Hi all, new member here, trying to get my new toy up & running. I'll post more info in another topic but I wanted to put this here too just 'cuz I think this section probably has the most traffic (?). Hope that's not cross posting verboten...
Anyway, I have a NeXT cube and external CD-ROM unit but the CD did not come with any cables, either power plug or SCSI. I assume the power cord is just a standard one, but what do I need for the SCSI connector? Seems to be SCSI 1 to SCSI 2, but was NeXT finicky about it? Do I need an actual NeXT-sourced cable, or any will do?
Also once I get the CD working I want to use the original NextStep 3.2 CD I have to do a full, fresh "clean" install of the system, back to factory config and settings. But I noticed the CD case includes a floppy disk too -- is that 'extra' or NECESSARY to do a hard disk wipe and CD based reinstall?
If it's necessary, I guess I'll need a floppy drive too... anyone have one for sale?
BTW I sent and email to Black Hole about these questions asking for CD cable and/or floppy drive, but no answer so far after several days. Are they still in business?
Thanks in advance for all replies and/or pointers to sources for any of this stuff :)
-JC
As far as the CD-ROM, any standard SCSI cable will do. I actually use a third-party drive and cable and works well (it's actually a DVD-ROM drive, which is seen by my NeXTstations as a huge CD).
Regarding booting, search the forums. Black hardware with a certain minimum ROM revision can boot and install from the CD-ROM drive. I, however, am not sure if the 3.2 CD is bootable. I have used 3.3 and 4.2 and both of them are bootable CDs.
Hey pitz... thanks for the reply.
I have an original 3.2 NS cd, but I did also find an ISO of 3.3 on one of the bittorrent sites a while back -- assuming it's good I may try it.
So the only issue for it being bootable is the CD itself, not necessarily my hardware? Or how can I tell if my cube's firmware is new enough to support booting the 3.3 disk?
Sorry if that's a noob question, I know enough about Windows and DOS machines to know it's a BIOS issue but I dunno how to find that on NeXT... other than just put the disk in and try it? Any particular single-user mode command to make the CD boot that I'll need to know, or something like that?
---
Also if this doesn't work and it turns out I need a floppy anyway, I'll only really need it for doing the reinstall. So if anyone has a floppy drive that they'd be willing to *rent* to me for a while (if not able to sell one outright) I'd be willing to pay a reasonable price to use someone's floppy drive for a few days.
-JC
This posting indicated that ROM v2.5 does not support booting from a CD:
http://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1606I have v3.3 ROM in one of my NeXTstations and it does boot from the CD. Haven't tried with my other station having a v3.1 ROM.
IIRC, the ROM version appears in the first few lines that get displayed on the console right after booting. If you look at the ROM chip on the board itself, there is also usually a sticker with the ROM version printed on it.
Hello John: saw your post here and responded to your email, apologies for not being lightning fast ... on another note I successfully installed Openstep using vmware on a mac mini duo thanks to the helpful post here ! I try to respond to my email in a timely manor and if you don't here from me , it is not intentional , I love the NeXT community , just call me at 303-741-9998 Best Regards Rob Blessin :P As far as booting without the floppy drive I know some versions did older non turbo's and cubes did not!
However might as well try... I think the command you can try is after testing system goes to loading from disk hit
command ~
to get to a NeXT > then type bsd(n,0,0)sdmach rootdev=sdn
where n = drive number of the cd rom set scsi id on back of the cdrom drive and make sure it is terminated and your id is set higher than the internal harddrive.
I can talk you through it on the phone no charge if you want to try ;glad to help try and resurrect your cube!
I have the used floppy drives for $14.95 , they have a short cable but will work to do the install, I'll explain how if the above does not work, I may have a few of the longer floppy cables made for cube users if there is interest I think they charged me $15 .
Also I'll have custom Y cables available in about a week or 2 for $99.95 not much markup just difficulty locating parts to make them but i did and have a reliable cable maker I've worked with for 15 years , we'll have 13W3 and VGA for flatpanel monitor cables available pretty cool can also provide compatible flatpanels as well, just trying to keep the dream alive look for my other post on adapters non adb to usb any thoughts of help appreciated!
