Mac OS 9 Lives

Mac OS 9 Discussion => Hardware => Storage => Topic started by: Wingen on September 24, 2020, 03:30:34 AM

Title: Can't boot OS 9 with SATA-IDE adapter on iMac G3
Post by: Wingen on September 24, 2020, 03:30:34 AM
Hi,
I recently bought an iMac G3 DV 500 MHz (Summer 2000) that came with a 30 GB IDE drive and 128 MB RAM.

After changing the IDE drive to a SATA SSD (with an adapter), I can't boot OS 9 or install it from scratch. The drive is just not detected by OS 9 at all. It's detected by OS X and I can use that as normal.

The SSD is an Intel X25-M G2 80 GB and the adapter is a Digitus DS-33151-1 SATA-IDE adapter (JM30220 chipset).

OS 9.0.4, 9.2.2 as well as 10.2.8 are installed on the IDE drive. The iMac runs 4.1.9 firmware. I've also upgraded the RAM to 1 GB, but putting the original 128 MB back didn't help.

So with the SATA-IDE adapter, I'm having problems with both booting OS 9 as well as installing OS 9 from the CD.

Some things that I have tried:

So I'm suspecting that the fault may lie in the SATA-IDE adapter that I'm using. Does anyone have some advice on what I could try more before I order another adapter? I've seen a Startech adapter being mentioned on the board, is it this one (Startech IDE2SAT2)? https://www.amazon.de/StarTech-IDE2SAT2-40-Pin-Adapter-Converter/dp/B00EOJNGC2 (https://www.amazon.de/StarTech-IDE2SAT2-40-Pin-Adapter-Converter/dp/B00EOJNGC2)

Sorry that the post is quite long, I just want to write about the things I've tried so far. I'm really looking forward to getting OS 9 up and running so I can relive the old times.  :)

Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: I just tried something new. I disconnected the DVD reader just to see if there may be some conflict between the SATA-IDE adapter and the DVD reader. Now I can actually boot OS 9! How on earth can they be in conflict? And is there anything I can try to resolve it, so that I can have both connected at the same time?

UPDATE2: I'm starting to suspect that my SATA-IDE adapter's "Master" setting may not actually be Master enough. I have now ordered the Startech IDE2SAT2 adapter, which has jumpers for setting Master/Slave/Cable select. Let's see if it helps.
Title: Re: Can't boot OS 9 with SATA-IDE adapter on iMac G3
Post by: Wingen on September 29, 2020, 12:14:00 PM
So here’s an update. The new SATA-IDE adapter (Startech IDE2SAT2) works perfectly without any configuration. The jumper was set to Master and OS9 booted effortlessly the very first time I started the computer. So that’s a happy ending.  :)
Title: Re: Can't boot OS 9 with SATA-IDE adapter on iMac G3
Post by: Hopfenholz on December 24, 2020, 12:08:02 AM
Great that you got a happy ending. I have had a similar experience with a cheap MSATA > IDE adapter - OS9 does’t recognise at all. I will try removing the DVD drive and see if that makes a difference, or indeed playing around with jumpers.
Title: Re: Can't boot OS 9 with SATA-IDE adapter on iMac G3
Post by: IIO on December 24, 2020, 06:05:25 AM
is that bc of the machine having only only one bus for HD and CD? (question goes to you know who you are)