Restoring Amiga 3000T - Part 3 - Hard disk and SCSI devices

My 15 years old Quantum Trailblazer is dead. Powering on the Amiga, the hd makes noise as a grinder and system doesn’t start.



I have to find a replacement. I can choose between:
  • a recent scsi hard disk, as 72GB, 10/15krpm uwscsi disks used in servers: it requires scsi connector adapter; to allow AmigaOS manage disks greater than 4GB, the latest FFS update is needed;
  • a less recent scsi hard disk, as 9GB, 10krpm uwscsi disks used in older servers: it has the same requirements of the previous, but has more working hours and so is near its end of life;
  • a scsi-ide adapter, to connect cheap ide drives: this kind of adapter is too expensive;
  • a scsi-sd device: you can find on web people selling handmade scsi-sd devices;  interesting solution, but for hobbyist’s product I wish to access source to hack or improve the device, but the code isn’t public;
  • something else…? Yes, an internal Iomega Jaz.
I found an Iomega Jaz (2GB) on ebay for less than 10€. It has 50 pin scsi connector (no adapter needed) and 2GB is the right size for an Amiga classic. To connect Iomega Jaz to my Amiga SCSI chain, I have to add a passive terminator (2/3€).
The screw holes of Iomega jaz and Amiga disk bay are not compatible, so I needed some metal adapter to mount it on the case.

(On software side, remember to install ZJTool12, from Aminet, to disable the idle mode of the Jaz, or Amiga will not be able to wake up after idle).
Now I can reinstall AmigaOS… or no? Look at next post!

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