I see Nick has a cool adapter he made for the mono side for cubes as well not sure if he sells this solution , please let me know.
I do have custom made Y-cables for connecting a mono cube/slab to a soundbox and a VGA monitor. It is a DB19 to DB19/VGA y-cable. I can be used to connect dual displays if you have a dimension card as well!
I ask $89 per cable, they are high-quality and tested, guaranteed to work.
Notice, your LCD must allow 1280x1024 and 72hz, also you need a model 983 power supply in your cube for the cube to power on.
Hi all, thanks for help :-)
Rob I got your email and just sent a reply too. I'm away from home for a few days so will get back on this when I return, i.e. check the ROM numbers and etc.
I think it will probably be helpful to have a floppy disk available -- what do all you guys usually do for getting files in and out of the NeXT world the easiest way? After networking the cube I assume floppy would be the simplest way? Are NeXT floppies readable by Mac/Win machines?
-JC
Quote from: "JohnCC"Hi all, thanks for help :-)
Rob I got your email and just sent a reply too. I'm away from home for a few days so will get back on this when I return, i.e. check the ROM numbers and etc.
I think it will probably be helpful to have a floppy disk available -- what do all you guys usually do for getting files in and out of the NeXT world the easiest way? After networking the cube I assume floppy would be the simplest way? Are NeXT floppies readable by Mac/Win machines?
-JC
Floppy works but are not readable in NeXT Format , you can save in dos or mac format, I like using networking or a scsi iomega zip or jaz drive! Best regards Rob Blessin
SCSI Iomega Jaz, huh... cool. Heh, actually I already *have* one of those laying around from a *long* time ago. Hope it still works... I'll be able to tell my wife, "see? keeping all this old computer junk around sometimes does pay off after all..." :lol:
-JC
Maybe , the last possibility would be to use the serial port to transmit data with a null modem cable ...
Hi again all...
I'm back from my trip & ready to get back into my project to get my NeXT cube up and running again. Rob, I lost your email re: the SCSI cable, sorry... did you say you already sold it OR you DO still have one available? If not available, anyone have a good source for a new cable at a reasonable price?
I'm not sure exactly what I need to ask for, other than it's a "SCSI 1 to SCSI 2" style cable (I think?) but are the connectors needed on the ends specific male/female, or what, for the cube? (sorry if that's a noob question).
Also I still need a floppy drive I think, for getting stuff fairly easily in & out of the box once it's working again (not to mention doing the CD restore of NS 3.2). Rob, even if you don't have the SCSI cable I'll need a floppy from you, at least... unless someone else reading this has one they wanna sell.
Thanks again for all replies :)
-John C.
P.S. Any "font experts" on this board reading this, please PM me as I have a few specific questions about fonts on NeXT that I'd like to discuss off of the public messages if possible...
Quote from: "JohnCC"Hi again all...
I'm back from my trip & ready to get back into my project to get my NeXT cube up and running again. Rob, I lost your email re: the SCSI cable, sorry... did you say you already sold it OR you DO still have one available? If not available, anyone have a good source for a new cable at a reasonable price?
I'm not sure exactly what I need to ask for, other than it's a "SCSI 1 to SCSI 2" style cable (I think?) but are the connectors needed on the ends specific male/female, or what, for the cube? (sorry if that's a noob question).
Also I still need a floppy drive I think, for getting stuff fairly easily in & out of the box once it's working again (not to mention doing the CD restore of NS 3.2). Rob, even if you don't have the SCSI cable I'll need a floppy from you, at least... unless someone else reading this has one they wanna sell.
Thanks again for all replies :)
-John C.
P.S. Any "font experts" on this board reading this, please PM me as I have a few specific questions about fonts on NeXT that I'd like to discuss off of the public messages if possible...
i have both, I picked up a scsi 2 to centronix 50 pin cable for you locally that should work! I'll drop you an email here shortly! Best regards Rob Blessin