TITLE
    PowerBook 150: Can't Use Drive Setup (6/96)
Article ID:
Created:
Modified:
19644
4/19/96
6/26/96

TOPIC


    I just upgraded the 120 MB IDE hard drive in my PowerBook 150 to a 500 MB IDE hard drive. However, the PowerBook will not start up from the drive even after installing the correct system software. I tried reformatting the hard drive with Drive Setup and Internal HD Format but they do not work. What should I do?


DISCUSSION


    The PowerBook 150 has a driver scheme that is different than most Macintosh computers. The hard disk driver is always taken from ROM and if there is a driver present on the hard disk, the computer usually will not start up from it.

    The PowerBook 150 comes with a special utility, Internal HD Format, that will format hard drives for use with the PowerBook 150. However, Internal HD Format will not format a drive that already has a driver partition. If Internal HD Format is run on a drive that has a driver partition, it will generate the message "Internal HD Format will not run on this system. Please use HD SC Setup." This message is in error since neither Apple HD SC Setup or Drive Setup are compatible with the PowerBook 150.

    So if possible, you should purchase the new hard drive as unformatted. Then you can use Internal HD Format to format the drive correctly. After the drive is formatted, you should be able to install system software and start up from the drive as normal.

    If the new hard drive is pre-formatted (whether by Apple or a third-party utility), follow this procedure:

    Step 1
    ------
    With the new hard drive installed, startup from another startup device with a System Folder such as a Disk Tools disk.

    Step 2
    ------
    While starting up, if you receive a message saying "This disk is unreadable by this Macintosh, do you wish to initialize it..", select Initialize.* The hard drive icon should appear on the desktop when the initialization process is done. This is sufficient to prepare the hard disk for use since the driver is in ROM. You do not need to use the Internal HD Format utility.

    If the message "This disk is unreadable by this Macintosh, do you wish to initialize it.." does not appear and the hard drive icon shows up on the desktop, click on the icon to select it and then select Erase Disk... from the Special menu and initialize the disk. This is sufficient to prepare the hard disk for use since the driver is in ROM. You do not need to use the Internal HD Format utility.

    Step 3
    ------
    Now that the hard drive is initialized, you can install the system software by booting from the install disk or CD.


    * Note: The PowerBook 150 comes with a special program called PowerBook 150 Backup to make the system software disk set. Make sure the system software disk set is created before installing a new hard drive. Instructions for using the PowerBook 150 Backup program are in the User's Guide.


    This article was published in the Information Alley on 26 April 1996.

    Article Change History:
    26 Jun 1996 - Re-written for clarity.
    26 Apr 1996 - Added alley info.




Document Information
Product Area: Computers
Category: PowerBook
Sub Category: PowerBook 100 Series

Copyright © 2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.