BlueSCSI v2 not booting on Mac Plus

[zparras]

I have a Macintosh Plus 1mb that works perfectly (running System 6.0.5). I have all the original system disks, with a GCC HD20 hard drive that I boot the computer with.

I just bought an external BlueSCSI V2 with wifi (25 pin) from Joes Computer Museum and have been trying to get it to boot the computer. The computer does not even see the BlueSCSI when I boot from floppy. I followed the instructions and started with pre-made images. I made the mistake of putting more than one image on the card at first (only once). I also use the bluescsi.ini file and the BlueSCSI is powered from a usb wall wort rated to 2 amps. I've tried 2 different 8gb, 32gb and 1gb micro SD cards and I downloaded pre-made images from the links suggested from the project web pages (HD20_512-1GB-MacPlus-6+7.hda). I tried different variations of the SCSI id 0 through 6. My GCC HD20 is set to id 6. I'm not running the external hdd at the time as the BlueSCSI since they both use the 25 parallel port.

I'm using SD card Formatter on my MacBook Pro, to prepare the cards. In desperation I tried flashing the internal flash rom with a system 6.0 boot image as directed from the page https://bluescsi.com/docs/ROM-Drive. Since attempting this my Bluescsi stopped responding and the log file is no longer being generated.

I re-flashed the firmware (BlueSCSI_Pico_2024-05-21_2daabefb.uf2) 3 times and after each time it is successful and automatically ejects the card from the computer and the green led flashes 5 times. I then insert an sd card the flashing stops and then nothing. When I plug into my Mac Plus there is no activity light blinking only 1 white power led, and the log file stopped being generated.

I have 11 log files before the Bluescsi stopped generating one. The last few log files also have the debugger enabled, I will share the last good one (link below). I don't know what else to try...

My main computer is a MacBook pro (2013 running Mojave 10.14.6), should I re-try preparing sd cards and hda images with a PC (Running Windows 11)? I will order new SD cards. Any suggestion on size, brand and specific type HC-1?

Also, I am not sure what is the order for booting my Mac Plus with the BlueSCSI? Do I power the BlueSCSI and then turn on the Mac, or the other way around. I've tried both methods with the same results. Any help is appreciated.

log11.txt

[erichelgeson]

Can you share your bluescsi.ini file?

I'm not running the external hdd at the time as the BlueSCSI since they both use the 25 parallel port.

Note this is not parallel - and you can not use a parallel port cable, it may cause damage. If you are using a cable only use a SCSI cable.

Remove the rom file from your sd card if it still exists. Follow the flash_nuke.uf2 instructions here to completely reset your BlueSCSI https://github.com/blueSCSI/blueSCSI-v2/wiki/Updating-Firmware#usb-method

The log shows the BlueSCSI getting some garbage on the SCSI bus - can you check the DB25 port for any corrosion - have you used any other SCSI devices on the Plus recently to verify SCSI does work on this machine?

Wont hurt to try prepping the cards on Win11, but I dont think will change anything - quick enough to try.

We have recommendations on SD cards - though I dont think that's your issue https://github.com/BlueSCSI/BlueSCSI-v2/wiki/SD-Cards

Try the plain old HD0-OpenRetroSCSI-6.0.8-500M.hda too - just to rule out the Plus image.

You can power up the BlueSCSI first, then power up the Plus. Do not hot plug the BlueSCSI - this type of SCSI does not support that.

[zparras]

I am not using any cable, I connect the BlueSCSI directly to the Mac Plus. Thank you for correcting me on my parallel comment, I'm new to the SCSI world. I attached the bluescsi.ini file.

I'm already using the GCC HD20 Ultra Drive to boot the Plus, so I'm confident the Mac Plus SCSI port works fine.

I will follow the flash_nuke.uf2 instructions and try the HD0-OpenRetroSCSI-6.0.8-500M.hda too and get back to you.

Thank you for the recommended SD cards, I'm ordering a16gb and 32gb Samsung PRO High Endurance SD cards, just to rule that out.

Thank you for the support and suggestions, I appreciate it.

bluescsi.ini.txt

[erichelgeson]

Just for reference the System=MacPlus is all you need, not that those other settings duplicated will affect it, but it's always good to keep the ini file as clean as possible to rule out issues. Ahh, I thought the GC HD20 was a floppy style HD20 type drive due to the name ;)

[zparras]

I flashed the BlueSCSI with the flash_nuke.uf2 instructions and then flashed the firmware (BlueSCSI_Pico_2024-05-21_2daabefb.uf2). I also edited the bluescsi.ini file with only System=MacPlus and debug. I connected it to the Mac Plus, powered on the BlueSCSI and after about 10 seconds I powered on the Mac Plus. I only got the flashing floppy icon. I turned the computer on and waited about 10 seconds and then turned it on again, with the same result. The good new is the BlueSCSI generated a new log file! I'm attaching it here (log12). The HD0-OpenRetroSCSI-6.0.8-500M.hda image is the only image on the sd card. I also formatted a 32gb card with my PC and tried 2 different images (log13PC and log14PC). Let me know what you see from the log files.

I'm still waiting for a new SD card and it should arrive on Friday.

Thank you
bluescsi.ini.txt
log12.txt
log12PC.txt
log14PC.txt

[erichelgeson]

Oh sorry I just recalled that there is currently an issue with Mac Plus and Debug being on - have you tried just debug off?

Also note your bluescsi.ini ends in .ini.txt (should just be .ini) - validate it's correct on the SD card - most modern OS's like to hide extensions.

