terminating and I have it set for ID 6 (though I have tried other
> > IDs as well).  My High-Speed SCSI card is set to ID 7 (all default
> > settings).
>
> > In short, I can read and write to this drive in GS/OS just fine, but
> > weirdly I can't get the system to actually boot from it.  Here are the
> > details of this puzzle:
>
> > To set this all up, I booted GS/OS 6.01 (from floppy) and ran Advanced
> > Disk Utility.  It recognized the flash drive immediately and at the
> > correct size of 256MB.  I created two 32MB ProDOS partitions and
> > formatted them.  No problem.  Both drives show up in GS/OS and I can
> > read and write to them.  I then proceeded to do an "Easy Update"
> > install of GS/OS on the first ProDOS partition.  Install went
> > smoothly, no problems.  Sweet!
>
> > But upon reboot, the system hangs for a while (at the ROM splash
> > screen) and then moves on to trying to boot slot 6.  I can see the
> > access light on the card reader flash a few times, so it's trying but
> > nothing happens.  If I boot to GS/OS on a floppy, I can access the
> > flash volumes just fine.  I just can't boot up from them.
>
> > Also interestingly it appears that ProDOS 8 can't see these drives.
> > When ProDOS 8 starts up from a floppy there is a long hang at the
> > ProDOS splash screen and the drive light blinks; startup from the
> > floppy then continues.  PD8 applications like ProTERM and Apple's HS
> > SCSI utilities seem to see that there is something in S7D1 but can't
> > access it.  ProDOS 16 applications like GS/OS and ProSel16 can see it
> > just fine.
>
> > Based on what I've read about the CFFA card, I am wondering if perhaps
> > CF cards in general need some sort of special partitioning and
> > formatting that can't be done via the Advanced Disk Utility?  I
> > actually tried running the CFFA utility but it is CFFA-specific.
> > Apple's HS SCSI utility doesn't even see the drive.  ADU is the only
> > thing I could get to recognize the drive.
>
> > Any ideas?  Thanks for any advice!  It feels like I am very close
> > here.
>
> > --Stephen
>
> The pause you are seeing at the Prodos splash screen means it is
> looking for a bootable device in that slot.  Does everything work
> properly if you used a scsi hard drive instead of the scsi-CF card
> reader connected to your high-speed scsi card for booting up?  If you
> can boot up fine from a scsi hard drive then it must be the card
> readers' identity bytes may be signalling Prodos that it is not a
> bootable device.  This will help isolate the device that is preventing
> booting.
>
> Rob

Thanks for the reply!  Yes, when I have just the SCSI hard drive
connected it boots up fine.  Also, if I connect *both* the hard drive
and the flash drive, I can boot the hard drive in that configuration
as well.