G4 Digest, Vol 49, Issue 10, Re: [G4] FW: G4 Disk Capacity Limit - Real or Logical?

[Luke Rademacher]

Shopdog.

I have both a 100MB Zip drive and a 250MB Zip drive. I have not used  
either in almost 3 years. Why? because USB Flash Drives hold 10x more  
at a fraction of the cost.

Get yourself a USB2 PCI card and put in your Mac. Then goto almost  
any Retail store and buy a 1GB , 2GB, or even a 4GB USB2 Flash drive  
for LESS than $30.
The USB Flash Drive does not require a Power Supply, can be used on  
both Mac OSX and Windows XP/Vista, And the Flash Drive is more  
durable. I once accidentally left a USB Flash Drive in my jeans and  
it went through the Wash. After a few days drying it was back in  
action with no data loss.

Two days ago at Walmart of all places I saw 2GB SanDisk USB2 Cruzer  
Flash Drive for $18. I bought three!

So, Back up everything on your Zip Disks to a couple CD's or one DVD.  
Then yank out that Zip Drive and make use of that bay for a HD.

Good Luck no matter what you do,

Luke Rademacher
Liquid Zone Graphics
Mac mini 2.0Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 3GB RAM, 80GB HD, Combo DVD/CDRW,  
Mac OSX Leopard 10.5.5, ext NewerTech miniStack w/ 320GB HD.
MDD Dual 1.25Ghz G4, 2GB RAM, 250GB/120GB/80GB HD's, 16x DL DVD±R/RW  
Superdrive, Mac OSX Tiger 10.4.11, Classic Mac OS 9.2.2.
External 1TB HD FireWire 400
Intel Celeron 2GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD, Ubuntu Linux 8.04
5.5th gen 80GB Enhanced Video iPod
Canon CanoScan 8400F
Canon Pixma iP4500

On Sep 23, 2008, at 10:41 AM, shopdog at mac.com wrote:

> This list is great!  Thanks everyone!
>
> Mike:
>
> Thank you for the additional information.  Before I read your most  
> recent post, I chickened out and used Intech's Hi-Capacity  
> Extension, but may end up doing the firmware adjustment in the  
> future, because the firmware adjustment is not something that needs  
> to load with each system boot.
>
> Does this firmware adjustment work for OS 9 also?
>
> johnnyg:
>
> I had given some thought about snaking cables out of the computer  
> chassis, but your comments brought some issues to mind that I had  
> not considered.  I'm hoping to keep these drives in the machine,  
> but may need to at least put the power supplies out of the machine  
> if the power supply issue is too daunting.
>
> Luke:
>
> Before your post I had not considered that I could leave the Zip  
> drive in place, and simply move it's power connection to an  
> additional hard drive.  That way I won't need to upgrade the power  
> supply, and I can fit 5 hard drives in the machine.  I never use  
> the Zip drive, but would want it available just in case.  Shutting  
> down the machine, switching the power back to the Zip drive, and  
> then powering back up, just to use the Zip drive, would not be too  
> much of a hassle considering I barely use the Zip drive.
>
> As to the ATX power supply, the adjustments are merely soldering 2  
> wires, which I think I could do.  I reviewed the post at  
> xlr8yourmac, and I think I can do it.  My question is really then,  
> do I need to put another fan in the machine, and if so, where?
>
> As to the "hackintosh", I actually bought (and have now sold) some  
> components to start putting the entire G4 into a generic case, but  
> then balked at the price.  If I can stuff five of the hard drives I  
> have into the existing case for the cost of a $70 card and a $30  
> dual drive bracket (and not need to upgrade the power supply), and  
> then can do the same with another old G4 for the cost of another  
> $70 card and a $30 dual drive bracket, I think that will be the way  
> to go for me.
>
> shopdog
>
>