PowerBook 500 or 5300: Freezes When Exiting HD Target Mode

TECHINFO-0020353

TOPIC

I have a Macintosh PowerBook 5300 series computer which "hangs/freezes" up when I shut it down after it has been functioning in HD Target Mode connected to my Macintosh Performa 6200 computer.

The PowerBook computer's hard disk drive appears on the desktop of the Performa computer and it seems to operate normally in HD Target Mode. However, when I shutdown the Performa computer, following the procedures in the PowerBook User's manual, the PowerBook hangs up. The arrows in the SCSI icon indicate activity but the PowerBook computer cannot be powered off except by the power/reset switch on the back.

Am I doing something wrong or are the directions in the PowerBook manual wrong?

DISCUSSION

The issue you have encountered is an operational anomaly which may occur with both the Macintosh PowerBook 500 and 5300 series computers. Also, it should be noted that this same scenario can happen when one of these PowerBook computer models is connected to ANY desktop Macintosh computer, not just the Macintosh Performa 6200 series computers.

If you follow the directions in the PowerBook user's guide, which instructs the you to power down the desktop Macintosh computer before powering down the PowerBook, the PowerBook computer may lock up. This forces you to use the power/reset switch on the back of the PowerBook computer to shut it down. This shutdown method is not advised because it may corrupt the power manager of the PowerBook computer.*

Workaround

Step 1

Highlight the PowerBook computer's hard drive in the Finder on the desktop of the desktop Macintosh computer by clicking on its icon.

Step 2

Select "Put Away" (Command Y) from the File menu to unmount the PowerBook computer's hard drive. (It should disappear from the desktop.)

Step 3

Press and hold the power key (upper right corner of the keyboard) on the PowerBook computer's keyboard for approximately three seconds, then release it. This will shut down the PowerBook safely.

* For more information about resetting the power manager on Macintosh PowerBook computers please see the TIL article titled, " PowerBook: Resetting Power Manager."

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