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How do I add a SCSI drive to Windows XP (SATA) and assign drive letter?

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Hi everyone, I am looking for help with a job I am doing for someone. Hopefully, someone can help me and I’ll somehow be able to return the favor. I am trying to connect a Quantum 80 S SCSI drive (from a 1988 Apple Macintosh) to a Windows XP computer using SATA drives. I am using an Adaptec AVA-2906 PCI adapter. Device manager sees the adapter and drive with no problems. I cannot get a drive letter though. When I go to Disk Management, the drive won’t show up. I don’t see it in the BIOS either. I experimented with the jumper settings, but no combination seemed to work. Any help with this would be appreciated.

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Clarifications

In reply to How do I add a SCSI drive to Windows XP (SATA) and assign drive letter?

Clarifications

Drivers or BIOS?

In reply to How do I add a SCSI drive to Windows XP (SATA) and assign drive letter?

http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/support/scsi/2900/ava-2906/
Downloads and documentation.

Did you follow the installation guide?
Have you configured the SCSI adapter in Control Panel?
Do you know that the drive is, in fact, in working order?

This may be helpful:
http://ask.adaptec.com/scripts/adaptec_tic.cfg/php.exe/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=747&p_created=934925670&p_topview=1

Note that if you are attempting to read the drive contents, you will not be able to do so. Windows can only read Windows filesystems.

What number did you assign the Drive when you set the jumpers?

In reply to How do I add a SCSI drive to Windows XP (SATA) and assign drive letter?

Normally you need to install the Adaptec Drivers on XP and if the drive is Formatted as a drive for a Apple Mac you need to use a product like Mac Disc so Windows can read it.

http://www.macdisk.com/formen.php

However with all SCSI Devices you first need to set the Drive Number through the Jumpers on it to something not being used by the computer. Normally the Adaptec SCSI Controller is numbered as 0 or 1 so ideally the drive should be set to 3 or higher depending on just how high it can be set.

Then after you have the drive set to a Unused Drive Identifier install the SCSI Controller and HDD in the computer start windows install any required Adapted Driver and then you should be fine to go. 😉

Of course if the drive is formatted for a MAC Windows will be unable to read it because Windows unlike Linux can only read it’s own Partition Table Types so you’ll need to install the MAC Drive Software so you can access the drive.

Col

Follow to 2 responses

In reply to How do I add a SCSI drive to Windows XP (SATA) and assign drive letter?

I appreciate both responses, but I’m still not able to access the drive. Please note the following:
1. The drive is in working order. It spins and I can see it in device manager.
2. I did follow the installation guide.
3. The adapter is not in control panel.
4. The adapater is supposed to automatically get assigned an ID of 7.
5. Using the jumpers, I assigned an ID of 6 to the drive.
6. I have software for viewing mac files on a PC.
7. The drivers for this device are actually built into Windows XP.
8. I originally bought this card for a SCSI scanner. It may be that it doesn’t work with hard drives.

Any additional responses would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Reponse To Answer

In reply to Follow to 2 responses

Have you tried a Live Linux to see if it can read this HDD? I personally like Knoppix but any of the ones listed here should be able to read the SCSI Drive if it actually has a usable Partition Table of some kind on it

http://www.livecdlist.com/

Though personally I would move the HDD Designation further away from the SCSI Adapter but it really sounds as if the OS is incapable of reading that Partition Table.

Col

Reponse To Answer

In reply to Follow to 2 responses

You are right,it does not work with hard drives.

You’ll need a 2940 or it’s equivalent.

http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/products/controllers/hardware/scsi/entry/aha-2940au/

Linux

In reply to How do I add a SCSI drive to Windows XP (SATA) and assign drive letter?

Hi Col,

I have not tried Linux. I have never used Linux, so this would be a big effort for me. I’ll consider it, but the fact that I can’t even see the device in ‘Disk Management’ makes me think the problem is not with the OS.

It seems like the problem is with one or more hardware components. I don’t think anything is broken. I think it’s a least one configuration setting and/or hardware limitation.

Thanks.

Adaptec AVA-2906

In reply to How do I add a SCSI drive to Windows XP (SATA) and assign drive letter?

The Adaptec AVA-2906 works with CD-Roms and scanners only.

Reponse To Answer

In reply to Adaptec AVA-2906

I would recommend to set the disks id to 0, some SCSI ctrl’s can not identify disk when you start adress scheme on the high end.
Check the termination of your SCSI chain. If only internal devices are connected the AVA-2906 should terminate the external part and the other way around too. But if you have devices on both sides your must install the termination. Some devices has a switch that turns on termination, but others needs an external terminator. If you have more than one termination on each side nothing will work.
During post you migth be able to press Ctrl-A and use bios utills to verify disk operation or to perform a low-level format. If these are running you have a driver issue.

Reponse To Answer

In reply to Adaptec AVA-2906

Hi. Device Manager identifies the drive and says it’s functioning normally. I had tried an ID of 0 and the result was the same. Could termination be the problem? If not, could the problem be the disk driver (currently a generic disk drive)? Thanks.

Reponse To Answer

In reply to Adaptec AVA-2906

Hi. Device Manager identifies the drive and says it’s functioning normally. I had tried an ID of 0 and the result was the same. Could termination be the problem? If not, could the problem be the disk driver (currently a generic disk drive)? Thanks.

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