[zparras]

I removed the Debug line from the ini file of both sd cards with the HD0-OpenRetroSCSI-6.0.8-500M.hda image. The Mac Plus booted right away with both sd cards. How about that!

The BlueSCSI procedure is not so straight forward as I had read. Maybe this is only with the Mac Plus, but none the less, now I know the correct way to prepare sd cards, load files and turn on BlueSCSI first and then the Mac Plus. This is really great!

By the way I added the txt extension to the ini file so Github would permit me to attach it to this post.

Thank you again for helping me work through this. I have one last question, can I attach the BlueSCSI with a 25 pin to 50 pin SCSI cable to my GCC Ultra Drive 20 mb hdd and back it up? I understand they can't share the same SCSI id, but will the BlueSCSI work this way? If you don't know that's fine, I need to buy a cable and test it. I just want to make sure I won't potentially damage the BlueSCSI.

Attached are some pictures of the hdd from the internet. Mine is in very good condition. It's been kept all these years in the original box since purchased in 1990.

[erichelgeson]

That's on me - I should have recalled that sooner about debug and the Plus. Yes the Mac Plus is a bit trickier but the rest of the Macs work out of the box. You have a DB25 so you can hook them both up at the same time with any adapters you can find and copy files from one to the other just fine. Glad you got it working and enjoy your BlueSCSI!

[sjoerdvanderhoorn]

I have the exact same problem trying to boot my Macintosh Plus with the 25pin BlueSCSI v2. It will not get past the question mark-floppy. Actually, I have two Pluses (is that proper plural?) and neither of them boot from the BlueSCSI device even though both will boot from a regular bootdisk.

Content of bluescsi.ini:

[SCSI]
System=MacPlus

Images tried:

• Every image from the MacPack
• HD20_512-1GB-MacPlus-7+7.hda.zip from https://mega.nz/folder/8hA3AQCJ#pWUq92L70yDXlogy9lk5Dg
• HD0-OpenRetroSCSI-6.0.8-500M.hda.zip from https://mega.nz/folder/8hA3AQCJ#pWUq92L70yDXlogy9lk5Dg
• https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/bluescsi-questions-for-mac-plus.41840/#post-482168
• https://www.savagetaylor.com/wp-content/uploads/68k_Macintosh/Bootdisks/608_2GB_drive.zip
• https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/piscsi-rascsi
• ... and various others

When attached to a power outlet via USB and plugged in to the Mac Plus, I am consistently only seeing the PWR led ON, but nothing on the activity LED. When I boot my systems with the boot disk, it will also not show a connected hard drive. I'm using a Western Digital SD Purple but tried two other unbranded SD cards I had around with similar results.

Below is a copy of the log.txt file from when I enabled Debug=1 . It will properly read the disk image(s) after copying them onto the sdcard and show Initialization complete!. If I then boot up the Macintosh Plus it will get stuck in this eternal DBG -- BUS_BUSY --> DBG -- BUS_FREE loop.

Platform: BlueSCSI
FW Version: 2024.10.26-rel Oct 26 2024 22:02:38
Flash chip size: 2048 kB
 
=== SD Card Info ===
SD card detected, exFAT volume size: 30427 MB
SD Name: WX32G, MID: 0x03, OID: 0x53 0x44
[229ms]  
[230ms] === Global Config ===
[233ms] Reading configuration from bluescsi.ini
[237ms] Active configuration (using system preset "MacPlus"):
[242ms] -- EnableSCSI2 is off
[245ms] -- EnableSelLatch is on
[248ms] -- Debug is enabled
[250ms] DBG -- Parity is enabled
[253ms] DBG -- ReinsertCDOnInquiry is disabled
[369ms]  
[369ms] === Finding images in / ===
[372ms] == Opening /HD20_512 RaSCSI-Boot-6.0.8.hda for ID: 2 LUN: 0
[379ms] DBG ---- Read prefetch enabled: 8192 bytes
[382ms] DBG ---- Valid Macintosh Device Image detected.
[385ms] ---- Image ready
[407ms] 
[407ms] === ROM Drive ===
[409ms] Platform supports ROM drive up to 1692 kB
[414ms] ---- ROM drive image not detected
[417ms]  
[418ms] === Configured SCSI Devices ===
[422ms] * ID: 2, BlockSize: 512, Type: Fixed, Quirks: Apple, Size: 40960kB
[1221ms]  
[1221ms] Initialization complete!
[1239ms] INFO: Pico Voltage: 3.217V.
[10091ms] DBG BUS RESET
[10336ms] DBG -- BUS_BUSY
[10336ms] DBG -- BUS_FREE
[10338ms] DBG -- BUS_BUSY
[10340ms] DBG -- BUS_FREE
...

I went through the entire troubleshooting page except for creating my own image using Disk Jockey. Any chance someone spots something I've missed, or can tell if there is a disk image I should have tried instead?

[erichelgeson]

It sounds like you've tested most everything I'd ask you to (thanks!) - it is seeing the bus free signal but it is never seeing a select from the mac plus - so there's nothing for the bluescsi to do. Can you inspect the DB25 port of the mac plus and make sure it's not rusty or corroded (happens often) and plugged in firmly (i just helped someone where it just wasnt not quite seated correctly) If you have a multi-meter it would also be good to test continuity of all the lines from the SCSI chip to the DB25 port. If you have another SCSI device please try to validate the port works with something else.