PowerBook 5300: What Is The Slow SCSI Extension?

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TECHINFO-0020354

TOPIC

Several PowerBook owners I know told me that I need to install something called the Slow SCSI Extension on my PowerBook 5300. What is it? How do I know if I really need it? Where can I get it?

DISCUSSION

The Slow SCSI Extension is an INIT for PowerBook 5300 series computers that addresses a potential conflict with slow SCSI devices such as 1x CD-ROM drives (like the Apple CD150), Zip drives, and PowerBooks in SCSI disk mode. Not all PowerBooks will experience the problem and a PowerBook that does may not experience the problem all the time (even with different units of the same make and model).

Do I Really Need This Extension?

It is important to note that you should only install this extension if you are experiencing constant freezes or crashes when transferring files with a particular slow SCSI device.

Installing this extension will impact (slow down) performance with ALL SCSI devices by 10 to 50 percent, so you should only install it if it is absolutely needed. You can use the Extensions Manager control panel to disable Slow SCSI Extension when it is not needed .

Installation

To install Slow SCSI Extension, put it in the Extensions folder and restart your computer.

Where To Find The Software

This software is posted to the "Unsupported" section of Apple Software Updates. It is provided "as is" and is not supported by Apple technical support. HTML Editor's Note: Apple provides number of hosts to obtain update software. www.support.apple.com is the primary server. Apple provides links off that page to all servers containing updated software. These hosts include ftp.support.apple.com (often busy), ftp.info.apple.com (less busy, more than just software), and www.info.apple.com. The paths to get the software are always from Apple SW Updates, but, because these are often UNIX boxes, the titles have no spaces, so Apple SW Updates will likely be Apple_SW_Updates. Of course, paths ARE case-sensitive. Furthermore, Apple_SW_Updates is not always a top level directory, and may be under directories named /pub/ or /Apple.Support.Area/.

For reference, the path to the software is as follows -

  Apple SW Updates
    US
      Macintosh
        Unsupported
          Slow SCSI Extension
          Slow SCSI Extension.sea

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